Category: cedar strip canoe

Historische Tuin for a Historische Thyme

The Cedar Journal May 11, 2020

I did mix Dutch and English a bit in this title. I played with the two languages and a play on the words time and thyme (a garden plant). Hopefully it didn’t confuse my readers too much.

We headed out on Friday (the Hubby took a day off, he is working from home so this time outside of the house was needed. It felt like a day off for both of us) to Aalsmeer to the Historische Tuin (Historic Garden) where I normally volunteer each summer.

As you might have guessed normal is not normal and volunteer work is also affected. The issue with gardens that depend almost solely on volunteer workers to maintain the areas is that the garden (nature) doesn’t know there is a lurking virus. The workers (volunteers) are mostly over the age of 65 and thus puts them into the high risk group. Since I have underlying conditions that could also place me in a higher risk group, I contacted the manager in early March and told him that I would not be coming to volunteer until the rules were relaxed a bit.

This is how I social distance from the Hubby

That started to happen today. All grade school children to age 12 went back to school! Could you hear the sigh of relief from parents? The Dutch ministry is going step by step on reopening the country. The biggest near future issues that need to be solved will be with public transport, the aviation industry, and large events like soccer games or music concerts.

I made an appointment to tour the garden and take some pictures for this blog. Being the only one (with the Hubby) inside the gardens was a real treat since we haven’t been out much since this all started in March. The gardens have been working with a small skeleton crew of regular volunteers since the Prime Minister shut the country down. Some activities like the yearly plant sale were cancelled. But, like I stated, the garden continues to need attention and I was ready to see how bad things were with the limited work force.

Oh NO! He found me!!!

I was surprised! It wasn’t the normal for this time of the year but it was in great shape considering the limits that were placed on this institution with the start of the virus.

Inside one of the green houses that was newly remodeled.

Here are a few of the pictures of the gardens as it looks right now. There is not a date as of right now if or when it will be opened to the public, but when it does I would like to ask each of you (if possible) to visit.

Inside another newly remodeled green house these clematis were mostly lost two winters ago do to the poor conditions in the dated greenhouses. Now they are flourishing in this new environment.

The greenhouse rose gardens are in full bloom.

A sample of the greenhouse roses.

One of the hundreds of Lilacs in full bloom

One of my favorites as it reminds me of Minnesota, Iris in full bloom.

Flowers and Thyme

As we finished with our photo tour the Hubby and I ordered “take away” coffee and scones from the Historische Tuin Restaurant which has had to find a new way to keep in business while still maintaining social distancing. We enjoyed the backdrop of the Aalsmeer windmill and watched the boats on the canal as we sat on the bench outside the Historische Tuin. It was a perfect outing for a day off of work in these strange new times.

A special thanks to Historische Tuin Garden Manager, Dick Maarsen who approved my afternoon of photojournalism at the Historische Tuin. He and his team of limited volunteers will continue to maintain the gardens until they reopen sometime in the future.

Liberation Day 2020

The Cedar Journal May 5, 2020

75 years ago today the Dutch citizens danced in the streets to welcome the Allied Forces, their liberators after more than four years under Nazi rule.

Each year flags are hung to remember that day and to celebrate freedom. This year the national day off was, well less than normal.

We took the opportunity to head out on our first canoe ride of the year. We both needed to be on the water, to flex our canoe muscles, to free ourselves of the four walls of the house. I am usually on the water for weeks by May. Either in Minnesota or here but the last two years have presented some challenges. This year I am guessing most of my readers can relate to the cabin fever syndrome.

He travelled to Hillegom, NL to a place we have paddled before in the Spring. The canals lead through the tulip fields and usually are filled with color and scents of blooms.

The Bulb Canoe Route starting in Hillegom, NL

This was the first time we have had to place Cedar on our new (to us) VW Caddy. We were worried about how we would lift her to the much higher roof of this van. In fact we talked about it most of the winter, tried to watch videos of people who lift canoes onto higher profiles vehicles (no luck on that!), and finally came up with a system that seemed to work for us.

