New Bees!

Another Spring, another year to replace bees lost to winter weather and the mites. This year eleven year-old Nadia helped empty packages of bees into the hives. Each package contains about 3 lbs. of bees and an isolated queen. They'll quickly take up residence in their new hive and within 2-3 days will free the queen from her candy-plugged cage. She will then begin laying up to 1,800 eggs per day as the hive prepares itself for the spring bloom.

Real Food, Big Dog!

A couple of things happened this week in the lives of the pups--good weather meant they could get a 'feel' for the outdoors, and they got their first taste of 'big dog' food!

Puppies are always tentative when they're first exploring new surfaces, textures, and smells, and we were not disappointed. They literally quiver and shake when first brought outdoors, uncertain of their new surroundings (and cooler temps, too!). The lovely 65 degree weather was a perfect excuse to bring them outside and since they were now four weeks old they got to try some moistened kibble for the very first time. Interestingly, they weren't as voracious as we've seen with previous litters. We think it may be the food we're feeding the older dogs: a lamb and rice Canidae vs. the chicken, turkey, fish, and lamb Canidae we've fed them in the past (We switched about a year ago because one of our dogs was having issues with her diet). We may switch the pups to the All Stages Canidae and see how they like it.

As you can see from the second picture, they're becoming a handfull! Our 2-year old Bryce looks on in the background.