5.09.2011

A Special Mother's Day Treat...

I had an early Mother's Day treat. My dear husband took me to Pella, IA to celebrate a little of my Dutch heritage and enjoy the tulips. Iowa is home to two communities where Dutch immigrants settled in the mid 1800's. The Dutch heritage remains strong in these communities and each spring they celebrate it with their own tulip festivals.

The tulip is my very favorite flower and the tulip beds were amazing to say the least. This post is somewhat picture heavy...enjoy!
The cobblestone streets are lined with tulips up and down it's sides. The historical society replants the bulbs every year to insure top quality blooms for the festival...lots & lots of work!The Scholte House tulip bed alone consisted of 32,000 tulip bulbs...and it is totally amazing.
Pella has a town square...something quite common in the southern parts of Iowa. The streets are lined with fun boutiques, dutch bakeries, butcher shops, a working 1850's grain wind mill, klokkenspel. The retail plaza (The Molengracht) has a dutch canal and working drawbridge that runs throughout the shopping area.
Did I mention who was along with Grandma and Grandpa? Yep, Beckham and his Mommy and Daddy joined us for the day.
Pretty flowers + Beckham ='s lots & lots of pics!!
The tulips were taller then Beckham.
Grandma was the paparazzi for the day...
Beckhams highlight of the day was the water fountain. We threw probably 50 cents worth of pennies in the fountain....lots & lots of wishes were made. After Grandma's purse was drained of pennies he realized he could extend the water fun by just picking pennies out of the fountain and toss them in again. It was getting to be lunch time and I wondered how we were going to peel him away from the fountain...but after some bargaining between Momma & Beckham we were on our way to enjoy a picnic of pizza at the town square park.
While eating our pizza I noticed Beckham had spotted a young girl with a small dog. Let's just say he was more interested in the puppy then the pizza. He was somewhat confused by the whole sitting on the grass thing and eating there too. So a couple bites into his pizza he got brave and tootled over to see the puppy. I'm just sitting there, camera in hand, knowing what's going to happen...
Yep, puppy dog kisses!
After our picnic someone was getting tired,
&
it was time to head home,
but not before stopping at the bakery...
You cannot go home without a dutch pastry or two, or three, or four...

Have a good day,

Brenda

18 comments:

Susan At Glen Oaks Primitives said...

Brenda, the tulips are breathtaking.
Your little grandson is a beautiful child. What a perfect Mother's Day,
to be with your daughter and she with you and her son. You took some awesome pictures. I like the one of your daughter and grandson in the tulips looking off to the right at something they spotted. A very lovely day to share with us.
Warm Regards,
Susan B., Western MA

MoonBeam said...

Beautiful photos from what was, I'm sure, a wonderful Mother's Day.

Bobbi

marly said...

What a lovely place! Looks like you had perfect weather for such a special day.

aprilmecheelesdulllife said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful Mother's Day! I was also with my grandbabies. Those tulips are beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

I have always wanted to go there, how exciting!! I am glad to hear you had a nice Mother's Day!

Debby said...

Wow, it really looks like Holland!!

Greetings from Debby,
the Netherlands

quiltsbycheri said...

I'm lucky to have a daughter-in-law of Dutch heritage, ummmm i agree the pastries are so good....she made me a "butterkoke" (know the spelling is wrong) for my birthday, it's my favorite....
Grandbabies always make outings more special.....

Karin said...

I had been to Holland, MI but didn't know there was this village in Iowa. I am Dutch living in the US for over 3 years now so it will be fun to go there on a road trip!

groeten (greetings) from Chicago!
Karin

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

By all the beautiful pictures it looks like you had a wonderful Mothers Day. What great memories you captured on your camera.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful day. Truly enjoyed it.
Prim Blessings
Robin

sunny said...

What a fun day! Thanks for sharing your fantastic photos with us.

Riet said...

I didn't know that there is a Dutch village in the USA, very funny. You have a sweet grandson and the weather on your pictures are the same as in ... Holland, very sunny (-:

Regards Riet (from Holland)

Linda said...

Oh, my, those pastries are to die for. I hope you ate your fill! My brother gets them via mail order occasionally and we pig out!

Dinie said...

Oh Brenda I did not know you have a Dutch heritage, I am Dutch, living in Texas, I must go and see this when we go to Minnesota to visit grand babies. You made me want some of those pastries... Thanks for sharing, Dinie

TheCrankyCrow said...

I'm not sure which made me drool more - the wonderful tulips, the beautiful scenery, or those PASTRIES!!! And what a little cutie pie Beckham is! What a memory-filled day! (And you did the Paparazzi proud!!) :o) Smiles & Hugs, Robin

Nancy said...

Looks like you had a perfect day! Your grandson is so cute! Thanks for sharing the pictures!

mdgtjulie said...

It looks like a good time was had by all. Glad you got together with the kids and grandkid for the day. The tulips are beautiful. I wish there was a festival near here!

Denise said...

I also got to attend this festival in Pella and got to enjoy all the things that you did. It was such a great time. Did you see the quilt show they had?

Qpatches said...

Brenda, Tis nice to see the Tulips in Pella[home of my hubby's family] they are all DUTCH on his mothers side. WE SO LOVE that neat town.
Did not make it up there this yr so FUN to see your pic's. Love seeing your grandson. PRECIOUS.