Don't be surprised if you didn't know that I am keeping bees this year. I haven't even met the girls myself. They arrived through the postal service while we were on vacation and my friends installed them for me. I have made several plans to go see them but it keeps raining on those days. Plus our schedules seem to cancel each other out. I am supposed to go tomorrow afternoon but rain is possible again. I'd feel like such a bad beekeeper except that I know they are being well cared for. I would like to get a chance to get suited up and check out the hive and see them. I have never seen Buckfast and I am interested in their coloring. I know they won't be a beautiful light gold like my Italians were or thickly striped like my Carnolians. It is times like these I miss having a backyard. I used to just sit on the little rise in front of the hive and watch them come and go. You can see what they are working based on the color of the pollen in their baskets or if they are empty because they are pulling nectar instead. And I look around now and see what is in bloom and identify their favorites almost without thinking about it. I guess that is how I know bees are in my blood.