This and That Catch Up

So many little things have been going on the last few weeks I haven't bothered to mention but taken as a whole they are beginning to add up.

I caught my fifth swarm of the season the other day but it is the first one I am keeping as I turned around and sold the other four. I made an executive decision on the bees same as the garden this year and chose to not push em too heavily until the fence project is completed. Because of this I allowed someone to talk me out of this year's bee hive growth, or a large portion of it anyway, so his teenage son could use em for his FFA project. If it hadn't of been for a good cause and the timing just right when I am so buried under I probably wouldn't have agreed to it.

I then turned around and sunk the proceeds back into bee and fence stuff. I didn't get rid of any of my big hives though and as it turns out I am still catching swarms anyway. I am also now completely out of drawn comb too so any more swarms will need to be fed some sugar syrup to help them build up after this.

I mowed the Buttercup infestation down, or most of it, I did notice that even though I have small pockets of it scattered everywhere there is none in any of the sheep areas. While mowing I pushed a large section of the stuff close to the ram's fence with the mower deck and he ate it all. In fact he sucked it up like a couple of stray dogs slurping down spaghetti noodles (like the "Lady and the Tramp" Reference). It's been 24 hours now and he isn't showing any signs of illness or bad side effects. I am beginning to wonder if sheep are not very tolerant to the stuff.

Also after mowing I am feeling a bit better about this Buttercup infestation. There is actually a lot of good grass and clover out in that pasture it was just being out competed. I am hoping the mowing and heat will allow the good stuff to take back over and/or letting the sheep out there later this Summer to see if they can keep the stuff in check. Seems horses are the ones that are really allergic to the stuff and several people have mentioned that sheep can in fact eat it although Vets still claim they can't.

I know the Ram can for a fact though but maybe it takes a lot more of the stuff or something?

I sunk the last eight posts for the South side of the crossroads paddock Sunday and they are settling in nicely with the little bits of rain we been getting. I should be able to put the supports on them and hang gates this weekend and be ready for the next stage which is finishing up Frazier's ram paddock. The big project for this next stage is building a shelter for the ram as I will be removing his access to the barn and stall he has been using. I have to do it that way to allow access from the barn lot to the other fields though.

So things are progressing but as usual very slowly. Once these rains slack up a little it will be time for another round of grass mowing too so there's two days I won't get anything done.

Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!!