Pastor's Retreat Update #2

I can say this: The 2nd word in "Bed & Breakfast" is one they apparently take VERY SERIOUSLY...and it was excellent.

In addition, our host spun some yarns about the history of Granbury...one story involving Jesse James, the other John Wilkes Booth. Of the former, apparently, there are four alleged burial plots of the famous outlaw. One no one takes seriously, and the other two allegedly have been proven to be fake. Well, so says the B&B owner here in Granbury. At any rate, the family of Jesse James purchased the headstone here. It has the birthdate sometime in 1851. The death date sometime in 1947. Underneath it says "Supposedly killed in 1882." Legend has it that he faked his own death in 1882 and lived out his years right here in good old Granbury. There were pennies on his headstone when we visited. I was tempted to steal 'em. How often can you say you stole about 60 cents from an old west outlaw? I didn't know the significance of the pennies, so I left 'em.

Of the latter, legend has it that John Wilkes Booth faked his death, too, had an alleged deathbed confession here in town, but then got well and headed to Enid, Oklahoma. Upon his death, his casket stayed here for some time before it was sold to gypsys. Hmmmm.

I was tempted to ask the yarn-spinning host if Bigfoot, JFK and Elvis were seen playing poker in town recently, but thought better of it. I also was tempted to ask about alien visitations, but thought better of that, too. But I bet it'd boost tourism.

Good times in the Word with staff. We're kicking through 1 Peter together.

After lunch, Tracy and I toured the town square in Granbury. Nice enough little stroll in very nice weather...saw some neat little shops and such. I'm sure the locals are annoyed with tourism being the only industry here, but don't seem to mind taking their money. Anyway, the highlight was going to a wine shop on the square, and...

...I'm not making this up...

...the owner proudly said they ordered juices from all around the world and had their own fermentation room in the back. We could order all sorts of wine made right there on the spot. We could even create our own label and everything. I thought about making one of Pastor Tim and calling it "Pastor Tim's Inside-Out Grape Juice" but the joke wasn't worth the $20 it would cost to do all that. The tastings were $5. We passed, and I couldn't blame Tracy for her "wine snobbery."

Good dinner with the staff...there are some really good restaurants in this place.

So, if you're looking for good comment fodder, I think you have plenty, from burial stories to wine labels you'd make, so have at it.