Long Hollow

Can you hear it?

 

 

Our grandfather clock is chiming midnight. Rain pours - no, roars - outside my window, just the kind of rain we need. A blessed sound, for sure. Every once in awhile I catch a flash of lightning in the distance.

I've just finished a few things for work ... or at least all I can do at the moment. Before I can climb into bed, I still need to pay a few bills. And then I need to pack for my annual girls' weekend in Port Aransas. If it takes me all night, that's okay. I'm not driving tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to it more than usual, if that's possible. It's been a long day. 

I drove miles and miles and miles through communities surrounding Austin today with a young man, trying to find just the right house for his family who is moving here from Illinois. After the initial wariness ("Is he a murderer?") it's one of the things I most love about real estate - meeting people. Getting a chance to hear their stories.

The good news is we found a house for him, his wife, and two young sons. That's always such a great feeling. As a bonus,  I learned a lot about some neighborhoods I was merely acquainted with before today. 

It's been a good week, starting with a closing on Monday followed by a phone call telling me I had won a $500 Academy gift card! 

But it's also been a week of late nights and early mornings. I'm tired. Really, really tired. 

I can't wait to lie on the beach for a couple of days, listening to its music...the waves and the wind and the gulls... and soaking up some sunshine.

But if the forecasted rain falls, I'll be happy to lie in bed, instead, catching up on my sleep, and then sit on the balcony, watching the rain.

Either way, it will be great to have a change of scenery and a change of pace. 

I hope all of you have a great weekend, filled with whatever it is you need!

 

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It’s always our self we find in the sea.
~e.e. cummings

 

 

This time last year...

About this time last year, I was on a walk of faith. I began a new career.

It coincided with dramatic and tragic turns in my parents' lives. The changes that have taken place in all of our lives since July 2013 are mindboggling when I think about them too long.

Despite his illness and circumstances, Daddy wanted to hear all about my real estate school. I'm so grateful I made that leap so I could call and report on the passing of each and every class, and finally, the state exam. 

I always hoped my daddy would see me graduate from college or publish a book before he died, because I wanted to make him proud.

Oh, I know my daddy was proud of me, just the way I was, because that's the kind of daddy he was. But I still wanted to do it for him. I felt I owed it to him for dropping out of college all those years ago.

When I told him I passed the state Realtor exam, I could hear the pride in his voice, but also confidence that I would do well. That confidence he projected on me - a belief in me - has carried me through this past year.

I've not only faced the challenge of starting my own business, but also the responsibilty of helping my mom get through her own challenges. It helps that she's closer to me; those exhausting, frequent long drives to and from Houston are behind me. 

I didn't kick ass and take names in real estate this year, but I did meet a lot of fantastic people, made new friends, felt myself stretching and growing in ways I haven't for years... plus managed to help quite a few people find new homes, which was the ultimate goal anyway.

Well, that and make some money so that my hardworking, long-suffering husband can dare to dream about retiring...one day.

My writing and photography (and yes, blogging) have been forced back on to a shelf to gather dust for awhile, but I have managed to be there for my mom, and for the most part, my kids, friends, other family, and church.

I appreciate those of you who still come around for my infrequent posts, and forgive me when I don't make the rounds for a week or two to your blogs. I had been warned that real estate was a 24/7 job, but I didn't realize that meant the to-do's really never ended, even if you stop taking calls at 7pm. 

I've gotten used to dreaming about real estate.

The perks? Quite often free food and drinks (we have to network!)... and every once in awhile, ping-pong. Great stress relief.

And I know Daddy is smiling - he taught me how to play.

 

 

It's a strange mix of heaven and hell. But I like it. Happy anniversary to me! 

I can't wait to see what the next year brings...

 

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

~ W.H. Murray

  

They've landed! (...and other sweet!s)

For the past week or so I've been living vicariously through a couple of my kids. Again.

My son and his wife have now experienced the beauty, beer, food, art, sights and sounds of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Amsterdam. And through the wonders of technology, I've been able to tag along through their photos and words, posted on Instagram and Facebook.

Having your kids visit the places of your dreams is the next best thing to seeing them yourself.

 

They're safe and sound, back in Austin now, although I haven't spoken to them to know that. I learned it while snooping in mom-fashion for updates on their Facebook pages tonight. 

I am so very grateful for Facebook and all of the hours of worrying it has saved me. 

Besides Facebook and kids arriving home, safe and sound, I've had a pretty sweet-filled week. Here are a few more....

 

Monday: adolescent cardinal triplets playing "King of the Mountain" on the birdfeeder; much needed rain on your hollow; staying up late, laughing over old clips of Robin Williams with your son

 

Tuesday: your client closing on her new home; sharing a private dinner at Franklin Barbecue with your son, courtesy of Google; watching the Austin Bomb Squad in action (and surviving!)

 

 

Wednesday: making the final payment on your car; reflecting on, and celebrating, the past 32 years with the love of your life

Thursday: watching your old puppy eat, without having to coax him or feed him by hand; dinner at Eddie V's with dear friends you haven't seen in a while

 

 

Friday: sitting outside on a clear night, listening to live music with friends; a glimpse of the baby fox living in your hollow

Saturday: receiving an offer on one of your listings and writing an offer for one of your buyers; watching "Sons of Katie Elder" with your mom, then later another movie with your son

Sunday: a taste of biscuits and gravy, thanks to a friend who doesn't mind sharing; helping old homes have a chance at new life; inspiration from the Garden of Eatin'

 

 

If you think hard enough, I bet you can think of some sweet! moments from your past week. Be sure to share them in the comments! 

Chuck-Will's-Widows, and other sweet!s

After a long day, I pulled up to my house at dusk and stepped out of the car, my brain whirring with the day's events and to-do's still left on my mental list.

Then the chuck-will's-widow sang to me, pulling me back into the moment and the beauty around me...

...the dusky blue horizon ... the glint of our metal roof, peeking out from the hollow, surrounded by cedars and oaks ... the quiet of the dirt road, and the soothing sound of a night bird's song.

Between grandpuppy-sitting and the 4th of July... and winning a multiple offer situation, yay!... this has mostly been a great week, so I had another title in mind for this post, involving puppies and parades (I like alliteration.) 

But after spending a few hours with a friend who is mourning her dad, followed by a visit with my mom, I knew when the chuck-will's-widow sang to me this evening that he would get top billing.

 

Birds sing after a storm;

why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them? 

~Rose F. Kennedy

 

And here are a few other sweet!s from the past week...

 

Tuesday - going on a property tour for first time in awhile; watching your mama walking, even if it's with the help of her awesome therapists; having your client's offer on a home accepted over three others

 

 

Wednesday - a backseat full of dog; your daughter's help taking both of your puppies to the vet for check-ups;  clean reports on your puppies from the vet; surprise parties; taking a belly dancing class with a good friend you never see otherwise

Thursday: pancakes; accountability meetings that keep you on track for your goals; getting another year-long promotional price on your phone and internet service; visits from grandpuppies

 

 

Friday: celebrating your country's birthday by sleeping in and walking your puppies; watching fireworks pop above the horizon from your back porch

 

 

Saturday:  riding on a float and sipping mimosas in a 4th of July parade in a small town; your friends' Model A painted Longhorn Orange; finally meeting someone in person who you met via your blog, who has property in your town he wants to sell; bobbing in a lake on a gorgeous day for a few hours while catching up with a friend

Sunday: knowing your kids arrived home safe and sound from a weekend in Chicago; spoiling your grandpuppy; showing houses; a great inspection report on your client's new home

Monday: your husband fixing your favorite shoes for you; lunch from Yummi Tacos with a friend; seeing friends you haven't seen in awhile; getting a hug from your oldest

 

 

Tuesday: office meetings and free lunches; La Grange, Texas; memories of road trips and eating at the Cottonwood Inn restaurant with your Daddy; being there for a friend who is mourning her daddy; seeing a longtime friend and the parents of another friend who you haven't seen in decades; a neck massage from your son

 

What made your heart soar, or at least sigh,  this week? Share it in the comments! I hope this next week is sprinkled with sweet! moments for you!

It feels so good...

 

 

Following up on my vow in yesterday's "Happy Birthday, Long Hollow" post, I'm going to try to share more "short and sweet"s here rather than dumping it all at once on you. We'll see how that goes...

I can't describe how it feels to help someone move closer to their dreams...especially someone you've known for almost twenty years...

... someone who helped you get a job when you needed to pay for kids' braces and drivers education...

...someone who is just one of the sweetest people you've ever met.

When I got the phone call this evening letting me know my friend Kim's offer on an adorable home was the one accepted out of a four-offer situation, I really couldn't believe it. In fact, my phone rang three times before I answered it, because I expected to hear "I'm so sorry, but..."

Instead, I heard, "Congratulations..."

Pinch me. I must be dreaming!

This was actually the second house we'd tried for. The first went into multiple offers right away, as well. Would you believe this latest house had only been on the market 1 day?

It's crazy around here, folks, I'm telling you.

Before getting into real estate, I asked all of my Realtor friends to share their input. One friend had loved it, but had eventually gotten a job with a steady paycheck and set hours. "You work 24/7", she told me.

But I was already working 24/7, and not making any money. It was worth a try, especially in a job where I could help people.

Some days are tough, I'll admit. But days like today make it all worthwhile.

 

Happy Birthday, Long Hollow...and other long overdue sweet!s

 

Today is life - the only life you are sure of.

Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you.

Live today with gusto.

~Dale Carnegie

 

On my left, a chuck-will's-widow sang to the sliver moon hanging in the dusky sky. On my right, a frog answered from the pond in a deep baritone. And in between cicadas chirped a staccato rhythm.

Belle at my feet, I rocked in my chair, adding my own squeaks to the evening symphony.

A strong breeze playing along the deck.I thought it was sweeping the mosquitoes away, but when I finally stepped back inside last night, the tiny bites on my arms let me know I had been wrong. But those brief moments catching my breath were worth a few little bites.

There's no definitive line between work and play for me anymore. My phone is never far away and I wear my Keller Williams name badge just about every where I go... because you just never know when you're going to meet the next person you can help.

But there are times I don't answer my phone, like during visits with my mom or in church or meeting with a client...or at a Shake Russell concert, like Sunday (although I did wear my name badge! You just never know....)

 

Shake Russell is a Texas music icon, one of my favorite artists for several decades, so I treated myself by going to an afternoon concert at the Saxon Pub on Sunday with my friend Maggie. She's been a fan of Shake's even longer than I have and had been urging me to go for over a month.

I'm so glad she did. It was long overdue, just like the rest of these sweet!s, so I'll get right to them...

 

 

Wednesday - a class on Facebook and a Realtor/happy hour/networking event, where you bump into a friend of your son's who you've known since they were in middle school

 

Friday - an afternoon spent visiting with a friend at her sister's house that has an awesome view of the Colorado River, aka Lake Austin; dancing under the stars with friends at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse; finding a parking spot when the lot is technically full

 

 

Saturday -  your son putting together a dresser for your mom; watching him with your mom, along with a half dozen episodes of "Who's the Boss"

Monday - the joy on your old dog's face as he swims in a pond on a summer morning;  word that ground is breaking on your client's new home

Tuesday - fawn triplets following their mama; a meeting with a buyer in the afternoon and a seller in the evening

Wednesday - giving thanks for lasting friendships with amazing people...whispering "goodbye" to one and shouting "happy birthday" to another

 

 

Thursday - working while cheering on the U.S.  in the world cup with your daughter; celebrating a friend becoming a U.S. citizen; watching the sun set on Lake Travis with colleagues; evening breezes; dancing with friends on a Thursday night

 

 

Friday - a friend reporting to you about the memorial service for another friend, because he knows you wanted to be there but couldn't; great finds at Goodwill, thanks to your daughter's sharp eye; celebrating a dear friend's birthday; Siamese cats and sweet dogs

Saturday - touring model homes; being able to stop and visit your mom on your way home, no matter where you've been; grilled chicken for dinner, courtesy of your daughter

Sunday:  Shake Russell's distinctive voice; the face of a dear friend you've missed; still being able to vent to your mom; a roadrunner couple crossing the dirt road in front of you; fajitas for dinner, courtesy of your son

Monday: new leads; showing cute houses to friends; your daughter keeping up with the laundry, dishes, and the home invasion of ants trying to escape the summer heat; your husband making it home safely after working 24 hours

 

 

 

"This is a big step for me - putting my thoughts out there for anyone...or no one...to read. Why am I doing it? I think it's to satisfy my conflicting needs of writing (a solitary journey) and connecting with other people. I really have no idea what I'm doing yet, so it will be fun to see how it evolves..."

