Giethoorn, Venice of the Netherlands

This is a village in Holland where you won't find a single road.

All transportation is by boats along the canals.

It's called Giethoorn, located in the Dutch provence of Overijssel. The old part of the village has remained the same with canals and footbridges, although there is now a cycling path.

It has been called "Little Venice," or the Venice of Holland. It truly is a fantasy-like place.

These cottages and farmhouses are so beautiful with their thatched roofs and gorgeous gardens. This is classic 18th and 19th century Dutch village architecture.

I and can only imagine what it must look like inside these quaint and charming homes.

Wouldn't it be fun to rent one for a week?

How gorgeous is this!

I am definitely putting Giethoorn on my list of places to visit before I die!

To learn more about Giethoorn, visit this online travel guide here!

I'm linking up to Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.

I'm also linking up to Watery Wednesday.

Thanks Ladies for hosting!

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The Cottages at Nick's Cove

One of my favorite places to visit is Nick's Cove on Tomales Bay, about an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The cabins at Nick's Cove are absolutely adorable and beautifully appointed.

Above is "Bandit's Bungalow." It is my favorite! Imagine waking up to a 180 degree view of Tomales Bay. Oh, and I love those gorgeous alabaster lamps.

"Bandit's Bungalow" has it's own sitting room and private dock. It has a great view of the pier.

Above is "Al's" cottage. I love the pine paneling and luxurious linens!

This cabin is called "Nicolina." It is shaped like a boat and is cantilevered right over the bay.

Sleeping here is the ultimate maritime experience!

This is the "Big Rock" cabin and it comes with it's own hand made copper soaking tub in the master bathroom.

This is what the four original, circa 1930 cabins looked like before restoration by Pat Kuleto.

And after with their new paint and decks. There are now five on the bay.

"Nicolina" was inspired by a 1930's hay scow that sat moored on the pilings at Nick's Cove for decades.

Look how cute they are from the road. Love the picket fences.

They all come with gorgeous master bathrooms. Like this one in the "Fisherman's Cottage" located across the road.

What a gorgeous sunset!

It is so quiet here. Nick's Cove is located on Highway 1 in the tiny village of Marshall.

Besides the five little bayside cottages, there are seven new cottages across the road.

The restaurant anchors it all. It is the quintessential roadhouse restaurant, specializing in oysters and fresh seafood.

The inside is decorated with an outdoorsman feel. Lots of deer trophies line the walls.

After dinner, before retiring to your little cottage on the bay, a walk on the pier is a must!

A few years ago, my best friend Maureen and I celebrated our birthday with our husbands here. Although we didn't stay in the cabins, we enjoyed a nice leisurely lunch overlooking Tomales Bay in February.

For information, room rates and the history of Nick's Cove and Cottages, visit their website here.

I'm linking up to Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.

Thanks Susan for hosting!

I'm also joining Watery Wednesday.

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A River Runs Through It

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.

I am haunted by waters."

-Norman Mclean, "A River Runs Through It"

Photo of Umpqua River, circa 1976 by Gary Arabian

Rivers run through our family: I spent the first half of my childhood on the Siuslaw River in Oregon; the granddaughter of a legendary river guide. My husband is an avid fisherman, as is his twin brother, our sons, and nephew. It's in our blood, rivers and fishing.

It makes sense that we would be drawn to vintage paintings of rivers like the one above. It is a lovely European oil of a pastoral scene with cows in the river.

What is it about rivers that inspires artists, writers, poets and the like to create a work of art?

Thornton Wilder said: "It is only in appearance that time is a river. It is rather a vast landscape and it is the eye of the beholder that moves." The above river is the Trinity, a legendary steelhead stream in Northern California.

This little painting is probably by a "Sunday Artist" as there is no signature, but I love the muted colors and the bend in the river.

A beautiful fly fishing stretch on the McCloud River in Northern California.

"What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn't have any doubt - it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn't want to go anywhere else." -Hal Boyle

Another European river scene with cows. I love the reflection on the water.

The Mattole River is near Eureka and one of Mr. A's favorite rivers to fish.

He loves it so much, and I was lucky to find this little impressionist painting of the Mattole by California Artist Carl Sammons.

The Trinity River again. Notice the fisherman in the distance and the steelhead on a fly in the foreground. Pure poetry. What artist wouldn't want to paint this scene!

This was our very first painting! It is of the Eel River, and we found it at our favorite antique store in Healdsburg years ago. Circa 1923 by local amateur artist.

Mr. A's beloved handmade wooden river boat. It has been down virtually every major trout and steelhead stream in California and Oregon. It is in it's own way a "work of art."

This little naive painting is another example of an inspired hobbyist painter. I love the deer crossing the stream.

The McCloud River looking quite majestic. This is serious fly water.

I had my friend Diana paint this from a photograph. It's of Mr. A fishing the Yuba River.

Twin brothers, circa 1999 on some river, somewhere.....

This is a print of a lovely bucolic stream with cows. I picked it up at a second hand store!

A chip off the old block!

A European oil we recently added to the collection. I love the castle!

And yet another scenic river photograph.......

........And so "Life imitates art far more than art imitates life." --Oscar Wilde

Are you "haunted by waters" also?

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I'm joining Susan for Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer. Be sure to visit her and see all the other outside photos and inspiration.

I'm also linking up to Watery Wednesday for the first time. Check it out!

I'm linking up to Chari at Happy To Design for Sunday Favorites.

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