Tonight I pulled the first super full of capped honey off the good (middle) hive. I've left them a partially-filled super, and a completely empty one I put on Sunday (?) when I put the triangle escape board under this super.

Of course, being stupid, I attempted to remove the super without my garb on, and I got four stings for my insolance! I ran and put my normal sweatshirt and helmet/veil on, gloves, and lit the smoker to calm the girls down. There were far too many in the honey super and under the escape board - I think I left it on too long (3 days) and they were finding their way back in! I may need to build my own version of the escape board according to some plans I found at the Beesource web site.

Anyway, to catch up, this year's second hive still isn't doing well. I've given them three - no, four chances to raise a queen - twice with frames from the good hive, then I bought a queen that disappeared, and then this last time I added another frame of open brood - but they just won't raise a queen! I'm thinking now it may be due to the hive body that I got from Uncle Lewis, so I'm going to replace that when I get a chance. If that doesn't do it I'll just let them die off since I don't want to risk them having undesirable effects on the good or Sally Swarm hve, as I call it.

Speaking of, they are doing well. I reversed the hive bodies Sunday (or was it Monday?) as well so that hopefully the queen will work her way up a little better. She is doing great, though. The girls have done well gluing in and filling out the comb that I cut out from the old swarm. I'm pretty sure if we get a good fall flow that they'll be fine for the winter.