 

That's what I wrote in my very first blog post ever, here on "Long Hollow" six years ago this month.  And it has been fun to see how it's evolved, and to think about how it expanded my world, connecting me to wonderful friends around the world. 

Happy birthday, Long Hollow!

I had completely forgotten about its birthday until someone wished me a "happy work anniversary" on LinkedIn. I'm so glad LinkedIn is keeping track!

Many of my posts were short and sweet back then. I need to get back to that, instead of waiting until I have two weeks' worth of thoughts to dump on you. 

Nevertheless, I'm going to leave you with one of my first, and favorite, posts, because rediscovering it this morning was another sweet!

I needed the reminder.

 

Coming back from the doctor this afternoon, tired from the weekend and too little sleep, and feeling depressed because I always believe the worst-case scenario when something is wrong, I stopped at HEB.  

"How's your day going?" the check-out boy asked. He was only about seventeen, tall, thin. Shaggy-ish brown hair. 

 "It's great," I said, but he was still looking at me. His question had been a real one, not just an automatic greeting. "I'm just a little worn out," I added. 

 "I thought so. I see it in your face." 

 I couldn't bear to spread this "down" that had taken control of me, and especially not to this sweet kid. I was ashamed that I had let it get to me - I have so much to be grateful for.

I smiled at him. "Every day is a great day."  That's what I believe, even if can't always feel it.  But he made me remember. So...I said a prayer for him on my way out. 

God has a way of dropping gifts in our path. Somehow, he knows just what we need. God bless that check-out boy.

  

And God bless all of you today! Thank you so much for stopping by to say hello, whether you've been coming around for six years or this is your first time.

Don't forget to share your sweet!s with me in the comments!

 

 

 

Outrage, blood, and other sweet!s

It might seem strange to count outrage as a sweet! But today I found out another real estate agent approached one of my clients when he was working in his yard and tried to seduce him away from me.

Not only is that a huge breach of ethics, but it hurt my feelings and made me mad!

I posted about it in one of my Realtor groups on Facebook and was so relieved to have one after another Realtor express disgust and dismay about it. Several had experienced the same thing. Most urged me to report him to our board, and I would if I knew his name.

One even referred to the guy as a snake. Sweet!

So, yes, shared outrage and supportive anger can be very therapeutic, and definitely sweet! 

 

 

A few decades ago, I donated blood after working several 12-hour night shifts in a row. I didn't crawl out of my bed for a couple of days. I was completely wiped out.

Soon after that, I married Tom, a Rh+ man. Since I was Rh-, I had to have a Rhogam shot after my babies were born, which prevented me from giving blood for awhile.

Secretly, I was relieved. I just didn't have time to be that worn out ever again!

But the knowledge that I'm O-, very rare, kept gnawing at me, and I began to feel guilty about not donating. So today, when I realized the Bloodmobile was right there in our parking lot, I didn't even think about it. I just went out and did it.

I gave blood.

And then proceeded to have a normal day. Go figure.

If you've been hesitant like me, just go do it. You'll be glad you did.

Before this week gets away from me, I want to post the sweet!s I've gathered since my last post. I'm going to start with a photo I spotted on Facebook. I'm not sure where it originated, but I'm grateful for it. I feel it was written just for me: 

 

 

Coffee and wine. Always two unspoken sweet!s of my week.

And now for the rest...

 

Wednesday: watching a hummingbird flit around your yard and rest on a tiny branch; finding out the issues with your iphone aren't terminal; coffee and conversation with your mom and her friends

 

 

Thursday: cardinals serenading you on your morning walk; touring million dollar homes and wedding venues; fortune cookie wisdom; a quick visit with friends

 

 

Friday: a job where you're continuously learning something new; a hug from your precious great-niece, visiting from Montana; finally experiencing a Torchy's Taco

 

 

Saturday: your old puppy swimming; a butterfly fluttering outside your window when you're feeling blue; an orange moon rising

 

 

Sunday: Garden of Eatin' inspiration; two new leads before you get home from church; your sons helping you with your mom; all of your kids together to honor their awesome father; watching the season finale of "Game of Thrones" with your kids

 

 

Monday: chocolate cake, baked by your daughter for no particular reason; a son who will rescue daddy-long-legs

 

 

Tuesday: sticking to your time-blocking schedule; giving blood; watching "Walker, Texas Ranger" with your mom 

 

It's been a fast, up and down, roller coaster week. In other words, normal. So here's a random quote to finish up my post, just because I think it's beautiful.

I wish all of you lots of love...

 

"Love is watchful.

Sleeping, it does not slumber.

Wearied, it is not tired.

Pressed, it is not straitened.

Alarmed, it is not confused, but like a living flame, a burning torch, it forces its way upward and passes unharmed through every obstacle."

~Thomas a Kempis 

 

A Sweet Blur

Last Friday I made a quick road trip to Houston to take care of some business for my mom. My friend Debra graciously opened her home in Seabrook to me and TG for the night.

On our way to meet friends for dinner, I was mesmerized by the sunlight bathing pastel houses...the cloudless sky...the gulls swooping and singing...

Tension melted away.

I came to just in time to snap this photo over my shoulder and out of the passenger window. I'm pleasantly surprised it came out as well as it did, considering it was an afterthought.

 

 

Sometimes gathering my sweet!s is a lot like this photo, a blurry afterthought.

The beginning of last week was especially blurry. The days were so similar that I'm lumping Monday through Thursday all together.

There were walks with my puppies, new listings, classes and trainings via phone and webinars, watching "Ellen" with my mom, and the first blooms of the Mountain Pinks...

 

 

By the weekend, everything became clearer...

Friday: a road trip with your daughter; Panda Express fortunes; sunset on a watertown; the song of seagulls; Mexican food and margaritas with dear friends

Saturday: sorting through decades of memories with your sister and daughter; a visit with a dear friend; the way you can count on finding a Subway sandwich shop in whatever little town you're passing through; the movie "Happy Feet", especially when shared with your son and daughter

Sunday:  waking without an alarm clock; Mass with your son; your husband cleaning all of the travel bugs off of your windshield; "Game of Thrones" with your kids; your advice about being a mother-in-law included in a friend's Huffington post article  

 

 

Monday: window-screen-cleaning squirrels; dreaming of helping a client buy a million dollar property; a son who stops to visit his grandmother on his way home from work; getting another new listing 

Tuesday: glorious, cool summer mornings; winning a door prize; property tours; catching up with friends; a call from a friend asking for your help in finding a home for her dad; the generous and helpful spirit of colleagues; a wiggly puppy happy to see you home

 

 

There are whole years for which I hope I'll never be cross-examined, for I could not give an alibi.

~Mignon McLaughlin

 

Time to slow down, focus, pay attention to and give thanks for each and every moment.

(Don't forget to add your sweet!s in the comments!)

They made it home! (plus a few belated sweet!s)

Tom and his brother straggled in later than expected from Florida this evening. They had to spend an extra four hours in Louisiana due to the muffler on Tom's car trying to make a break for it.

It didn't succeed in getting totally away, but it did break loose of whatever major part it's supposed to stay connected to. (I am not a mechanic and don't pretend to be one!)

Thank goodness they are both McGyvers (as my sister-in-law puts it) so they diagnosed and treated the problem themselves, and continued on their way to Texas. 

They were a sweet sight, stepping through the door this evening, that's for sure!

While they were working on the car, I was working to help a friend get a home she fell in love with, despite us getting to the party late and having to rush through the application process.

The house had already been on the market 5 whole days, enough time to collect multiple offers within 30 minutes of our viewing. But I convinced the other agent to delay their decision, scrambled and submitted our offer through our paperless system, only to get an email from the agent three hours later saying she had been unable to open the offer, and perhaps next time I should send it as a PDF attachment. 

It wasn't something I had considered before; up until now, no one has had a problem opening the documents I sent through that system. But I'll definitely take the advice. I only wish she had let me know right away so I could have emailed them.

But I consider it a lesson learned, and even though my friend most likely lost her chance at this house because the agent couldn't open the documents, I believe it just wasn't "meant to be" as one of my other buyer clients kept saying...until she finally did find and buy her dream house. 

That was pretty sweet...and I'll trust in a sweet home-buying ending for my friend, too. We'll keep searching and I'm sure the right one will appear for her.

Meanwhile, here are some other sweet!s from the past week and a half. Be sure to add yours in the comments!

 

Thursday: graduations and trophies

Friday: making time to run for the first time in a long while; nurses who care about your mom; a quick visit with your brother-in-law

Saturday: sleeping in; your real estate seeds beginning to bloom; turning door-knocking solicitors into leads; your husband and his brother arriving in Florida, safe and sound;  "The Lego Movie"

 

 

Sunday: a field of Mexican hats; First Communicants; meeting your new neighbors; talking your kids into watching "Saving Mr. Banks"

 

 

Monday: rain, rain, rain, breaking long enough to take your puppies for a walk and go visit your mom; getting your new neighbors' puppies home safe when they've escaped to explore the neighborhood; watching "Mary Poppins" after watching "Saving Mr. Banks"

Tuesday: taking on the challenge of a new long-term class; finally finishing the editing of the photos of your friend's grandchildren you took a few weeks ago

Wednesday: meeting with a dear friend to help her become a homeowner; meeting new people and exploring a beautiful home

 

 

Thursday: learning about historic homes; finally visiting Hill's Cafe; a quick visit with your son, daughter-in-law, and grandpuppy

Friday: visiting with neighbors; your daughter making sure you stay awake through a movie

 

 

Saturday: potential buyers calling from one of your yard signs; birthday parties that include live music wonderful friends, and a wine tasting; a phone conversation with your mother-in-law on her birthday

 

 

Sunday: a morning walk before Mass; high school seniors, ready to take on the world; trying to help a dear friend buy a home she loves; your husband and his brother making it home from their Florida adventure, safe and sound

 

I hope no matter what is going on in your life, you're able to spot some sweetness in what first seems to be unbearably sour circumstances! 

Just remember...

 

 

Aim High, Act Bold, and Live Large! (Graduation Day!)

 

 

"...Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man.

But sooner or later, the man who wins

Is the man who thinks he can."

From "The Victor" by C.W. Longnecker

 

Yesterday, at long last, with "Pomp and Circumstance" playing in the background, my name was called.

I walked to the waiting dignitaries, shook hands, hugged, accepted my "diploma" and took my place with the other graduates.

It was BOLD graduation day! Whoo-hoo!!

 

These are just the graduates from my market center...only about half of the total graduates. 

I've spent every Thursday for the past seven weeks with an awesome group of people who shared a common goal of moving their real estate business to the next level. I was a proud member of the BOLD Avengers, competing against other teams in various Realtor events.

 

 

But Keller William's BOLD program ("Business Objective: Life by Design) turned out to be much more than just a real estate training class. Many of my classmates were taking BOLD for the third, fourth, or fifth time. For a few, this was their tenth time through the program, because each time it helps you to a new level of thinking and business.

It's Positive Thinking on steroids. It's learning to be responsible for the choices you make...and to make choices that direct you to the life you envision for yourself, rather than accepting the default version.

If you've read my blog for long, you know I'm a positive thinker, looking ahead instead of behind as I hit hurdles and have to put my other passions on a shelf... my books and screenplays, blogging, photography... 

You patiently tag along, offering encouragement and support. 

That's what BOLD is... a huge support system that moves you past your fears and self-doubts... only up-close and personal, with greater challenges, bigger goals, and practical tools.

So when, during the second week of the class, my mom was rushed to the hospital and ultimately had her gall bladder removed,  I still achieved my weekly goals by keeping my "attention" on my "intention". No excuses. This is my business.

It's true: You can have a life by design, or by default. It's your choice.

"Aim high, act bold, and live large."

 

 

 

And now it's on to more growth and knowledge:  I start a new weekly training on Tuesday...

Hello, Frio...and other sweet!s of the past week

 

I spent a long, lazy weekend with friends I've known since high school (several much longer than that)... just lying around a pool, eating, drinking, talking about our health issues, our parent issues, and whatever other issues happened to be on our minds. 

