THIS MAP SHOWS THE FIVE ARCANE ATTRACTIONS OF THE ALAMO STATE IN THE ORDER WE VISITED THEM |
DOWNTOWN FREDRICKSBURG TEXAS WEST OF AUSTIN |
THIS IS THE STORE FRONT FOR RUSTLIN' ROB'S TEXAS GOURMET FOODS |
THIS GIANT PICKLE GREETS YOU AT THE FRONT OF RUSTLIN' ROB'S |
THE NUMBER OF FOOD PRODUCTS OFFERED AT RUSTLIN' ROBS IS STAGGERING |
WHERE EVER YOU LOOK THERE ARE DIFFERENT ITEMS |
THIS SECTION IS FOR THE JELLY AND JAMS ALONE |
A CLOSE UP OF THE ENDLESS HOT SAUCES |
THIS IS A VERY POPULAR TYPE OF PICKLED OKRA AT RUSTLIN' ROB'S |
THESE PICKLES CALLED WICKLES ARE VERY, VERY POPULAR AND A TEXAS SPECIALTY |
NOTICE THE SAMPLES THAT LINE EACH OF THE SECTIONS OF THE STORE |
THE SAUCES ARE OFTEN POURED OVER BLOCKS OF CREAM CHEESE |
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE COUNTLESS COBBLERS-PEACH WAS OUR FAVORITE |
RUSTLIN' ROB'S DOES A TREMENDOUS MAIL ORDER BUSINESS WITH COUNTLESS COMBINATIONS OF GIFT BOXES AND BASKETS |
THESE ARE DIP PACKETS MEANT TO BE MIXED WITH YOUR FAVORITE BASE LIKE SOUR CREAM |
THIS HUGE BULL GREETED US WITH HIS EASTER BASKET ON THE WAY TO LUCKENBACH |
WE WERE ANXIOUS TO BE SOMEBODY |
THIS DOG LOVED THE TRANQUIL ATMOSPHERE OF LUCKENBACH |
MOTORCYCLE GROUPS PULL IN AND OUT OF LUCKENBACH ON AN HOURLY BASIS |
TEXAS TEN GALLON AND STETSON HATS ARE VERY POPULAR AND VERY EXPENSIVE |
NO ADMISSION-YOU JUST PULL UP A CHAIR AND ENJOY THE MUSIC |
MOST OF THE MUSCIANS WHO PLAY AT LUCKENBACH ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL BUT LOVE TO JAM |
MANY OF THE BIKERS THAT VISIT LUCKENBACH ARE IN THEIR 50'S AS ARE THEIR HARLEYS |
LUCKENBACH HAS NOT LOST ITS DEFINITE COWBOY CHARM |
THERE ARE SOME MODERN TECHNOLOGIES DISCREETLY HIDDEN BEHIND WEATHERED BOARDS |
SARA ENJOYED SOME SHADE ON THE FRONT PORCH OF THE POST OFFICE AND STORE |
THE DANCE HALL IS HUGE AND THERE IS A SCHEDULED EVENT ON MOST WEEKENDS |
TEXANS TAKE THEIR DANCING SERIOUSLY AND THE HALL IS OFTEN CROWDED |
ANOTHER AMATEUR MUSICIAN JAMMING AT LUCKENBACH |
THE MUSIC IS WONDERFUL AND IT'S ALL FREE FOR THE ENJOYING |
LUCKENBACH IS ON THE TEXAS REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES |
OFTEN VISITORS LEAVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL MONUMENTS-THIS ONE FROM A PAIR OF NEWLYWEDS |
THE BIKERS OFTEN ARRIVE IN A CLOUD OF DUST AND A MIGHTY ROAR |
SOMETIMES THE CROWDS CAN BE LARGE |
AUTO LICENSE PLATES ADORN THE RESTROOM WALLS AND OUTDOOR STAGE |
SARA AND I ENJOYED THIS GROUP FOR OVER AN HOUR |
THE MAIN BAR AREA AND STORE IS A VERY RUSTIC BUILDING |
THERE WERE EVEN FREE WAGON RIDES THE DAY WE VISITED |
THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE STORE AND BAR |
IT IS THE MUSIC AT LUCKENBACH THAT IS THE MAIN ATTRACTION |
