Tulip Festival

 Patti, Brett and I went to Orange City to enjoy the tulip festival.  The weather was perfect.  The only thing wrong was that last year all the tulips had already bloomed because of the unseasonably warm weather, so it was decided to plant late blooming bulbs this year.  However, it has been so unseasonably cold that the tulips had not bloomed yet this year!!  In the above picture a group of Dutchmen are serenading Brett because it is his birthday next week.  He was kind of embarrassed, but both Grandma's thought it was pretty special.

 I took this picture because it reminded me of Jenna. She could really make tracks, and I would think she would have been really warm.

 The men and boys wash the streets - and Brett really wished that he were out there!  I think there was more water on the guys than on the streets!

 This job didn't look like nearly as much fun - and of course the women are responsible for all the sweeping!  There were all ages cleaning the streets.

 One of the many floats in the parade.  This is the story of the little boy who put his finger in the hole in the dike to hold back the water.

 Wooden Shoe size 160!  We did go to the old factory and watched as a pair of wooden shoes were made.  Brett was pretty fascinated with that.  I cannot comprehend how uncomfortable those shoes must be.  He did say some have them specially carved with supports to fit their feet.

 Antique tractors in the parade.

 Grandma Patti and Brett enjoying a lemonade.  Grandma Cathy and Brett had just ridden the big ferris wheel.  That was fun!

To finish up our day we took a carriage ride around Orange City.  We had intended to do that when we got there, but we missed the last morning trip so we had to wait until after the parade.  What a fun day we had.

Templeton Rye

 

 

The School Marms took a trip to Templeton, Iowa this past week and we toured the distillery.  We never seem to run out of things to do.  Our tour guide was very informative about sharing the history behind the making of the whiskey, and lets just say I will never look at a swing set in the same way again!

 This was the first still used in making the whiskey.  They have come along way since then!

 Diane, Carol, Cathy, Candace and Diane enjoyed the day.  We missed you Nora - hope things are going okay for you.  We sure do think about you.

 As the sign says, this is the original bottle filler that was used in 2006.  Over 30,000 bottles of whiskey was filled with this machine.

 The whiskey is not made in Templeton.  It is only bottled.  We got to see the assembly line and this gentleman is corking the bottles by hand.  It is all he can do to keep up.

 We watched for awhile as they sealed and labeled the bottles.  Then they told us we could join the assembly line.  Candace and I took them up on their offer. 

 UMMM - there seems to be a backlog of bottles - and soon Candace and I lost our jobs!!

 The machine I was using was some sort of heat machine that sealed the plastic sleeves around the bottle.  It was actually kind of hot - I was glad to be done!!

Belly up to the bar, girls!!  We got to sample the rye whiskey and I personally thought it was pretty stout!  I think I would volunteer to be the designated driver - or just ask for a coke!  Very enjoyable day.