Coming Up Tulips

This was "take 2" after I told him he had to smile

If you know me well, you know I can't tell an Anemone from a Freesia (I had to Google to get those flower names). Sure, I do know some of the everyday flowers, daisies, carnations, roses, and lilacs. Plus the other much recognized flower - the tulip. I must say, though they don't last long, tulips are in my "favorite flower" top five. Don't ask me to name the rest - I know them when I see them!

A couple springs before my mom died, she asked me to take a Friday to travel with her to Pella to see the town and the tulips. I'd never visited the town before. It was something Mom had always wanted to do. As a young mom, I had barely heard of the place - let alone flowers! Amy would have been ten and Jud around six years old then.

My trip with Mom at Chandon - bubbly factory

It was a gorgeous spring day - sun shining, with the temp in the low 70's. We went to the Pella Historical Museum - a place I've never visited since. Mom loved history and foreign lands. After Mom and Dad visited Scotland with their longtime friends Harv and Joyce Whisler. She enticed Dad with golf. After that, she took each of her daughters on a trip.

• Betsy (around age 15 at the time) to England - and maybe Ireland. Mom always booked with a travel company. On a trip like that, you get to know your fellow travelers well. After their return, they entertained us with stories of a loopy woman in their group named something like Margie Dinkledine. She was always missing the bus and losing things. In other words - the polar opposite of our mom. 
• Cindy to Europe - Germany, France and more? Cindy still talks fondly of their trip. 
• Susi and Mom to Greece. That was the summer of 1979? I took care of Susi's dog, Mac, while they were gone. 
• Mom and I to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland in 1983. Our tour group was old - I believe I was the youngest person on the trip. It was fabulous - my favorite parts were Norway fjords and Copenhagen. 

Mom and I were good traveling companions. By then she was good about not smoking inside. I wish she would have had the willpower to quit altogether. We also traveled to NE Iowa and took a trip from SE Washington State down the coast to San Francisco together. Priceless memories. 

Every time I go to Pella, I think of Mom. It had been a while since I'd been in town when the tulips were blooming. Friday I felt them calling to me - and talked Paul into heading there. It's about an hour drive. It was another lovely sunny day in the 60s with light wind. Not all the tulips were in bloom, but many were showing their stuff! 

The central park is where most of the tulip action is. The colors were vibrant and there were many styles. It was a feast for my eyes and my memories. We attempted to visit the delicious Jaarsma bakery there - but the line was nearly out the door. I didn't need goats legs that badly! 

I did bribe Paul into going by telling him we could stop in Bondurant - just east of Des Moines on our way back. They have a nice brewpub we don't usually go to - Reclaimed Rails. I like the place because of the beer - but also because they reuse materials throughout their place. The deck is made from wood from Adventureland, a nearby amusement park. Pretty cool! 

The town of Bondurant also brings back good memories. As we drove in on surface roads from the east, I told Paul about how I rode with my friend Sal's dad Wayne Rodgers to deliver my horse Jack to Les Walker, a horse trainer somewhere over here. We went by a stable as we drove. I loved being Wayne's horse side-kick! One month later we drove back to get my three-year-old sorrel gelding. He he'd mostly been cured of rearing and was cantering more slowing - but would never have that rocking horse gait that Sally's Miss Viscosity did. Jack turned out to be a very good boy! What a lucky girl I was to have Wayne in my life to help make having a horse possible. 

Recovery Time

If you know me well then you know that Marco Island is my happy place. Since the late 1980's Paul and I have been visiting the Gulf Coast southern Florida island. For the past ten or so years, we've rented a place in the Gulfview building that Mom and Dad owned a condo in. It's not the fanciest place, but it brings back many memories and checks all the boxes - pool, beach and functional living space.

It was a long winter in Iowa! Cold and snowy. Work has been busy and yes, a bit stressful. We've been updating our master bathroom - and I missed soaking in my tub since mid-February. I couldn't way to get to Marco on April 4th! Our partners in fun were again Cindy and Colby.