(Hence, I learned a whole lot about the benefits of extra virgin coconut oil! Apparently it cures just about everything!)

We took morning walks through the rural neighborhood, explored junk shops in town, and danced on the back porch when the sun went down.

 

It was absolutely just what I needed... but would you believe I almost backed out, thinking I had way too much work to do? 

The call of the Frio River turned out to be louder than the call of responsibility.

I fell in love with the sight, smell, and feel of it the first time I visited Garner State Park more than four decades ago, and couldn't resist the chance to dip my toes in its frigid waters once again.

I've only been back once since high school, and I knew I may never get another opportunity.

Of course, time with my girlfriends is always precious. News that another one of our classmates passed away this week reminded me that I'm not guaranteed other chances to spend time with them, either.

 

It was a weekend full of sweet moments to treasure, and even though it had me playing catch-up ever since (posting my Sunday Sweet!s on Wednesday!), I know I made the right decision.

Here are some other sweet!s from this past week...

 

Monday: the sound of rain outside your window as you work; rain that lasts all day and night

 

 

Tuesday: glorious, cool clear-sky mornings; your puppy waiting patiently outside your French doors for a glimpse of you; raindrops glistening in the woods like jewels; free pizza when you're really hungry

Wednesday: motivated clients; listening to interesting people; a haircut when you really, really need it; finding out about the Christ Child Society; fundraising dinners with fun ladies, margaritas, live bands, and dancing

Thursday: your husband celebrating another birthday; listening to an expert in your field give away his secrets; lunch on the patio at Kerbey Lane with friends/colleagues

Friday: a road trip with a friend; relaxing by a pool with friends, feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin; remembering to pack your sunscreen and hat for a weekend by a pool

 

 

Saturday: the sight, smell, and feel of the Frio River; the way just the smell of a river can take you back a few decades to your youth, to dances under the stars and summer love; exploring junk stores with friends; spending an afternoon being lazy around a pool; dancing on a porch with friends on a beautiful night; unexpected jewelry orders

Sunday: baby deer; your friend's Prius, because it only used 1/4 tank of gas on a road trip; getting back to eating healthy after a weekend of sweets, dips, and carbs

 

 

Monday: spotting a spider web across your path before you walk right into it; picking up a new client; helping women find closure after the loss of a friend; a client referral from your son

Tuesday: property tours that take you from Lake Travis and the hill country to downtown Austin; Panera Bread's Asiago Steak Sandwich; therapeutic and educational discussions with colleagues; referrals from friends; double fortune cookie inspiration; a request to photograph a wedding

 

 

Wednesday: watching the sun break through morning clouds; hanging out in your office, working, venting, and learning from colleagues; saying thanks to your team leader with a big send-off party; seeing a friend you haven't seen in a long time; discussing men and marriage with your mom and her friends 

I hope you all have an awesome week! Share your sweet!s in the comments!

 

 

“May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children.” 

~Rainer Maria Rilke
 

Sometimes it's a God Thing

 

I first met Rosa over the phone several weeks ago when I was working phone duty. She called inquiring about a house for lease. The next day I met her and her daughter, a law student, at the house.

"I like it," her daughter said. But I could tell Rosa wasn't quite sold on it.

"I have to tell you something, Barbara." We stood at the kitchen island in the little house. "I want to buy a home. I've been working with a lender for awhile, but she says I won't be qualified for another four to six months." 

The home she had been leasing for several years was about to be sold. She had to find someplace to live for those six months until she could buy, so we kept looking and looking and looking. None of them caught her fancy.

"I know the right one will appear in time. I'm not worried," she'd say every time.

She might have been calm about it, but I was getting a little anxious!

Then right after Easter, she got the exciting news from her lender that her credit score was up, earlier than expected. Instead of searching for houses to lease, we could search for houses to buy! Yay!!

We learned that was easier said than done. Many of the few houses that fit her criteria had multiple offers on them before we could even go view them! 

Heading home after looking at several homes this past Saturday with her, I noticed an "open house" sign at a builder's model home, and decided to stop, just for my own research on the market.

It was a gorgeous home. I knew Rosa would have loved the open floorplan and huge granite island in the kitchen, but it was a few thousand out of her loan ceiling.

The next day - after viewing yet another disappointing house - she admitted to me that she had stopped to look at new homes the day before. I told her about the one I had seen. She called her lender....and got approved for the higher amount!

As Rosa says, it was a God thing that none of the other homes worked out. 

Today I had the pleasure of helping her pick the granite, tile, carpet, exterior rock, and paint color for her new home, as well as the lot where it will be built. We even met her future next-door-neighbor.

I can't describe the joy it gives me to know I played a part in helping her find a home she will love.

Sweet! will have to do. And you can see it in her smile.

 

 

Here are a few more belated sweet!s from the past week...

Monday: blog friends who email you and persevere to leave comments on your post when your platform isn't working; nurses who want to make sure your mom doesn't get pneumonia following her surgery; calling a friend from your past and picking up right where you left off; finishing Season 3 of Game of Thrones with your son, even though it means you stay up way past your bedtime 

Tuesday: touring gorgeous Austin homes with friends

 

 

Wednesday: morning sunlight shining on a field of bluebonnets beside a lake; spending time with a sweet friend

Thursday: growing and learning; being part of an awesome team

 

 

Friday: a day at home to play catch-up

Saturday: taking photos of your friend's grandkids in a beautiful park by the lake on a gorgeous afternoon, and running into another friend who is there with her family

 

 

Sunday: remembering your son and daughter-in-law's beautiful wedding one year ago

Monday: a good report on your mom from the surgeon; hanging out with your mom, eating cookies, while waiting on your Yellow Taxi transport; a hug and quick visit with your sister and her friend who drove up to see your mom; sitting outside watching the sun set on a warm evening, listening to the birds and frogs get social

Tuesday: a class on new homes when you have a client in the process of buying one; cold fronts when your air-conditioning is broken

Wednesday: spotting the first blooms of the Indian Blankets; supporting your client as she moves forward in seeing her real estate dreams come true; meeting 5 new potential clients in two hours

Time continues to be my biggest challenge...trying to maintain some kind of balance between work and not-work...and finding time to sleep.

It's tough because there's always something I need to do, whether it's helping a client, trying to find more clients, or just educating myself...and then keeping up with my photography clients, my mom's needs, my family's needs, and my own needs. 

One thing is for sure - I can honestly say I'm not bored!

Here's wishing you and me both a week full of sweet!s and balance!

 

 

If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!

 

~St. Catherine of Siena

 

 

Easter Sweet

 

We shared Easter dinner with all of our kids today, no small feat once your kids get married and other families expect to see them on the holidays, too. 

It's been a busy week. Besides Mama's hospital adventure, I started an intense 7-week real estate training course, which includes journaling and other homework, like contacting at least 100 people a week voice-to-voice about their real estate needs.

To reach my hundred before the deadline, I even stopped at a gas station Wednesday night and asked all the patrons in there if they knew anyone who was in the market to buy, sell, or invest in real estate.

I made six contacts and got one good lead from it! You just don't know until you ask who needs help... and they don't know you can help them until you tell them.

(Would you believe I used to be shy?)

Anyway, I didn't have time to decorate for Easter until last night, pulling out the beautiful hand-painted eggs my mother gave to my kids every Easter for years...

 

 

 

...displaying Easter photos from the past...

 

 

...and setting a few ceramic bunnies around the house.

 

 

I have tons; the Easter Bunny always left one in each of my children's baskets... every Easter for years and years...

 

 

I'm not sure what he was thinking. Most of them stay boxed up these days. I have more bunnies than I have surface space to put them on!

 

 

They're cute, though, aren't they? I'm really not sorry the Easter Bunny left them.

 

We had planned for Mama to join us for Easter, but had to settle for visiting her after dinner because of her gall bladder surgery earlier this week. The trip down our bumpy dirt road and rock-paved front walk would have caused her excrutiating pain.

 She got plenty of goodies, though. I gave her some chocolate eggs yesterday, then my cousin stopped by with a basket of treats and some chocolate-covered strawberries. 

My son and his wife took her another basket today. I know the biggest treat for her was getting to see them, though.

Seeing them was a treat for me, too!

 

 

Easter is the ultimate sweet!, isn't it? It's proof that we are loved and that miracles can happen... a source of hope that even simple things we believe are dead - a friendship or a dream - can come back to life.

Sweetest of all... the assurance that we can see our loved ones again someday.

Here are a few other sweet!s from the past couple of weeks (playing catch up!) ...

Thursday: investing and believing in yourself; becoming part of a team

Friday: attending a Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the restaurant where you used to work; catching up with your former co-workers and friends you never get to see

Saturday: finally getting a chance to gather up your tax documents

Sunday: the relief you feel when the ambulance takes your mom to the hospital you requested; smart, caring emergency room doctors and nurses; being able to be at your mom's side in an emergency

Monday: your cousin taking off work to be at your side during your mom's surgery

Tuesday: lunch with a sweet friend; the flexibility of working from a hospital room so you can be with your mom

Wednesday: your mom well enough to be released from the hospital; friends who remember your mom at Easter

 

 

Thursday: challenging yourself to grow; helping clients find just the right home; the humbling experience of having your feet washed by your priest in a Holy Thursday ceremony

 

 

Friday: photographing a cute couple getting married at Chapel Dulcinea (they're ringing the bells after the ceremony in the photo above); recognizing and talking to the chaplain who married your son and daughter-in-law last year; finally seeing a dear friend after 22 years 

 

(I spent hours and hours talking to Terry in the control room of our chemical plant. He's the one who introduced me to Rick Steves! He talked a lot about his kids - what a shock to see them all grown up. Really hit home how long ago those talks were! His daughter is the lovely bride...who looks just like him!)

 

Saturday: getting two real estate leads in two different grocery stores in two days; a husband who knows how to fix plumbing problems

Sunday: Easter Mass; Easter dinner with your husband and kids, and a hug from your mom; chocolate

I hope all of you who celebrate had a beautiful Easter ... and that the peace and hope of Easter remains in your heart forever.

Here's a snippet of one of my new favorite songs that I think reflects that peace, hope, and faith. I find encouragement, assurance, and inspiration in the words during these days of new beginnings and great unknowns. I hope you do, too.

 

"You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand"

~ Hillside United

 

My Bluebonnet Fix (and other sweets of the week)

 

 

 

This is one of my favorite times of the year, when bluebonnets appear almost overnight, splashing the roadsides as if the sky leaked blue.

I spend a lot of time driving those roads and I've been aching to stop and say hello to our brief visitors. They'll be gone in just a few weeks.

But I'm usually on the verge of being late to my next whatever, so until this weekend, I've just been able to enjoy the blue blur out of my car window. 

Still pretty sweet in itself.

However, headed home from a visit with my mom late Saturday afternoon, I swerved off onto a dirt road where a particular blue field had been catching my eye. Just me, my camera, and a lot of bluebonnets.

Well, and some Yellow Bastard Cabbage. That's what a newscaster said this flower is called, although I can't verify that anywhere. I loved the name and couldn't wait to take its picture, too. 

 

 

Sunday I took advantage of the gorgeous weather to visit my listing on the Pedernales River, where wildflowers - including bluebonnets - are keeping the cactus company.

 

 

You can see the river is still down in front of this one acre lot, but weather forecasters say an El Nino is headed our way. Even with the water down, I think the view is beautiful. And oh! the breeze on the cliff.

Now is the time to buy!

 

 

Here are some other sweet!s from my past week. Share yours in the comments! 

