Bluebonnets, Roses & Heavenly Food - April 8, 2011



Jeanne got us a Harris County bus that was only available at the last minute with just a few days notice. She went to work immediately and organized a nice Day Trip to see the Spring flowers in Washington County and almost filled the bus in record time. We had so many folks sign up that the original bus they sent for us would not hold everyone so the call went in for a bigger bus, which arrived 30 minutes or so after we were originally scheduled to leave.



Lucy and Virginia at the Antique Rose Emporium.


Brenda & Daryl at Chappel Hill Museum.




Nature's beauty.

It was a beautiful morning when 28 of us started out on our Bluebonnet trip which turned into a lovely country road trip. As our driver Hubert pointed out, due to the lack of rain the Bluebonnets were sparse. He did take us to areas where there were patches of blue. We traveled along US-290, TX-6, TX-105, and TX-50.

In Independence which was founded in 1835 we drove by the home site of Baylor University.

Our first stop was at the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence. We strolled through the lovely gardens where many of the roses were in their full glory.

Then on to lunch at "Must be Heaven", a popular sandwich shoppe in Brenham. Many chose desserts from the delicious pies and others enjoyed Blue Bell ice cream from the old fashion "Soda Fountain".

From Hubert's report we learned that there were only 2 horses left at the St. Clare Monastery's Miniature Horse Farm since the farm is being sold. Disappointing. So we improvised and headed to Chappell Hill.



Antique Rose Emporium.


In Chappell Hill all the exhibiters were setting up for the Bluebonnet Festival. The visitors center in town is the 1855 home of H.C. Brandt, the great, great grandfather of Joe Brandt. He built the wonderfully preserved Methodist church in 1901.


Jeanne with Israel at the church.
We drove roundabout the town and to the Museum, which was next door to Methodist Church. The Museum tour was introduced by Mary Brandt (Joe's Aunt), who was very knowledgeable about Chappell Hill history. There are 5 rooms with placards and such on the walls that explain the history of this community.

Many chose to go inside the Methodist Church next door to the Museum. It was a quaint country church on the National Registry of Historical Sites in Texas. A wonderful, imported, jeweled stained glass window was a focal point

Attendees were:

Abe and Connie Abdalla, Jeanne Brandt and guest Helen Schmolke, Lillie Brown, Mary Lee and Howard Cameron, Sandy Coughran, Gwen and Eddie Dickey and guest Arte Mathews, Estella and Ralph Garcia, Mary and Rudy Gomez, Bob Gruber, Nora and Israel Morales, Brenda and Daryl Moss, Jeannette Johnson and guest Betty Crocket, Gladys Price, Betty Parker, Lucy Salas, Virginia Vargas, Dorothy Wanza and Sandy Zamora.


We were back to Bayland park at 4:10 pm.

Join us soon on another exciting Day Trip.



Chappell Hill Museum.


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