More of the Chapel!

Yesterday I wrote about Gretchen and my experience inside the Edith Bates Chapel at Festival Hill Institute in Round Top, Texas.  As I mentioned when we were in the chapel we heard really loud music and it turned out someone was playing Highway to Hell underneath the chapel in the basement.  As some of you mentioned in your comments that you would of hit the ground praying if that had happened to you let me assure you it did cross my mind. Gretchen turned toward me and we both had looks of horror on our faces. lol As it turned out we found the culprit in the basement. The picture above is the back entrance to the chapel thru the basement.  We did not go outside to this entrance we went thru a really dark passage leading to this room from upstairs.

If you look at the picture of the front of the chapel on my other post Highway to Hell and then see these pictures it blows the mind at how different the two are.  Front of church is the typical older Luthern church built sometime in late 1800's is my guess then you have this stone in the back that looks like you are in Europe. Perfect place to loose yourself in and I am the luckest person to have it so near my home.

When I had breast cancer I would bring a quilt out here and meditate. I told the ex one day I will give back to this place what it has given me. So far I am behind in that. I volunteer here but it will take much more to give back what it has given me.

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As you can see from these pictures, the exterior of the Edith Bates Chapel is by far one of the most deceptive atmospheres in Texas.  You will find huge fountains, hidden statues and spaces tucked away  for quiet reflection, conversations or a game of chess.  The expansive patio has stories to tell about elegant parties and weddings. 

Once married to a stone mason he explained to me ancient craft of dry stack which is common throughout the lovely grounds. 

As Gretchen and I were leaving that evening we met a very lovely lady who was sitting on one of the many stone benches. She waved at us and wanted to talk so we sat down by her. Turns out her son Richard had helped establish Festival Hill with James Dick and she lived just behind the chapel in a new home they had built for her.

Lovely lady and visiting with her was a delight. She told us a short version of her life history and what an interesting life she has led. Looking at her I guessed her to be around 77 but she happily told us she was 82.

When we tried to tell her goodbye but she would have no part of that. lol....She finally took us up on walking her home and then of course insisted we come inside. It was one of those moments when you hate to leave someone but you need to get home. We both promised her we would come back soon for another visit. Today I thought of her sitting there waiting for us and it made me sad but yet thinking of her made me smile.

We both plan on keeping our promise and visit her again soon.

Thank you for all the sweet comments about me trying to write again. It has been too long since I laid the pen down on a story I was working on. Your so kind to think that I could publish something and of course that would be a dream come true. Right now I will settle for just writing every day. God has given me this chance while my back heals so who am I to shun a blessing.

Gretchen is also writing a childrens book along with three screen plays so when I introduced her to the grounds at Festival Hill she knew why she had moved to Texas.  Anytime your sitting in a chapel and the song Highway to Hell starts playing you know God is trying to tell you something.

The next few days are suppose to be rainy and very cold so I hope you can snuggle up to something warm. Of course you know in my case that would be Tinkerbell. lol

I did have to go bye another heater today because my space heater for the bathroom went out and I had loaned Gary my other one so back to Wal Mart. When on when will this town get a Target or something besides a Wal Mart. We don't even have a nice big grocery store. hahaha

In the next week I want to add another page to my site. I hope you checked out Temptations because there will be a test about it coming up. The winner will be happy they paid attention.

Sorry got off track....I want to do a page about loosing weight. I figured if I put my big bod out for the world to see and keep a online journal of my progess and set backs that it would inspire me to stick with it. Also I would like to do the page where if anyone wanted to join me they could. Not sure how to do it but this ole grandma is using to running around a sheriffs department 12 hours a day and now since my injury thats not happening then Ms Pearl needs to step up to the plate and stop Maggie from becoming Ms Piggy because good grief you guys already have enough names to remember when you visit this site without another character called Ms Piggy. 

I was wondering what I should have on the page. Confessions of  a serial eater. Would I lie about weigh ins. So who knows got to get busy because it was on my list of things to do in 2011. Another thing on my list is to have that 500th follower giveaway. What does your list look like.

Sweet Dreams

Maggie