March filled my folder of Hummm, today it spilled onto my desk as April Fool’s joke from Mother Nature.
While waiting for my friend to arrive from Minnesota… Hummm… maybe I should be concerned? Did I miss the dresscode email?
When I texted it to the Hubby who was waiting at another door for my friend. He sent me this!
Hummm…he missed the dress code email too!
While walking in Gouda this one appeared from a rooftop.
Hummm…they seem to be having fun.Now, this happened while riding my bike. Luckily for me I was close to home and no human was hurt performing the acrobatic maneuvers needed to not fall off the bike, not have a sharp object up my six, or the flying saddle hitting the old lady who watched the entire entertaining event! Hummm…thank you universe.Hummm… taking advice from tea bags. If life could be so simple.
Then came the snow on April Fool’s Day. One last joke on us before Spring really sets in. Hummm… something is just not right with the world when Mother Nature dumps snow on poor blooming tulips. Hummm… I wonder what the rest of April will bring.
Ice and snow covered my tulipsHummm… we thought it was Spring!Hummm… this made me smile in many ways, the post person stopped and took pictures of the tulips I planted along our street. Thank you universe for good people who appreciate beauty in the world.🌷
The folder is empty here at The Cedar Journal. Have you seen a Hummm… recently? Share your recent finds in our comment section below.
The Keukenhof Bulb Garden opened for the first time in two years on Thursday 24 March, and for the first time since I stopped working at the gardens in 2015 I visited with my friend Kathy from Minnesota.
The William Alexander Pavilion inside the Keukenhof Bulb Gardens. Opening Day 2022.
Winter still has a grip on Northern Minnesota, it was more like summer here in The Netherlands. Tulips here are popping out of the ground fast! The Daffodils and Hyacinths are in full bloom! It was perfect weather to tour the gardens.
Taking a selfie from inside the Keukenhof. This view of the bulb fields located outside the garden has been expanded and enhanced since 2015.
We arrived early (my advice to anyone coming to visit the Keukenhof is to get there before 10 am). The park was instantly an eye full of color as we walked in the gate. Since I worked at the garden for five years I was happy to see the new changes made since 2015. A new entrance gate, new wide pathways in some areas of the park that previously were under used by the masses of tourists. It was also good to see some things hadn’t changed within the park and I enjoyed showing my long time friend (we concluded that we have been friends for near 40 years!) all the cool places within the park. Some of my old co-workers at the William Alexander Pavilion are still working at the coffee cafe booth, hugs and smiles were exchanged. Something that just a few months ago would have been unheard of due to COVID rules.
One of the many walkways with the garden that is lined with blooming bulbs. Here the daffodils follow the contours of the walking path.
The best way to see the park is to take a nice leisurely walk, peek into the different pavilions and see the surprises the garden designers have created. No trip is complete without trying one of the many “Dutch” treats. On our visit we ate poffertjes, small pancakes with a dab of butter and topped with a generous helping of powered sugar.
These poffertjes are like our Minnesota tiny weenie donuts that we enjoy at our county fair each summer.
On Thursday we spent about three hours at the park. Noting that it was getting busier and busier by the minute.
A floral fashion display inside the Beatrix Pavilion.
Today, Sunday, I hopped on my bike and rode to Hillegom and then on through the fields towards Lisse. Once again, I passed the Keukenhof and noted that the warm weather brought out the tourists. Although not the numbers that have blessed the park in the pre-COVID years but still better than in the last two years when the park was closed.
The Hyacinths in full bloom this morning in Hillegom.
If any of my readers will be visiting in the coming weeks, my advice again is to arrive early at the Keukenhof, take a bike ride in the local community, eat at our restaurants, and enjoy an European pace.
Keukenhof Bulb Gardens today 27 March 2022. Just outside the front gates.
I am enjoying the freedom of Democracy! Please continue remember and support those in the Ukraine who are still fighting to protect their countrymen and the democracy. Our thoughts for peace are with the Ukraine people! 💙💛☮️🌷
Floral cut tulips displayed inside the Keukenhof. In the national colors of the Ukraine.
Hello my fellow followers and bloggers. Between the weather coming off the North Sea (cold, wet, windy) and our lockdown/restrictions here in The Netherlands, there isn’t much to do but wait all of this out. Today, I decided to practice one of my American survival skills and deemed today The Cedar Journal’s official first Dutch donut day. Named for living here not for the American cake donuts recipe I was about to use.
I had some survival food that was due to expire and what better way to use the items than to make donuts.
Waiting for an oil bath.
After pulling out all my baking stuff and assembling the ingredients everything came together in less than 15 minutes.
Cook little donuts.
Now that the kitchen smells like burning oil as with all my clothes and hair. I feel happy that for once the fire alarm was not activated.
We all need a pick me up from the reality of the current world situation, so take a break, read an interesting blog, then do something creative.
Now… I have some donuts to eat before the Hubby gets home.😳
The Cedar Journal 