I love Mike's pattern. A caveat though. don't think - if you have a good winter - that you have mastered the process. there is a learning curve and I'm about 1/4 way through it. Having terrible survival this winter after great success last winter. I think it takes more skill than it seems when you read about it or watch his videos. Hard to replace 30 years of experience in 60 minutesThe guy that you need to pattern your program after is Mike Palmer. He has posted a lot of really good stuff on raising and then wintering (what I call) summer nucs. It takes some learned beekeeping skills but its sure doable.