I got my old interface back!

I stopped by Groovy Girl yarn store for a little while because I needed her advice on a border with my blanket that I AM FINISHING! And she got this yarn in.....YUM.
the picture does not do it justice.

I LOVE IT.
Wonder what I could make with it. Something small, cuz it's a tad expensive. But YUM!
It is nice.

And while she was giving me all this great advice on a border.,,,

(these are just sneak peaks!)

she showed me how to use my old Blogger Interface!!!!

WOOHOOO!!!! I just don't have time to learn change right now. I'm preparing for a trip to Italy. (Yes Julie, you missed a post. My sister and I are taking our parents to Italy. And really, we aren't 'taking them' but they probably wouldn't go if we didn't go too.) I got yards to take care of and bees to keep and a house to build and dogs to attend to and dinner to cook! I do not have time to learn anything else besides Chow, Bonjourno, Grasseous, and Prego (which is not the sauce, it's please or thank you.... or something)

And I got a lot of posting to catch up on and I think I'm gonna do a special Italy blog just for fun. Why not? It's an adventure. Maybe I'll get my sister to do a post or two too.

Cindy Bee

More picture space for a blogger friend

Hey ladies,

A while back, one of you showed me where to buy more picture space. One of my blogger friends needs help with that, and I can't find it. Can someone help Ladybug Dreams please. Thanks.

Cindy Bee

Horton's and She Junks

On Friday I went with my friend, Teresa, to Tipton, IN to visit the Horton's open house.


They have taken an old hardware store, and without messing with the character of the store, put up old doors and windows all around one quarter of the store to form walls.

And they have all kinds of cool decorative ideas.

While I was getting ideas for my new craft room, someone said, "Hey! You're the bee lady. Hilltop Farm Bee Lady."

"Uummm yes, I am. How do you know me? I'm sorry I don't remember you."
"I'm Susie, She Junks. I read your blog."

"Oh yes, I know your blog," I said.

So, proper introductions were made, we chatted for awhile, I met her lovely daughter, she met my lovely friend, and we all shopped on.

I have to say I have met some very nice people, and made some great friends through blogging.

And look at all of these wonderful ideas.

I need doors, windows, and posts for walls. I need this room!

Cindy Bee

Preparing for winter

I got a comment from Fi the other day saying she wanted some of the old Christmas lights.

I was thinking Fi, you could knit some like I did! Then you don't have to worry about the old wiring. I have the pattern...somewhere...

After I was inspired (see last post) early Sunday morning, I realized I only had a few hours to finish a project for my sister. She bought a couple of hand made gifts from me for Christmas presents, and I had yet to finish them. So Dixie,

And Winston,

and I relaxed by the fire and I started knitting. It felt so good to knit again. aaahhhhhh

And I got the projects finished in time. A scarf for a young girl and a matching scarf for her American Girl doll. I also crocheted a couple of flowers for these little felt bags. All gifts for people on her gift list. She is giving everything local made or hand made this year. Sunday afternoon we went to her daughter's dance recital. Then to Barnes & Noble bookstore to peruse the magazines. I'm so addicted. Anyway, Sunday was a relaxing day, but...

So much for relaxing....Today I was talking to a friend on the phone and as I was doing some housework, making the bed, I gasped right in the middle of the conversation.

Is this fuzz or mouse poo?!?! Lordy people... I couldn't tell. I got a tissue and picked it up and threw it in the toilet. Then I stripped the bed immediately, put the sheets in the wash, and tonight I had My Shug help me take the mattress off the bed. Lest any creature be in my mattress. If he's there, he wasn't stirring....(get it - tee hee - not a creature was stirring not even a mouse!) Ok, not funny. I'm drinking wine so excuse please. I'm hoping the wine will help me sleep tonight.

Anyway, today was a beautiful day, in the 40's, with sunshine. But remember the storm I told you about that we had the other day? We not only lost power, but we lost a few trees in that storm.

And one of them fell in my bee yard. My Shug and I spent a couple of hours on Friday night cutting them up and stacking them for wood.

And as you can see, the end of the tree landed on this hive. I was not happy.

You see, bees cluster in the winter to stay warm. If that cluster is broken, they will freeze to death. Well, I still had hope for them since it was the end of the tree, but....when I went back in a couple of days, the top was off the hive. Now, every single one of my hives have bricks on top of them to discourage animals from opening the hive. All of them, except this one. Why? Why wasn't I thinking? Because when I went back, the top was completely off of this hive and on the ground. I don't know if it had been that way for an hour or a day, but since today was nice out, I decided to do final preps for winter and check this hive.

Dead. And from the looks of things...I can't tell if they froze to death or starved to death. There was a lot of honey in the super above this cluster. I don't know....I just know they are dead. So sad.

Now, this is a candy board. I don't make these, I order these from another beekeeper friend for $27.50 each.

