Tiptoeing through the Tulips

 Woke up early this morning.  It was a big day for me because I was released to take an actual shower...not the sponge bath that I have been taking since my fall.  While Carol took his shower, I did my Bible Study.  When he was finished, he came out and said, "You are not taking a shower."  What?  I had been looking forward to this shower and I desperately wanted to take a shower.  He said there is no safety mat or anything in the tub to prevent a fall.  It is too slick and I don't want you to fall.  That is the care I have been receiving from him since I fell.  He is definitely a keeper and I so appreciate the care he has given me.  Anyway, we drove to a Meijer and purchased a mat so I could take a shower.  It felt so good.  Finally, after nearly three weeks, I felt really clean and fresh!

That began a day of miles and miles of tulips.  We actually walked over three miles today admiring tulips in every color.  Holland, Michigan was founded in 1847 by a group of Dutch settlers.  They settled on the banks of the Black Lake and Lake Michigan as more groups from the Netherlands followed.  Since then, Holland has literally blossomed into a city as diverse and beautiful as the tulips that represent it.  Today nearly five million tulips city wide attracte visitors from around the world. 

Our first stop was called "Immersion Display."  The tulips were displayed at eye level and we were able to walk between the displays of the tulips.

O

This working windmill is on Windmill Island; however, it was a mile walk to and from the windmill so we opted to take a picture from a distance.

One lonely goose enjoyed the peace of the waterway.

Our second stop was Windows on the River.  It features tulips displayed along a path along the river.  I took the windmill picture from one of those walkways.  It turned out to be a beautiful day so the walkways were crowded.

Out last stop was Veldheer Tulip Farm.

Thousands of tulips were on display in a huge field.  Name a color or a variation of a color and you could find a tulip of that color here.  They had chairs placed all over the field so Carol and I found a couple at the edge of the field and plopped ourselves into them.  We sat for 45 minutes just admiring the tulip view and enjoying the shade and cool wind blowing.  Our  feet appreciated the kindness we showed them.

This was one of our favorites.  Each display had a sign with a number on it.  We were given booklets showing the name of the tulip with their corresponding number.  You could place an order for that tulip and it would be shipped to you in the fall.  These displays was in reality a living catalog of tulips.  It was a beautiful way to shop for tulips. 

There were at least 15 tour buses parked and all the riders were walking through the tulips.  

There was also a shop that made wooden shoes.  This man was working on a pair.

This circle of shoes is how you determine what size wooden shoe you need to buy.

These shoes are waiting for someone to buy.

It as a good day.  The weather was perfect.  The tulips were beautiful.  We ate an early supper at a local restaurant called Russ'.  Carol had fried chicken which he said was very good.  I had a Reuben Sandwich.   It too was good.  Back to the room just as a tour bus was unloading.  The halls won't be as quiet tonight.