Nutshell Farm

Queenle!

I've been frazzled and my phone camera is decrepit. But how could I not post the year's first QUEENLE for Michael Gates , Susan Hirshberg , and other fans? For any of you new to the game, spot the honey bee queen on the frame in this photo! I'll put the answer in the comments.

New Queenle (ha). Know where this one is?

Started pullets, Novogens, looking for a new flock. These are excellent brown egg layers. Seven each, or ninety if you take all 15.

First-time mom Kokoro closes the lambing season with twins, a black ram and a moorit ewe. The little gal is one of the tiniest lambs I have ever seen, but she seems healthy. 😊 Her name is Miniko (so we can call her Mini).

I'm way behind on lamb intros! My excuse is that the weather has been gloomy, but today was dreamy. Here are Cindi and her ewe lamb, Mindi enjoying some sun!

One of today's challenges could be called "Queenle when it counts"! Dividing a hive means you must locate Mom, no excuses. And it's easier on one side of one frame than both sides of 27 frames 😆.

Annual "chicken is bigger than lambs" shot. They are a week old and standing on a railroad tie, but he's still taller! 😆

Preparing to gild the lily 😆

Good old Bambi had twins late last night...twin ewes, nice glossy black ones! They are already braving the weather this morning.

A pretty black eweling for first time mama Kimber 🖤

Twins for Iris this morning 🥰

Now THIS is how we like a first glimpse of our lambs: standing up, cleaned off, and getting some breakfast! No muss, no fuss. Hildina, thanks for giving 2023 lambing a good start! (Ram and ewe twins).

Today's QUEENLE should be easy... unfortunately it's because this colony is weak 😕. But they were working their little hearts out today, and are on the road to recovering!

Sweetie, no! It was 29 F this morning! Too early! (And too close to the barn wall).

Happy Pi Day! Here's what we're trying tonight.

Honey Pie - Bake from Scratch This honey pie offers all the sweetness and creaminess of buttermilk pie, but with heaps of honey flavor.

OK, Michael Gates, knock yourself out on todays QUEENLE, but no way am I staying up til midnight to post it 😆

The beautiful natural colors of Shetland wool!

Warm enough this afternoon to play "Find the Queen" ❤️🐝❤️

If you know, you know.

If you know, you know 😆

We have 8 started Cuckoo Marans pullets (and one little cockerel!) about 3 mos old, looking for new flocks where they can prepare for a laying career! Well feathered and doing fine without supplemental heat. These girls will lay lovely dark brown eggs come Spring.

We love lovage!

How To Grow & Use Lovage: The Forgotten Herb That Everyone Should Grow Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is a hardy perennial herb native to the Mediterranean. As part of the Apiacaea family, it is closely related to carrot, celery, and parsley. This culinary and medicinal herb was once a