My World: St. Arnold Brewery

The last city on the Rice Football Caravan this year was Houston

and the get-together was held at St. Arnold Brewery.

St. Arnold was founded by Rice University graduates and they often hold special events for Rice.

Here's just a little snippet from the St. Arnold web site.

You can read more about St. Arnold here.

"Our first keg of beer was shipped on June 9, 1994. Founded by Brock Wagner and Kevin Bartol, we chose Houston because, other than living here, this was the largest city in the country that did not have a microbrewery. Brock was a longtime homebrewer and had considered opening a brewery as far back as college, although that was quickly dismissed as a silly idea. Seven years after graduating, Brock revisited the idea, enlisted Kevin's help and the brewery was off and running. Kevin has since left the business after a bitter battle. (Just kidding - but don't you wish people wrote that when it was the truth?).

Our small crew does everything at the brewery: brew the beer, filter the beer, keg the beer, bottle the beer, sell the beer and drink the beer. For us, this is a passion, not a job. We believe that this comes through in the beers we make. Our beers have soul."

Why the name St. Arnold?

You can read the complete story here.

The Legend of the Beer Mug

It was July 642 and very hot when the parishioners of Metz went to Remiremont to recover the remains of their former bishop. They had little to drink and the terrain was inhospitable.

At the point when the exhausted procession was about to leave Champigneulles, one of the parishioners, Duc Notto, prayed “By his powerful intercession the Blessed Arnold will bring us what we lack.” Immediately the small remnant of beer at the bottom of a pot multiplied in such amounts that the pilgrims thirst was quenched and they had enough to enjoy the next evening when they arrived in Metz.

And, a fun time was had by all!

(They make a great root beer, too.)

Many thanks to the hosts of Our World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

My World: Public Art - MIrror

A nice walk around Rice University to see the new public sculptures

(before the heat and humidity set in).

This is Mirror by Jaume Plensa.

Mirror is a site specific installation by international artist Jaume Plensa. Mirror features two 10 foot tall figures positioned in conversation with each other.  Up close, their physical forms are an intermingling of white coated marine steel letters from many alphabets. Viewers are provided with an entry point to each figure, where they can physically walk inside the sculpture. One of the new public art works celebrating Rice University's centennial.

Thank you to Mary for Mosaic Monday

and the wonderful hosts of Our World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

My World: Rice University Public Art

Rice University is celebrating it's centennial this year.
Several sculptures have been added to the campus.
Today I'm sharing one of my favorites.

The Owl is the mascot for Rice.

Here I am with Sammy.

The newest Sammy on campus is this magnificent Bronze Barn Owl
by sculptor Geoffrey Dashwood.

Ralph and Becky O'Connor, longtime Rice supporters, donated the sculpture to Rice.
The owl has been placed in a grove of oak trees just east of Rice Memorial Center,
where it's surrounded by a patch of impatiens, a bed of Asian jasmine
and a circle of low limestone benches.

This peaceful space, a blend of art and nature,

has been dedicated as the Milus E. Hindman Garden.

Rice is a beautiful university to visit, linger, sit under the magnificent oaks.

Education and beauty all in one place.

Be sure to bring your camera! 

Thank you to Mary for Mosaic Monday

and the wonderful hosts of My World.

Wishing you WELL and much JOY!

Mosaic Monday

Mr. Dragon and I headed over to the beautiful Rice University campus to see the seven James Surls sculptures that are visiting for six months. The public exhibition, "Magnificent Seven: Houston Celebrates Surls," features monumental bronze and steel outdoor sculpture, some of which were unveiled and exhibited along New York's Park Avenue last year. Ranging between 750 and 2,200 pounds, the sculptures include Surls' signature forms of flowers, diamonds and eyes. The Rice Public Art Program joined with the Houston Arts Alliance to sponsor the exhibition.

Surls has deep roots in the Houston arts community. Among other endeavors, he taught at the University of Houston and helped create Lawndale Art Center, a nonprofit alternative space for the exhibition of contemporary works in all media, which helped launch Houston as a significant player in the national art scene. He and his wife now live in Colorado.

"I like to take things that you see in the natural world and cast them in a new light," Surls said. "I like to make art of the things we see in the natural world that are repeated over and over again, like the spiral -- it's in a baby's cowlick, a blowing seed, the wind."

(Information and quote from Rice University News Media.)

I was in such a hurry to get this posted that I forgot one of the most important parts: Mosaic Monday is hosted by the lovely (and forgiving) Mary at The Dear Little Red House. Be sure to visit to see the other participants.

My World

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Last weekend was Homecoming at Rice University.

Lots of barbecue and fun for the kids.

It was soon time for the football game.
The Owls did really well last year.
Had a 10 - 3 season and played in a bowl game that they won.
This year hasn't been near as exciting.
This is the Marching Owl Band.
Better known as the MOB.

As you can see,
the MOB is a little different from most college bands.
No uniforms.
How many marching bands have string instruments
and musicians in long dresses.
I'd hoped we got a photo of the girl with the bubble machine
on her hat, but missed it.
The sound they provide the crowd with is sensational.

Most importantly,
The Owls won their Homecoming Game
defeating Tulane 28 - 20.

My World

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We were walking around the campus of
Rice University on Halloween
going to the Howl-o-ween Barkathon
when we came across this:

It is a portion of the Berlin Wall.
It sits outside the Baker Institute for Public Policy.
I believe today is the anniversary of the wall coming down and thought
I'd share this small portion with you.

Here are a very few of the participants in the Barkathon.
It was held as a fund raiser for women's athletics
and for a local animal rescue group.
They raised over $35,000.

This family came as the Jackson 5 -- complete with gloves and hats.
They and their dog were one of the winners.

None of the little lady dogs wanted their faces in the pictures.
But they sure enjoyed showing off their dresses!

Loved the little elf.

This little guy was in constant motion
as you can tell by the blurry photo.

Click here to view all participants of My World Tuesday.