Holiday Lights Dec 2025, Houston
Lights in our neighborhood Chimney Rock, San Felipe and River Oakes are really something special and a sight for sore eyes!
Videos bring out the glamor & creativity
Must-haves stacked on shelves
Newyear eve fireworks, Kemah boardwalk
We missed our usual spot on the bridge to view the fireworks as cops were directing the heavy traffic and our cutting was closed.
This make-do spot was OK, Cars speeding on the roads added a flavor
90-foot bronze statue of Lord Hanuman
"Statue of Union" in the Houston area (Sugar Land, TX) is a massive 90-foot bronze statue of the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman, located at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple; unveiled in August 2024, it's North America's tallest Hanuman statue, symbolizing devotion, strength, and unity, and is a significant cultural landmark.
The statue is named Statue of Union because Lord Hanuman reunited Sri Rama with Maa Sita in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
The statue is cast in bronze. It is 90 feet tall and weighs 90 tons
Buddha's life is depicted in high relief in these panels... great job!
Fireplace... cupids
LIBRARY
Chùa Việt Nam, Vietnamese Buddhist Center) Sugar Land, Texas
Chùa Việt Nam (English: Vietnamese Buddhist Center) in Sugar Land, Texas is just outside of Houston.
It is a serene temple with lovely gardens and a 72-ft Guan Yin statue
Quan Am/Guan Yin/Goddess of Mercy
Sugar Land Quan Âm is a cast concrete statue. The sculpture depicts the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara in female form standing on a lotus pedestal. She may also be commonly known by her Chinese name Guanyin. It was created by sculptor Mai Chi Kim, who wanted to work on a bigger project after the temple had commissioned several smaller statues from her.
With the base included, the statue stands at 72 feet tall, making it one of the tallest statues in the United States, and looks over a large pond beside an ornate red bridge. It held the claim to being the largest Buddhist statue in the Western Hemisphere, until 2021 when Brazil completed construction of the second tallest Buddha statue in the world. It is the sixth tallest statue in the United States as of 2021.
Quan Am is one of the most highly revered bodhisattvas in Vietnam and is called by many epithets, including 'Mother of Buddhas' and 'Goddess of Compassion'.
Bishop's Palace / Gresham's Castle
We drove down to Galveston and visited the lovely Bishop's palace on Jan 1, 2026.... it was free from 12-5 on Newyear's day [usually admission is $15/pp]
Bishop's Palace, also known as Gresham's Castle, is an ornate 19,082 square feet (1,772.8 m2) Victorian-style house, located in the East End Historic District of Galveston, Texas.
The building was designed by Nicholas J. Clayton for lawyer and politician Walter Gresham, his wife Josephine, and their nine children and completed in 1892
Construction costs in 1892 are estimated at $250,000, many elaborate and eclectic design features were condensed onto a small homestead.
Medieval and Renaissance details were alternated onto the four towers, each rising four stories.
In addition to these four towers, several chimneys combine to create an illusion of a cluster. Exterior features were constructed from a variety of Texas stones, including granite and sandstone, all custom-cut on site.
The Gresham mansion was made all of stone, and was sturdy enough to withstand the great hurricane of 1900
In 1923 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the house, and, situated across the street from the Sacred Heart Church, it served as the residence for Bishop Christopher E. Byrne. After the diocesan offices were moved to Houston, the diocese opened the mansion to the public in 1963
The Galveston Historical Foundation acquired Bishop's Palace from the archdiocese in 2013 for $3 millions
Bishop's Palace has four floors. The raised basement which once housed the kitchen and servant's areas now contains the store. This basement is followed by three formal floors.
First floor
Entryway
Leading to the entryway are stairs cut from blue granite, framed by granite balustrades, and leading to an archway. The large doors are made of oak
Main Hall
The entrance to the main hall is framed by marble pillars and two marble sculptures. Four polished marble pillars support the ceiling made of oak veneer. The main hall leads to four rooms. To the left, through carved double doors are two parlors. To the right, through another set of carved double doors, are the dining room and library.
Parlor
Music Room
Rotunda Staircase
Library/Office
The library is paneled in walnut and contains a marble fireplace and mantel
Dining Room
The Dining Room was surrounded by service rooms, with access from the kitchen, servant's hall, and butler's pantry.
Conservatory
Pantry
Kitchen - This room was originally just a warming kitchen, but Bishop Byrne expanded the room.
Servant's Hall
The servant's hall was located at the rear of the house, behind the kitchen. It has access to a service stairway, and an elevator, which replaced the dumbwaiter originally installed in the house.
Coat Closet - The coat closet is tucked around the back side of the rotunda staircase and contains a Pullman sink from the famed Pullman railcars.
Second floor
Living Room - The Gresham family often listened to music here during the hot summer months.
Bishop's Bedroom - This was originally a bedroom of one of the Gresham daughters, but Bishop Byrne chose it for his own with its private balcony and lighting. He converted the closet into a bathroom.
Chapel - This was also previously one of the Gresham daughter's bedrooms. When the Diocese moved in, the windows were replaced with stained-glass, and a fresco depicting the four gospel writers was painted on the ceiling. The room was also outfitted with an altar and six prayer kneelers.
Mr. Gresham's Room
Mrs. Gresham's Room
Bathroom - The tub in this bathroom is of note for its three spigots: one for hot, one cold, and one for rainwater.
Bedroom for guests or the children's governess.
Third floor
The boys' rooms
Mrs. Gresham's art studio
Additional storage
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