Never say that we don’t have big shoes to fill! Elder Oppie is about 6’4” and wears a size 15, these are a little toooooo big. So we had our preparation day this Thursday and our best friends here have it off as well. (I wonder how that happens!) And so we decided to get out of Dodge and go to Pella, Iowa, the home of the Tulip Festival and the Dutch Windmill.
It was actually very interesting to go through this mill. They grind wheat in here and the “miller,” also lives in the windmill. I guess I didn’t realize that they were for grinding wheat, but I know that they can also be used to lift water up and out of an area, like the Netherlands. Inside this compound was Dutch housing, artifacts, museums, costumes and many things that were so cute to see.
Jean is actually Norwegian, but makes a real cute Dutch Girl. We were checking out the hats because of what we wear in Rendezvous.
Getting ready to go into the windmill before they turn on the blades.
This whole top rotates around on ball bearings.
The miller actually climbs these blades to let out the sails to catch more wind.
This is the miller so you get an idea of just how big these blades are!
They were whipping around mighty fast.
Inside of the mill where the wheat is ground. The gears are huge. I guess the idea of the windmill was created in the early 1100’s. This is me pushing down the lever that lifts the thousands of pounds of millstones.
These are the two millstones that grind the wheat!!!!! On the second floor is where the miller lives. Very small but so cute. They did not have open fires in these wooden buildings and so things tended to get a little cold.
Thus the sleeping quarters. They actually slept in kind of a box. They would have to curl up with a hot brick etc. They slept in the more inclined position because they felt it was better for the lungs. I am sure tuberculosis and respiratory ailments were heightened in the wet, damp Netherlands.
My brother would scream claustrophobia!!!!
The children actually slept under the beds in a cabinet as well.
A replica of a Dutch village. It was so cute, of course, always built around water.
So you get the idea. I really enjoyed every minute there and we also got to see the home of Wyatt Earp.
Who knew, but this part of the country is just full of American History.
SO now to feel really sorry for those pioneers and no wonder the soldiers only had 4 good teeth. Just look at this stuff.
This is for Kelly and Ryan. Wyatt Earp’s 44 Revolver and marshall badge from Oklahoma!!!!
Wyatt and his brother, pretty handsome men!
We followed up our visit by going to the Dutch bakery, Jarsdaarm. All in all it was a very fun day.
Now on to the cutest part of our trip. You know how Richard is always trying to get rid of the squirrels. Remember that I love to watch them and my Mother actually saw one in a gas station in Oklahoma last week that was tame. I would want a tame one. Anyway, Richard this is for you. In Iowa people have a heart!!! They actually feed the squirrels and give them a “dining experience” while doing it. Maybe I am from Iowa after all, me and Radar!
So here’s to our visit in Pella!
ACTUALLY THE THREE OF US TOGETHER SPELLS T-R-O-U-B-L-E! Ah, the memories!
No comments:
Post a Comment