Of course, no room would be complete without a significant section of plaster repair.
The vision for this included the sconces but not in their original location. Along with their relocation, we added outlets along the external wall. After removing the trim, we found old newspaper used as filler and insulation. These baseboards may have been placed sometime around 1928.
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Next up we have Ellie’s room. When she was born, Ellie’s nursery was painted in neutral colors with a stencil on the wall. We had to leave that magnificent work behind when we moved to New York but we’ve finally been able to bring her wall back. Many of her original nursery design elements remain in the light fixture and dresser but, unfortunately, the furniture manufacturer went out of business so we were unable to convert the crib to a bed or purchase a nightstand. I think it’s safe to say Ellie is okay with the headboard she has now and we’re handy enough here at Sandy Creek Manor to recreate the look of the dresser into a custom nightstand. Man, Ellie, you really lucked out here.
We brought the furniture back in, replaced the toddler bed with a full, added new window treatments and some other décor and presented it to Ellie. She was in awe of the room and so taken aback that she spent the first night sleeping in her sister’s room. I guess she had to let the excitement run its course before attempting to get a good night’s rest in her new room. Winter is upon us. The bees are tucked away, the air bites with cold and snow covers the ground. I can't think of a better place to work than inside, much lower risk of frostbite. Where to start? By renovating a bathroom which was sorely in need of attention. Who puts carpet in a bathroom?Put your best foot forward, we start at the end. No, I didn't tear that out, this is the product of Kristin's vision and my blood sweat and tears... well, mostly blood.
The completed bathroom is not the showcase room in the house. We've tried to bring back the feel of the early 1900s in this bathroom with the wood trim and push button light switches. As we expand our renovations to include other rooms, we will continue these updates throughout the house. I'm happy to announce this bathroom is now known as 'jade bathroom.'
Late Season Swarm
Timber We’re almost finished with the cherry tree that fell during the wind storm. Another five feet were collected from the tree and all that remains is a stump from which we’re not likely able to get any boards. We also milled a poplar tree from our grounds. The longer section is 9’4” and 18 inches wide, the shorter portion is 82 inches long and 13 inches wide. Unfortunately, poplar isn’t great for making boxes but we’ll make some interior décor pieces from it. The Family Of course, family plays a big part at Sandy Creek Manor and we’d never forget the children of Sandy Creek. We celebrated Ellie’s 4th birthday on Independence Day and were able to watch a wonderful fireworks display. Ellie received her very own motorcycle to match her daddy and two very special Princess Elsa dresses to play dress up with Alice. Swarming started late this year due to the unseasonably cold weather. We didn’t get anything in before the apple blooms disappeared but we’ve been pretty active since. So far we’ve gotten five swarm calls. We hope for more but we’re quickly running out of space.
Unfortunately, I received a sting in my leg through my clothes which hasn’t turned out well. It appears as though I may be slightly allergic to honey bees. Looks like I’ll need better protective clothing from now on.
Our inspections so far have shown our queens are laying well. The swarms have taken to their new hives and they’re nearly ready to be supered. They’re building up on black locust nectar and soon will be onto sumac. Hopefully we’ll get some of that superb black locust honey; I’ve heard it’s a real treat! Starting with drawn comb and a wealth of rainfall compared to last year, we’re looking forward to a large harvest this year. Our bees aren’t the only ones working diligently this spring, Sandy Creek Manor is a flurry of activity, or, at least, attempted activity. We begin with swarms. Swarms are the colonies method of reproducing more hives. A new queen is made for the existing colony and the old queen leaves with half the bees to start a new hive. At Sandy Creek, we offer removal of swarms to ensure they do not take up residence in areas such as people’s homes, sheds or barns and ensure the bees are not killed by exterminators. We have received multiple calls this year, some rather difficult to collect. Sandy Creek Manor Timber
With the departure of the last snowfall of the season, or so we hope, we set to work in the apiary. A new hive stand will be added this year upgrading on our previous design. Additional work space has been provided on either side of the hives to help with organization. The stand is made of hem-fir which offers slight rot resistance without pressure treating.
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