Last week I met author-friends Michelle Griep (Missouri) and Erica Vetsch (Minnesota) for a writing retreat in Pella, Iowa. We stayed in an Airbnb for a few days and wrote together, ate together, and laughed together.
Pella is a charming town, settled by immigrants from the Netherlands in the 1840s who had fled religious persecution in their own country. They called their new home Pella, after the biblical city of refuge. Today, Pella retains its Dutch heritage. We were not there for its annual Tulip Time festival (May) but even so the town is a charming place to visit.
We bought “Dutch Letters” at the bakery and “Pella Bologna” at the meat market, and ate dinner at the Royal Amsterdam Hotel.
We toured a large working windmill, a miniature village which portrays several different towns in the Netherlands, and a 22-building historical village, including a sod house, mill, blacksmith shop, werkplaats (where wooden shoes are made) and bakery, as well as the boyhood home of lawman Wyatt Earp.
While we were in Iowa, we also did signings at two Christian bookstores and enjoyed meeting and talking with readers.
Over a few days, we wrote thirty thousand words (with Erica the big winner at 15k!) so it was not only a refreshing time with friends, but productive as well.
When was the last time you spent quality time with friends? I hope you have the chance to do so this summer.
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This makes me smile big, Julie! Our son is a Grinnell College grad and has worked for Pella since his graduation in 2008. He worked in the Pella, IA offices for several years, then a Seattle office, and now with a Dallas franchise. We love the town of Pella but never did make it there during tulip season.
So great to see the four of you together!
Thanks, Deb. I’m glad to know your son works for Pella. The house I grew up in had Pella windows, and I know, because we never quite got around to removing every last sticker… 😉
What a wonderful writing retreat, Julie! I love little towns that are rich in history. I definitely need to visit Pella one of these days! I can’t believe you still got so much writing done as well. I’d be far too distracted by all the fun sights and tastes. 🙂
Thanks, Karen. It was a good mix of work and play. Plus we hit the museums on the way out of town, which let us write longer.
So much fun! I love weekend getaways with writer friends. Thanks for sharing photos!
Thanks, Becky. It certainly brought fond memories of some other writer retreats I fondly recall… 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful trip with great author friends! I just finished Shadows of Swanford Abbey, Julie. Also, recently read Jocelyn Green’s Veiled in Smoke – both wonderful.
Pella sounds a lot like the small town of Solvang in California, which I love to visit when staying with my daughter. Only Solvang was founded by Danish settlers and still maintains that influence – so enjoyable to step into that culture.
My favorite people!
Sounds like such a lovely time.
Writers and retreats…my favorite.
I’m focusing on the healing of this broken ankle this summer.
Not at all what I had planned…I’m learning to live in the moment.
Blessings,
What fun! My heritage is Dutch and a few friends have settled in Pella.
I guess I will have to make work of actually visiting as an adult. Several friends and I drove to Pella from Michigan for a young peoples conference as young adults but that was more then 50 years ago.😬
Were the letters almond flavored or chocolate. We love both!
Pella sounds like a town I’d love to visit. I live near Lynden, WA, which was settled by mostly Dutch folks. I was born in Holland, so it’s been fun living near a “Dutch” town since retiring 5 years ago. Alas, it’s not as Dutch as it used to be (they call it “progress”?), but they still make sure there are flowers everywhere this time of year. Thanks for the fun newsletter!
My mom has been to Pella for the tulip festival and she loved it! Your trip sounds wonderful and productive. When is my turn to travel with you??
What a wonderful experience. Pella looks so much like Holland, MI near where I grew up. I look forward to one day having such interactions with fellow authors as this delightful working holiday.
I’m so glad it was wonderful time in a charming town with many precious memories made for you, Erica, and Michelle 💛💜🧡!