THE BEER IS COLD AND THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY LAID BACK |
THE MOTTO OF LUCKENBACH CAN BE FOUND EVERYWHERE |
THE GROUNDS OF LUCKENBACH ARE COVERED WITH HUGE LIVE OAKS |
THE VISITORS TO LUCKENBACH CAN BE ASSURED OF HAVING A GOOD TIME |
WHERE CAN YOU ENJOY A GAME OF WASHER PITCHING |
OR ADMIRE THE LOCAL LIVE STOCK- A GENUINE TEXAS LONGHORN |
LUCKENBACH DOES HAVE SOME NEW MODERN TECHNOLOGY DISCREETLY HIDDEN BEHIND WEATHERED BOARDS |
BUT LUKENBACH HAS RETAINED ITS RURAL TEXAS CHARM |
THIS IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE TYLER TEXAS ROSE GARDEN AND MUSEUM |
FROM THE MOMENT YOU STEP ON THE GROUNDS OF THE TYLER TEXAS ROSE GARDENS YOUR EYES ARE CASCADED WITH COLOR |
THE GARDENS ARE DIVIDED INTO A SERIES OF BEDS AND SPECIALTY GARDENS |
THERE IS ALMOST EVERY CONCEIVABLE COMBINATION OF COLOR AND HUE |
TEXANS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN THEIR HEART FOR THE YELLOW ROSE |
COMBINATION ROSE BEDS AE EXTREMELY COLORFUL |
THE PROFUSION OF COLOR IS WITHOUT EQUAL |
NOW THAT IS TRULY A BEAUTIFUL RED ROSE |
MY BROTHER PAUL LOVED THE REDS |
AND SO MANY DIFFERENT SHADES OF RED |
THE COMBINATIONS OF COLORS ARE ONLY LIMITED BY THE IMAGINATION OF THE ROSE BREEDERS |
THE TYLER TEXAS ROSE GARDENS EXPOSITION HALL IS IN THE BACKGROUND AND IS A POPULAR LOCATION FOR WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS |
NOT ALL THE FLOWERS AT THE TYLER TEXAS ROSE GARDENS ARE ROSES |
AND NOT ALL THE VISITORS ARE PEOPLE |
WOW-THIS VARIETY WAS IN THE ENGLISH GARDEN |
EVERYONE LOVES SNAPDRAGONS |
AND LOOK AT THE COLOR OF THESE POPPIES |
MORE FLOWERS THIS TIME IN THE TEA GARDEN |
THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL WATER GARDENS |
BUT IT IS THE ROSES THAT ARE THE STARS OF THE GARDENS |
THE ROSE BEDS SEEM ENDLESS-THEY GO ON AND ON AND ON |
NOTICE THE EXPOSITION HALL IN THE BACKGROUND |
THERE ARE COUNTLESS AMERICAN AWARD WINNERS |
AWARD WINNERS FROM THE PAST............. |
A MORE RECENT AMERICAN AWARD WINNER |
ALLOW AT LEAST 3 HOURS TO VIEW THE ROSE GARDENS OF TYLER |
AS YOU WALK THRU THE ACRES AND ACRES OF ROSE BEDS......... |
YOUR EYES WILL BE OVERWHELMED WITH COLOR LIKE THIS............. |
AND THE SMELLS...............WHAT HEAVENLY SCENTS............. |
MANY ROSES HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT SHADES IN ONE BLOSSOM......... |
OTHER ROSE BEDS HAVE MULTIPLE COLORS WITHIN THE SAME BED |
SOME ROSES ARE SOFT AND MUTED IN COLOR. |
AND SOME WILL SET YOUR EYES ON FIRE... |
YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE FINDING A FAVORITE |
EVEN THE WHITE ROSES ARE DRAMATIC |
BE SURE TO SAVE ENOUGH TIME TO VIEW THE DRESSES OF TYLER ROSE PRINCESSES OF THE PAST |
IN THE GIFT STORE YOU CAN FIND A CUTE OUTFIT FOR A CHILD OR GRAND CHILD |
