Special thanks to my test-knitter Kelli who can whip out an FO faster than than two drunk bunnies at closing time – Pinocle is finished and up for grabs.
Ahh, the signs of spring.
This can only mean one thing in my neck of the woods…the call of the first festival of the spring/summer.
It was cold and rainy and windy as we picked up the grandparentals on the way to meeting their kinfolk. The rain held off, but it was cold. Cold plus damp plus two kids who skipped naptime on the commute because having grandparentals sitting behind them is the stimulation equivalent of a caramel glazed peep, with sugar on top. Here is what that formula looks like in still-life:
We found our spot for prime parade watching after being yelled at by one family who didn’t like that we walked on their taped down reservation place tarp. It’s a parade people…and a tarp…lighten up.
Nothing says lighten up better than festival food. After a fruitless search for poffertjes (like small pancakes), stroopwafle (mini waffle sandwich laced with a syrupy crack sauce), and oliebollens (fried fatballs/donuts), we settled on other traditional dutch festival food fare:
The tulip parade boasts a pretty mean lineup of bands but the the local Holland band always has first parade band bragging rights:
From someone who knows, let me answer the question – yes, wooden shoes hurt but special wool socks do help.
My vote for best float:
it’s a bike,
it’s a bar,
…it’s a bike bar!
And the Klompen dancers were in full force. To all the teenage boys who laugh at the 2-3 boys who volunteer for this gig, they have the best kept secret in tuliplaand (extra vowel for dutch emphasis)…are you aware of how many girls are in this crew and how much attention these 2-3 boys receive?
And no trip is complete without a wooden shoe making tutorial:
and the typical boy reaction upon receipt of said shoe:
We ended our day of cultural immersion at Pizza Hut because nothing screams being a Hollander more than using your parking coupon towards your next meal.
Next stop, cultural festival numero dos.
8 Comments
May 16, 2009 at 5:13 pm
The Bike Bar rocks!
May 16, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Oh, the Tulip Festival and the Klompen dancers! What memories!! Granted, it’s mostly memories of the horrible traffic as I was trying to get to my softball games, but still…memories!
May 16, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I loves me some fat balls. They didn’t have fat balls? No wonder I have never been!
Cute sweater.
May 16, 2009 at 8:28 pm
there is one lone wolf vendor from the olden days that still makes the oliebollens and she is usually sold out within 15 minutes of opening her stand. I have all the pans handed down, now I just need to translate the recipes and I will be good to go. Of course, loads of powdered sugar for “dipping” is a must.
May 16, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Oliebollen is my fave! My mom makes them every Boxing Day. Mmmmmm…….(I am very dutch!)
May 17, 2009 at 11:05 am
We made the mistake of visiting Holland on a Sunday when we were in MI. YAWN! We didn’t realize that the Dutch Reform Church was still kickin’ it so well there. Or is it cloggin’ it?
May 17, 2009 at 11:18 am
Ohhhh I got to have me a bike bar!! It would totally combine my two favorite things–cycling and beer! The fatty yum yum goodness looks pretty cool too! As for the crazy tarp family, they can shove their stupid tarp where the sun don’t shine!!!
May 24, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Bike bar! Sweet!!!!
My dad grew up wearing wooden shoes in northern Germany… and wool socks. He knows how to knit, you know, adores hand knit socks.