Red Poppies, and other wonderful things

Just before we left home, I had to pack up the large set of 5 red poppies from my show. They’re heading off in a moving van to California with all the other furniture their new owner is taking from her house on Peaks. I got Will to help me get them snug with bubble wrap and cardboard, and said goodbye to them. As soon as we got to Texel for our week of beach and biking last Mon July 29, I was so happy to see that the red poppies there were blooming all over the island. This one shown above is just one of MANY clumps we saw everywhere!

Our week on Texel was a couple weeks earlier than usual, so we saw many things in bloom that were usually passed in mid August.

Every time Will and I return to Texel, we’re both struck by the simple beauty, the incredible mix of farmland and dunes, wide open beaches and bird filled wetlands, and the way time slows down. This time around I found myself marveling at some pretty ordinary things done the Dutch way. Like going to the grocery store and finding nice little paper bags if you need to put loose green beans in something to weigh. Sturdy enough to use for sandwiches another time. I didn’t get a photo either time,but caught myself staring as I watched couples bring their whole grocery order out in a cart without any bags. They proceeded to pack the whole thing in the saddle bags of their bikes.

I saw 2 murmurations of starlings again this week, one of which was occurring over the field I was cycling beside. I found myself going slower and slower so that I could track it overhead. That same night, Will and I laid on the beach in the dark to watch the meteor showers. We saw several slow shooters, as well as a clear view of the Satellite Train! It was unreal.

It was another magical week of biking everywhere, being outdoors for 8-10 hours each day, and discovering more to love about Texel.