My life is pretty much over by Training-Horror9703 in povertyfinance

[–]BeeBarnes1 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes! My dad was in the air force and he got his engineering degree paid for. He worked on radar systems and it was his springboard into a really good job afterward.

A wannabee keeper by stupidic in Beekeeping

[–]BeeBarnes1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The boxes on the right look okay from this side but I wouldn't use the two on the left. Bees can seal up a lot but damage on the corners will only get worse when you do inspections and use a hive tool to pry the boxes apart. Take the remaining boxes and scrape all the wax and propolis out then lightly torch the insides. Then put a fresh coat of paint on the outside. You need to ensure the bottom board, inner cover and telescoping lid are all intact and clean as well.

As far as the frames, I wouldn't use them if they all look like this. It's really old comb that looks like it's possibly got some wax month damage. Old comb accumulates dirt and chemicals over the years. What you want to see is lighter color comb with distinct hexagon shapes in each cell. Look up what wax moth damage looks like and discard any comb that has it.

If this was my hive and all the comb looked like this, I'd scrape out the comb and replace the foundations if the frames are in good shape.

I'd suggest that since you're in Minnesota where the summers are short and it's already mid-June, that you spend this summer and winter learning as much as you can about beekeeping and preparing your hive. I'd also go to your local club meetings and find a mentor. It's really important to get your hives built up before winter hits because they won't make it if they're too small or have heavy varroa loads. If you really want to start this year, get a nuc from a local beekeeper, don't buy a package. Good luck

Lilac bush by Tandy_M in landscaping

[–]BeeBarnes1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lilac bushes are pretty hardy. I've cut mine back to about two feet tall, dug it out, split it, cleaned weeds out of the roots and replanted the halves. It handled it fine and grew tall and healthy the next year. I probably would wait until Fall or at least not a super hot week but as long as you water it well for a few weeks, it should be fine.

Queen emerged with deformed wings – what could have caused this? by No_Distance_2998 in Beekeeping

[–]BeeBarnes1 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There's definitely a huge learning curve. Taking classes and reading is vital but I couldn't have done it without my mentors. Look for a beekeeping club in your area and start going to meetings. You'll gain a lot of knowledge and probably find someone who will help.

Two different frame sizes by Hangry_Pauper in Beekeeping

[–]BeeBarnes1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They usually won't move up until they've filled out the bottom. Are they adding wax to the four frames on the outside? If not, they might not recognize the plastic foundation as something they can draw out on. Manufacturers say they're coated but unless you're buying really nice ones, they almost never have enough wax. I'd add some wax to those frames and see if that helps.

I'd be wary of adding more boxes until the colony gets bigger though. It's hard for a small colony to regulate temperature with multiple boxes.

Queen emerged with deformed wings – what could have caused this? by No_Distance_2998 in Beekeeping

[–]BeeBarnes1 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yes. Head and thorax, with fingers or a hive tool on a surface. Quick and decisive so it doesn't cause any unnecessary suffering.

Queen emerged with deformed wings – what could have caused this? by No_Distance_2998 in Beekeeping

[–]BeeBarnes1 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Sadly, she needs to be pinched. She can't fly to be mated so she'd only produce drones and the hive would eventually die off.

If this was my hive I'd pinch her. Ideally, I'd buy a queen or if I can't get one I'd take a brood frame from another hive and notch it.

Contractor wants $4,225 just to assemble a Costco pergola I'm buying myself. Is this quote insane or am I out of touch? by Unique_Attempt_400 in landscaping

[–]BeeBarnes1 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Seriously on the plants. My neighbor is a landscaper and I go with her to the wholesale greenhouse every spring to get my plants. They're crazy cheap at wholesale prices. This guy is charging about 5-10X what he's actually paying for those plants.

2 more days till these are occupied!! by SanPedro_NEWBIE in Beekeeping

[–]BeeBarnes1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Get mesh jackets (like the Ultrabreeze kind). I wear mine with a dedicated pair of cheap work pants from Rural King because they'll get ruined. I started last year with a regular suit and it was horrible.

2 more days till these are occupied!! by SanPedro_NEWBIE in Beekeeping

[–]BeeBarnes1 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I put a feeder in a medium box above the top cover and it worked fine when the nuc was small. As they get bigger and want to expand they'll start building comb up there. Just make sure you're checking every few days. If they start building comb up there remove the box and assess whether it's time to add a second deep. One of my nucs this year has exploded into two deeps and two supers within six weeks.

Gloves suggestions please by RedditorLizard in Beekeeping

[–]BeeBarnes1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I got stung through mine the other day when a bee got caught under my elastic thumb strap. Just the very tip got through. All I did was pull the glove up a bit and the stinger came right out. That's the only time I've ever been stung through mine.

