The Netherlands

Isabella and I went to the Netherlands this weekend for a quick trip to see the Keukenhof Gardens.  We also were able to visit a wonderful farm, Clara Maria, that makes the most fabulous cheese and typical wooden shoes.  It was so much fun to spend some one-on-one time with Isabella. 

All of the flowers were just coming into bloom and were gorgeous.  It's amazing to think that the over 7 million bulbs were all planted by hand, by volunteers!  Back in the 15th century the Keukenhof was little more than scrubland and dunes.  At the time, the area belonged to a Countess, who lived at Teylingen Castle.  In the castle courtyard herbs were collected for the kitchen.  That is how the site came to be known as Keukenhof (Kitchen Courtyard).  Besides the gardens and exhits the Keukenhof had a petting zoo for children, a play area and a working windmill. 

This years theme at the Kuekenhof Gardens was "United Kingdom - Land of Great Gardens."  It was interesting to see how they brought aspects of the English Garden into the exhibits.  Besides the English flair to the gardens, they also had a bagpiper and a double-decker bus.

From the Clara Maria farm:

Isabella ready for a yummy breakfast at
the Clara Maria farm.




Some of the beautiful shoes that they carve and
paint at the farm.



The milk that is used to make the yummy cheese on the farm
come from their very own cows!

From the Keukenhof Gardens: