136/365

Blue Door and Staircase

This blue door and filigreed metal staircase is seen on the outside wall of a business in 

Colorado City, Texas.  

It's been about 5 years since I've been there and this scene looks exactly like it did

5 years ago.  You don't see many staircase railings that are this fancy. It's just lovely.

105/365

Staircase Shadows

Steps leading to an upstairs brewery/restaurant in downtown.

70/366

Spiral Staircase

This spiral staircase is located inside a secure fence at an event center in downtown Abilene, Texas.  I LOVE spiral staircases and even though I've passed this location many times, I never thought of taking a photo of it until the other day.  

My heart is grateful that:

God is in control of everything, even is something seems like a tragedy at the time it happens

41/366

Overhead Door and Staircase

This building is huge.  It's about 1.5 blocks long and 1 block deep.  There used to be two businesses in it that I knew, plus some others.  Those two businesses have relocated and some others have taken over the spaces.  This is what's seen in the back alley.  Facing the street is a walkway along which are other overhead loading doors.  The building is three stories tall.  

I don't know who owns the building or who pays the taxes.  

My heart is grateful for:

old buildings that are maintained instead of being demolished

26/366

An Apartment Building

I saw this apartment building staircase with balconies while walking around downtown Knoxville.

I'm grateful that:

I was able to watch the grandkids at their MMA lesson today

171/365

Steps

At the Abilene State Park there is a concession building made from red sandstone and constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps  during the depression.  The building is really beautiful but I was intrigued by this staircase.

My heart is grateful for:

getting a spur-of-the-moment photo assistant job today (even though it was outdoors in 108 temps)

 145/365

Outside Staircase/Emergency Exit

I saw this when I was walking around downtown.  No entrance this way, just an exit.

I'm grateful for:

peace in my life right now

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

74/365

Staircase and shadows

During my walk downtown, I passed through an alley I don't usually go through and I saw this.  It would have been good enough even without the window under the staircase, but that just added icing to the cake in my opinion.

I love all the angles created by the staircase, shadows, the window and the bright and dark areas. 

My heart is grateful for:

the cooler weather we had today

59/365

Cement steps and red brick building

This building was an abandoned warehouse.  A couple of years ago it was purchased by a local church and revitalized into an extremely popular coffee house.  I seem to remember hearing that some of the proceeds go to missionary ventures.  Maybe that's why their prices are a little higher than other coffee houses in the area.  

I'm grateful today:

for the great phone conversation I had with my daughter who lives many states away

38/365

Stained Glass Window

The First Baptist Church in Abilene is a very large church and it has a huge balcony.  While up there I remembered to "turn around" and I saw this beautiful sight.  

The red-carpeted stairs lead the eye right to the beautiful stained glass window.  

Thankful today for:

the chance to spend some time with the grandkids

17/365

Railroad Sign

In the south part of downtown it's practically deserted in late afternoon.  I had the area totally to myself.  I don't think I've ever photographed this sign from this perspective, but I really like it.  

It appears that the warehouse/factory just to the right of the staircase railings hasn't been in use for many, many years, but the building is still intact and has provided me with many photo ops.  The sign and the railroad cars have always been available too.