Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Diva Getaway to Fredericksburg

Copyright @ 2007 - 2010. Suburban Wildlife Garden. All Rights Reserved.

My book club, The Literary Divas, went on our annual weekend retreat; this time to Fredericksburg, by way of the Texas Hill Country Wineries.

Of course the Divas had a great time tasting the wine. But our final goal was actually a Bed and Breakfast we'd rented together for the weekend in Fredericksburg, Texas. If you've never been to Fredericksburg you might want to treat yourself sometime. It's a charming town 77 miles west of Austin, founded by German Immigrants in 1846. In the photo below you can see the Vereins-Kirche Museum. In German "Vereins-Kirche" means "Society Church".


Originally built in 1847, it served as a town hall, a school, fort, and a multi-denominational church. Today it can be found in the center of the Marktplatz. Most weekend visitors come to Fredericksburg to shop, eat or just enjoy the history of the place.


But before we traveled to Fredericksburg the ladies wanted to visit a few vineyards along the way. Our first stop was the Texas Hills Vineyard in Johnson City, Texas.



It is set in a pleasant rural location. I admired their fields just across the road from the main building.


We also visited Lost Creek Vineyard, but by far my favorite was Becker Vineyards in Stonewall, Texas. The buildings and grounds are simply beautiful.


I imagine their gardens will look better in a few weeks...


Becker Homestead B&B and Reception Hall is available for guests to rent for weddings and other events.


Inside, the main building was large, but still managed to feel cozy.



The Tasting Room is huge. For those who do not drink there are many other items to choose from, including cooking oils and lavender products made from flowers picked on the property's very own lavender fields.


I loved the tree mural...


Before we left for our B&B in Fredericksburg we all sat on the side porch and listened to live music for a while. As I relaxed with happy friends, savoring the perfect day I felt grateful indeed. What a wonderful thing it is to have kind companions one can laugh with and to feel well enough to enjoy life, if only for a weekend.

I hope I can go back and see Becker's three acre lavender field in full bloom this summer. Sounds like it's going to be gorgeous.



Update for friends and family: My GP has referred me to an Hematologist/Oncologist for a biopsy and more testing. Hopefully I'll have a lot more answers once I get the results. ~Dawn

"Our road will be smooth and untroubled, no matter what care life may send, if we travel the pathway together and walk side by side with a friend." ~Henry Van Dyke

Copyright @ 2007 - 2010. Suburban Wildlife Garden. All Rights Reserved.

11 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It sounds like you had a delightful time with your friends. I really like that old building. I don't drink much wine but I like the ambience of wineries. They feel so earthy.

Dawn said...

Hi Lisa,
Exactly. I can't drink wine anymore, because of my heart meds, but I still had a great time visiting with my friends, shopping and taking photos. I'm definitely taking my parents to Becker the next time we all go to Fredericksburg. They like wine and I want to see the lavender fields in bloom. :-)

Happy Gardening!
Dawn

Andrea said...

Thanks for visitiing my blog, Dawn! I was reading your posts back to the Christmas one and was shocked to read about your health problems and what you have been going through. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and that all your tests will turn out in your favor. Wishing you lots of strength, Andrea

Chriss Blagrave said...

Hi Dawn,
Thanks for capturing all of the special views in your photos. You sure do have a great eye. I will have a friend in town from Toronto in a couple of weeks and plan on visiting Becker. Thanks for reminding all of us about the beauty we are all surrounded by...
Stay well, please keep me updated(you can email me privately)
Chriss

Jeannette said...

Hello Dawn,
I was checking back in hoping to hear about much healing. I had written to you about my experience with hyperbaric for wound healing last year.
Patience is required isn't it?
Lovely post on your outing with your book club friends. Van Dyke's words are so fitting. Very best to you! Jeannette

A wildlife gardener said...

Dear Dawn, I loved my trip to Fredericksburg with you...:)

I love all kinds of craft-work...so the buildings, the door, the tree mural and the hard toil in the rows and rows of vines is so heartening to see...that all those who have come after the original settlers have carried on the traditions, and are looking after the work their ancestors began...wonderful :)

Thank you for sharing all that :)

Annie in Austin said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your ongoing medical problems, Dawn - but glad to see you had a fun trip with the Literary Divas - hope you get back there to see the lavender bloom ;-]

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Teena in Toronto said...

It looks like a fun time!

Happy blogoversary :)

Patrice said...

I'm so sure that the garden will surely looks better after two weeks. Have a good time.

Unknown said...

Love your blog and your beautiful photographs..
Have a nice day.
Costas

Naturegirl said...

Hello Dawn: It is always a joy to have friends to enjoy special experiences with and this looks like one. Wishing that all goes well for you at the specialists..I have just recovered from my own healing journey..you can read about it in my
categories "shared feelings" on sidebar.
Thank you for being a follower of my blog and nice to meet you!
hugs anna