A picnic among the tulips in the Skagit Valley

On Friday our family packed a picnic and visited the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. I thought you might enjoy a few of the shots we captured in the fields. It is always a treat to be able to see row upon row of vibrant tulips up close. We even told The Little Helping we were going to the rainbow flower farm. The festival draws visitors from around the globe but the crowd was light during our time among the tulips. The Little Helping had a ball running around in the open areas and poking his nose into various blossoms.

Most of the time the bare dirt surrounding the tulip rows is generally one ginormous slippery mud puddle. We were grateful to be able to visit at the end of a dry week and walk easily on firm ground. Thanks to a demo by Mr. Second Helpings, The Little Helping’s chief entertainment was hurling chunks of hard packed silt to the ground and squealing with glee at the resulting explosion. – If it weren’t for our carpets I might consider removing all of his toys and replacing them with dirt chunks and other assorted natural debris.

There are two major tulip fields in the area. For no particular reason we visited Tulip Town. There is an admission charge of $5 per adult and we could not bring our picnic inside the gate because they also sell food on site. Rather than find another spot to eat, we popped open the back of my car and turned our lunch into a tailgate party. I kept the food super simple. On the spot I made wraps using low-fat, high-fiber tortillas, a wedge of Weight Watchers cheese spread, mashed avocado, a couple slices of ham, and topped with packaged broccoli slaw. We also nibbled whole wheat crackers and grapes. For a snack on the way home we had some trail mix (store bought).

At the end of our trip we were dusty, tired, and dazzled by what we had seen in the tulip fields. The drive home was one of quiet contentment made audible by The Little Helping’s occasional snores and snuffles. I hope he dreamt of dirt chunks exploding into rainbow bits.

The other day while I was doing some yard work I asked the Little Helping if he would like to put some of the branches I had pruned into our yard waste container. He looked at me with casual sincerity and said, “no thank you, I don’t have time.” Curious, I asked him what he did have time to do. He replied, “I only have time to blow bubbles and fly a kite.” When I finished up the pruning we sat together on the porch and blew bubbles until Mr. Second Helpings arrived home from work.

In the coming week I hope each and every one of you can take a day to marvel at the beauty in your region or simply pause a few moments to blow bubbles and fly a kite. Think of it as a mini vacation from whatever happens to be on your plate this week. The pause will be good for you – body, mind, and spirit.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.