Hi! I'm a Canadian new-bee and I call myself an "accidental beekeeper." I'm definitely feeling jealous of you guys in the south working away with your bees...
My husband and I started keeping bees 2 summers ago when a swarm set up shop in one of the exterior walls of my house. Knowing nothing about bees at the time, my husband put on his rubber rain suit, wrapped a sheet around his face, put on a hat and went to work, while I passed him smoking sticks...it was pretty ridiculous but we got it done (glad I have a video). At the time, we set the bees up in a old cabinet and later transferred them to a brood box. I was delighted when they overwintered. Now, I'm obsessed.
Since then we've had 3 swarms arrive at the same spot on the house. I like to think that the bees chose us. Everything was going great - the bees were doing great! But then, in the fall, a bear destroyed everything and we lost them all...It was a really really awful sight and a very sad day.
I'm looking forward to starting again with two nucs and an electric fence in the spring. I'm taking a course and just found this forum to help me learn.
And ofcourse, I'm hoping for another swarm...