Monday's Country Back Roads...On the Way to Moravia

Enchanting best describes the vineyard and winery...from the moment I drove through the gate. Even if I were not a romantic at heart, I would recognize the romance associated with growing grapes and making wine.

There must be so much pride and satisfaction when the process is completed, and it is time to bottle the wine. Click HERE to read more about the vineyard.

                                       I followed the winding road to the top of the hill.

First came the vineyard, planted in neat rows.

The love of land is obvious....the owners must feel the same way I do about this land I live on.

         Do you see the romance here? A beautiful masonry building trimmed with stone and brick....

and deep set windows.

                                     The welcoming sign set at the door to greet the visitors.

As I walked through the door, I was treated like a very special guest. Never in my wildest dreams, did I expect to meet the charming owner.

I learned two different wines are produced from the organically grown grapes.

                   Just like you would imagine, the wine bottles were lined up along the walls.

The inside architecture of cathedral ceiling with stone walls is just what one might expect for a Wine Tasting Room.

I was given a personal tour, showing me the process the grapes go through before it is bottled as wine.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a vat of Black Spanish Grapes, the last of the season had been picked earlier this morning.

 

 

Friends are invited over this week end, to try my two bottles of wine.

 

You are invited, too...

 

Meggie Mac

 

Side Note: If you are traveling through Central Texas, be sure and make this stop. You will not be disappointed with the wines or the hospitality.

 

 

Sunday Morning Inspired...Historical Episcopal Church

 

This is one of the most beautiful and well maintained churches, near where I live on the Black Land Prairie of Texas.

 

 

 

The ringing of the bell can be heard before each service begins.

 

 

 The American version of the Queen Anne Style, was built in 1855-1856. If you will click HERE, you can read the very interesting history of the church.

 

 

To complete the Queen Anne Style, eyebrow windows were placed on the roof.

 

 

Exquisite Stained Glass Windows are original to the church.

 

 

"Enter as Strangers * Leave as Friends"

Meggie Mac

 

 

I'm linking today with "Inspired Sunday". Click HERE to see other church photos.

 

Thursday Show and Tell from Vintage Kitchen

 

Over the years of my collecting, this is the only green depression glass measuring cup I have seen in this particular style.

 

 

What I find so unique is the solid handle.

 

 

It also has a very generous spout.

 

 

As you can see, it holds 2-cups for measuring.

 

 

This photo gives you a better look at the solid handle.

 

Although I would not consider selling my vintage cup, I did a search today, on the Internet. I found one selling for $49.00.

 

That price really surprises me, since I paid $3.50 for the measuring cup, at an estate sale.

 

Don't you just love it when you know you found a bargain?

 

Meggie Mac

 

 

Monday's Country Back Roads....

 

 

Are you wondering how the one sunflower managed to have a black background?

 

It is the dense foliage behind the field of flowers.










The sun was so bright today that it washed out most of the color in the foreground.



 

All heads are down...that must be some very tasty grass.

 

 

Vincent Van Gogh, who is remembered for his sunflower paintings, once wrote in a letter to his sister, that he "intends to decorate the whole studio with nothing but sunflowers."

Not a bad idea....
Meggie Mac

Sunday Morning in Moravia....Texas

 

Czech immigrants from Northeast Moravia settled this area around 1870.

 

 

Mass will be at 10am, today... followed by the annual church picnic.

 

 

I will be having lunch, prepared by volunteers of the parish, at the church pavilion.

 

 

 

It's almost too early to get a good photo of the stained glass windows.

 

 

The Moravian Catholic Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

 

This photo was taken during the winter....

 

It was almost dark.

Meggie Mac

 

 

Linking with:

 

 

Click HERE to see other church photos.

 

  

Looking for Calm

                                          I found it before sunrise this morning....

                                   It is a place where you can get lost in your thoughts.

The only sound came from the well water pumping into the pond. It is so hot here, in Texas, this is the only way to keep the water level up during July.

This little guy was there to get his breakfast.
I'm guessing he is a tri-colored heron.

                             Don't you agree... it is a spot where all your troubles can melt away?

                                                                       Meggie Mac

Thursday Show and Tell from Nippon

 

                               It is hand-painted....and so lovely it could be a framed piece of art.

 

Although slightly faded, you can read, "Hand Painted Nippon"

 

Click HERE to read more about the history of this mark. Beginning in 1891, Japan used the word "Nippon" on its porcelain imports. The Nippon Era ended in 1921 when the US government required the imports use the word "Japan".

With a little help from Picasa, I was able to crop the above image from this small Nippon (Japan)vintage square dish.

Isn't it amazing how a few well placed brushstrokes can create such a beautiful, peaceful scene?

Meggie Mac

Inspired Sunday... First Presbyterian Church

 

 

One might think this is the door to a cathedral. It is so unlike most of the church styles in my area of Texas.

 

 

The Gothic style details are exquisite.

It's not a very large church....everything about it makes me think of architecture I might see in England.

 

 

The clear blue skies and white puffy clouds make a beautiful backdrop for the steeple.

 

Meggie Mac

 

Linking with inSpired Sunday. Click HERE to see more churches.