I bought four of them because I have four hives that do not quite have enough honey to get them through the winter. These boards go on the inside top of the hive. When the bees have eaten all of the honey all the way to the top of the hive, throughout the winter,

they will start in on the candy board.

I hate opening their hives this time of year, because it breaks the seal they made to keep their hives from getting cold air in them. So I re-seal the hives with shrink wrap.

Here is a close up view. The plain wood is the candy board. It doesn't look like it in the picture, but that top lid is over the inner cover and it's all wrapped clear up underneath that top cover.

So they should be nice and warm, and hopefully they'll have plenty of room. The only thing left to do is relax by the fire, and knit, or crochet, and wait for spring.

Cindy Bee

Happy Koala's Crafts

I would like to introduce you to

Happy Koala's Crafts

She is my cousin's wife from Japan. You remember when I asked you all to pray for them during the earthquake? Well she is great with scrapbooking crafts and makes beautiful cards. And she has decided to start a blog.

Please stop by and say Hi!

Cindy Bee

Horton's of Tipton

On Saturday, after my cousin gave me a perm, we went to Horton's of Tipton.

My friend Teresa went with us. I was going to show you the decorating style at Horton's

and all of the beautiful inspiration.

But Rebecca Ersfield was there,

and you can go to her blog and see much better pictures than what I can take with my camera.

Click here to see her pics.

I also met Pattie and Tia, from The Shabby Chick blogspot. And after looking at her blog, she has better pictures of the show than I do too, so click here to see her photos. I'm thinking I need a new camera.

How fun to spend the day with friends, and meet fellow Blogger friends.

Cindy Bee

Honey, Granny Bee, Mats!

Guess what I've been up to.....

Yup...it's honey. To see a post I did last year on how I process it, click on this.

And guess who I got a visit from the other day?

The Granny Bee!!! Along with the tree, she threw in some of those little lights for the tree.

Thank you Beth.

And remember I told you RJ and I met janis from Just Breathe Janis the other day? Well, after coffee with janis, we met my Sister for lunch.

And I had been making my sister some "mats" for her birthday.

You see, my Sister has a friend who is from England, or some such place, and they don't say rugs or coasters...they say mats. Or at least she does...this person from England. So we've decided to call them mats too. I made a mat out of variegated yarn, large enough for a pitcher...so I suppose it would be a pitcher mat. And then I made smaller mats for her glasses. I didn't get them all finished by her birthday and I had the last one in my purse. When we were having coffee, I pulled it out of my purse. And when I did, RJ was laughing at it...wasn't she Janis?"....tell the truth....she was making fun of it. And I said, "you can make fun of it all you want, my sister will use it."

And when we met my sister for lunch, I gave it to her, and she set it right under her drink! So ppphhhbbbbtttttt....RJ!

And btw, they make nice, quick, easy gifts...little beer, wine, iced tea, soda mats. I think I shall make a whole stack of them! I knitted the mat and crocheted the edge.

Oh yes, and now I think I shall start calling shopping carts..trollys...it appears that's what the English do. Gasp! I just realized, we're learning a new language!

Cindy Bee

Throwin' out the welcome mat!

Whilst I'm busy minding my own business, entertaining my cousin from TEXAS, who is staying with me for a couple of weeks, introducing her to the blog world, there are some bloggers discussing the 'uniqueness' of residents from the "Looney Tune Lone Star State!" Gasp girls...is this the way us Hickville Hoosiers roll out the welcome mat! Come awn y'all be niiice.....

And speaking of throwing out, er, I mean rolling out the welcome mat....and meeting new bloggers and such....let me just say....some lil' Happy Rosey blogger, blogging about vintage campers, unknowingly started a little brou ha ha. Seems she got RJ all riled up about this camper idea again. Now RJ is blaming my Shug for crushing her dreams! And putting it out there for all to read....My poor Shug! And this cake chick lady, who I have barely met by the way, is staging a sit in...on our property!!! Read RJ's comments! LAW people! (Spam-per Debbie M? too funny My Shug loves SPAM)

While y'all are sitting back enjoying these pics of our "camper heaven" (via my blog mind you)

my cousin's taking me out to show me how TEXANS pro-tect their pro-per-tee...

right after we dig out the cowboy boots, get our hair poofed, and drink some beer! She says to tell y'all this ain't her first rodeo, ya know!

oh yeah- speaking of footwear and such, should I keep these shoes? I can't decide. I've been wearing mostly Keen's because they feel good on my feet. And these are Keens...

and what about the hose??? should I keep them too? (snicker snicker)

Cindy Bee

Unplanned meeting at the Panera...Snow Fatigue!

So...back to the fab store. When Granny Bee got ready to leave, she turned around and pointed her finger at me and said, "Cindy, you need to start enjoying winter. You just need to snuggle in and do some crafts and relax because summer will be here before you know it." Really? Summer will be here before I know it?....Oh good...when? And when I asked if I could take a picture of her pointing that finger at me she said no!

