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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Loretto Chapel Staircase, Santa Fe, NM

by Michael


A masterpiece—and mystery—of woodworking, this spiral
structure is entirely self-supporting, without any central column 
to provide stability and with wooden pegs instead of nails. Legend 
has it that when the chapel was finished in 1878, there was no 
way to access the choir loft except by ladder due to space issues. 
An unknown carpenter came into town and built this miraculous 
staircase only to disappear without pay.
"tada"...it's magic Zona!

17 comments:

Unknown said...

"I'll build a stairway to Paradise
With a new step ev'ry day !
I'm gonna get there at any price;
Stand aside, I'm on my way !"

Unknown said...

this was a comment after an article on thefts of Tide detergent nationwide....

My wife does all her laundry in Tide. So this last winter I asked her, "Why do you do all the laundry in Tide?"

She said, "Because it's too dang cold out tide!"

Tinka said...

Good Morning Michael - Finally you put a real picture up of yourself. I knew you would if we waited long enough. What beach are you on in that picture?

Tinka said...

That chapel is beautiful. I would love to see it. Imagine doing that work and not waiting around for money or credit. That's amazing.

We found two lovely chapels up in the red mountains of Southern Arizona. I could have sat there for hours.

We had a beautiful chapel at St. Ann's Academy. It was my favourite place in the school especially at Christmas time.

LOL@ outTide

Tinka said...

We are expecting the man who sold us my scooter to arrive at any minute. He never did give us a manual and we didn't know you had to charge the battery every month or it would die and would have to be replaced. We had not used it since before Christmas. It has been too cold outside. When we went to charge the battery it was dead. He took it away to do it's annual check-up and to put in a $400.00 battery. That is money I would like to spend elsewhere. Oh well lesson learned. That will never happen again.

Must feed Tango, Tia and Teddy. Be back later.

Unknown said...

Tinka...

that was in Australia when I worked one summer as a lifeguard...

Shut up Tina!

Tinka...who is Teddy...

The thing about that chapel is the staircase....no visible means of support...no nails....

Tinka said...

Michael - I thought it was you, I think I saw you on the beach the last time I was in Australia. It's a nice place to go during our winters except it gets very hot there in January.

Teddy is my very large orange cat. When he perches up on top of his high scratching post he could be mistaken for a cougar. He is twice as large as the average cat but very loveable. Tia and Teddy are the best of friends.

Lynn D said...

This is beautiful and amazing!

Waving at all of you. No rest for the weary have to run errands today and then the funeral tomorrow and probably back to Harborview ICU for my brother. They are trying to stop vassal spasms so he does not have another stroke.

Today I am physically and emotionally exhausted.

Just_Lin said...

Michael I didn't know you surfed. :) You're looking mighty fine in first today. Thanks for the blog. That is a beautiful and interesting staircase. A work of art.

Just_Lin said...

Tinka Sorry about that scooter battery. Seems to me it is the salesman's fault for not leaving a manual with you so you would know how to care for it.

Just_Lin said...

LynnD I just said a little prayer for you. I hope it eases things for you today. (((HUGS)))

Tina~in_ut said...

Michael~ I know that's not u.....hairs too short....AND....I've been to Australia....u weren't there~

Michael~ That whole "God thing" we were talking about in e-mail....He'd come in handy right now with LynnD...ijs~ mkay?~

Tinka~ My Dumb Dog and Pretty Gurl are NOT best of friends....she hisses at him every chance she gits! I wonder where she gits that from?! lol~

LynnD~ saying a prayer for ur family....when it rains, it pours, doesn't it?~

J/L~ ur so sweet....how u doin'?~

Tina~in_ut said...

oh yeah.....and Miguelito Juan....I've seen that staircase afore.....it's a masterpiece~

Tina~in_ut said...

I'm awaiting the arrival of my oldest louse!!!! He's just spent that last four days of his spring break with both sets of grandparents.....and don't think he's wonderful for it....he went kicking and screaming!!! I hate children! Mine are for sale....anyone?

Zona said...

MICHAEL: I saw this staircase when I was about 16..my parents, sister and I were going to Colorado and stopped in New Mexico. My mom loved this church..and the story of the staircase. If I remember it correctly the nuns believed that the carpenter was St. Joseph..although I'm not quite sure of the whole story anymore. I'll have to google it. It truly is beautiful though.

TINKA: I've been to the chapel in Sedona..it's so cool..and the view from it is gorgeous!

LYNN: I'll be praying for you, your brother and your family..especially that you all receive the strength you need to get through all that has happened.

J/LIN: Has the wind died down and the weather cleared up yet? It's going to be 86 here today..but hopefully we'll get some rain..no wind!!..over the weekend! :)

TINA: My grandmother used to call my brother a louse..I think she might have actually meant it tho..I'm pretty sure you don't.. :D

Lynn D said...

Evening glories!

Thank you everyone. I know we will get through all of this but I just want it to be over.

Michael I have 3 possible outfits for the funeral tomorrow, however if it rains like it has the last 3 days it won't matter it will be my shiny black raincoat and my houndstooth checked wellies. I am not standing graveside in my suede boots. Won't do it.

However I did get a $109.00 Vera Wang purse today on clearance for $20.00 score!

Tina~in_ut said...

Lynn~ At my aunt's funeral last month, it POURED!!!! None of us were prepared for it......well....when i mean none of us....i mean me, my hubby, and the twins! My daughter was wearing a skirt and a thin sweater.....my son wore a white shirt....no jacket....i wore a thin sweater.....hubby at least had a suit jacket.....IT WAS NASTY!!! They had awnings at the graveside service....but it was raining SO BAD that we got wet anyway...and the wind! Praying it doesn't rain on you~