The second in my group of 2017 Winter cabled hats. This one was made for Bob the Beekeeper using Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage in color Brick Dust. Hearing Bob and my sister talk about their bees made me do some research into their fascinating BEE-havior (the bees’ - not Barbara and Bob’s behavior!) and inspired this bit of “Bee-Fantasy:”

A Scout’s Tale

Our Queen has left, and following along
Came half the hive - ten thousand strong
Surrounding her on nearby tree
And all their lives depend on me.

For I was born to be a Scout
A daring bee to search about
And find a home when we must swarm,
A place to keep our Queen from harm.

And so I journey on my quest
To find the perfect place to nest
Knowing that the time is short
To save our Queen and her consorts.

At last I find the perfect place
For the new hive - a safe, dry, space
The hollow of a large oak tree
A regal home for our Queen Bee!

So I return back to the swarm
And to my fellow bees inform
What I have found by lucky chance
By showing them my Waggle Dance:

First waggle run, then circle right
To tell them of my daring flight
Then waggle run, and circle left -
A daring Scout and dancer deft.

And soon the news begins to spread
The others dancing in my stead
As I now soar unto the sky
To show the bees which way to fly.

They all now follow in my wake
Ten thousand strong, the trip to make,
To bring the Queen to her new home
Where we shall build our honeycomb.