Turkey Fryers

I attended the Maine State Beekeepers Association annual meeting on Saturday, in Augusta. Great meeting, but I did not win any door prizes. One of the speakers, Cindy Bee, spoke about and had a demonstration of a set-up to process old wax comb scrap - put it in an old pillowcase, tie it up, and boil it in a turkey fryer with boiling water. Her observation was that the crud left behind in the pillowcase is truly disgusting and should be discarded at a distance, promptly.

So I set out to get a turkey fryer. Never heard of one, and tough to find in the northeast. I asked around. Frying turkeys is, I think, popular elsewhere, and fried turkey very tasty, and they (people elsewhere) fry lots of things, including I hear, butter. I heard that Martha Stewart described it on her show but I do not think I was among a Martha Stewart crowd at the annual bee meeting. I now recall a Mythbusters show about dropping a frozen turkey into the fryer (not recommended) and it exploding - do not know if the myth was busted or not.

I finally had success when I was told it was a lobster boiler. So I now have one and plan on harvesting beeswax this summer. My daughter Emma wants us to start Fred's Bees and do balms.

Hive Inspection - First Day of Spring!

Took advantage of unseasonably warm weather today - 60s and sunny - no snow! - to check the winter survivers. Six of the seven hives have made it so far! All the clusters were at the top of the upper deeps so they are pretty much out of honey - fed MegaBee patties which is all I had available. Seventh hive was a September swarm that did not stand a chance and looks like it died out early on.
Will try to get out to the island in two weeks to start spring feeding.