Dutch Shepherd Forum

We finally got snow where the temps before-hand were near-perfect for the meager snow we had today (in regard to the mud vs,ice situation). It allowed for a day of energy-busting-whoo-hoo-let-it-rip-maniacal-play outside today. Finally! The weather has been so bi-polar.

I know a "few" out there can appreciate the welcome relief of such a scenerio. It's one thing to be able to "do stuff" in the house, but it's another to let it rip. By no means is he exhausted...he never is...but, wow, what a great day! I let him just "go"--which was great in and of itself--but the really nice thing was that, as much fun as he was having...he was respecting the rules. Damn...REALLY nice day. He's such a great dog.

Just had to share with people who understand....

Oh, that sounds wonderful! I do know what you mean~ full out fun and rules abided? BINGO! I am so glad that you had a great day!

I am looking forward to Miss Xena's first snow. What a nice warm winter we have had (and I still lost all three bee hives ) But February usually gives us a nice kick!

thats fantastic!!! So glad you had a great day, yep, we understand!

Lauren....... sorry about your bees

Did you happen to get an pics of Thor having so much fun?

So glad you had such a great day, too. (I know when my mood is low, and then we train and play, I end up feeling so much better, at least, for a while...)

I didn't get pics today; it was aaaalll about finally getting OUT THERE. I have pics and videos from last winter (his first), though. Aaaah...good times. Funny...today was great, yet his WILD abandon during his first snow was actually a treasure in a weird way--when compared to him present tense. Make sense?

Gee...I'm soooo not complaining. He's just different in enough ways now and I don't want to "romanticize" the early days--ooofph!

Lauren--and any honey lovers out there, too: do you eat the combs? Sorry, too, about your bees. Much work goes into bees. (And glad that others do it, I might add.)

Side note: guy on call-in radio said he'd gotten out of a few tickets by declaring an errant bee was buzzin' around in the vehicle while driving. His trick was to keep a hydrated but dead be in the vehicle as "proof."

Raven wrote: Lauren--and any honey lovers out there, too: do you eat the combs? Sorry, too, about your bees. Much work goes into bees. (And glad that others do it, I might add.)

I do occasionally eat the comb. It is so beautiful in the jar that I sometimes put it in even though I prefer mine strained. I manage(d) my hives organically, so the comb and all is as close to organic as is possible. But I really like it best in my tea and on biscuits.

But with bees now days it is try, try again. And this year I have lots of beautiful comb and frames of honey to start the new girls on... Do you keep bees too?

When I said that I was glad others did it, I meant glad others do it 'cause I sure as heck wouldn't! (I have never been stung by anything...I've even painted around (hidden) yellow jacket nests and they just hovered around. Some say I've never been stung 'cause I'm too mean; I say it's because they don't freak me out, so I don't act like freakin' maniac. Hope I'm not allergic.) Have you taken any serious hits being a keeper?

Stinkin' temps shot up in the 40s yesterday...back to even MORE mud. UUUUGH.

going to be 50 here today and raining. Yesterday was perfect !

I get stung once on a while. by the end of bee season I don't even feel the stings anymore. they are supposed to be good for arthritis

The only time I really got nailed was working bees with my dad. His girls are a wee bit nastier than mine and he is a bull in a china shop. He swiped a bunch off of the inner cover and they hit my knee. Before I knew it I was covered up. (They can sting right through pants.) I stopped counting stings at 57.

I am VERY allergic to yellow jackets. I really hate those things.

It has been in the high 50's~ 60's here. Just perfect, really.

Last spring I put out commercial tubes for our native mason bees. I was so excited when I saw a female laying her eggs in the tubes. But with the warm winter, the new bees emerged in December (instead of spring). I don't know if they are going to survive.

The advantage of mason bees is they don't sting, disadvantage, is no honey.

This year I'm making my own nesting tubes, and I'm going to make sure there are a lot of flowers all year long.

I'm still hoping for some more snow before spring time. Winter has been crazy warm!

Mason bees are really neat, too. It is so important to encourage all types of pollinators, especially since honey bees are now plagued with so many diseases and parasites.

That is really neat that you can make your own nests for them!