4/2/16

Terrific Tulips and a Matthew Montage

Thursday I made my way to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon, which is about an hour southeast of where I live. Look off to the right and a little above center, and you'll see Mt. Hood in the background. It's an incredibly beautiful setting.


What a glorious day for it. The tulips were so incredibly beautiful. I was there at around 11:00 a.m., and so the sun was almost directly overhead. It made for great photography because the tulips looked as if they were lit from within. But I'm just going to stop talking about it and show you the pictures. You can see for yourself.





















Want to see even more tulips? You can see more images from my previous visit back in 2012. I didn't realize it had been so long since I'd visited the tulip festival. It's always a treat. I might have to start going more often. So...more tulips for you. Enjoy!

And as a bonus treat for April 2nd, Happy Birthday to my son, Matthew, who is 32 years old today. He's my youngest, so do the math: I was only 8 years old when he was born! I know! Amazing! But take a look at that beautiful face and fall in love, just as I did, so many years ago. Here's a little compendium of Matthew through the years:


Minutes Old...he wasn't happy about that pink blanket


18 months


First Halloween


Dare Devil


Little Brother


Teaching Mom and Dad that, with teenagers, there's value in choosing your battles


High School Prom


Moving into his dorm room at Oregon Institute of Technology


Drummer in a band, Klamath Falls, Oregon


Graduation four years and lots of hard work later


A selfie while traveling in Seattle


With his main squeeze in Alaska


On his 29th birthday


At a family gathering one year ago

Happy Birthday, Sweety. Live long and prosper, because I have plans for you in my old age.

15 comments:

Dana Gaffney said...

Happy Birthday Matthew! The tulips are gorgeous, I'm surprised there aren't deer lined up with so many flavors.

Debbie said...

Beautiful photos.....but the last is the best. They do tend to grow up.

Tilly said...

Happy birthday.
And did you not made these Tulip Pictures in the Netherlands? (Lol)
Colors Are amazing.

SJSM said...

Is there a tulip quilt brewing in your brain? These tulips do look as if there is an internal light source?

Ahhh. Your baby. Loved the just born picture. Matthew has grown into a handsome young man. Loved the orange hair of a teenager. :). I can only imagine the thoughts you had surrounding that decision. What a good mom in your outlook.

Renee said...

I LOVE your tulip pictures! We keep talking about going to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, but have not gone in years. (I'd be tempted to buy bulbs that our underground critters would devour...) Thank you for sharing! Happy birthday to your son!

Quilting Babcia said...

Happy Birthday to Matthew! I remember those teenage years well, hair dyed jet black, brush-cut, yep it was my daughter, lol! Great photo montage and gorgeous tulip photos. We're having another of those 42 degree snow-squall days, though this time they're predicting 3-6" before we're done. Yuck.

quiltzyx said...

Happy Birthday Matthew! Hope you're having a wonderful b'day weekend!!
Oh my Barbara, what gorgeous tulips. They are so beautiful they almost don't look real. Thanks for sharing!!

Kate said...

Happy Birthday to Matthew! They grow up so fast don't they? Love all the tulips pictures! They are so pretty. My mother in law loved tulips and them planted all over the farm. We would always photograph them at Easter.

Jenny - the lilac cat said...

What a lovely post! The tulips are stunning. You take very good photos. And the trip back through Matthew's life is very touching. Mine are at the ' orange hair stage' so it gives me great comfort that rebellious youth become sensible citizens!! Just can't quite believe it at the moment.

Lara B. said...

My how time flies. Matthew is a cutie for sure... you must be so proud of what a fine young man he has grown to be! You really accomplished a lot for an 8 year old mom, LOL.

Your tulip photos are more beautiful than most garden catalogs Barbara! They really do glow.

Marly said...

Wonderful tulip pictures; you're right about the light within: amazing!

Soma @ inkTorrents.com said...

Happy belated birthday to your son! Tulip Festival looks amazing. So many stunning colours. I am very glad you pointed out Mt. Hood in that photo. Thank you for linking up on Wandering Camera.

-Soma

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Tulips as far as the eye can see. How wonderful. Great photos!
I am visiting via Wandering Camera.

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

Happy Birthday to Matthew! And your tulip photos are stunning. America is a country of such variety. I would have guessed these were taken in Holland :)

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Your tulip photos are stunning. Loved the montage to your son - and the final quip - that was great!