 

Tuesday: the first rays of the sun sparkling through the trees; a cardinal singing morning praises; spotting a hummingbird out your office window investigating a stepladder

Wednesday: eavesdropping on talkative high schoolers when you're subbing; seeing someone you didn't expect to see and haven't seen in a long time; a windy walk with your puppies; taking a FlickR break

Thursday: investing and believing in yourself; dancing a sitting-down version of the Chicken Dance with your mom and daughter; accordian music; a new lead from your ad in the church bulletin; chicken enchiladas and watching "Saving Mr. Banks" with dear friends; personalized water bottle labels for your open house, thanks to a dear friend

 

 

Friday: a hailstorm stopping long enough to say hello before moving along; teaming up with your husband, son, and daughter to clean up after your church's fish fry; watching more "Game of Thrones" with your son

Saturday:  a hug and catch-up-visit with a friend you haven't seen in a long while; a free iced Cafe Americana at Starbucks just because you agree to be flexible when they run out of Iced Coffee; exploring houses with clients

Sunday: a gift of a bottle of wine from new clients who make it themselves; your kids helping you with your open house; a visit to Spicewood, Texas on a gorgeous spring day; meeting sweet puppies and their friendly owners when you're checking on one of your listings; fields of bluebonnets

Monday: finally spotting the tiny bird singing a different song, very loudly, on your morning walk; locating your mom's pajama pants and missing pillow in the nursing home laundry; a request for more information about one of your listings; getting buzzed by a hummingbird on your back deck; a good phone visit with a friend

 

I hope the end of this week finds you closer to whatever goals or dreams you hold in your heart, even if it's something simple, like saying hello to a favorite flower. 

For me, my goal is to reach out to at least 100 people by phone or in person to see if I can help them or someone they know with a real estate need. Wish me luck! (If you know of someone, feel free to call me!)

 

Hills, Trees, and Lake Views (Property Tour Tuesday!)

I spent the morning exploring the north shore of Lake Travis with friends, visiting beautiful homes.

It was Property Tour Tuesday!

Many of the homes we visited today were on the lake, or at least had a lake view. It was a gorgeous, springlike day, perfect for driving through the hill country.

To top it off, we ended the tour eating hamburgers hot off the grill on a covered patio. 

I love being a Realtor!

But you have to wait a few days to see those photos. Right now I'm going to share some of the homes on last week's tour...

 

 

Doesn't the view out of that window totally relax you?

This house reminded me of our first home in Lago Vista, nestled in the trees on the edge of a wet-weather creek and ravine. It was close to everything, but felt remote and private. 

I loved the views of trees out the window and the second-story porch. It's like a treehouse!

 

 

Our tours move fast and my group was already running behind schedule by the time we arrived at the next one, so I only managed one quick click of this fabulous front porch. 

 

 

Isn't this a beautiful view? 

Sigh. 

 

 

 

The first of many bathrooms I loved on this tour.

 

 

The three tall windows, the wainscoting, and the wood floors in this dining room give it such an elegant feel, don't you think?

I love that table, too, but I don't think it comes with the house. Sorry!

 

 

I've always wanted a clawfoot tub, so I loved this bathroom in the next house.

 

 

I also love the outdoor area below, situated on the inside of the U-shaped home.

What you don't see - because I couldn't get a good photo of it - is a swimming pool right behind that green sofa. 

 

 

Bathroom number 3. Love the tub, but also the window, the tile, the sinks. The simplicity.

 

 

I can't resist anything in weathered turquoise.

It doesn't come with the house, but I wanted to share it with you.

 

 

Each of the properties within this little subdivision in Lago Vista comes with a plot across the street where they can build a guest home, like the one below.

Doesn't it look like an old farmhouse?

 

 

 

The next home is perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Travis.

Follow me through that great entrance...

 

 

The view is so beautiful. A wall of windows let you enjoy it inside if you don't have time to relax on the porch.

 

 

And the view from the bottom floor porch was just as beautiful.

 

 

I just loved the play of light through this window in a closet.

 

 

We enjoyed a Chinese food lunch in the last home. I was starving by then and I blame that for my photos of beautiful brick interior arches coming out blurry, and for not taking a single photo of the upstairs office. 

I spent most of my time sitting outside eating and enjoying stories of the area's history from another Realtor whose grandparents moved to the north shore fifty years ago.

But a few photos turned out okay, like the one of the sitting area close to the kitchen...

 

 

And the view from the back porch of the fountain and surrounding neighborhood...

 

 

And this one of the view from the balcony of the upstairs bonus room/office...

 

 

There was an awesome breeze up there. I could easily imagine taking coffee breaks out on that balcony.

 

 

I spotted the sign above in one of the houses. 

One day I hope this is all that's on my to-do list!

In the meantime, I hoped you enjoyed the tour! Check back for photos of today's tour, as well as images of the new homes I promised you last week!

And as always, if you want more information about any of these homes, just let me know. I'd love to play matchmaker and help you make one of them your new home!

Canyon Wrens, Laptops, Irish Beer, and other Sweet!s

 

I sat on the front porch for a few hours this afternoon. The sunshine and blue sky were so crisp I couldn't stand to be inside any longer.

I grabbed my laptop and planted myself in a rocking chair to listen to training webinars while watching a cardinal and tufted titmouse take turns at the birdfeeder, always keeping one eye on me.

Eventually I also had my camera and a glass of wine with me. Unfortunately, as soon as the cardinal spotted the zoom lens, he disappeared into the oak trees. They are such chickens.

But the little bird above appeared, hopping around on the rocks of the retaining wall. One often appears on the window of my office, intent on cleaning bugs off my screen. I love watching it, but didn't know what it was. So tonight I searched and searched until I found its name. 

It's a Canyon Wren. Of course.

The titmouse was a bit of a chicken, too, but I managed to capture this photo when he flew into the tree to groom himself. He thought I couldn't see him.

 

For me, it was a gloriously sweet! way to spend an afternoon. 

But, except for the concert of Irish ballads I caught at my mom's nursing home today, it didn't feel much like St. Patrick's Day to me until my son came home, bearing Irish beer and pulling up Irish music on his computer.

Having adult kids living at home isn't so bad. Erin Go Bragh!

Here are some other sweet!s from the past week... (remember to share yours in the comments!)

 

Tuesday: enjoying "margaritas" and a musical performance with your mom at her nursing home 

Wednesday: finding out your daughter-in-law sang onstage for the audience at Jimmy Kimmel's SXSW show; a stranger in the eye doctor's waiting room offering to let you show it to your mom on his iPhone because your phone is dead; your mom's successful eye surgery

Thursday: beautiful cards and letters from your friends to your mom; news that your cataract hasn't grown or moved; your daughter entertaining a client's children; grilled shrimp tacos

Friday: glowing recommendations from clients on your website; showing homes to clients; popcorn and movies with your daughter

 

Saturday: a baby shower to welcome a friend's first grandchild; winning a game at the baby shower!

Sunday: taking time to catch up with a friend after church; visiting a recently widowed neighbor; helping a precious young family get into a home; your husband and sons making it back from Florida, safe and sound; surprising your mom and her roommate with brownies; courtesy of your daughter

 

Monday: getting back on your exercise schedule; paychecks; hugs from friends in your office; listening to Irish ballads and eating tiny cupcakes with your mom; an afternoon of birdwatching/working on your front porch; Irish music, thanks to Pandora, and Irish beer, thanks to your son

Here's an extra sweet! ... 

Spring is finally getting the best of Winter, here in Austin. Hallelujah! 

 

 

St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic. 

~Adrienne Cook

Life in the Underground (and other sweet!s)

Austin is a wild place right now, caught up in South by Southwest fever. I wish I had the time to just hang out downtown all day and night, catching interesting seminars and random stars performing.

Maybe next year...

But I moved a little closer this year by attending a kickoff party downtown for Austin Realtors who are members of an exclusive Facebook group called "Brokers Underground". Mainly we just share information about listings and learn from each other's experiences, but it's a wonderful, supportive group, and it was so cool to meet some of the other members face to face on Thursday night at The Market, a downtown, multi-level bar.

Free food. Open bar. Music by Johnny Gray who performed on "The Voice". A gorgeous Austin night in a rooftop bar, surrounded by familiar faces and meeting new friends. 

Sweet!

Here are a few other sweet! moments from the past week...

 

 

Monday: watching your mom and her friends play dominoes

Tuesday: your Hollow sparkling in ice

 

 

Wednesday: an email requesting a listing appointment; your son meeting you at your office 

Thursday: catered lunches and new home tours; a rooftop Realtor party in downtown Austin kicking off SXSW, and featuring Johnny Gray from The Voice; free food and drinks and music; familiar faces and new friends; caviar for the first time

 

 

Friday: a Keller Williams Annual Awards lunch; photobooths; inspiration from colleagues; friends sending your mom cards and letters, even if they don't know her

 

 

Saturday: helping a client get the home she had her heart set on; your husband and sons arriving safe and sound in Florida; the rain ending just when you need to bring groceries into the house; dinner at a friend's house

Sunday: a morning walk with your puppies; homemade kolaches; Sunday sign inspiration; news that your client's lease application was accepted; your daughter getting a fire started when you're about to give up on it; eating Caramel Turtle Cheesecake ice cream and watching "Girl With a Pearl Earring" with your daughter; a call from your mom to tell you she loves and appreciates you

Monday: sleeping in until 7:30 am on a Monday; being able to work from home; a smile on your mom's face; ice cream and popcorn for dinner, while watching "Shawshank Redemption" with your daughter

 

I hope you had a fun week, although I hope it didn't zoom by as fast as mine. And I hope you're getting more sleep. 

No matter what's going on, don't forget to open your eyes to the blessings around you!

 

 

I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.

~ Agatha Christie

 

 

 

On the Northshore of Lake Travis...

 

...you'll find homes in just about every size, style, and price you can imagine, from simple vacation cottages to million dollar homes in gated communities.

There are homes lining golf courses, homes perched on the edge of the lake, homes in perfect suburban neighborhoods, and homes on acreage down winding dirt roads (like mine.)

That's what makes the property tours so much fun!

We started Tuesday's tour in the town of Lago Vista visiting modest homes like the one below, which had a unique tile design in the dining area.

 

 

 ...and the view of the woods behind the house from the kitchen and breakfast room.

I've always loved a bow window.

 

Behind the house there was a huge stained concrete patio. I could imagine sitting out there enjoying the warmth of that portable firepit below a sky filled with stars.

 

 

The tour finished outside of town in a gated community on the lake.

I wish I could post photos of the first house we toured there.

It was "Texas" through and through, from the weathered-green-painted front doors to the stone Texas star above the fireplace and on down a gravel path to this gorgeous view of Lake Travis...even though the lake is currently down about 50 feet because of the drought.

I could have stood there clicking all day, it was so peaceful, but we had one more house to tour...and lunch was waiting for us there.

 

 

 

Yum! Thank you, Emma!

 

 

The perfect yard when you're dealing with a drought, right? 

 

Imagine that view with a lake full of water. And it will fill up again! 

Even now it's still beautiful.

 

 I loved this fan on the back patio!

 

But the most unique thing about this house was the huge, open master bathroom/bedroom.

See the fireplace?

 

It's the only dividing wall between the tub and the bed, which is in the lower left corner of the following photo...

 

One of the other bedrooms had a Murphy bed. I just thought it was cool!

 

I hope you enjoyed the tour! This past Tuesday I explored some new homes in my area with a friend. Gorgeous! I hope to be able to post those soon.

As always, if you want more information about any of these homes, just let me know. I'd love to play matchmaker!

 

Signs of Spring...and other sweet!s

Cedar Waxwings have returned to the Hollow! A huge flock of them graced the tall leafless willows near the pond most of the morning, just kind of hanging out. I ventured as near as I dared and snapped about a thousand photos with my zoom. 

I'm not sure if any of the pics will do them justice - it was a gray morning and I was still pretty far away, because I didn't want to spook them. But it doesn't matter. It was enough to just stand there and exist with them for a little while.

If any are worth sharing, I'll post them later over at Confessions. In the meantime, here are a few definite signs that Spring is moving back in..

I spotted this odd couple Saturday morning...a Cedar Waxwing and a Robin.

 

Rosemary is blooming in front of one of my listings. Bees were going crazy!

 

And here are a few other sweet!s from the past week...

