Nether becomes Annesterdam

Day Five

I am living Peppa Pig this morning. Tiny little voices calling “Deddy” in her accent. My heart is melted before I even emerge which I hesitate to do. There is an early morning chill in the air.

I am afforded the luxury of a solitary walk down our dead end lane. I pass growing corn towering above me, taller than my sons. The wind in the field is like a crowd cheering in the distance, soft but insistent. It crescendos and decrescendos as if doing the ‘wave’. The chittering of birds singing with the motion.

I pass a magnificent jacketed stallion as he romps in joy around a neighborhood corral, playfully lying down in the dirt to exalt in his freedom to run. Around and around he trots until he breaks into a gallop, mane flowing with the breeze. We stop to look at each other with curiosity and admiration and then off we both go to revel in the day.

Oak lined streets making shady tunnels under which to wander. Bird houses on every five or six trees. Flowers and farms and gardens galore. There are not enough words to describe the earthy green perfection of this countryside. This land speaks to my heart in countless reviving ways.

We take the train to Amsterdam. My Peter and Richard have been diverted from their European Rhine cruise to The Netherlands because of drought caused low water levels. As a bonus, I get to meet them for an afternoon in Amsterdam. This will make three of my sons sharing one of my favorite cities with me.

Elske gives us a walking tour which is more of a guided pub and canal crawl. From White beer to smoky porter with raspberry ale in between, Elske and Peter do Philip proud. I stick to wine and Richard is our designated walker.  It is a really fine day. I am overflowing with the sweetness of my unexpected blessings.

Annesterdam
August, 2026