Thank you!

[Perry]

I have been incredibly busy since my return from Iddee's and I haven't had much time to reflect or post about the trip (yet). I haven't even had time to download my pictures. I had about 30 emails and multiple phone messages to deal with plus attend to some of my own stuff. I have 391 queens arriving Wednesday afternoon (350 Kona and 41 Cali) and I will be going to the airport, receiving them and then making sure they are distributed accordingly. Next week do it all over again, till the week of May 15th.

I would like to say however, that I had an absolute blast hanging out with Iddee, and all the gang at Beez Needz, they treated me like family. I would also like to mention and thank all the great folks I met, many of them forum members that went out of their way and busy schedules to hang out for a visit. Iddee, CBT, cover it up, Mikey, and Zulu, and thanks for the gifts folks (cover it up, you're one crazy guy  ). I will always remember the time I got to spend with you. It may not have been long time, but it was certainly unforgettable.

Mrs. Iddee was a sweetheart too, hard to figure, being married to Iddee for 48 years. But lest you figure Iddee is all rough around the edges, they had taken in a pregnant stray cat that had kittens in their house. I have pictures of 4 kittens, 3 black with no tail (not sure if Iddee bit them off), and 1 calico type with a tail, eyes are all just opened. Big hearts always find room.

I got to go to a Bee club meeting and listen to a great state bee inspector make a presentation. It was food night that evening and I had yet another great feed.

I can now say I've had grits (it's good with honey), part of a frogs leg (taste's like chicken but I don't care - ugh), venison and pork sausages, crappy (chew chew chew cause there's bone galore), and hush puppies as well.

The country side is amazing, and they are in the middle of a major swarming event there, phones were ringing.
Without a doubt, North Carolina's folks are the most polite people I've met. I have never been called "sir" so many times.

[LazyBkpr]

Mrs. Iddee was a sweetheart too, hard to figure, being married to Iddee for 48 years.

   I have spent considerable time pondering that...   What I finally came up with to put my own mind at ease.. was that opposites attract, and that they balance each other out???   

   Sounds like a good time Perry, glad you enjoyed it. Wifes home for a week, so i am getting nothing done that NEEDS doing, but next week I will be back at it hard.  Hope you get caught up!!!   Looking forward to pictures!
   Scott

[riverbee]

thank you perry!  when you have time to share stories/pix, will look forward to it!

[Zulu]

It was fun meeting you and all the others that we mostly know through the forum.

Sorry it was so short, as my focus was on my Boy Scout fundraiser that weekend.

Huge thanks to Kieth and his Beez Needz crew for hosting and feeding us......... I don't know why , but I keep wanting to call them Beez Knees , and Kieths knees  are probably not a pretty sight 

Perry it was a pleasure meeting you.

Rick

[neillsayers]

Welcome back Perry!

The country side is amazing, and they are in the middle of a major swarming event there, phones were ringing.
Without a doubt, North Carolina's folks are the most polite people I've met. I have never been called "sir" so many times.

That's the south, Perry. I was raised to call all older adults Mr or Mrs until told otherwise. I still address all women as ma'am, no matter what age, including my bride and daughters.

[efmesch]

Perry, I feel a lot better now, having  heard from you about your visit.
One doesn't have to read between the lines to understand that you had a REAL SUPER DUPER visit with Iddee and friends and enjoyed every minute of your stay.
It sounds like the kind of a "vacation" every one would like to have,  meeting new people, seeing new places and doing what you like to do best.  You really deserved it and I am very glad for you.
The best vacations are those after which you feel like you need a few more days of vacation in order to recover.  Too bad you're going to have to postpone that recovery vacation for a good while as you make sure that your season develops as it should.
Here's hoping that all you have lined up in your schedule gets done as well as possible.

[cover it up]

perry thank you for coming to NC was a good time of the year to come own down. hope we all can do it some other time hope you get all the queens home safe will post some pic . hope iddee did not weep at the air port we all will miss you being here with us. thanks for coming will keep you close

[Mikey N.C.]

It was our pleasure meeting you, we all had a great time. Thanks Keith & Sylvia .

[Perry]

Iddee didn't weep at the airport, except maybe in happiness (at being able to go home and get some sleep, he dropped me off some early in the am). He was great, picking me up every morning at the B&B and dropping me off each night (except the last one where we had to get up so early, I crashed in his office).