The Extension Dream Is Real… But Can I Afford It? & I Catch My First Bee Swarm

This week at Little House on a Meadow, reality finally hits when I start planning my extension build in earnest. After receiving a range of quotations from local contractors, I quickly realise that my budget isn't going to stretch as far as I'd hoped. Faced with the choice of scaling back my plans or getting stuck in myself, I've decided to take on as much of the work as possible. The first job is breaking out an old concrete footpath to expose the storm water drainage before construction can begin. Using my architect's drawings and AI visualisation software, I transform the plans into realistic images of the finished extension, giving me a much clearer picture of what the completed project could look like. Just when I thought I had enough on my plate, the bees decided otherwise. Following the heartbreak of losing one colony during the June Gap, one of my remaining hives unexpectedly swarmed. Thankfully, this time I was able to catch them. With the swarm settling more than three metres away from the apiary, I had to transport the colony to Dan's house over three miles away to prevent them returning to their original hive. To avoid repeating last week's devastating loss, I also make sure both remaining colonies have access to food while forage remains scarce. Join me for another week of country living in rural Wales as I balance house renovation, beekeeping, self-sufficiency and life in the countryside. If you enjoy rural life, smallholding projects, home renovation, beekeeping, flower farming and slow living, I'd love to have you along for the journey. 👍 Like, comment and subscribe to follow the transformation of my little house on a meadow. #Beekeeping #ExtensionBuild #CountryLiving #RuralLife #SlowLiving #Smallholding #HouseRenovation #HoneyBees #BeeSwarm #SelfSufficiency #WelshCountryside #HomesteadLife #LittleHouseOnAMeadow #diybuild