We love the fact that the VW Caddy has so much more room for our gear.

A step I have to use to reach the tie straps.

cedar strip canoe

The Netherlands- Memorial Day

The Cedar Journal May 4, 2020

I admire how the Dutch honor this day. As a veteran who has seen the worse of the world I know that the Dutch realize it isn’t a day of celebration it is a day of remembrance of all the costs of war. Not only for soldiers who fight these conflicts for their governments but for the souls of millions of civilians who suffer and pay the cost of conflict.

I stood for awhile to remember those two crew members who never made it home.

This morning the Hubby and I made our early morning drive to a local US Air Force crash site to lay flowers in remembrance of the sacrifices they made to freedom. Not only for themselves but to the all European Nations that waged war against the Nazi’s of World War Two.

Millions of lives were struck down before they could really experience life. Young children taken to prisoners camps and killed, pilots and gunners of allied flight crews that flew countless missions (over 6000 flights crashed over Dutch soil). The many families that were separated and never seen or heard from again to those who returned to the home soil changed forever.

For years I have placed flowers at this site. Riding my bike each Memorial Day to remember.

Today, the Dutch will pause for 2 minutes of silence nation wide. To remember all that was lost, gained, and to never forget!

This time the Hubby joined me as he isn’t working due to the current international crisis. His first visit to the site.

We didn’t forget the crew of the bomber Jayhawk. Please visit the site dedicated to their Air squadron. Then remember we are here due to all the sacrifices of those who came before us. Honor them today and always.

The floral arrangement made by my local florist who incorporated flowers that symbolized the scarifices of the Dutch and Americans. This part of The Netherlands was liberated by the Canadian forces in 1945 but it took countless missions by the RAF and USAF air crews to soften the Nazi forces before Liberation Day. 5 May 1945.

The Jayhawk Memorial in Sassenheim, The Netherlands.

Stay safe, stay humble, and stay healthy. Love always!

Tulips on the Memorial grounds this morning.

A Dutch Garden

The Cedar Journal May 3, 2020

Not the most original title for this blog. I guess I am getting lazy with my blog creativity. I promise I will do better.

A couple of weeks ago I got the virus cabin fever. I just needed to be anywhere but locked in the house or in our garden! Thank goodness and the Dutch government for not completely locking us down. I got on my bike a rode like a crazy lady trying to escape the cops out of town and into the countryside. So happy to work off some of the anxiety of being locked away without the freedom to do what I want when I want to do whatever whim hits me. Immediately as I got into the countryside I felt better. The wind in my face, the flower fields full of blooms next to the bike path and air I could breathe without the fear that someone else might have polluted it with a virus exhale. No worries about the grumpy old man that lives next door, the neighbors kids that play soccer against the fence making so much noise that it pushes my PTSD to the limits and scares the heck out of my hens. Just me, the bike, the fresh air, and the scenery of the Dutch countryside.

I rode along a road I know well in Lisserbroek. Lined with large farm houses and old nursery/greenhouses owners that keep the yards as well groomed as the flowers in those buildings. It is one of my favorite rides close to home.

One of my favorite houses along my bike route

As I came to one of my favorite houses along the route the owner was out working on his large beautiful garden. I stopped and asked if I could take some pictures of his yard. He said sure and invited me to cross the canal that separated us and to walk into his yard to “get closer and better pictures”. I was gob smacked!

“Really?” I asked thinking how kind in this time when everyone I had met recently was full of anti-social behavior due to the invisible threat.

Trees in bloom, flowers blooming this place was a palace.

“Sure, walk up around the house too, there is plenty blooming there for you to photograph.” He answered.

So I started taking pictures.

Tulips in this garden shining with their heads towards the sun.