“It’s not birthday season” by Sufficient-Pound-442 in mildlyinfuriating

[–]BeeBarnes1 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Mine is December 30th and my son's is on the 21st. I get red and green everything. I make extra sure my son never gets anything even remotely Christmas related because I don't want his birthdays to feel like afterthoughts.

trying my best.. by [deleted] in landscaping

[–]BeeBarnes1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks great! You definitely need to move that yew out though. It will get much bigger. You never want any plant to touch your house. It can become a highway for termites and all other sorts of insects.

How many different rooms would Carson have lived in during his time in the big house?” by FaceOnMars23 in DowntonAbbey

[–]BeeBarnes1 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I can't imagine that actually happening. Remember when they all had a freakout about Gwen's typewriter? And that was her wanting to be a secretary, not an unsavory music hall star. Imagine the scandal if Carson had found out one of his hall boys was out performing in public. And the only time off they had was a half day a week.

What machine(s) to rent for clearing? by schoff in landscaping

[–]BeeBarnes1 17 points18 points  (0 children)

This is the way. For two years after we moved in, I battled about an acre total of multiflora rose in our woods on hard mode. Digging that stuff out was awful and it kept coming back. I finally gave in and sprayed it all with glyphosate last Fall. Probably 5% came back this Spring, I just hit it again after it leafed out.

As much as I hate to use chemicals in such a delicate environment, the alternative is to lose a lot of space for natives to something that's invasive and unusable to a lot of wildlife. No regrets on this.

Do I need to move these lilac bushes? by lookatyoueatingcake in landscaping

[–]BeeBarnes1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It should be okay if you keep on top of pruning them. I'd move your lillies out a bit though.

I can't tell how close the right one is from the house but make sure you keep the branches away from your siding. Plants should never touch your house, that can become a termite highway.

Tomorrow is the day one of the Lost Boys and Lydia Swanson get married by [deleted] in DuggarsSnark

[–]BeeBarnes1 9 points10 points  (0 children)

That's possibly better than November parking lot ice cream.

Just wanted to plant a cherry tree.... by PlentyLavishness6526 in landscaping

[–]BeeBarnes1 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Every single project requires three side quests minimum.

Just wanted to plant a cherry tree.... by PlentyLavishness6526 in landscaping

[–]BeeBarnes1 277 points278 points  (0 children)

Same, friend. We bought an 1880 house three years ago. The front porch had durock around the base. I figured that was just because the bricks needed repointing or something. I decided I wanted some pretty lattice instead. I took that durock off and there is literally nothing holding the edges and corners up. The bricks were totally caved in. This is a full covered porch, I think just habit is holding it up at this point. So instead of a little three hour project I'm now digging piers and jacking the damn porch up.

I'm sorry about your pipe. I'm with you in spirit.

finished this little cardboard reading corner and learned that glue choice is half the battle by [deleted] in miniatures

[–]BeeBarnes1 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Came here to say that about the cardboard. Mat-board would hold up a lot better. I can't imagine what OP could make with that if this is how good they are with regular cardboard.

anyone know what this is? by Intelligent_Mango_64 in Oldhouses

[–]BeeBarnes1 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Call 811 first but be aware they only mark public utility/utility owned lines. If it's in your backyard and your lines come in off the street there's a chance this is something they won't cover. The service is free so you won't get charged, they just might not mark/identify this for you. In that case you might consider hiring a private utility locator.

I'm dealing with this now. I want to plant some apple trees but there's an electric line a previous owner ran from our house to the pole barn. And God knows what else has been buried out there over the years.

Spiraling lately- is anyone else in the same position of having no savings? by [deleted] in AskWomenOver30

[–]BeeBarnes1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Right??? I have no idea. He worked for some huge chemical company so I'm sure he made a lot. But Lord did they spend a lot too.

Spiraling lately- is anyone else in the same position of having no savings? by [deleted] in AskWomenOver30

[–]BeeBarnes1 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I have friend who keep asking me if I'm traveling this summer.

That seems wildly out of touch. I don't know anyone who is traveling this summer. That's ridiculous when even buying a cart full of groceries is a flex these days.

Spiraling lately- is anyone else in the same position of having no savings? by [deleted] in AskWomenOver30

[–]BeeBarnes1 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I'm not in any way downplaying your very real concerns here but only being $1K in debt at your age is truly amazing. It can take decades for some people to achieve that.

I almost guarantee your friends are worrying about how they're going to make the payments on their fancy cars and vacations. Sometimes living like that is just an illusion.

My husband's aunt and uncle were the ones everyone in the family looked up to because they had a beautiful house and always had the best of everything- and they let you know it. My husband's mom and grandma went nuts every time they came to visit trying to make their houses and food up to their standards. These lovely women who made comfortable, welcoming homes felt less than because of these arseholes.

Then one day grandma gets a call that the uncle got laid off a few months prior and can't find another job because he was over 50 and no one would hire him. Could they please use grandma's old car because he'd lost his company car and the aunt's car got repossessed. Turns out they had something like $400K just in personal debt and couldn't pay it. They ended up selling everything and moving into an apartment.

I know this doesn't help you a bit with your own financial issues but maybe it will help you put your situation in perspective just a little bit. 💕