So, I've been thinking...why was last year the best winter ever, (I remember telling someone that) and this one is not so fun? Well, the weather lady said everyone has "Snow Fatigue" this year. It's a new term they made up. She said we've had a foot more snow already this year than what we usually have all season. And we haven't seen the sun in days. The only other thing I can think of right now is the fact that I'm not getting out much with friends. Oh I'm getting out... library, bank, grocery store... but I'm not getting out and laughing and having fun with friends. Every now and then a persons gotta get out.

I happened to check my e-mail this morning, and there was one from TH (Places Where Grace Is blogspot) asking me if I'd like to meet her and the Queen (Queen of Whatever blogspot) for lunch TODAY. I didn't know if I could make it. I already had appointments... a mammogram, the bank, the car wash, and I was going out tonight with my Dad and Sister and I had to dress up. I e-mailed back and told her I would try, depends on how long I'm at the Women's Ctr. (please pray for a clean mammo. I've had lumps before, so I get nervous about them.)

But make it, I did. And I had fun. I laughed and laughed. Do you know that laughter is good for the soul? It's also good for Snow Fatigue! It was especially funny when the Queen sort of sloshed coffee on TH's computer (it was closed) and she started grabbing napkins and wiping up coffee furiously..before TH saw her. But I think she kind of did it on purpose. You see, the Queen, being the Queen, is not used to being bossed around by people who just, well you know, live in the village. And at one point during lunch, TH asked the Queen to go get her some coffee! Yikes! I said nary a word. The queen and I exchanged looks. You know the one. The surprised wrinkled forehead big eye look!

But then, she did go get the coffee. I dunno....

(did you know you can put your digital camera up to a mirror - say like in your bathroom - and you can see the "view window" in the mirror?)

And I kind of think TH might have some symptoms of Snow Fatigue. She wanted me to have a new background for my blog, but she certainly made no secret of the fact that she did not like anything I was picking out. And when I first opened my computer and handed it to her, she pushed it back and said, "here, SIGN ON."

Um okay...

Now, no one told me it was show and tell day, but luckily I had the foresight to grab a couple of grannies before I left the house.

Queen: It's too loose, what size are you using, you need a 5.5

Me: Well, I think it's a G.

Queen: What's the number?

Me: No number...just a G.

Queen: There's gotta be a number. It's gonna stretch out way too much when you put it on the bed. Use a 5.5

Me: I'll check for a number when I get home, but I can't use a smaller needle on that blue yarn. It's really big yarn.

Queen: I think you can (Snow Fatigue?).

later...at home...the only numbers I see on it is 45c (tee hee)

Then TH takes out her fingerless mitts that she made. I didn't get a picture of them, but maybe she'll post them on her blog if we ask her nicely. Then she hands me a bag and says, "here, this is for you."

"For me?"

"wow I love it."

"I want you to roll it on your mechanical winder."

"ooooh okaaay. It's not really FOR me. I get it."

I think the Queen was a little offended at this because she wanted to know what was wrong with the way her Assistant makes yarn balls. Then TH got all nervous when I started talking about how I hope my dog doesn't pee on it, he has you know...peed on my yarn. Then I said I might try making a granny square or two with it on a 5.5 hook before I give it back! I was cracking myself up. I really was.

Then it was the Queen's turn. Ahem....as if we didn't notice the hat on her head already...she only commented on it several times. She even mentioned that she thought several people at Panera were looking at it. Really? Do you think..

She really didn't want me to show this picture because the hat looks like a big bubble...kind of full...but it wasn't at all. She informed us she had to alter the pattern to fit her micro-sized head. Her exact words. She didn't say it in a pompous queen sort of way, just in a matter-of-fact way. What she didn't hear me say, because everyone was talking at once was, "hmmm, that reminds me of the time I was with a friend who asked, "do these jeans make my butt look too SMALL!" Yes folks, my friend really did say that. Thirty years ago. I never forgot it. I quit hanging with her. She wouldn't say it now... ahem...just sayin'....

Oh my gosh, this lady just said dammittohell on the Hallmark Channel. I thought only my family said that word! really? That's a nationally known word?

Anyway, my time was cut short because my Shug called. He came home from work sick today. He's still sick. He's already called in to work tomorrow. Poor guy. Then my Dad got here and we were getting ready to leave. He told me he felt like he was going to throw up, and he was real tired. I said, "maybe you better go home." He said he'd like to. So much for going out with Dad and Sis tonight. I stayed home. And I looked outside a few minutes ago and this is what I see....

ASK

ME

IF

I

CARE!

Good night...sleep tight...

Cindy Bee

UPDATE: I just got a call from the hospital at 8:30 a.m Friday. My mammo is negative! WOOHOO. It's gonna be a good weekend. And I hear my Shug upstairs taking a shower. Thank you God.