The Murphy sisters visit our Texas Guest Ranch.

“There are six Murphy girls and we all grew up in Dallas. Three of the sisters now live in Texas and three have homes outside of Texas (Washington State and Wyoming). We are very close sisters and love to get together whenever we can. Our parents, both deceased, were proud of their heritage and when we were growing up, we often heard stories of our grandparents and great-grandparents. About two years ago, we began talking about a reunion where the six of us would travel around Texas and visit places of interest to our family history. We chose to explore the history of our mother’s paternal ancestors, and set about doing some research; our reunion turned into a Pilgrimage in search of our Texas ancestory.

Our main guideline was concluding our trip in the town of Wheelock, Texas, founded by our great,great,great grandfather, Eleazar Louis Ripley Wheelock, who founded the town. (His great grandfather, Eleazar Wheelock, was the founder of Darmouth College in New Hampshire!) As children we had attended Wheelock Reunions with our grandparents. These reunions, always on the first Sunday in May, have been held on the grounds of the Wheelock Cemetery for over 100 years.

Martha took charge of planning the itinerary, and asked each sister for suggestions of where to visit. We took out the map of Texas, circled all the locations, and “connected the dots”, so to say. Starting in Dallas, we had 8 nights on the road which included travel to Tyler, Kilgore, Jacksonville, Palestine, Mexia, Austin, San Marcos, San Antonio, Seguin, Cat Spring, Brenham, College Station, and finally to the birthplace of our ancestors, Wheelock, Texas.

When we realized our visit to San Antonio was not far from Cat Spring, we knew we had to make plans for a visit to see our family friend, Skeeter Hagler. What an amazing and unforgettable experience to visit Blisswood Texas bed and breakfast! We had no idea what we were about to experience when we arrived at the entrance to Blisswood. We followed Skeeter to the picturesque gazebo, passing many, many lovingly-cared-for animals along the winding road before arriving at the White Gazebo alongside the peaceful pond with its little bridge, and abundant flowers, vines and lush foliage. We were truly awed by the setting and the beautifully prepared luncheon of luscious cheeses, colorful fruits, croissants, chilled wines and crisp, “fresh from the garden” salad greens!

Our time with Skeeter and Carol at lunch (how does she do it!) was followed by a tour and an “all too brief” good-bye as we had to depart for the next destination on our pilgrimage.”

Thanks to Martha Murphy for writing this. We always love to hear from our guests.

Why not go horseback riding to your Thanksgiving Feast?

If this sounds like you, why not come to the edge of Texas Hill Country and let someone else take care of Thanksgiving for you. Our Houston fine dining restaurant, Caraol’s at Cat Spring, will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving buffet from 11:00 am to 6:00 p.m on November 26, 2009.

The best part is that your whole family – and friends too – can stay at our Houston area bed and breakfast near the restaurant. Work up an appetite before the meal (while others do the cooking for you) by walking around the 600-acre ranch or enjoying trail riding Houston. Enjoy a post-meal rest (while others do the cleaning for you) in your comfortable, private lodging. Get together with extended family and friends when you like, but have your own space to return to when you need a little alone time.

This can be your best Thanksgiving ever. Don’t delay!

Reservations required for the Thanksgiving feast. Call 713-301-3235.

Romantic Getaways Near Houston

One of our favorite places for weddings is the Blisswood Oasis. Nestled in the rolling prairies of Texas Hill Country, the Oasis is a romantic retreat reminiscent of a tropical paradise. A wonderful wrought-iron greenhouse known as the Conservatory houses an intimate pool surrounded by lush, tropical flowers. A waterfall fills the space with the sound of cascading water. Perhaps you will choose to have your ceremony in the nearby Orchid House, surrounded by the ethereal beauty and heady fragrance of these remarkable flowers. It is an ideal place for weddings in Texas, and for romantic getaways in Texas after the ceremony.