Monday: getting to watch a portion of your company conference in Phoenix from the comfort of your Austin office with friends, while sipping on a cocktail and snacking; coupons for free Chik-Fil-A sandwiches; dining outside on a balmy Austin evening with your daughter

 

Tuesday: property tours; gorgeous Lake Travis scenery; a call from a neighbor you didn't know before, thanks to the neighborhood group you formed; a new haircut and re-blonding

 

 

Wednesday: your son's help in getting a copy of your mom's birth certificate easier and faster than it was going to be; your errant puppies heading home with just a single "Go home now!" command given through your car window

 

 

Thursday: the Flight Path coffee shop; a Turkey Reuben eaten outside at Avenue B Grocery; your adventuresome puppies (apparently) staying home without their shock collars; learning how to add emoticons to your text messages

Friday: classes with free lunches; a referral by a friend; picking up a lead at the grocery store; warm brownies, thanks to your daughter 

Saturday:  Robins and Cedar Waxwings returning to your hollow; meeting with potential buyer clients; watching and critiquing movies with your kids

 

 

Sunday: inspiration on an A-frame sign; Quiche Lorraine; encouragement for your writing; a visit with your mom, son, and daughter-in-law, all at the same time; writing critique group meetings; quesadillas for dinner, courtesy of your daughter

Monday: taking time to just watch a flock of Cedar Waxwings; a glimpse of bright yellow bird in the bushes; your mom just suffering a couple of bruises from a fall; taking 10 minutes from an over-busy day to play your neglected drums

I wish I could send our warm weather, bees, and blossoms up to those of you in the north still stuck in signs of winter! I hope you still find plenty of sweet!s in each day.

 

"Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience."  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."  

~John Quincy Adams

A Home with History in Old Town Pflugerville

Beginning in my teens, I dreamed of renovating an old house. My aunt joined in on the dream project, picking out potential projects in the countryside around Killeen, where she lived.

Tom picked up on the dream. We loved touring Victorian homes that had been lovingly restored...or sneaking into neglected ones and imagining their potential.

We ended up building our country home from the foundation up. It's a perfect fit and I no longer dream of renovating anything.

But roomy front porches, leaded glass windows, metal roofs, spindle railings, clapboard siding...they still make me swoon. So when I saw that the one home on our office property tour Tuesday before last was this gray-headed grandmother of a house, the raindrops falling from that steely sky couldn't dampen my excitement. 

 

The original house was built in the '30's, but the current owners added a two-story section onto the rear which included more bedrooms, bathrooms, and a huge playroom upstairs.

 

 

I doubt the view out of this kitchen window has changed much at all in the past 80 years.

 

 

This bar with the gorgeous metal counter and sink are in the huge upstairs family room.

 

 

The perfect front door for this house, dont' you think?

 

 

I couldn't help lingering on the front porch a little while before running back out into the rain.
All it's missing is a swing right over there.

 

This property is listed by another agent, so contact me if you have fallen in love and I'll play matchmaker for you!

And stay tuned for my property tour adventure out into the hill country from this past Tuesday. I'll post it this weekend.

Better Late Than Never! (and other sweet!s)

I'm sure we passed each other in the hallways of our junior high and high school. We might have even shared a class or two. Perhaps we even spoke once or twice.

But if we did, I don't remember.

So even though her face and name were familiar, I truly didn't know Debbie until Facebook revealed that she, too, lived in the Austin area and I invited her to a Shake Russell concert.

My first memory of speaking to her was at that concert in the Saxon Pub about five years ago. That's when I realized what a sweetheart she is...quiet, smart, and strong.

Since then we've shared many evenings dancing and listening to live music. She's always one of the first to give me encouragement and support, or offer prayers and a shoulder to cry on, even as she went through some heartbreaking times of her own. 

I could waste time lamenting all those years of my youth when I didn't make an effort to know her, but instead, I'll be grateful to Facebook for eventually bringing us together so that I could help this wonderful woman through tough times and celebrations...

...such as the one for her birthday this afternoon with other friends who walked those halls with us so many years ago.

Happy birthday, Debbie! I'm so very grateful for you and your friendship. Better late than never!

 

 

Monday: getting an issue resolved at the Social Security Administration even if you have to wait three hours to do it; meeting people in waiting rooms; a real estate referral on Facebook by someone you've watched grow up; seeing your mom twice in one day; dinner and dessert, courtesy of your son and daughter

Tuesday: puppy kisses; touring properties with friend-colleagues; fajitas and margaritas; the happiness in your mom's eyes at the sight of you

Wednesday: the return of birds to your hollow; time for a quick visit with your mom before heading to a meeting; grilled chicken, courtesy of your son

Thursday: Realtors who share their knowledge with associates and their lasagna with hungry colleagues; making new friends every day

Friday: a call from your mother-in-law; a day at home with your family; watching funny movies with your kids; heating your whole house with just your wood-burning stove, thanks to your husband's awesome design; the God made a Realtor video

 

 

Saturday: blue skies and balmy breezes after too many days of gray skies and freezing temperatures; French toast, courtesy of your husband; your mom feeling better after being hit with a stomach virus; two walks in one day with your puppies

Sunday: the morning sun kissing your Hollow and shining through the stained glass in your church; Mass with your husband; new church directories; the anticipation of helping a dear friend celebrate her birthday

 

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive. 

~Anäis Nin

From rustic to urban...exploring Lake Travis- and Austin-area properties!

 

Tuesdays are my favorite day of the week, because of property tours! 

We started this week's tour by traveling back in time to the days of the pioneers. The Lake Travis pioneers, anyway, who braved the narrow, twisty road out from Austin to the north shore to enjoy life on the lake. (It's now four-lanes and much straighter...just twisty enough to make it scenic.)

According to the listing agent, the first home we visited belonged to an old trapper. It was built in 1950 from cut stone. 

 

 

 

 

The home itself isn't in great shape, as you can see, but it's in a gem of a spot on three waterfront acres overlooking Lake Travis.

Plus it has this cool old cistern...

 

And take a close look at the rock. It's covered in fossils. 

Priceless!

 

Let's walk down the road to the next property, three more waterfront acres overlooking Lake Travis, dotted with two homes also built in 1950.

 

This one is already divided into three separate lots, one with this white house...

 

...one with this red brick house...

 

...and the area in between where there's currently a playscape and a gazebo.

I bet there were some fun family reunions on this place!

 

All three share access to the lake via a winding path that zig-zags down the hill, wide enough for a golf cart.

There wasn't time to walk down to the lake, but I did step up on the balcony of the red brick house to soak up the views of Lake Travis...and snap a few photos.

You can see how low it is right now, but even at this depth, it's beautiful to me. Imagine how gorgeous it will be when the lake fills back up!

This faces west, which means glorious sunsets. (I've driven the ridge on the left of this bow in the river many a sunset - they really are glorious!)

 

I regret not getting a photo of the front of the next house, a Craftsman-style cottage. It's new, but truly captures that vintage look and feel.

 

See?

 

And it has built-in bookshelves!! That gave it bonus points for me.

These reminded me a lot of one of our previous homes where Tom built cabinet/bookshelves on either side of the fireplace.

 

 

A clawfoot tub maintains the vintage feel.

 

The next home on the tour was an upgraded 1972 townhome on the Point Venture golf course. With half a dozen agents milling about, the only clear photo I got was this peek at Lake Travis from the upstairs balcony.

 

The morning's tour ended at this gated one acre lakefront property right down the road from one of my listings.

Look at that view! 

 

It comes with a boat and boat dock for summer fun, plus there's this firepit for chilly nights.

 

A huge deck - part of it screened-in - runs the length of the house in back, facing the lake. 

 

 

It also features a large, open kitchen, perfect for a bunch of agents helping themselves to a sponsored lunch!

 

Fortified with yummy fajitas, I headed into Austin to visit one more property, a 1970's condo on the north side.

I loved this unique backlit, recessed ceiling in the kitchen!

 

A greenbelt ran through the development, rare for condo communities, especially one this close to downtown.

You could access it through the private courtyard in back, which featured a little rock-lined dry (for now) creekbed. 

 

So much personality!

 

I hope you enjoyed the tour as much as I did! Stay tuned for next week's!

All of these properties are for sale by other agents, so contact me if you have fallen in love and I'll play matchmaker for you!

Top Home Seller's Mistakes (Which ones have you made?)

The last home we bought (and later sold) was a foreclosure. We first lost it in an open HUD auction, but later won it by sealed bid.The home had been stripped of everything that could be removed - light fixtures, switch-plates, you name it. Even the carpet was ripped up in most of the house. 

What we thought was the foundation for a storage building in the backyard turned out to be a swimming pool covered with rebar and plywood...and partially filled with thick, green, slimy water.

I was afraid of what we'd find hidden in that water.

But we wanted this house. I was pregnant and we could see this would be a great home for a growing family. That backyard had so much potential, even before we realized it had a swimming pool! We bid high to make sure it became ours...and we never intended to leave.

Famous last words, right?

My husband, Tom, is a master handyman, but even with him doing most of the work, we put a lot of money into the house before we sold it ten years later. New carpet, light fixtures, switch plates, paint, French doors to replace the back door, a laundry room with cabinets, custom bookshelves filling the walls on either side of the fireplace...the list goes on. I can't even remember most of it.

Out back, we planted crape myrtles and miniature roses. A deep covered deck ran the length of the house. After acid-cleaning the pool, Tom built a beautiful curving fence around it and the foundation for a gazebo. The kids also had a cool tree fort and swing set. 

It was tough to leave that house. It's where we raised our three children for ten years. Christmases. Birthdays. Swimming parties. So many memories and so much time, money, and effort went into making it a home.

We weren't just emotionally attached:  we also wanted to get some of the money back we had sunk into that home over the years, so we argued with our Realtor about the price. Bless her heart, she gave up and listed it higher than the comps suggested for our neighborhood.

Thank goodness, the right buyer came along who recognized the house had great features that would cost a lot more anywhere else. But now that I'm seeing it from the perspective of a Realtor, I know we just got lucky.

But I still dread the day we have to sell this home we built from the foundation up...

What about you? Have you made any of these mistakes?

 

 

Data provided by ActiveRain.com. ActiveRain is an online community of real estate professionals who exchange best practices, write real estate blogs, and get free education from the industry and their peers.

 

 

Galas, Volunteering, Photography and other Sweet!s

Last night I spent hours with a camera around my neck, stalking guests at the local Women's Club fundraising gala.

Now, mind you, it's pretty standard for me to have my camera hanging around my neck at any function I attend...well, anywhere I go... but last night was different: instead of complaining about me taking too many photos, people were asking me to take more, because I was the official photographer!

It was truly photographer heaven!

Because it was a fundraiser for the Women's Club, my only payment was a delicious dinner and a glass of wine. The Women's Club supports our community in so many ways, including awarding scholarships to several graduating seniors. My daughter was a recipient a few years ago, and I volunteered to show my appreciation.

Not only did I get to snap photos to my heart's content, but I bumped into several friends, met new ones, listened to an awesome band...the Vintage 15...and enjoyed scenes from the Wizard of Oz, created almost entirely from toilet paper rolls.

 

 

Monday: new dog beds made from an old mattress; French toast, courtesy of your husband; a call about one of your Craig's List posts

Tuesday: an extended property tour through your small town; a son who stops by after work to see your mom even though it gets him home really late

Wednesday: friends downloading and sharing your real estate mobile app to improve your chances of winning $20K

Thursday: a stranger helping you scrape ice from your windshield; making it home before the roadways are covered in ice

 

 

Friday: a snow day...long walks, warm fires, and chili simmering on the stove; an email from an old friend, asking you to photograph his daughter's April wedding at a gorgeous outdoor chapel

 

Saturday: exploring new homes; getting to see your oldest son and your mom in one visit; being the official photographer at a Gala; works of creative wonder made from toilet paper rolls; big bands; staying up late watching episodes of American Horror Story with your kids

 

 

Sunday: a flash of blue in the woods, signaling the return of the Mexican Jays; Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies; watching a trio of Brady Bunch episodes with your mom

 

 

I hope you've all collected a bunch of sweet!s this week, too.

Share them here!

If you do a good job for others, you heal yourself at the same time,
because a dose of joy is a spiritual cure.
It transcends all barriers.

~ Ed Sullivan

 

A Cousin, a Mom, and Mexican Food. Sweet Sunday!

 

 

Tomorrow is my cousin Patricia's birthday.

She's always held a special place in my heart, beginning when she was a teenager. Unlike some of my other teenage cousins, she was consistently nice to me when we went to visit, even though I was a brat.

I haven't forgotten.

Her dad was one of my favorite uncles, too...a self-taught artist and musician who made me laugh and triggered my interest in antiques and family history.

However, even though Pat doesn't live far from me, we've only gotten together a few times over the past twenty years, for an occasional lunch or hike through a cemetery. (We're both into genealogy.)

