I have been to the Texas State Capitol several times in the 1980s, but I didn’t really go all through the capitol, Of course, there must be scaffolding to mar my picture!The building is constructed of pink granite from Texas.The sculptures on the grounds were very well done, great detail and relief.Confederate memorialBattles listed, including Fredericksburg.Other battles listed, including Chancellorsville, Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse.Honoring Spanish Tejanos. Spaniards were in Texas as early as 1519.Monument to the Heroes of the Alamo.Looking up in the rotunda.Between the points of the star are letters spelling TEXAS.Surrender of Santa Ana in 1836, creating the independent Republic of Texas.David CrockettPresident George W. Bush, as Governor of Texas.Governor John Connally was riding with President John F. Kennedy in Dallas in 1963 when the president was assassinated. Connally was hit in the arm.House chamber, dressed for Christmas.House Christmas tree.Senate chamber, dressed for Christmas.Senate Christmas tree.The lights spell out TEXAS.Dawn at the Alamo – fall of the Alamo – “The Moral Victory” by H.A. McArdle.The Battle of San Jacinto – “Retributive Justice”, by H.A. McArdle.President Lyndon B. Johnson.Governor’s Public Reception Room. Governor Abbott was not in when we visited.“The Spirit of Texas”, by Gerald Harvey Jones, bronze.Chandelier in the reception room.“Mexican Huts, San Antonio”, 1881, by Edward Grenet.Cool doorknobs. Only in Texas.Cool hinges, only in Texas!David Crockett.Sam Houston.
Visiting Blacksburg for a funeral, we had some extra time so we took a ride through the Virginia Tech campus.Lane Stadium.Statue of former football coach Frank Beamer.April 16 Memorial.32 Virginia Tech students and faculty members were murdered on campus on April 16, 2007. This memorial honors those who were killed.Miller’s Cabin at Historic Springfield, built around 1850. Private residence not open for tours.“The Merry Oak”. This tree was already present when the Preston family built Smithfield Plantation in 1774. It is probably more than 500 years old.The Smithfield Plantation house was built 1772-1773 for Colonel William Preston, and was the home of three governors of Virginia, James Patton Preston, John Floyd Jr. and John Buchanan Ford.Blacksmith shop.Slave cabin, circa 1820.Cross section of the trunk of a walnut tree that was planted here in 1852. The rings track to the history of Virginia Tech.
Luray Caverns is the largest cavern in the Eastern US. It was discovered by Andrew Campbell in 1878. Its most famous features are the stalactites and stalagmites. Definitely worth a visit. We visited on Thanksgiving Day.X marks the spot of the original discovery of the caverns. So many different formations throughout the caverns. It is amazing.Stalactites hang from the ceiling.The famous stalacpipe organ.Stalagmites grow up on the bottom of a cavern from the same drip-water source, the mineral from which is deposited after the water droplet falls across the open space in the rock.Underwater lake reflects like a mirror the stalactites.Another reflective lake. Pretty cool.
At the end of our Deltek ProjectCon conference, we were treated to live entertainment. First up was Sixwire.Sister Hazel.Sara Evans.Gary LeVox, formerly of Rascal Flatts.Steve Augeri, formerly of Journey. They played quite a few of Journey’s hits. Pretty cool.
So by November 15th, it’s Christmas at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville.So. Much. Christmas.Very impressive nativity scene. Figures are larger than life-size.Entrance foyer at the Opryland Hotel.Jack is here.They dress up all their shops and cafe’s with Christmas names.So they had a Parade of Trees fundraiser going on. Several stars donated trees to be raffled off, with other pretty nice prizes as well. This is the tree donated by Jordan Davis.Donated by Maddie and Tae.Donated by Little Big Town.Donated by Reba McIntyre.Donated by Brad Paisley.Donated by Tyler Hubbard.Donated by Luke Bryan.Donated by Kacey Musgraves.Donated by Keith Urban.Donated by John Pardi.Donated by Sam Hunt.Donated by George Strait.Donated by Alan Jackson.Big tree made of poinsettias.