SARA ENJOYED ONE LAST LOOK OVER THE GARDENS........ |
AND THE TEA GROUNDS BEFORE WE LEFT THE PARK |
THIS MAP SHOWS THE LOCATION OF THE FAMOUS FIVE PAINTED CHURCHES OF SCHULENBURG |
THE FIRST PAINTED CHURCH OF SCHULENBURG WE VISITED WAS ST JOHN THE BAPTIST |
THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH WAS IMPRESSIVE.......... |
LOOKING TOWARD THE ALTER FROM THE BACK OF THE CHURCH |
SARA SAID A PRAYER AND LIT A CANDLE IN EACH OF THE CHURCHES WE VISITED |
THE PAINTED DETAILS ON THE CEILINGS OF THE CHURCH WERE DELICATE YET MADE A VERY BOLD STATEMENT |
THE BALCONY COULD ACCOMMODATE A HUGE CHOIR |
THE CLOSER YOU GET TO THE PAINTED WALLS THE MORE YOU REALIZE HOW ELABORATE AND INTRICATE THE DETAILS REALLY ARE |
THE SECOND PAINTED CHURCH WE VISITED WAS ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS AT DUBINA |
THIS CHURCH IS BEAUTIFUL BOTH INSIDE AND OUT AND OH WHAT A SETTING |
ST. CRYIL & METHODIUS IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AS ARE ALL THE PAINTED CHURCHES OF TEXAS |
THE FRONT ALTAR OF ST CRYIL AND METHODIUS HAS BEAUTIFUL WOOD....................... |
BUT IT IS THE CEILINGS THAT ARE BEYOND DESCRIPTION ..........THIS IS ALL DONE WITH PAINT OFTEN MIXED ON SITE |
THIS EVER PRESENT EVIL EYE IN THE STAINED GLASS SILENTLY WARNS THE CHURCHGOER TO STAY AWAKE DURING THE MASS AS GOD IS WATCHING |
IF YOU HAVE TO GO AND YOU DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH, YOU CAN STILL FIND THE PRIVY BEHIND THE CHURCH |
THE CEMETERY NEAR THE CHURCH BETRAYS THE CHEZ BACKGROUND OF THE PARISH |
AS YOU DRIVE INTO THE VILLAGE OF SCHULENBURG BE SURE TO TAKE NOTE OF THE BEAUTIFUL PERIOD HOMES IN THE AREA |
THE STAINED GLASS IN MANY OF THE HOUSES IS BREATH TAKING |
ST ROSE OF LIMA WAS REMODELED IN THE MID 1950'S AND MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL CHARM OF THE CHURCH WAS LOST |
SARA LIGHTS ANOTHER VIGIL CANDLE AT ST ROSE OF LIMA CHURCH |
THE SCULPTURE OF A FARMER BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND RECTORY IS NOT TO BE MISSED |
THE FOURTH CHURCH IS ST MARY'S AT PRAHA |
ST MARY'S AT PRAHA HAS SEVERAL GROTTOES ON ITS GROUNDS |
INCLUDED IN THE STONE WORK OF THE GROTTOES WERE SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF PETRIFIED WOOD |
ST MARY'S OF PRAHA IS A BEAUTIFUL STONE CHUCH SET BETWEEN HUGE TEXAS LIVE OAKS |
THIS IMAGE OF CHRIST WAS BUILT RIGHT INTO THE STONE FACADE |
AND THE INTERIOR WALLS ARE PAINTED IN A MANNER THAT WANTS TO MAKE THE HEART OF THE VISITOR SKIP A BEAT |
THE HUGE CHANDELIER HANGS FROM THE CEILING'S CENTER |
AND BEHIND THE CHANDELIER THE EVER PRESENT EVIL EYE KEEPING PARISHIONERS AWAKE |
THESE FIGURES ARE BEHIND THE ALTAR...... |
AND THE DETAIL OF THE PAINTING WAS HARD TO BELIEVE |
