I went down this morning to check out the swarm box and there were just a few bees around. They didn't look purposeful, more like they were just looking around. I was kind of thinking that maybe the swarm had moved on to a better place. I went back around 1:00 and Dad came out and we looked and watched and mulled and it seemed like it was a little more active. It's supposed to rain all week, and we were debating on whether to do anything with it, or leave it till around Friday and let them get settled in. We decided on leaving it as is for a few days. I'll be off Friday and have lots of time. I walked by the main hive on the way back to the house and the bees were buzzing very purposefully, many of them loaded down with pollen, which made me very happy. I went back down around 4:00 pm a little while ago to check the swarm again (can you tell I'm really hopeful it works out ok?). I had slid a q-tip with a little lemongrass oil into the entrance as a bait originally, and the bees were trying to get that thing out. It was sticking about 1/2 way out of the entrance, so, being the smart, experienced beekeeper that I am, I thought, "I can get this little stick here and flick it out, and the bees will be very happy because they can get in and out so much easier!" Well, I took the little stick and flicked the q-tip out of the entrance ok. But just as soon as it did, POP! right in the eyebrow. Now, what kind of thanks is that!? :'(