But soon after Daddy died, she made a one-day trip to Houston, just to see Mama. Then she sent Mama a care package around Thanksgiving, full of cookies, snacks, and I don't know what else. And as soon as I brought Mama up to Austin, Pat was there...bearing gifts, of course. 

Love is, above all else, the gift of oneself.
~Jean Anouilh

So this afternoon, Mama and I took Pat out to dinner. It's just a drop in the bucket of repayment, and pales in comparison to her thoughtfulness (especially since she brought another basket full of goodies for Mama) but I hope it helps her understand how much we love and appreciate her.

She's a sweet! all by herself, for sure!

 

"I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich."  

~Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford

 

 

Here are a few others from the past week...

Monday: finally having your camera when you spot ducks on a pond; learning the tricks of real estate photography

 

 

Tuesday: time to walk with your puppies and pray before getting caught up in the busy-ness of your day; a friend saving you a seat at a meeting when you're running late; sponsored lunches; interest in a beautiful house you just posted on MLS

Wednesday: your first closing; a hug from your sister who travelled up to see your mom; finally getting all of your Christmas decorations boxed up; taking time to watch a gorgeous full moon rise from behind the hills

 

 

Thursday: safely spotting - and photographing - a gorgeous coyote; saving ducks from getting eaten by a coyote; obedient puppies

 

 

Friday: getting a lead while on phone duty; making progress on some to-do's; a movie with your son

Saturday: catching the end of a Shirley Temple movie and traveling to Wales with Rick Steves while eating breakfast, checking email, and sipping your morning coffee;  your tall son helping you hang portraits in your mom's room

Sunday: helping your cousin celebrate her birthday with your mom; Green Chili Tortilla Soup and spicy salsa that opens your sinuses when you're suffering from cedar fever; a quick phone visit with your eldest; selling one of your many "For Sale"s

 

What were some sweet! moments from your past week? I hope you've been paying attention!

Oops! I almost forgot one of the sweetest moments of the week. (My days blend together so much lately. That's one reason it's important for me to sit down here and count my sweet's! at the end of the week.)

Anyway, on Wednesday my sister and her husband took an overnight road trip to Austin so she could spend time with Mama. I didn't get much time with her, but enough for a sister-hug and a quick visit. 

Very, very sweet!

 

 

 

 

Closings and Close Encounters

"...and suddenly, it was Thursday night."

That was going to be the title of this post, because there I was, still chipping away at my Monday To-Do list,

"...and suddenly, it was Thursday night."

Does that ever happen to you?

I did have a couple of exciting things happen this week I want to tell you about, though...

On Tuesday I had my first real estate closing! Remember Lisa, my friend with the beautiful horses? She bought a lot that adjoins her property to give her horses more space to run. I'm so glad I was able to help her realize that dream. 

Then, this morning on my usual walk with the puppies I encountered a different kind of excitement...

A flock of mallard ducks on a nearby pond was raising a ruckus. While sneaking up on them with my camera, I noticed something else sneaking up on them from the other side of the pond: a coyote. A great big coyote! To me, it looked as big as Max, who thank goodness obeyed my command to 'stay'. Belle, too.

 

 

I knew coyotes were out here. I've heard them howling at night, driving my dogs crazy. I've seen the torn, bloody remains of their prey/dinner...and their scat.

But until this morning, I've never actually seen one so up close and personal here in the Hollow. 

The click of my camera alerted it that I was there, and it melted back into the brush. All the way home I searched the woods, wondering if it was watching us.

Part of me is unsettled by the knowledge of its presence...but most of me feels grateful that I caught a glimpse of it, and that I had my camera with me. Also, of course, that no ducks, dogs, or people were harmed in the process.

It's really quite beautiful, isn't it?

 

 

Last night I had a close encounter with another beautiful, yet much less harmful, object: the full moon rising over Lake Travis and the small village of Point Venture...

 

 

Hope you have a great weekend!

 

 

Epiphanies (and other sweet!s from the past week)

 

epiph·a·ny

 noun \i-ˈpi-fə-nē\

Epiphany : a Christian festival held on January 6 in honor of the coming of the three kings to the infant Jesus Christ

: a moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way

 

Yesterday was Epiphany in the Catholic world. It's the 12th day after Christmas, celebrating the visit of the three kings or wise men to the Christ Child, signifying the extension of salvation to the Gentiles.

It's a light shining into darkness, revealing and guiding and reassuring. I love that it's celebrated in January, giving us hope and calming our trepidation as we face the unknowns of the coming year...especially when we look back and see what we survived in the last one.

Sweet!s are like little epiphanies...points of light that shine in the shadows of our day, helping us move forward and not get lost in the darkness. They are there; we just have to see them. Which is pretty sweet! all by itself.

And here are a few more from the past week...

 

 

 

Monday: fiery sunsets; the peace that comes from having your mom close by and the sense that she's in good hands

 

 

Tuesday: listing a beautiful home with views of Lake Travis; welcoming the new year watching movies with your kids; adults kids who can share a bottle of champagne with you...and realizing champagne does go with popcorn!

 

 

Wednesday: celebrating a new year with your family...including your mom; smoked ribs, a la your husband; time to sit on your deck with family, soaking up the sunshine; a husband who loves your mother enough to build ramps for her wheelchair

 

 

Thursday: morning walks with your puppies; sunlight glistening on your pond, now full of water again

Friday: finding time to revise your children's story; watching movies with your kids

Saturday: a day spent helping clients; visits with your mom and cousin at the same time

 

 

Sunday: helping to celebrate a dear friend's birthday; restaurant staff who sing "Happy Birthday" with gusto; strawberry cake topped with chocolate covered strawberries; writing critique group meetings with amazing women

Monday: a glimmer of hope that a deal you thought had died might come back alive; your son and husband stopping to visit your mom

Tuesday: the anticipation of a reunion with co-workers from your past who stayed in your life as friends

I hope you notice the points of light along your path. Have a great week! 

 

Keep your flame lit, and you will never feel darkness. ~J. Parker

Stepping Boldly into 2014

"When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted."

Psalm 138:3

I greeted 2014 in my home, watching goofy movies (Napoleon Dynamite and Mystery Men), eating popcorn, and drinking champagne with my kids. 

(I revealed a lot about myself in that one sentence, didn't I?)

I'm ready for a new year. 2013 wasn't all bad - remember The.Best.Wedding.Ever.? And I have no illusions that 2014 won't carry it's own mix of highs and lows. But I'm ready to move forward, even if I have no idea what's ahead of me.

 

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.I do not see the road ahead of me.I cannot know for certain where it will end....

~Thomas Merton

 

My word for 2013 was "Faith", which turned out to be just right for this past year of constant change.

"Faith to keep moving forward, even when my path is obscured. Faith that I'll have the wisdom I need. Faith I'll find a way to be a light for others...that I'll be flexible in the pushes and pulls to come in this next year...that I will know when to fly and when to perch and rest for awhile. Faith that there will be enough money, enough love, enough time. Enough respect and trust. Enough whatever...which shouldn't be hard, because we've always had at least just enough in the past." 

Faith is a lifesaving weapon in any year, and I plan to keep it handy, but this year, another word has brazenly stepped forward, volunteering to accompany me through the year...

Bold.

That's my word for 2014. It actually came knocking halfway through the year, when I took a U-Turn and became a Realtor.

“Leap, and the net will appear.”

~Julia Cameron

Caught in a mix of restlessness, a sense of too little time and too much I want to do, I also feel a strange sense of calm and peace and acceptance of my own limits; I know I don't have to rely on my own strength...

...kind of like when Belle barks into the darkness, feeling big and brave because she hears Max barking behind her.

Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are your own fears.

~Rudyard Kipling

Life is too short to listen to the whispers of our fears, isn't it? And really, our fears are the only limits we have.

Boldness is a mask for fear, however great. 

~John Dryden

Yes, I do hear those whispers...those ugly whispers casting doubts on my knowledge, my abilities. But I've learned to shush them, to remember I've been lead upon this path, that time is short and options are few and help is there when I need it.

That others depend on me to cast my fears aside and do my best. To be bold.

Put a grain of boldness into everything you do. 

~Baltasar Gracián, translated from Spanish

 

Do you choose a word? Did you make resolutions? Share them in the comments.

 

My gift to you for 2014 is Thomas Merton's prayer...perfect for a new year.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and will never leave me to face my perils alone. 

~ Thomas Merton

 

 

 

Random 5 Friday

 

 

1. "Knock and the door will open."

One of my dearest friends dropped by to see me and my mom on Monday before we headed back to Austin. She gave me this cross made from driftwood gathered on a Galveston beach (where we spent many summers together!) 

She's such a gifted artist in all mediums. She's written a book on assemblage art and will soon be teaching a painting workshop. Find out more at Annie Lockhart.

 

2. For two days I've set my alarm for 5 am. I'm so behind on everything, and since morning is my most productive time (and it's usually taken up with puppy chores) I've meant to get up extra early and tackle some projects before the sun rises and I can see Belle staring at me through the French doors.

Instead, I've been resetting the alarm for 7. It's just hard to get up before the sun when everyone else in your house is snoozing, isn't it?

 

3. The kids and I have revisited the "Shrek" movies the past two nights. (That might be why I'm having trouble getting up.) We're skipping "Shrek 3", though. Once was enough for it.

 

4. Be careful when choosing your words.

I made the mistake of telling the nursing home my mom was allergic to eggs, when actually they just irritate her stomach.

Now they're balking at giving her the flu shot, even though I've assured them she gets a shot every single year and has never had a reaction. (I took her and Daddy last year, so I know from personal experience.)

I've also assured them she will probably die if she contracts the flu...given her age and severe asthma...which is why her doctors have always encouraged her to get one. And why I'll take her myself if they still refuse.

 

5. How would you like to win $50,000?

Keller Williams created this cool mobile app that lets you search for homes in your area (it's GPS based) or by entering a zip code to search in other areas. I love playing with it.

As if that wasn't enough, now if you download the app, you're not only entered for a chance to win $50,000, but you give me a chance to win $20,000! 

Go HERE to get my code and download the app. Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

Another year is right around the corner.

I'm hoping your journey through 2014 is one filled with laughter and light, and if there are any bumps in the road, you have plenty of help to get you through.

 

Linking with Nancy...

Christmas Firsts

 

 

I was on the road early Monday morning with TG, heading east to Houston. We gathered my mom's belongings from the nursing home, spent a few hours at the house gathering more things and visiting with my sister and friends before loading up and heading west into the sunset, back to Austin to start a new chapter in both of our lives.

Tom helped me get her settled in her new room on Tuesday. Her roommate is a character. The two of them together might be trouble.

 

 

This was the first Christmas my son and daughter-in-law spent as a married couple, the first in their new home.

I think they felt tugged and pulled by all of the family celebrations - his and hers...we all live in Austin - so I am grateful we had so much time to celebrate with them on Christmas Day, including a game of ping-pong.

 

 

This was our first Christmas without my Daddy.

I know Mama felt it more than the rest of us, but, as usual, she kept a smile on her face, only fussing about getting too many presents. 

 

 

To better accomodate Mama's wheelchair, Tom added a stone 'ramp' to the pathway leading to our house.

He is amazing in both his skill and his thoughtfulness. He truly loves my mom and, believe me, the feeling is mutual. 

 

 

I saw Mama twice today, first on my way into town to deliver earnest money to a title company and stop by the grocery store, and then on my way home, dropping off snacks and picking up her laundry.

I wish she could just stay with us, but this is the next best thing, to have her so close.

 

In honor and encouragement of my new career (and because she's nuts and goes overboard at Christmas), my friend Mary Kay made me this ornament/wreath. It's on the tree now, but will have a place in my office once the tree and other decorations are boxed up.

 

 

My first closing as a Realtor is Monday. Another first to close out 2013, a year that brought us much happiness with Tommy and Kirby's wedding, hope and faith in the future with my new career, but also heartache in the passing of my sweet Daddy. 

 

 

I wish all of you the peace and comfort of Christmas throughout the coming year, and sweet memories to treasure the rest of your life. 

Exploring Austin (Homes) Again!

Ready to visit some homes with me? Buckle up and let's go...

 

 

Last week's property tour started in a townhome in this quiet neighborhood. 

I'm not sure if this stained glass goes with the property, but I love the idea and the effect. 

