I Have The Best Friends……..

Honeybees depend not only on physical contact with the colony, but also require its social companionship and support.  Isolate a honeybee from her sisters and she will soon die.
 ~ The Queen Must Die and Other Affairs of Bees and Men

You have seen this quote a few times here on my blog and you will probably see it a few times more as it truly encompasses my feelings on the close knit world of fiber people. 

I have been in some sort of a funk lately.  Maybe it is the change in the season or getting over that darn bug , but I have had a hard time finding my fiber mojo….other than mindless spinning.  Actually I have had a hard time all around lately………maybe it is menopause (eeekkkk).

Anyhoo, today when I went to pick up my mail there was a very little package waiting for me…..and inside that little package was THE most perfect little BEE pin.  After I gasped, I looked at Ken and told him that I have the most incredible friends.

Last week I caught a glimpse of this little bee pin on Anne's blog and swooned when I saw it.  I know…….it is hard to believe that anyone would swoon over a BEE…….but if you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know I am that grrl.  Anne being the wonderful friend that she is, sent me the sister to her bee as a surprise and I truly love it….thank you Anne!

Normally I do not post pictures of gifts as they are expressions of friendship amongst friends, but the last few months have brought some of the dearest things to me that I really wanted to share them………..they make me smile.

A number of months ago, Margene sent me a little package out of the blue.  In that little package was the Mary Janes Farm magazine that was dedicated to Bees and such sundry affairs.

In side the magazine are fabulous recipes using honey, Bee keeping stories and even an article by Sue Monk Kidd, the author of "The Secret Life of Bees". 

Along with the magazine was a hefty jar of honey from one of Margene's local bee farms, along with a small bag of THE best ever caramels. (the caramels are missing from the picture………the are THE best caramels ever..how could I resist)

Another friend, blogless Gail, also sent me a copy of this magazine.  It so touches my spirit that my friends think of me when they see something BEElike that I would love…

Thank you Margene and Gail!!!!

As you know Ken and I journeyed to NY to stay with Dan and Jean recently.  Daniel was kind enough to give up his bedroom for us and Jean had a super welcoming gift on the bedside table for me…

First there was this great magazine that Hobby Farm Home put out recently about the plight of the
honeybee.  There is a good article in the magazine regarding a particular sunflower that attracts honeybees.

The Lemon Queen Sunflower affords lots of protein packed pollen for bees and is the star of the Great Sunflower Project for 2009. 

What they ask you to do is plant this particular sunflower and when it blooms you are to count the number of bees it attracts in a half hour or less.  The goal for each bee spotting session is 5 bees.

Jean also included a little yellow hive shaped pot and a package of Lemon Queen Sunflower seeds that are going in the garden Saturday……thank you Jean!

Earlier in the winter, I received a little package from one of my favorite blog readers…Jody.  Jody had emailed me for my address telling me that she had made something for me.  A few weeks went by, so when I went to the post office I was completely unprepared for what awaited me. 

Jody had handmade this little Bee Bag for me.  It is the perfect size to put circular needles in or jewelry when going away, but instead it sits here on my office desk as a reminder of how lucky I am to have some of the nicest friends in all of the world.

If you click on the picture you can see the beeutiful bead work that Jody put into this little bee…..it makes me smile every day.  Thank you Jody!! (how did she know I was Irish??)

Lastly and most recently is this beeutiful Milk and Honey pitcher that my dear friend Terry sent me the link to. (thank you Terry!!)

Terry and I both love Arthur Wood and his sheepy designs, but when she sent me the link for this milk jug………well………..you know it had to be mine.  I LOVE it.  If any of you ever see any matching pieces to this little jug…please give me a shout.

Writing this post has been so therapeutic for me.  Sometimes when one is feeling a bit down in the dumps, karma sends you a big warm smile and reminds you of all the wonderful things you have to be thankful for.  I am forever thankful for the fabulous sisters of the hive!

Thank you GRRLs!!