257/365

Performer

While waiting for the Rodeo to begin, I wandered around the midway and came upon this group performing.  The volume was crazy loud and I didn't understand a word they were singing, but it was great getting pics of the group.  

I'm grateful today for:

all the good books I've read in my lifetime and how much I enjoy reading

248/365

Rodeo

The West Texas Fair and Rodeo starts at the end of this week..  This is a photo from my files, maybe from last year or the year before.  I LOVE photographing rodeo events.  I love cowboys and horses and anything related to them.  I might just have to rent a lens that's a little faster and longer than any I have.  Maybe/maybe not.  I'll have to see how long I can keep it and how much it will cost.

My heart is grateful that:

there will be a little excitement around here soon

93/365

The Staircase

In Santa Fe, NM there's a chapel that was built in the 1870s. (Loretto Chapel)  After it was completed, the nuns realized there was no way to get from the ground floor to the choir loft.  

They prayed a 9-day novena and on the 9th day a carpenter wandered in from the dessert.  He contracted with the nuns to build a spiral staircase and it took him 5 months to complete it.  His only tools were a carpenter's square, a saw and a hammer.  (he must have had the wood with him)

When the carpenter was finished, he left without payment.  There is no known record of the man and the subspecies of wood he used can't be traced.  They never heard from/about him again.

There is no center column and no side supports.  The only support for the staircase is the bottom step on the floor of the chapel.  He didn't put a railing on the staircase so for the first two years the nuns used the steps without railings or anything to hold on to when ascending & descending.  

The railing was added after two years of use.  

The Chapel was in use until a short while ago, but it's now a beautiful museum. The Chapel and especially the Staircase are strikingly beautiful.

My heart is grateful today for:

God's gifts to mankind for making beauty

8/365

Chess Board

Confession:  I know NOTHING about chess other than that there are some very beautiful chess sets out there in chess-land.  Once upon a time many, many years ago I attempted to learn the game.  After leaning the absolute basics, I never pursued the game at all. 

It's just not anything I'm interested in.  

But...I am interested in photographing beautiful chess sets.  A friend from church told me she had this set and she was willing to loan it to me for a few days.  It's not over-the-top ornate, but being made out of marble it's very appealing.  

7/365

More from the Barrel Race...