A collection of tulips in bloom near a garage

The beauty of kindness is that it knows no boundaries. Knows no threats. It fulfills the emptiness of others. On that day this kindness was what I needed and the universe showed me where to find it! Thank you universe, thank you garden owner with a beautiful and a kind heart.

A Celebration Day – Kings Day 2020

The Cedar Journal May 3, 2020

Another week has gone past and it seems that time is either flying or standing so still that we can hear the plants grow.

I now have two chickens laying eggs (Most everyone missed out on the first egg event). Weaver was the first to lay an egg and then it was Kipass. Now, the two white hens are acting like they will start to lay any day. Today will be the first day I can actually eat one of the eggs, because the were all on medication earlier in the month.

Not everything in the world stops because of my chickens are laying golden eggs.

Yup, the Dutch Hubby has figured that we need to produce 10,000 eggs to break even in this chicken investment. We have now determined it is a hobby. A hobby is something you sink tons of money into without ever expecting a return on the investment.

Yesterday was Kings Day here!!!

Usually, it is the one day each year that the entire country turns out in anything orange in support of the royal birthday of the King of The Netherlands. This year it was not the usual party time seen across the Dutch countryside.

Yes, most people placed the National colors outside their houses.

Yes, some people wore orange if they went out of the house.

Yes, some people ignored the rules of no public gatherings.

Although, most families stayed home and then toasted the King with an adult beverage at 4pm.

A bit sad. But, very necessary.

As an American living here, I have found most people very kind and understanding to what is happening to my mother country.

But, many also want to vent to me about the dumb crap our President says, or tweets. I have decided that people just need to vent, so I let them. I also make it very clear that I did not vote for him!

I hope a pray for the sake of my children who serve in the US military that he is not re-elected in the fall.

Next week the Dutch will mark the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of The Netherlands in 1945.

Those many important lessons seem to have died with the souls who fought on all sides of those battles.

But, if each of you can take a moment on 4 & 5 May to think of those sacrifices our ancestors made during that difficult era and apply those lessons to today’s current crisis I feel we will have hope of making it a better world.

Freedom is never free!

cedar strip canoe

Wordless Wednesday

The Cedar Journal April 29, 2020

Photo credit to Cora my morning walking friend.

Earth Day Garden

The Cedar Journal April 22, 2020

I started the day with my hands in the earth. To feel a connection to what we came from and what we will return to at the end. The rich earthy smell of well composted dirt. The grainy feel of the worm litter dirt, the pounding of the rock hard dry dirt that has resulted in the weeks with no rain.

The blue plastic rain barrel that I covered with reed and bamboo spout to make it look more Earth friendly. It drains into a small pond at the apex of the ZEN garden.

Worm droppings from a local earth worm farm adds much needed nutrients into the soil

Dirt gives the nutrients to the plants and the earth knows exactly what plants will grow for each kind of dirt.

I am working on a new volunteer project now that my plans for my normal volunteering has been interrupted. Just like dirt, I can change.

Plenty of opportunity to excel with weeds to pull and treasures to find.

There is a local Biological garden that is within walking distance from our house. When they turned tulip fields into a park several years ago a group of local people envisioned a local biological garden on some of the park land. They received approval from the local government and started the work.

The gate with information on the opening times.

I was a fan from the start and watched as the volunteers transformed it into a beautiful productive huge garden that first year. They sold the produce from the garden to anyone who wandered in from the parks trails.

Part of the original garden was a small garden that was created from brick with a tree in the middle.

Each morning for about a week now I go and get connected to the Earth. I pull at the weeds, beat the soil loose from the clumps of really hard dirt that has suffered from the lack of recent rainfall, I feel the freedom and silences of the early morning in the garden. I meditate on the current crisis and the people I love with my hands caked in dust and dirt.

I hope on this Earth Day my readers were able to do the same. There is one sure result from this current situation. The earth will survive, the dirt will continue to be dirt and nature will heal any damage us humans have inflicted upon it’s wonderful surface.