The Netherlands -- Beautiful!

AT FIRST, I somehow thought I could include our entire two week vacation to England, Scotland and Amsterdam into one post. But it's impossible to whittle down two weeks into a mere few photos.  And who would want to, right?

We spent two full days in and around Amsterdam.  And I mean FULL days.  We took a bus tour that took us to the countryside just outside of Amsterdam.  This was where we found the beautiful windmills that, in my mind, had previously only existed in photos.  And there they were...like a dream.

To get to the windmills, we got to walk around the cozy Dutch homes that were oh so picture worthy.  We never did figure out what type of animals these were, grazing so gently in the green, green pasture. 

It's funny how you see details in a picture after you get home.  I hadn't noticed the finials on each end of this roof.  There was just so much to look at and take in.

Like the front door of the house with the finials.  I can zoom in and see there's actually a picture above the door.  I love it!

These are the backs of their houses, complete with a topiary and miniature canal!

Wooden shoes! 

More wooden shoes, still drying.  On this bus tour, we were just a few among about 50 people walking along and trying to stick together.  I managed to maneuver in and out of people, often times trailing behind, to take all of the above photos without any people in them!  Until this one, I see the tops of some heads here.

This lady demonstrated how they make the shoes.  What I like are the steps they show on the post next to her  In the beginning there's a single block of wood and in the end, an actual wearable shoe.

And voila! They made it to a gift shop in Amsterdam!  Sooo many beautiful designs to choose from...