Sunday, April 20, 2008

If you go out in the woods today......

I wanted to give you an update of my mother's visit. We spent a long weekend up at Cranberry Cottage. We drove to a village to visit a beautiful manor house which I will share with you on my next blog entry. I was able to take some pretty photos to share. This is a windmill we pass on the way to the manor house which dates back to 1857. It is in the village of Norg and thankfully has been well preserved.


It is finally getting to the point where things are slowly starting to bloom here in Holland. We had a warm winter but the last month or so have seen many cold nights which have kept the plants from budding quickly. Just a view of how the woods are starting to come to life with these pretty little flowers.


And if you were out in the north woods of Holland today.....look at the gnome you would have run into! I actually made my mother go out and take a walk in the woods today. It was not such a punishment as she did enjoy herself.


17 comments:

Carolien said...

Lovely pictures and a very nice gnome!

Have a nice week & hugs, Carolien

Miss Jean said...

The photos are so lovely! Are the little white flowers eidleweis? I grew up in Michigan and one year we went to the Holland, Michigan tulip festival. I've always wondered since then what Holland was really like with all the lovely flowers. Thank you so much for sharing the photos. Holland is everything I dreamt it would be.

Amy Marie said...

What fun. Enjoy the outdoors and each others company!

Mary said...

We have gnomes in the woods around here - they're somewhat shorter though and wear pointed green hats!!

Glad you and mom are having a great time - know it was a fun weekend at Cranberry Cottage.

Pondside said...

Cute gnome! It sounds as though you're having a grand time with your mum. Enjoy every minute! It's nice that you're having real spring weather, with wildflowers and that lovely fresh green that only lasts for a short while before summer's heat.

the tattered nest said...

I am so glad to hear your Mom has arrived safe and sound...you must be so excited to have them with you! I love the picture of the windmill, that is what I think of when I think of your home...thanks for the kind thoughts on my Mom today..give your Mom a extra hug! It is 4:27 am and I am off to pick Mom up and take her to the hospital...

Elizabethd said...

Heidi, it is years since I've seen wood anemones growing in the wild, arent they lovely.
Glad all is going well and you and your mum are getting out and about. There must be so many wonderful places to visit.

Anonymous said...

How lovely...wood anemones. They're one of my favourite spring wild flowers.
Margaret and Noreen

Andylynne said...

Well Cranberry cottage is blessed wilth wonderful gnomes isn't it? Sort of camera shy but that's ok. Your right it is wonderful that windmill is in such good condition. Have many of them been destroyed? Time and progress is never a friend to historic structures it seems . Glad you and your mom are enjoying the visit.

Mia said...

Oh, you do have wood anemones in Holland too! They are one of the first flowers to bloom here in Norway, and I am so pleased to tell you that they are indeed blooming here at the moment. But we do not really have any windmills here, and the one in your photo is really a handsome one. And the gnome in the woods is a cute one!

BittersweetPunkin said...

There she is.....I hope the two of you are having a lovely visit.
Hugs,
Robin

Susan in SC said...

Enjoy your visit with your mom! Wish I could see all the beautiful flowers! Susan in SC

Mandie said...

What a neat old windmill! It really doesn't look as old as you said. Those little flowers are so cute! I'm glad Gramma enjoyed her walk in the woods. The title of your blog reminds me of the song Gramma and bear used to sing to me.

"If you go down to the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down to the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.

For ev'ry bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Ev'ry teddy bear who's been good
Is sure of a treat today.
There's lots of marvelous things to eat
And wonderful games to play.

Beneath the trees where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
Cause that's the way the teddy bears have their picnic

Nancy said...

I have a fascination for windmills Heidi, so I love your photo!

Hmmmm. . .that little gnome looks very familiar. Do you think maybe she travels the world?

Ragged Roses said...

It sounds like you're having a wonderful time Heidi. The flowers in my garden are just coming into bloom but looking back to last year Spring is much later this time around. Hopefully that means we'll be having a better summer!
Kimx

Dorothy said...

Heidi...I have come to your blog quite by good fortune...How very nice...love your photos..I will look in now and then to see all of Hollands beautiful flowers..best wishes...Dee Dee

Suzann said...

Such beautiful photos! Love that windmill and of course the photo of your mother (a.k.a. gnome) is quite special.
Suzann