I can't believe how hot it has been and for so long. My house is like a dust oven. Not good for my allergies.

I've gone out to check on my girls a couple of times. The bees seem to be holding up pretty good with the heat. Thought they might get warm in the apiary but I made a roll up wall and the front of the hives are in shade but the tops and backs are in the sun so the air must flow through the front and out the top keeping them cool. So far I haven't seen them fanning their wings or clustering around the front door of the hives.

On Monday, August 9th, Ken Schaefer and I gave a talk for a couple of groups of Y Summer Campers. Luckily it was in an air-conditioned hall so we didn't cook. Afterward when we went to return the frame to the hive we checked to see what honey we could take off. Well, honey is a no show again this year. When a new brood super was added and we moved the honey super up the queen must have been in it because larva was found with the honey so we put everything back the way it was before and I decided to let them enjoy the fruits of their labors for yet another year. Oh, well. It is really going to taste good when I get some.

The last summer meeting will be the one Roger and I will host in the new Y Outdoor Center. This will be the first meeting I am hosting and I am so afraid I will forget something. If I do I will be a few miles away from my home to go and get it.

As Ken said in his letter, my apiary is set up to meet the Belleville city standards for keeping bees within the city limits. Right now they at the Y Outdoor Center Soccer Field. I have one problem with their location though. The distance from the road to inspect my hives means we will have to drive out to them. Yep, drive. It is too far in this heat to walk. The last summer meeting location address is: YMCA Outdoor Center, 2437 Park Rd, Belleville, IL 62220-4901 A map and directions are at the end. I'm hoping to see you all there.

I have been checking to see how many of our association members have signed up for eScrip. To date we have a grand total of "4." Yep. That is all! At this next meeting I am going to bring a laptop and will try to sign up any members who what to be involved. I am hoping that everyone there will join. When you come to the next meeting just make sure that you have your credit/debit card numbers, NO expiration dates or number codes just the card number, the type, Visa, MasterCard, etc., that you use to make store purchases. Please read the enclosed information flyers for additional information.

SCBA patches are still available for $3.00 each. Time to buy more and add them to your shirts, hats, jackets .

I really enjoyed going to the meeting last month. Bill Mattatall's Honey House was beautiful. It will really be nice when he gets the AC connected. Again we were hit with the heat and humidity but Bill and Barbara set up a canapy for the meeting and the food was kept fresh in their home. Barbara, loved the birds. With the heat and the trees overhead their calling made it sound like a Pacific Island. Walking around the garden I looked at her beautiful orchids. Very, very nice. Someday I want to grow more orchids and maybe have some birds too. 

Bill Mattatall’s Honey House

         Bill, center, with SCBA members inside his Honey House. 

         Checking the hives around the Honey House. 

Pictures courtesy of Kenny Henfling

The following are directions to the last summer meeting on Sunday, August 29th at 2:00 pm.
Total Time: 12 mins, Total Distance: 4.09 mi from the Belleville fountain in the square at east and west main streets and north and south Illinois - 159.

" Starting at the fountain on S ILLINOIS ST go south - go 1.8 mi
" Turn Right on PARK RD - go 0.5 mi
" Turn Left on PARK RD - go 1.6 mi
" Turn Left on PARK RD at the stop sign - go 0.2 mi
" Arrive at YMCA Outdoor Center, 2437 PARK RD, BELLEVILLE, on the Right

You can also go down 158, Centerville Ave. Turn onto Mine Haul Road follow that to Park Road and turn right at the stop sign
Keep to the right after entering the grounds and proceed into the parking lot. We will be meeting in the large Lakeside Center Building straight ahead. The building is air conditioned and easy to access by a wheel chair. The Lakeside Center overlooks the lake and there is a balcony and seating around the back of the building. No swimming or boating allowed. Please, children must be kept under close supervision. There are no lifeguards and the beautiful lake can be very tempting.
Don't forget to bring your veil, and a pot luck dish. There is plenty of covered seating outside if you want to take in the view, weather permitting and if not there should be enough inside out of the weather which is where the meeting will be held. See you there!

Brenda

Here are the addresses for the online membership forms and the IDOA hive registration form.  Check the hive registration form for instructions on where to send it or bring your completed form to the meeting  

Link to "Join SCBA Membership Form" 

Link to " IDOA Apiary Registration Form"

Remember, we can only except cash, check, or money orders with your membership form.  See you at the meeting!

The sale of patches has slowed up a bit. Remember the patches make great gifts. I ironed one onto a couple of my hats. They stick better if you follow the directions and not iron on a porous surface like an ironing board cover or on a towel. I put a glass corning ware pot into the hat, and it fit like a glove. The heat reflected back to the patch and melted the glue beautifully. Using the round pan also helped keep the round hat shape. So far they have held on pretty good. - Brenda