We had been out and about for the day. When we walked into our garage about a month after my mom’s passing, there was a very large box sitting just inside the door. All four corners on top of the box said, “June Peters”. Huh?? As I inspected the huge box further, it had a small return address from Yankton, SD. It was then that I remembered our family had ordered “candles” for a sweet memory of our mom. As we opened the box, we found layers and layers of that plastic wrap surrounding a heavenly smell.
The six of us siblings had decided to preserve mom’s flowers from the casket spray by having them put into keepsake candles that will never burn away! The candles are created with fresh or previously dried flowers. The process takes about six weeks, and during this time the flowers are preserved and arranged into a wax hurricane candle in several sizes and shapes of your choice. The candles are available as an electric light (our choice), or they can have a fuel cell which can be lit.
Some of the candles we ordered were oval, some round, and also square. The colors of the flowers woven through the wax are just beautiful, and when the light is turned on, the smell is soft and mellow and lovely. Our mom loved flowers of any kind, along with her love of birds. So now when I see the purples, pinks and yellow flowers glowing softly in our living room, it reminds me of her.
I thoroughly enjoyed my very first visit to the Orange City, Iowa, Tulip Festival a couple weeks ago. More flowers to be seen everywhere you looked! Our choice of days was perfect, and it was actually almost too hot during the parade! (Dare I say that??) The street washing with the buckets and brooms, the elegant floats, wonderful bands, and fantastic costumes enhanced the day.
We also enjoyed “The Dutch Dozen” who performed for us a few hours before the parade time. These teenagers called Orange City’s “Goodwill Ambassadors” for seventy years joined in song and dance to celebrate the Dutch heritage. After talking to a few of them that we connected with on the street, we found out that they audition for this job in January, and then spend hours practicing for months before the big week of events occurs. Their smiles and genuine attitudes were a joy to watch as they carried out their performance.
When we got tired we took a short ride in a pedicab along Central Avenue. Our driver had just come from his “other job”, and was now volunteering for the festival. Two of us just fit inside the little buggy, powered by his pedaling of the attached bicycle. Our trolley ride earlier in the day was not only fun, but educational as we learned about the history of Orange City and the buildings. It was twenty minutes of rest and relaxation right through the heart of the city.
My foster granddaughter, McKenna, and I enjoyed the day together, including a quilt show. They encourage you wear one plastic glove if you want to “touch” the quilts. There are signs pinned to the creations explaining the patterns, and at one point when I was checking the “backside” of the quilt my glove got pinned to the quilt! Fortunately for me, McKenna could take her gloved hand to set me free! We had a good laugh over that.
Of course what is a festival without good food! Pork chop on a stick…1010 Root Beer—Chocolate Nutty Bars…some of things we enjoyed throughout the day. And lots of COLD water, especially during the pre-show and the parade that followed. The warmth of the day demanded us to keep hydrated. I would love to return another year to enjoy all that is planned.
Before I close for this week, I want to thank a secret “friend??” who sent me a beautiful silver congratulations card for getting my name in the paper! Enclosed I found a highlighted copy (from the newspaper) of my ticket for speeding. Clever!! And yes, it gave me a good laugh. When I think of it, I will remember to set my cruise control so that doesn’t happen again!!
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