No really, the bees are everything I expected and more.  It's like a hobby--- type science experiment.  I have read so many books and subscribed to the bee journal but nothing prepares you like really having them and gaining experience head on.   It is a hobby that I can see me enjoying for a very long time.  I can only hope I can learn as much and as fast as I can so I can in turn mentor someone else in this awesome experience.  I spend my evenings reading forums, articles and any or type of info I can on bees.  There are so many variables.  In one of my books it says that keeping bees is easier then a dog but more work then a cat.  The jury is out on that for me because I still have so much more to learn.  I can tell you this..... I can already see myself with loads more hives.    I really want to get with the guy who sold me the bees and spend a day on his bee farm helping him do whatever it is he does.   I think that would be amazing.
Can you see the bees have already  built up a bit of the frame? 



Second time using the smoker.  I learned an important lesson  I NEEDED MORE SMOKE.   I had a small smoldering fire.  The last time I smoked them I had toooo much smoke.   Lesson learned.