We inherited a new hive today and installed her facing east in the back of our garden.
Alex and Paul help set up the "Kerry" hive originally started by beekeeper Bill
She’s a robust hive of bees bred by B. Weaver, housed in a beautiful top bar hive of TJ and Bill’s design. Given the disheartening events of last season, we’re feeling damn lucky to have a merry band of Apis mellifera back in our lives again.
Ghosts be vanquished! As of 20 minutes ago, the “Kerry” hive (originally part of Bill’s hive duo called “Cash and Kerry”) is now safely installed near a patch of Russian sage and Goldenrod, pure bliss for bees come summer.
Their original keeper, Bill wrote a farewell in his Bee Log:
2-15-09: Sold hive with bees to Chantal and Alex. I know they will be great parents! I wish them well and anticipate good reports of my girls making lots of honey for them. Go in peace, your beekeeper, Bill
Bill hands off the girls to Alex
mistress beek 
Oh! I am sooooo happy for you. I was out back stroking my hive today. I am so anxious to get going on this, but I haven’t even had a day warm enough to paint my new hive.
Today I got the paint can out. Opened it. Stared at it – a beautiful blue. Stared at the hive. Then I put the paint away and went in the house to find more to read about bees.
I’m infatuated, and my bees aren’t even here yet. What a sicko, eh?
your new beebud, Sarah
Thanks for the well wishes! It’s completely mesmerizing.
I’m glad you’re up and running again. I am fairly sure that my sanity depends on the presence of a hive or two in my backyard.