It seems summer has not yet arrived and it is already time to prepare for
winter.
 
I have traditionally wintered in 4 packs with a winter lid with a hole in
the front.  This is then wrapped with a blanket of 6 mil poly over R12
fibreglass insulation.  The blanket has holes that line up with the holes in
the winter lids.  Well.... more or less line up.
 
I am now using insulated lids and want to incorporate these into my winter
wrap.  Besides, my success was not all that great before and it is time to
try a change.
 
I plan to use auger holes in the end of the upper brood chamber for an upper
entrance so I am faced with two problems.
 
1.  To close up the old hole in the blanket which will now be far too high
for the auger hole.  The best idea I have at this point is duct tape.
 
2.  To create a new hole in the right place.  I could roll out the blankets
and cut holes with a template but am loath to do this for the extra work it
involves.  (Unless I did it in the field?)  I need about 400 wraps.  This
leaves me with looking for a method to cut this new hole after the blanket
is in place on the hive.
 
I am soliciting ideas to deal with the two problems above.  Any other
observations will also be welcome.
 
Eric Abell
Gibbons, Alberta Canada
(403) 998 3143
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