Pella Tulip Time in Retrospect

Looking back in retrospect at my pictures of Pella Tulip Time 2015 and 2017...I gave a glimpse of what you can experience if you choose to participate.

Our visit in 2015 was on the Saturday morning of the Festival. They had a display of antique work horses (OH! And Yes! Standing beside the orange tractor is a Favorite Individual,Subject , my husband Corey) and a Flea Market where we found some bottled home brewed Root Beer from Missouri. I bought an Heirloom Brandywine tomato plant from a young woman who showed me her interest in horticulture and some potholders from a vendor who made nothing else but varied fabric patterned potholders. There were artists providing their interpretations of different media of expression.

I could understand the process of the Flea Market vendor because I myself,CDGardens, spent the summer of 2001 growing and hauling what I had planted,cultivated,harvested,cleaned and packaged from my garden on my own. It was a learning experience that I didn't repeat because of the other things I was responsible to accomplish. I wouldn't change the experience.

Digressing back to Pella Tulip Time,I would highly recommend the ambience of the Dutch Village...

Have a Great Day!

Taking a Look at Pembina Gorge

Easter Sunday afternoon rolled around. Lunch was done,leftovers put away and dishes were attended to.

Kyli became tour guide...Have to know the territory if you plan on visiting often, or when it's mentioned in conversation. So,Corey and I  were about to begin our indoctrination .

We headed for Evergreens and Birch trees as we climbed some hills to get to our destination.

Along the road we came across what people familiar with the area know as the "Frost Fire Ski Resort", located at Wallhalla,ND.

The weather was chilly for the day but we lucked out overall, since the locals had been treated to 40+ inches of snow this winter and almost all had melted before our arrival. Actually, the snow wasn't finished for the season as we were getting a few flurries as we explored the area.

The Pembina River had receded back into it's banks after overflowing from the abundant snow melt.

Descending into the valley to get over the river before climbing the hill on the other-side.

Alerts remained for possible water level rises once again.

Up a few hills on the other-side, then around another few curves...we eventually came to the sign to show us just how much longer we would need to be searching for our destination.


      PEMBINA GORGE




 


The gates were still closed to keep the ATV's off the  muddy terrain on the day of our visit.

This cold and wet day was great for our fact finding mission.

Conveniently located just to the left of the gate you see above, was a map outlining the Gorge's 24 miles of  drive-able ATV and Dirt Bike trails.

The empty ATV Trail getting dried out ,across the valley from where we parked to take in the view..

We saw evidence of how the soil layers have become filled with moisture and slid, or washed out of place.

Searching for information about the soil profile I went here.

Fossils have been uncovered in the strata of the valley.

The discussion of the stated age of what man has perceived the earth to be and where the remains of the dinosaurs were found ensued among us as we continued on our way.

We continue to believe what God has stated in his Creation of Earth,Time and Space...I've found some Answers for the Biblical vs. Science theories we all are faced with when making our 
own decisions. Take a look for yourself!

I know in time that all the rearranging slides will fill in with topsoil and vegetation but the time frame won't be immediate. It gives me an idea of the fragility of the geographical terrain.

Being able to have some recreational trails to enjoy while observing nature is a benefit for both Men and Women powered 2-wheelers...or maybe one of those  little canopy covered ATV's that blows mud into your face.

All I'm saying is Explore the Great Outdoors!

Until next time...Have a Great Day!










 

Pella Tulip Time

I would like to point some of my local friends to Pella Tulip Time beginning today! Please click Pella Tulip Time to be taken to a Calendar of their events.

Last week my husband Corey and I got to enjoy some beautiful Tulip plantings when we stopped in to checkout some of the attractions.

                                                                                                                

After breakfast at the Windmill Cafe...We grabbed the cameras,and cellphones, for a little bit of  photography practice over in the square; where most of this weekend's  festivities take place.

                                                                                                 

Our excursion in Pella ended with a stop at the Jaarsma Bakery to get some goodies to celebrate the day.

For your info ,those that like original Dutch pastries,you can order them online from Jaarsma Bakery to be delivered straight to your door. Checkout the link above. 

