Honey, honey (do do do do doo do)

The first step is cutting away the wax capping over the honey. This honey is much lighter than the one on the main page--maybe from a different hive? maybe those bees preferred certain plants? or it was created earlier or later in the season when only certain flowers were available? i have no idea.

Lore de-capping and collecting wax

The extractor. Four uncapped frames sit in, then you spin a bunch, flip them over, and spin some more. Centripedal/Centrifugal force does most of the work.

Benski spinning some honey

I could have sat there and watched this for hours.

Just be glad I didn't post all the extreme close-up, eye-strain-inducing photos that I took...

Bees! I think these were the Italians. Photo courtesy of John (and the following ones as well)

Removing frames from the hive

Gently (gently!!) trying to remove bees from frame

Placing the bee-less frame in an empty box. The goal was to minimize the number of bees that would get into the garage/extraction room, where they could get trapped.

An empty jar shows off one of Kyli's brilliant "Bee Barf" brand labels.