ST MARY'S AT HIGH HILL WAS THE LAST PAINTED CHURCH WE VISITED |
ST MARY'S HAS A RED BRICK FACADE |
AND IS BEING TOTALLY RESTORED ON THE INSIDE |
NOTE THE WORKER IN THE CENTER OF THE PICTURE |
THESE TALENTED RESTORERS WORKED ON SCAFFOLDING OVER 80 FT FROM THE FLOOR OF THE CHURCH |
THE ALTAR OF ST MARY'S WAS COMPLETELY RENOVATED AND IT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE |
NOTICE THE RESTORED GOLD LEAF AROUND THE VIRGIN MARY |
THE PAINTINGS AROUND THE PULPIT WERE REDONE TO THEIR ORIGINAL SPLENDOR |
THE STATUTES AT ST MARY'S HAD BEEN CLEANED AND REVITALIZED |
THE TOOLS OF A RESTORER-GERMAN DICTIONARY AND CAMERA |
IMAGINE THE WORK INVOLVED IN BRINGING THIS WALL BACK TO ITS FORMER BEAUTY |
THE ORIGINAL WALL COVERINGS ARE REMOVED AND PAIN STAKINGLY ATTACHED IN THE CORRECT POSITION SO REFINISHING CAN CONTINUE |
THE EXTERIOR OF ST MARY'S OF HIGH HILL DEFIES THE SPLENDOR THAT IS CONTAINED INSIDE |
ONLY THE FRUGAL GERMANS WOULD USE STANDARD PIPE FITTING TO FORM A RAILING ON THEIR BEAUTIFUL CHURCH |
TEXANS TAKE THEIR BARBEQUEING VERY VERY SERIOUSLY |
THERE IS A RARE PIG IN THIS HOMEMADE TEXAN COOKER |
THIS COOKER AT A MEXAN RODEO WAS DOING TURKEY LEGS AND SAUSAGES |
ANYONE FOR A LEG OR A LINK |
THESE WERE THE LINKS OFF THE SAME COOKER WHICH WILL BE SERVED IN A TORTILLA |
THE SALT LICK BAR B-Q WEST OF AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS IN ALL OF TEXAS |
THE SALT LICK FEEDS THOUSANDS OF HUNGRY DINERS EVERY WEEK |
THE SALT LICK IS LOCATED SOUTH WEST OF AUSTIN NEAR THE TINY TOWN OF DRIFTWOOD |
THE INTERIOR OF THE MAIN RESTAURANT IS RUSTIC AND PURE TEXAN |
THE SALT LICK HAS WON COUNTLESS AWARDS OVER THE YEARS |
ANOTHER T SHIRT PROUDLY STATES "YOU CAN SMELL OUR PITS FROM A MILE AWAY." |
THE MAIN PIT AT THE SALT LICK IS ITS CENTERPIECE AND IT IS MASSIVE |
AT ANY GIVEN TIME THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEATS ON THE PIT |
THE MEAT IS CONSTANTLY MOVING OVER THE GRILL |
WHEN IT IS DISHED UP AND BROUGHT TO YOUR TABLE............ |
IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.................IT IS THE BEST BBQ YOU WILL EVER TASTE |
AND THE SALT LICK CAN SERVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AT ONE TIME---THEY COME IN BY THE BUS LOADS |
THE SALT LICK'S SIGNATURE SAUCES ARE SERVED ON THE SIDE WHICH IS THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY THEIR ESSENCE........... |
IF YOU ARE EVER NEAR AUSTIN GO TO THE SALT LICK....YOU WILL NEVER TASTE BETTER TEXAS BBQ |
THE SALT LICKS FOOD PRODUCTS ARE AIR SHIPPED ALL OVER THE WORLD |
YOU CAN ALMOST SMELL THE PITS FROM WHERE YOU ARE |
THE SAUCES CAN BE ORDERED ONLINE |
AND DON'T FORGET THE RUBS |
VISIT THESE ARCANE TEXAS ATTRACTIONS.........YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!!!!! |