 

 

But then, I have a weak spot for stained glass. 

The next house was an older home that had been beautifully updated. I didn't get any good photos of the inside, but it had a lot of great details while retaining that vintage feel. 

 

I loved the location of the next house more than anything...an older, upscale neighborhood in West Austin not too far from Mount Bonnell. The home had been given an extensive update, but I didn't get many photos...

 

 

The next home was my favorite of the tour. It was an older ranch-style on the northwest side of Austin, with a huge front yard and gorgeous backyard. 

What I loved most about it, though, were these custom touches...the glass block shower...

  

 

...and all of these storage cabinets in the long hallway. I love cubbies and closets and cabinets. 

 

 

But the room below, which adjoined a large open kitchen, was my favorite part of the house.

When I was little, I spent hours sketching floorplans just for fun. More often than not, I included a sunken livingroom.

With this wall of books, fireplace, and low railing, this room made me feel I had stepped into one of my own designs!

 

 

These next homes weren't on the property tour. They just caught my eye while driving through Hyde Park one day.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed the tour! Be sure to join me next week!

Property Tour Tuesday (wherein I get to explore some Austin homes)

The sun was victorious today in this recent game between it and the gray skies.

That in itself was enough to make me happy, but I was especially grateful to see it today because there were four houses on our property tour! One a little east and north of our office, one close to downtown, and a couple out in the hills to the west, although not close to each other.

But since I missed posting last week's tour, today I'm going to show you one of those homes, because I took lots of photos!

It was on the west side of town, in the hills, near Emma Long Metropolitan Park. We passed dozens of decorated juniper trees like these along the way...

 

 

The front was pretty nice...

 

...but this is the first thing that caught my eye.

Now I want to make one!

 

But this drew me out to the back before I even explored the inside of the house.

There's a one-bedroom cabana next to it.

 

Take a look at this back porch. 

 

And when you're tired of the pool and socializing on the porch...

 

Every bit of the outside areas was put to good use.

Isn't this a cute little game court?

 

Such a great gathering spot in the kitchen...big enough for snacks for touring realtors!

 

Spotted this sign on a wall inside. Amen!

 

Isn't this an awesome ceiling?

 

This wine closet was tucked under the stairs.

(Great use of space, in my opinion!)

 

The view of the neighborhood from an upstairs balcony...

 

I loved these little round chalkboards painted on the wall. 

 

You can see downstairs from a small landing on the stairs.

For a large house, it felt very cozy and connected.

I would love to represent a buyer for this gorgeous place. (Maybe they'll invite me over to swim in the summer!)

So feel free to share and let me know if you, or someone you know, might be interested!

Dancing, Sunshine, and other sweets

 

 

 

 

 

After several days of gray skies and temperatures below freezing, the sun finally made an appearance yesterday afternoon. And the clouds even stayed away long enough for me to say hello to a half moon and a sky full of stars that dripped all the way to the tree tops.

Hallelujah! My spirit soars under a clear sky, and even though this morning I woke to another gray sky and cold drizzle, I feel recharged. 

Here are some other sweet!s from my past week...

 

Monday: finding a lucky penny, reminding you "In God We Trust" just when you're feeling overwhelmed; getting a lease client while on phone duty; your first real estate paycheck; finally finishing the weeding of your library

 

 

Tuesday: remembering the day you became a mother, and wishing your oldest a happy birthday; touring a million dollar home set in the hills near Austin; juniper trees lining the roadsides decorated for Christmas; a long-overdue re-blonding

Wednesday: guidance for your 2014 business plan; God's art in the sky, made of wind and clouds

Thursday: a bus ride with colleagues to Fredericksburg, Texas; the Christmas light displays in Johnson City

 

 

Friday: dry roads so you can attend your company party and enjoy dancing, photo booth sessions, making new friends, and chocolate fountains

 

 

Saturday: your sister home safe after a cruise; not having to leave your house except to walk your puppies

Sunday: your husband walking in with an armload of firewood on a cold morning, and assurance that his car is loaded down with more; a telephone visit with your sister-in-law, even if it isn't all great news; your son learning how to make Terry Boer's Chicken and Rice casserole; an evening of visiting with friends; couples in their 80's who are still tearing up the dance floor

 

Monday: attending a class that supports your belief that a Realtor is more public servant than salesperson; getting a new customer while your watch gets a new battery in the mall; nurses who put their patients above job security

 

How's the weather where you are?

If it's cold and gray, I hope you find a way to recharge, too! (Try dancing!)

 

There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good.

~ Edwin Denby

Friday Night Lights (A Winter Day in the Texas Hill Country)

 

 

Well, these were actually taken last night, Thursday. I traveled with a bunch of Keller Williams colleagues via bus to Fredericksburg for a day of shopping, a wine-tasting, and then a stop in Johnson City on the way home to ooh-and-aah over the lights.

 

 

With temperatures below freezing and a wind chill pushing it into the teens, it really felt like Christmas all day. The shops and restaurants were warm, the company was awesome, and it was a fantastic day. And hallelujah, there was no ice on the road.

 

 

Sure, there were tons of other things I probably should have been doing yesterday, instead of roaming through shops taking photos, but it's good, especially during Advent and the Christmas season, to just slow down and do something purely for fun, don't you think?

 

 

 

I'll post more of the photos tomorrow on Confessions. Meanwhile, tonight most of us met again for a company Christmas party.

I know it's hard to believe, but I didn't take one single photo at the party! I did jump in a photo booth with friends twice. Photos to be posted later. Maybe.

I danced, though. That was at the top of my priority list...and way overdue.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I'm grateful it's supposed to be cold and icy/rainy here in Austin. Time to get Christmas cards ready to mail and a tree, glistening with memories, standing in my livingroom.

How will you spend your weekend?

Property Tour Tuesday!

Just about every Tuesday, a bunch of us grab a map, pile in someone's car, and ask Siri to navigate us along the route to the one, two, and sometimes three houses or condos selected for that week's tour, scattered in various neighborhoods in Austin and the surrounding communities. 

Road trip! A really short one, of course, but there's constant chattering while we get to know one another better, share advice and tips, and just explore Austin. We take turns driving and mix up the groups a little each week.

The purpose of the tour is similar to a writing critique - we pick out two things we like and two things we think need improvement to help the listing agent get a "sold" sign in the yard and money in their client's pocket.

But for me it's just fun spending time with the other agents and getting to see all of the different types of houses Austin offers.

Today I had the great idea to let y'all ride along with us! Each week I'll snap a photo or two of the properties with my phone and share a little of what we see (and what I think!) 

Today I rode with Sherilyn and Dawn. (They are awesome!)

 

 

Probably because of the holidays, there was only one house on the tour. My favorite thing about it? Curb appeal. 

 

 

Nice, huh?

It was very spacious - we counted six bedrooms, all good size, too, and lots of storage space, which is something that scores big points with me.

I missed last week's tour, but the week before we visited a cute older house that had been flipped. I love that about Austin, that the older neighborhoods are coming alive again, instead of just crumbling. 

I loved the leaded glass in the front door...

 

 

..and the whole house had a crisp, vintage-but-modern feel to it. (Great job staging!)

 

 

 

It wasn't a big house, but the unique touches, even in the bathrooms, made it stand out for me.

 

 

So what do you think about them? What's your style?

Stay tuned for the next Property Tour Tuesday!

Raindrops are falling on my head...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and I'm glad of it! We've needed the rain! Ponds are filling up and I'm already envisioning the fields of wildflowers we'll have in the spring.

The rain brought other gifts, too. I've been trying to capture a tiny reflection in a raindrop for a long, long, long time. This week I finally did it! Can you see it up there? 

Here are a few more sweet!s from the past week...

 

Monday: a friend who will change her plans to go check on your mom for you; a growing collection of clients and potential clients; the full moon rising over the horizon; friends' prayers for your mom

Tuesday: your mom NOT having pneumonia; attending an event downtown with your son...and bumping into a friend there 

Wednesday: publishing your first listing on MLS...and friends helping to get the word out about it; the Knights of Columbus Silver Rose visiting your church

 

 

Thursday: working in your church for a week so the secretary can take a vacation; good news on a parishioner's surgery; Giving Trees; church volunteers

Friday: the first fire in your wood-burning stove; spicy chili; having a double-oven when one decides to break; sharing popcorn and silly movies with your kids

Saturday: a morning walk with no mosquitoes buzzing in your face; not having to leave the Hollow on a cold, wet day; referrals from friends

Sunday: raindrops falling on the surface of a pond that was recently a dry field covered in snow-on-the-prairies flowers; meeting long-distance clients in person for the first time and welcoming them to Austin; making it to your writing group meeting for the first time in weeks

Monday: ordering your Christmas cards in time to mail them before Christmas for the first time in a few years; colleagues who are willing to share what they've learned; homemade chicken soup on a cold night; submitting paperwork so you can get paid; your husband figuring out what's wrong with your oven and fixing it, without having to buy a single part, so you're ready for Thanksgiving...

 

What were some of your sweet! moments from the past week? Please share! And have a blessed Thanksgiving week!!

 

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. 

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

 

 

1102 Cliffview Drive, Spicewood, Texas: A Slice of Pedernales Pretty

 

I stood near a rocky, cactus-covered cliff on Saturday, staring down at a bend in the Pedernales River that still sparkled with water, despite this drought that has lingered for so long here in central Texas.

What a sweet surprise and relief to see that water! When I listed this long, narrow acre-ish lot on Cliffview Drive in Spicewood, sight unseen, rumors of a dry Pedernales made me a little anxious about its marketability.

But even though much of the riverway is now covered in grass and dotted with grounded docks, the view from the cliff made up for the lack of jetskis zipping back and forth below me. We don't get views like that down in my Hollow.

I stood there longer than I intended to, soaking it all in and letting the breeze blowing up from the canyon wrap around me. It was easy to imagine sitting on a porch or a second-story deck of a home nestled on that rise above the canyon, watching the sun set on the hills stetching out to the west.

But here, let's go back to the front of the property and I'll give you a proper tour...

 

You'll drive in from FM 2322, a small highway that takes you to Pace Bend Park, the Briarcliff Marina, and Willie Nelson's Cut-N-Putt, otherwise known as the Pedernales Golf Club, in one direction, and Highway 71 in the other.

A short jaunt down Highway 71 will take you to the Hill Country Galleria, Hamilton Pool, and with a little more driving, either downtown Austin or downtown Llano.

Good barbecue no matter which way you go.

 

Follow me through this totally Texan gate. You can see the lot is already cleared for a driveway, but it's a little overgrown again. I hope you're wearing your walking shoes!

 

 

This stand of small trees provides privacy from Cliffview Drive.

 

 

Did I mention this was a long, deep lot? It's completely fenced, though.

You did wear your walking shoes, didn't you?

 

 

The view wasn't the only thing that caught my eye. I spotted this family of tiny cacti snuggling in the crevices of a large rock.

 

 

Besides the driveway, a building site has also been partially cleared, positioned just right for those awesome views.

 

 

It's a steep drop to the river from here.

 

 

Looking toward the north again.

 

 

Water!

 

 

Looking to the south.

 

 

The middle section reminds me a lot of my Hollow!

 

 

Time to head back to the car. Can you see it way down there? (Don't worry, there's plenty of cold water waiting for us!)

I know the right buyer is out there somewhere. Please help me connect them to this beautiful place! If you'd like more information on 1102 Cliffview Drive, Spicewood, Texas 78669, I'd love to share! Just ask!

 

Daughters-in-Law and other sweet!s

Yesterday I drove to the other side of Austin to wish my daughter-in-law a happy birthday in person for the first time, grateful that they finally live close enough that I can do that. It comes in handy for someone like me who always forgets to put birthday cards in the mail in time to arrive by the actual birthday.

I first met her when she was in high school, and have watched mostly from a distance as she grew into the beautiful, smart, fun 26-year-old woman she is today...

(photo by Bloom Photography)

They're settling into their new home and I love being able to see the progress. Tommy even installed one of those pull-down stairs to the attic in the garage, all by himself! And every time I go, Kirby has added new decorative touches.

It was pretty early in the morning - I was on my way to a new listing on that side of town - and they wouldn't let me take any new photos of them. But my grandpuppy Josie was willing to pose for my camera!

 

 

Pretty girl!

