I love living in The Netherlands because I get to observe seasons. A year in California is a year of summer so when I moved I was a bit overwhelmed. It’s been 4 years since I moved and I’ve adjusted well. I have to say that spring and autumn are my favorites but there’s so much to see during the spring. So allow me to share a bit of what makes me happy!
Babies!
Oh boy, the amount of baby ducks I see is ridiculous. Our neighborhood has several bodies of water and they all have duck families. The most popular species it the American Coot. I enjoy giving them names and following each family’s progress. The babies are adorable to watch and I could do it for hours. The only sad part of my duck watching is that not all the babies make it to adulthood. The most recent losses for one family were devastating. One weekend there were 7 babies and the following Tuesday I only saw 1… But that’s the circle of life. The best outcome is to see at least one make it to adulthood. Over the years I’ve seen dozens of them make it so there’s hope!
All is in bloom
Whew, I’m such a sucker for beautiful plants and flowers. And let me tell you that there is no shortage of those in The Netherlands. We had a particularly wet winter this year. While my neighbors complained to me, I reminded them that a wet winter meant a beautiful spring. And I totally didn’t steal that from my Dutch tutor (lol, I’m kidding, I did). Either way, The Netherlands thrives on wet land. There’s so much green here that it needs all the water it can get. I’ve seen drought in California and it’s bad. I had always wanted to live in a neighborhood full of green and I have to say that my current location is perfect. We live on the 3rd floor too so I get a great view of everything.
The Sun
Oh boy, I never thought I would say it but I missed the sun. It’s always so warm when the sun is out. Spring is a strange time because you can wear shorts in the morning and pants in the evening. The temperate is never consistent but if you stand in the sun you’ll be fine. The sun also sets later during this part of the year. It’s a heartwarming feeling to sit down by a window and read in the evening sun. It’s a beautiful thing that I never took the time to value before. Now all I want to do is bask in the golden hues of the evening sun. It leaves a cozy feeling in my heart and some days that’s all I need to get me through the day.
The only bad thing about spring is that I get crazy allergies. Not the usual red eyes and runny nose. My lungs feel heavy and it’s a bit difficult to breathe. Sander was able to find some over the counter stuff that seems to be working so far. But there are a few times where I’m congested and exhausted. It’s something I’ve developed while living here so it can’t be helped.
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