Hello Everyone!
 
        It's been quite awhile since I last sent mail to the list (Oct-Nov
96...I think).
 
        Much has happened. In Dec, I secured an excellent job with a small
fast-growing
        company, manufacturing medium power dry type transformers and power
        rectifiers. I'm so pleased to have the job I can even look past the
1 1/2 hr
        commute, each way, on VT state roads. I had been out of work for 9
months.
 
        In Feb, I was diagnosed with colon cancer...had successful surgery a
week later
        and I'm cancer free for now. I have a 70% chance of survival. A very
scary event
        but the outcome is positive...for the most part.
 
        Now for the 'bee' part. Some may recall (or been a part of) a
tremendous golenrod
        flow in these parts (NE VT) last fall. My three hives went into
winter with 60-100lbs
        of honey /hive. I was happy. This past winter was not very extreme
in terms of temps
        and snow, but seemed VERY long and drawn out. We had a thaw in
Feb...but I was
        in the hospital and didn't think to ask around to have someone do
winter inspection.
        Then MArch was a whole litte winter on its own..with sub-zero temps
and all.
 
        I just had my first chance to do my first inspection yesterday
(4/5). I'm happy to
        report that all hives survived. Even my hive of italians, which had
been dwindling
        last Fall, pulled through. All seem to be very strong. If spring
suddenly bursts forth
        (as I suspect it will) then I'll be hard pressed to keep all the
girls from swarming
        like crazy. I'm already planning splits/increase..hoping I have the
time to build all
        the frames for hive bodies and supers! AND THEN COME THE BEARS!!!!!
 
        Time on my hands is the big problem now-a-days. Since Nov I have
been monitoring
        the Bee-List, rcving the index each day and sending for the posts
that most
        interested me. I kept up with it pretty well until I got sick...then
I fell way behind.
        Now that the bees are flying I'll have even less time to sit in
front of this PC.
 
        I am setting the no-mail mode, but maintaining my subscription. This
mail list is
        a valuable resource; one that I was priveleged to be a small part of
for a year's time.
        For all the 'newbies'...use it wisely. There is a mountain of
valuable experience and
        knowledge from several experts. For all you experts who answered my
questions
        and helped provide other perspectives and insights...Thank You.
 
        If anyone cares to, I can still be reached via my email address...as
always,
Tim Peters, Kirby VT
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KirBee Apiary, Bear Bait Honey
I rather be flying!