Day 2 in Holland, Michigan began with a delicious breakfast prepared by our Bed and Breakfast hostess, Bonnie. It consisted of baked oatmeal, Yum! Sliced bananas and blackberries, banana bread, and cranberry juice. Notice Bonnie's table setting with her lovely pink Depression glass. She knew Jerry and I were tea drinkers, so she had Harney & Son's Hot Cinnamon Spiced Tea for us.
I loved Bonnie's windmill tea strainer. I searched all over downtown Holland looking for one, but no luck. Bonnie called several places for me too, but nobody seems to carry them anymore. The hunt is on in antique stores! ;-)
We stopped in two downtown antique stores before heading to Holland Harbor. I found the vintage photo below in one of the antique stores, and had to purchase it [$4.50] since the theme of my tea this Saturday is hats. I will put the photograph on display since the couple are both wearing hats. Too bad they forgot to smile! ;-) The hat the lady is wearing is called a "slouch."
Downtown Holland is very quaint, and those are heated sidewalks that melt snow and ice in the wintertime! Beautiful tulips were everywhere, and I couldn't stop photographing them.
Tulip Festival banners hung from downtown posts.
Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state - 115 to be exact. "Big Red" lighthouse is Michigan's most photographed lighthouse.
A lighthouse has stood in this location since 1872, although this current structure was erected in 1936. Originally a pale yellow, Big Red was repainted bright red in 1956 to satisfy a Coast Guard mandate.
Sandy beaches of Lake Michigan.
I'll write about more activities we did that day in Monday's post.
The red lighthouse is beautiful! I never realized there were so many lighthouses in Michigan. That's an interesting tidbit.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of the couple wearing their hats. It must have been a lot of work to smile in those days!
Thanks for sharing. It looks like you had fun!
LaDonna
Gracious Hospitality
Tulips everywhere, what a delight! I like the idea of heated sidewalks, that's a new one for me. (Don't have much need for them down here in GA.) And the red lighthouse is neat. Why is it people didn't smile for photographs in the "olden times"? That's a great picture even without smiles. Have a good weekend and don't work too hard!
ReplyDeleteDelightful! Love the tulips, and love Lake Michigan! One summer we spent a week in South Haven. We enjoyed the lake and beach. Michigan is a pretty state. This summer we'll be back (Mackinac Island). I can't wait!! Looking forward to your next post, Phyllis. Hope you find your windmill tea strainer. Try googling it or getting on Ebay.
ReplyDeletexo Beth
Your breakfast sounds delicious! The tea strainer is so pretty. I would be looking for one there too. And lighthouses, another love of mine and the red one is so fun to see.
ReplyDeleteHeated sidewalks: now there's a thing you'd never see here in the South! (Well, other than the naturally-occuring ones, that is.) I love that red lighthouse! It's fun to see you on *that* side of Lake Michigan since I've been on the other side when visiting family in Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteB&B's are so much fun to stay at! I've only been to one and it was with my sister, but enjoyed it so much! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNancy
Your breakfast looked fantastic... and love the tea strainer! Did not know that piece of trivia about the lighthouses. I would have guessed one of the New England states a having the most!
ReplyDelete