Pam’s Pictorama Post: Here in New Jersey, where Deitch Studio vacations, there is more opportunity for household items than in the tight confines of New York City’s base of action. Recently I picked this up online and had it sent to New Jersey. Honey is consumed in both places although I think of it more in New Jersey where we purchase it from local bees. I was pleased to find it waiting for me when we got here.

On the route which I (used to and hope to again) run, just beyond the dentist with a giant tooth out front, I would go past a pretty little old house on a main street sporting a sign declaring, The Bees Live Here and bottles of honey along with a cash tin so folks could leave cash and carry. Since I was always running I never bought it this way, but a friend who lives on a nearby block has purchased it for me.

I was thinking of this, in part, when I bought this honey holder. I have seen some of these come and go online and suddenly it just was my turn. I purchased it from @obscuraantiques from Mike Zohn who used to have a favorite establishment in Manhattan which I have written about and missed dearly. (One of those posts with the treasures within can be found here.)

These lumpy sort of homemade looking bees have legs that almost make them look like they are dancing on this faux weave container. There is a spot for the spoon. It is not large, only about five inches high and I have yet to introduce honey into it. Haven’t decided if I will or if it will just be on display in homage to the bees and their product.

Some readers may know about my affection for these hard working critters. I have shared the ring I had made by a jeweler friend, a large queen bee. She perches on a bit of honeycomb and attracts many compliments, sometimes even from folks on the street. (That post can be found here.)

Bees are quite busy here and my mother planted the garden (lots of choice flowers) in consideration of them and the birds. If I was here full time I would consider having a hive. It would probably be a bit of a disaster however so let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

I was working on the cucumber vines the other morning – turns out that cucumbers, as much as I love them, want to aggressively take over the yard, not to mention their immediate area. I am pleased they are so happy but the cabbages and zinnias won’t have a chance if I don’t discipline the cukes some. However, I had never realized that the bees like the pre-cucumber flower so much and frankly they did not appreciate my interference with their morning snack, so I have largely ceded the patch in deference to them.