we didn't really go out to look at houses and churches... on Saturday, my sister Pam and i went on a small road trip. we headed to La Grange to the Texas Quilt Museum to see one of her amazing quilts hanging. we decided to stop wherever we wanted - for photo ops, or just to look. after a pit stop, we went to Tiny Texas Houses. we thought to just poke around outside and peek in windows, but one of the makers came out and gave us a full tour. it was FABULOUS! we learned so much and the tiny houses are amazing - all made from old salvaged Texas houses. the details were just crazy wonderful. we got to go inside all of the display and in-progress houses. they were rock-solid and didn't feel that tiny inside. i will lust for one as soon as they make them with downstairs sleeping areas. no way i can see being elderly and climbing up and down a slanty ladder in the middle of the night. or anytime! it was awkward. but a loft would be great for agile guests.

after driving on, Pam said we were in the vicinity of the Czech painted churches. just as she mentioned it, i saw a steeple in the distance. "do you think that is one???" we turned down a farm road and sure enough, it was St. Mary's, the Queen of the Painted Churches. we walked all around and inside. they were also wonderful, beautiful bright windows and stucco walls painted with Eastern European patterns. my favorite part was the corner i found that still had the old paint (see image).

in La Grange, we ate Tex-Mex and looked at a store with beautyClothes like i have not seen lately. then we spent a good deal of time in the quilt museum. Pam's quilt was, of course, the most beautiful! but there were many other fine ones, too. even though i prefer contemporary and strange textile pieces, the craftsmanship of all of them, mostly traditional, was outstanding. we enjoyed talking to the woman in charge and left with an invitation to visit Round Top, another Texas town i have never visited.


we took the back roads home and passed through Muldoon, a mostly abandoned place with some of the best crusty buildings i have seen yet in Texas. including this poor little church. the door was wide open, so since it is not rattlesnake season, i waded in. it was quite pitiful. there were other good structures there, too, but driving in the dark is not that interesting, so we could not linger too long. it was a GREAT day!!