Our visit ended here but our day was not done. It was time to head off to Red Rock Dam to find the Pelicans that linger around the Flood Gates. I'll post some pictures for you on another day.

 
Until next time Have a Great Day!

Easter Sunday

 It was a joy to come share a Brunch before morning worship with the congregation of the Langdon,ND United Methodist Church on Sunday, April 16,2017.

We were welcomed into the house of fellowship and worship with the encouraging,uplifting words ,of confirmation that we were celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

As with all things we can share in moments of fun...God does have a sense of humor!

I 💞💞 my photobombers, husband Corey and daughter Kyli who made me smile as I went about collecting pictures to document our day.

We had plenty of time before church started to get acquainted with both the parishioners and where we would like to sit for the upcoming service.

I, of course, found the nearest stained glass window to add to my digital collection. 

Each congregation has found a scripture verse to make a statement. I didn't examine the window close-up but the scripture I see is Luke 15: 1-7. Where Jesus leaves the flock off 99 to find the lost 100th to bring it back into the fold.

Time to listen to the voice of the Shepherd,Jesus...

Pastor Schnackenberg prepared for a baptism to be celebrated by the congregation.

Each of us have a different interpretation of how the sacrament of Baptism is to be expressed and here they believe in the sprinkling of the individual presented to the Lord.

Pastor Schnackenberg brought a message relating to us what the follower of  Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene must have felt when she went to his burial tomb provided by Joseph of Arimethea.

How lost Mary Magdalene must  have felt until she realized that the Savior had Risen from the dead.




                                                                   

                                                        John 20:11-18 (KJV)

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
¹² And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
¹³ And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
¹⁴ And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
¹⁵ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
¹⁶ Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
¹⁷ Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
¹⁸ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.


I ask the Blessing of the Lord upon these words that they might touch your heart and soul... The Lord has Risen Indeed!

Memorable Twist to Good Friday

Yesterday was a one week celebration of sorts. I will share the experience with you from my point of view.

Our Easter Road Trip was moving along smoothly on Good Friday afternoon,or so we thought...That is until we reached a bridge with a big bump north of Fargo. The edge of the bridge can be seen at the far right of the picture. Time wouldn't allow for a second chance to get another shot.  Unexplainable things began to happen after we hit the bump, the car pulled hard to the right. Well, it didn't take long to decipher that we had just lost a very important part to keep everything working to power the Voisinmobile. The Serpentine Belt had successfully decided to make a split....one of those eternal vacations.

Today's Smartphones sure are a Blessing when you need to go looking for help. We called here and there in Grand Forks to try to locate the right belt. Tried the little town of Hillsboro not far to our south, but they had nothing that would match. Kyli checked in Langdon before coming to help.

We spent four and a half hours keeping this bridge company until our daughter Kyli arrived to chariot us away, back to Fargo, to pick-up a Serpentine Belt.

On our return from Fargo we attempted to fix the difficulty with the tools Kyli had gathered from the home arsenal.The method we chose brought close results,almost fixed in other words, so many times ,but after fighting a long day, getting hungry and temperatures dropping after sunset in a wind cooled location we gave into the "We'll finish it tomorrow" mode. The next morning we gathered more tools and used another method thanks to Youtube to get the job done.

If you happened to see this guy running around in the Fargo, Grand Forks...etc...areas , I wasn't far away.

I have to smile really big. The Mazda came around Christmastime. So, I thought some vanity plates to complement the little Voisinmobile were in order.                                This is the view that kept us entertained while we waited. I spent time musing about what people were thinking as they passed by. It gave me a laugh to keep my anxiety at bay.

It was time to draw on our resources in God. This event was not one you wish on anyone...especially on a holiday weekend.

The State Trooper that stopped to see what he could do to lend aid, offered information that we might find it difficult to find stores open to get a replacement part.We had anticipated some issues with holiday and time of day. However, we were pleasantly surprised to discover the process wasn't as hard as we originally thought.

We had already started the rescue process with confidence that one way or another EVERYTHING was going to workout. 

Thanks be to God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ for everything we experienced...