Wow, I had no idea managing a hive of bees was going to result in such a roller coaster of emotion! I was not kidding when I said I was impatient, so although I was told to wait a full week to check in on the queen, I could not wait one more day! Yesterday I opened up the hive and looked carefully at every frame. I didn’t see the queen. Furthermore there was no indication of her; no baby bee larvae no capped brood. I was in a funk all day, everyone was avoiding me. My family would ask me, “Mom are you o.k? To which I would reply “Yes I will be. Have you heard that the queen is dead?” They would then give the appropriate condolences and encouragement. The show goes on, glass is half full, chin up, trusting in God and all that.  I had already written a post mourning the loss of the queen.:(

Late this afternoon I talked one of my kids into being my photographer. I said sadly,” It won’t take long just going through the motions of shutting the hive down for Winter.” Basically getting some final shots of a dying hive. Such a let down. Not too long into the inspection I told my son in a despondent tone, “You can go in, we have the pictures we need. Tomorrow I will take these queenless bees over to “Blondie and the Girls” (Langstroth hive over at the Community Garden) and close the top bar hive for the season.”

It was on the last bar that I saw her! What a beautiful sight! I yelled for my photographer ,who by this time was long gone, “There she is! The queen lives!”

Although she is alive, not laying any baby bees is a huge problem, but hey it ain’t over till the fat lady sings or the queen takes her last breath. So let’s name this baby; Queenie and the Jets. The name has spunk, which these little ladies are certainly going to need. Thank you for all the great name suggestions!  I hummed tonight while I mixed up sugar syrup for my 6th child. 🙂 I had a small smile on my face and a lightness to my step while I went about my chores. There is just something about being on the losing side and having the coach say, “We’re still in the game folks!”

There is still that glimmer of hope for a happy ending. My family teases me because I am a huge sap for a happy ending. In fact, you know that part of the movie when the family is playing in the yard on a sunny day? The dog is playfully barking, everyone is smiling, right before the attack of the aliens or something. I can get up and walk away right then! My family yells after me, “No way can you leave, the movie just got started!” As God as my witness, I can take my popcorn to the bedroom content in a happy ending/starting whatever you want to call it.

I know that the sun doesn’t revolve around me, but this warm weather is certainly helping our chances. I will go check on the other hive, “Blondie and the Girls” tomorrow. I left a few top bars in with them. If I know those rock stars like I think I do, they might have a bit of capped brood I can borrow? Until the next saga; happy gardening and bee keeping!