Don't we all look happy! 

First stop - as usual, Crazy Flamingo! Nothing like a pound of Peel and Eat shrimp to start the day. The group also ate what looked to be some of the best Oysters on the Half Shell - if one like slurping snot. We went to Winn Dixie for groceries after that - stocking up for the week of relaxation.

Paul and Colby had a couple fishing dates lined up. Colby does the honors of talking to the captains to set them - he loves fish talk as much as Paul enjoys talking to fellow hunters. For example, just this morning, we were sitting at the counter at the Waveland when I heard a turkey gobbler behind me! Paul's eyes lit up and he turned right around to talk to the guy who was listening to that on his phone. they exchanged turkey hunt stories joyously.

They caught some cool fish both days deep sea fishing and backwater. They had a blast - and the weather cooperated nicely. We took the fish to the Sand Bar for a feast - delish, cooked in a variety of ways: blackened, breaded, and Cajun.

Our fish feast - Colby/Paul

This year, the island was undergoing a beach reshaping project - pumping sand from the Gulf onto a large portion of the beach, adding 3 to 4 foot of height. The project will help reduce ponding with algae and improve sea turtle nesting.

When we arrived the crew was right next to the Gulfview at the Resident's Beach, piling up sand, to later push it out into a smooth surface. It reminded me a little of watching work at Iowa's landfills - with sand instead of trash. Large hauling trucks and Caterpillars pushing. I was amazed at how fast they moved - as they were down the beach in no time.

Cindy, Paul and I remember when Marco's beach first underwent a beach improvement project. The first time we visited, the beach looked nothing like it does today. There was even concrete walkway where the water lapped up near the condo properties. The massive project took place sometime in the late 1980's - adding 30 yards or so onto some stretches of beach out to the Gulf. Quite a change! We love the beach and are glad steps are being taken to manage it.

Walking on a beach is one of my favorite things to do. The Gulfview is situated near the middle of the beach. We alternative going north and south, depending on where we stop when we go north. It's about 9,000 steps each way - around 4 miles, some in loose sand, some uneven near the water. Some people walk barefoot - they are made of tougher stuff than I! I wear my tennies.

When Colby was in town (his vaca only lasted five days) and he and Paul weren't going on a guided fishing trip, he got up to fish off the shore up north by Tiger Tail. He never walks with the old folks. We always walk down the stairs - which isn't too impressive when we stay on the 4th floor. Paul goes with us - but always manages to go faster and Cindy and me. So she and I walk and chat - about everything. I love those talks with my sis. She just turned 65 y'all! I know - she's looking great for an old bat. haha

View from the south walk 

When the walk is done, we go back to the condo and hang out, eat lunch and get ready to go to the pool. It's important to score pool spots that have shade!

We went out for Cindo's bday to our fave restaurant the Little Bar in Goodland. Three orders of Grouper Almondine and Paul got Blackened Shrimp. The salad dressing and rolls are so delish. Plus Key Lime Pie for dessert - and best yet, Colby bought!

We always hate to see Colby leave, but he is a busy restaurant manager in Vail. Delivery day was Tuesday which started out rainy anyway! Once the precious baby boy was delivered (I'm sure Paul died a little - losing his fishing/guy pal) we decided to be tourists. We visited the Edison/Ford museum/winter home. It was very interesting. It was Cindo's actual 65th birthday. The tour guide was unfunny - which made us laugh.

Edison home

Bday girl - in her "the tour guide is a goof" pose

 The rest of the week was pretty uneventful - just how we like it! Usually, after 10 days, I'm ready to go home. Somehow this year, I felt like dragging my feet. Still - those plane tickets required us to show up. Iowa weather has improved - it's nice seeing the sun!

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter! We were able to get out in the kayaks yesterday and are heading to Webster City for a meal with some of the Goldsmith fam!