Tag: animals song

Iowa ARL: Surrender, don’t abandon animals this summer
Animals

Iowa ARL: Surrender, don’t abandon animals this summer

“We get about an average of 50 animals per day as an organization throughout the summer,” said Michael Lovien, director of ARL shelter operations.

ALTOONA, Iowa — The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is the state’s largest nonprofit animal shelter, caring for thousands of pets each year — but summer brings a variety of challenges for the rescue organization.

“We get about an average of 50 animals per day as an organization throughout the summer. And that’s our high sort of peak season,” said Michael Lovien, director of shelter operations.

But recently, more unwanted pets aren’t making their way to

…
Read More
First inspections of the spring
Animals

First inspections of the spring

In sunny Cornwall I’ve just done my first inspections for 2021 inside the hives. It’s been warm enough for some people to walk around in just t-shirts and for me to wear a t-shirt and cardigan, so it was time.

Good news: both colonies are alive and queen-right. Bad news: one (Kensa) is showing signs of chalkbrood disease.

Bee hives and smokers

My inspecting of Demelza went comically wrong. I started by trying to get all my equipment ready so that I could do some queen marking. I opened a brand new queen marking pen bought last summer and tried to use it on

…
Read More
Second inspection of the year
Animals

Second inspection of the year

It’s been a cold week, but today seemed to mark a turning point in the weather here. I took my coat and gloves back off; my gloves had been put away for the summer two weeks ago, only to be hastily retrieved when the cold winds arrived. In some parts of the country snow has fallen and the keepers have not found an opportunity to do a first inspection yet.

Cherry trees
Cherry tree in my garden – on one of the gray days

I lit my smoker and approached Demelza’s hive – I always inspect that hive first as it’s calmer.

…
Read More
How to catch a swarm – advice from an expert beekeeper, Roger Patterson
Animals

How to catch a swarm – advice from an expert beekeeper, Roger Patterson

A few weeks ago I listened into a zoom talk all about swarms by Roger Patterson. I last heard Roger speak in person almost a decade ago, back in 2012, when his talk was “Improve your bees and beekeeping – simply”. I think he’s one of the most well known beekeepers here, as he does so many talks and is very active in the beekeeping community. He has also written a book, called ‘Beekeeping – A Practical Guide’ (2012).

Roger began by saying that swarms have changed:

Pre 1990s, they used to be reliable:

– Large prime swarms had fertile

…
Read More
Bees – off! | Adventuresinbeeland’s Blog
Animals

Bees – off! | Adventuresinbeeland’s Blog

Some of my longer term readers may remember that I had bees in my chimney stack. This had turned into a tricky problem, with quotes of £4,000+ to remove them and reseal the chimney. It wasn’t even my fault (honestly!!) as when the swarm first moved in my own bees were based around four miles away. The bees just found me.

Well, I found a solution! I joined a Facebook group called UK Bee Removers. Where I then noticed a lady called Molly from Bees Off based in Cornwall. I’m so pleased to have found someone local, who could do

…
Read More
Ace Attorney Fans Are Angry Over People Calling Clown Lady Hot
Animals

Ace Attorney Fans Are Angry Over People Calling Clown Lady Hot

Ace Attorney fans are very upset over an animation that shows Geiru snapping her suspenders into her bust.


If you’re a fan of the Ace Attorney series then you may be aware of the clown girl. For those who aren’t aware it’s probably helpful if I bring you up to speed.


Geiru Toneido is a villain from the 2016 3DS title Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice. To simplifly: She’s the daughter of a famous performer but an instructor tells her she’s not cut out

…
Read More
The arrival of the bees
Animals

The arrival of the bees

A couple of months ago, I put a bait hive out in my garden. An empty National brood box, apart from a dark old brood comb pushed to one side and some lemongrass oil smeared on the walls. Then I waited.

At first… nothing. But then… I saw some bees coming in and out, inspecting the empty premises. The next day, it was clear something was afoot. More and more bees could be seen around the entrance, until the water in my garden was filled with masses of humming bees. I went and stood outside, looking at the sheer number

…
Read More
A year in the bee garden –October
Animals

A year in the bee garden –October

Summer came back in October – the word had reached her of the ‘backwinter’. The bees made the most of the ‘backsummer’. The hive entrance was too busy to put on mouseguards as foragers flew home with baskets of yellow pollen.

However, a quick inspection showed that the nectar was out of stock. I filled the syrup feeders, and filled them five times again in October, and the bees drank up every last drop.

Since then I have been unable to visit the apiary and my husband John, my mum Ronnie, and Ealing beekeeper Thomas have put on mouseguards and …

Read More