Here are a few other sweet!s from the past week...

 

Monday: open roads when you're running late; support and guidance in your new job; figuring out problems on your own; your son cooking dinner for you

Tuesday: signed contracts; exploring cute little flipped houses; riding in a car full of women realtors

Wednesday: clear skies on your drive to and from Houston; giving your mom a birthday hug and kiss, and joining your brother, sister, niece, and nephew in helping her celebrate

 

Thursday: lunch at Mandolo's with your daughter; traveling to Munich and Prague via your son's photos

Friday: finally buying a new printer/scanner/copier, thanks to your thoughtful writing group; taking a break from everything to read a few chapters of "Game of Thrones" for the first time in weeks

 

 

Saturday: your name and number on a For Sale sign in front of a listing; water in the Pedernales River, despite the major drought; soaking in views of the Texas Hill Country; helping raise money for the sons of a friend who died way too young; seeing the full moon slip above the horizon as the sun sets in fiery glory behind you; celebrating a friend's 60th birthday

 

 

Sunday: a walk with your puppies before Mass; selling something on Craig's List; driving around Austin on a beautiful day; setting up your new printer; catching up with a friend/neighbor/client over a glass of wine; moonlight on a caliche road

 

Whew! That was quite a week. I hope yours was full of sweet! moments! Share them here!

"There are exactly as many special occasions in life as we choose to celebrate." 

~Robert Brault

Just Another Day at Work in Austin, Texas

 

Austin real estate in a nutshell:

Number of people moving here, wanting houses > Number of houses available

Consequently, it's important for an Austin real estate agent to be acquainted with builders and new homes. 

So today I attended a class on helping clients find and purchase new homes. We even had a field trip to this cute little subdivision only 10 minutes from downtown Austin. 

 

The homes had small yards and detached garages...some with small apartments on top.

(We had fun imagining who would stay in the apartments. Older children returning home? Visitors to ACL or SXSW, needing to rent a room? In-laws?)

 

 

It is so cool that part of my job involves exploring new homes, opening closets, cabinets, and drawers.

And getting free lunches.

 

 

I loved the pops of colors and Craftsman-style touches on many of the homes.

 

 

A MetroRail Station is adjacent to the neighborhood and all of these homes face a small dog park.

Very urban without being right downtown.

 

Yes, I love my job.

(Contact me if you want more information about these urban gems!)

 

P.S. Happy Halloween Week!

Dodging Rain and Traffic Jams...and other sweet!s of the week

I made another overnight trip to the Houston area this weekend to visit my mom. Because of the weather forecast, I expected to be driving in rain coming and going.

And dreaded it something fierce!

So what a sweet! surprise to have sunshine to and from Houston, with the predicted rain passing through early this morning while I snuggled in bed.

Unfortunately, a section of the interstate we needed to travel was completely shut down for maintenance. Not so sweet!, but my son Daniel acted as navigator, directing me onto side roads where we avoided the worst of the traffic jams using the mapquest app. Absolutely sweet! 

But while we were at Mama's, Daniel spotted a baby gecko whose hind legs had gotten tangled in a spider web. Daniel rescued him and untangled his legs the best he could using some tiny scissors. He let him go in the front yard, hoping the little guy wouldn't get into any more trouble.

Witnessing the care and compassion that resides in my son's heart...the sweet!-est of all.

"The best portion of a good man's life:

 his little, nameless unremembered

 acts of kindness and love.”

 ~ William Wordsworth

 

Here are some other sweet!s from the past week....

Monday: new leads and listing appointments; a soul-cleansing night wind, starry sky, and bright clouds

Tuesday: being qualified for phone duty; Rudy's barbecue; touring homes with friends 

Wednesday: meeting the "Williams" of "Keller Williams";  grocery shopping with your daughter

Thursday: a day spent working from home, playing catchup; your first listing appointment

Friday: the golden morning light of autumn; being present in the moment; a new haircut; helping a friend celebrate the last day of her 20's; catching up with friends over Mexican martinis

Saturday: sunshine when you expected rain on a roadtrip; a quick visit with your grandpuppy, son and daughter-in-law; your other son riding shotgun, acting as navigator around traffic jams; a mother's hug and kiss, and the joy in her eyes when she sees you; your son's gentleness and care with your mother...and a baby gecko; staying up late, laughing with your mom at "Big Bang Theory"

Sunday: waking to the sound of rain; a too-quick visit with your nephew; driving into a beautiful sunset, instead of driving on a wet highway; home

 

I hope you are able to dodge things you are dreading in this coming week. Don't forget to share some of your sweet!s (or the link to a blogpost about them) in the comments!

New Careers, Full Moons, Church Bazaars, and other sweet!s

Long ago I dreamed of having the job I have now...only I didn't know what it was at the time. Does that make sense?

As with any entrepreneurial endeavor, it's agonizingly slow getting started, but I'm confident in my abilities and that I'm on the right track. That's sweet! all by itself. (But if you, or anyone you know, needs/wants to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, please send them my way! I can use all the referrals I can get!)

Anyway, this past week I attended the Realty Roundup in Austin, a conference sponsored by the Austin Board of Realtors that brought together people in all different areas of the industry.

And people in the real estate industry are some of the friendliest, most giving and supportive people I've ever met. In fact, just a chance encounter on the stairs turned into a friendship with an agent from another Keller Williams market center in Austin. We hung out together the rest of the day, going from booth to booth picking up freebies, talking to vendors, and tossing business cards into fish bowls in hopes of winning a drawing.

She won a big basket,  but my name was never called. However, I don't hold a grudge. We look forward to getting together again soon. 

Dr. Jim Gaines from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University was one of the main speakers at the Roundup. Using lots of charts and graphs, he assured us the Austin market was just going to get bigger and bigger and bigger.

For an Austin Realtor, the news that everyone wants to live in Austin is pretty sweet! As good as a gift basket any day!

And here are some other sweet!s from my past week...

Tuesday: spotting old trucks when you're out on a property tour with friends; photo shoots; meeting clients

Wednesday: rush hour traffic in the rain when you share it with your daughter; rain; a random encounter with a stranger turning into a friendship; great news about the Austin real estate market 

Thursday: walking at sunrise; meetings with vendors over morning coffee and lunch; an afternoon walk with your puppies; baby geckos; playing around on MLS; a longtime friend getting married; homemade pumpkin bread, courtesy of your daughter-in-law

Friday: friends becoming prayer warriors for other friends; dancing under a full moon with friends and strangers in your church parking lot; making it home in time to watch the end of "The Lost Boys" with your daughter

Saturday: sleeping in; walks with your puppies on crisp autumn days; butterflies and fall wildflowers; sipping on a Bloody Mary while you work at your church bazaar; cake walks, washer tournaments, and ziplines; watching Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail for the zillionth time with 1/2 of your kids

 

Sunday: waking early without an alarm clock, in time to walk your puppies before Mass; chipping away at your to-do list; working on your laptop on the back porch, watching the sunset, listening to the little creek below you singing its gratitude for the recent rain; a good report from a friend with cancer

 

Last, but not least, getting comments on your blog even though you haven't had time to make your rounds lately.

Blogging is a give-and-take thing, and I'm so grateful to those blog friends who continue to have patience with me as I try to find my balance in this new time-sucking career of mine. I miss making my regular blog rounds, but I'm finding my footing and will be back soon.

The essence of true friendship is to make allowance for another's little lapses. 

~David Storey

Please share one of your sweet!s from the past week in the comments! And don't forget to keep your eyes open for them in the coming week. They're there, I promise!

Five Things on Friday

 

 

1.

Wildflowers are blooming like it's springtime instead of autumn. Plants I thought had died are sprouting blossoms again.

Maybe it's like this every year, and I just forget. That's okay. I love the surprise of it!

2.

Waller Creek runs through Austin down to Lady Bird Lake. Near downtown, it's dirty, stinky, and can be dangerous during flash floods.

Thank goodness there are people working to change that. A representative of the Waller Creek Conservancy spoke at our office meeting last week, describing the tunnel which will control flooding problems, as well as the walks and green spaces planned that will help Austinites and visitors enjoy the creek.

I can't wait to see the finished product!

3.

If you're planning to sell your home, here's a tip: make sure all of the toilets have seats. You're welcome.

4.

I'm still bringing my camera to work, using it to take business portraits of fellow agents for their business cards. It's a great way to get to know my colleagues. Photography can be a useful addiction!

Meet Patrick....

5.

I grew up in Pasadena, Texas, and spent a lot of Saturday nights at Gilley's, but for some reason I never sat my bottom on that mechanical bull Debra Winger made famous in "Urban Cowboy".

So of course I had to change that by climbing on the one in The Trophy Club Wednesday night for a photo with my friend who was in town for the City Government Convention.

We just wanted our picture taken, but the operator started moving the bull a little bit, setting us to giggling. 

 

 Now I can say I rode a mechanical bull without being thrown off! Yay!

 

Linking with Nancy at Random 5 Friday.

Reinvention

"Reinvention" is the theme for Generation Fabulous's blog hop this month.

Considering I just started a new career as a realtor, seemingly out of the blue, "reinvention" is right up my alley.

Or is it? Can it be considered "reinvention" if it's something you once loved, and spent hours doing, long ago?

You see, when I was little, my favorite section of the Sunday newspaper wasn't the comics - it was the Homes section.

I loved looking at the homes featured on the front page. I would study the floorplans of the huge houses on the back page, imagining myself wandering through them.

I was ten the first time Daddy and I toured the Bishop's Palace in Galveston, triggering my love for snooping through houses which carried on into my teen years, when my boyfriend and I knocked on the door of a house I loved and asked for a tour..

...and then into my twenties when Tom and I and two friends knocked on the door of a renovated old house in LaMarque and asked for a tour, and Tom and I and two friends explored a condemned Victorian house in Galveston, and Tom and I pushed babies in strollers through old homes' tours in LaPorte, and explored new construction in every town we've lived in...

I began designing floorplans when I was ten. My mother would bring home special paper from her job as a secretary at a construction company. I came up with some pretty good plans!

Television houses have always triggered my imagination. Back then I tried figuring out the floor plans of the houses on "Bewitched" and "The Brady Bunch" and "Dark Shadows", and even taped pages of typing paper together into large sheets so I could sketch out the floor plan of the Munsters' and Addams Family's mansions. 

I thought I wanted to be an architect...but the idea of having to include the plumbing and wiring and placement of supporting beams in a structure bored me to tears.

I just liked the parts of houses you could see. And secret passageways.

But I'm not sure I'd ever heard of real estate agents back then. However, considering my obsession with houses and the list I made when I was ten of every single person I had ever met (my first "contacts" list!), it's obvious that (besides being a strange child) I would eventually grow up to be a Realtor, touring properties and reminding everyone I know that I can help them buy, sell, lease, or invest in it. 

 

(There are also conventions!)

Why that didn't become obvious to me until I was 54 is a mystery, but I'm sure the journey to this place wasn't wasted, but was, instead, an invaluable trek to self-awareness.

Perhaps the midlife "reinvention" we talk about so often now is more about getting back in touch with who, or what,  you really are and what you enjoy than becoming something altogether new.

What do you think?

Have you experienced "reinvention"...or are you longing to? Share your story in the comments, and read the other GenFabbers' posts to hear more. If you're a blogger, join the blog hop!

(By the way, who do you know that needs to buy, sell, lease, or invest property...anywhere in the world? Contact me!)

Six Things on Saturday

 

1.

Wednesday night, as I drove home from a meeting, the huge Harvest Moon broke through the clouds, beaming bright on the road ahead of me.

I relished the beauty of it, but would you believe I didn't even think about grabbing my camera when I got home?

Something must be wrong with me.

 

2.

I've now experienced my first huge convention -  the Keller Williams Mega Camp, held here in the Austin Convention Center.

It started Thursday. Vendors, freebies, inspirational speakers, live music, and thousands of people from all over the world...so it was pretty amazing that a friend from high school, another new agent based in San Antonio , was sitting just a row behind me that first day.  

3.

I haven't met with my writing group in...well, I think it's been a few months. But this week I got a sympathy card from them in the mail because of my daddy's passing. Inside, there was another card containing a Best Buy gift card. They had chipped in to help me buy a new printer. 

That just blew me away. 

I'm glad they haven't given up on me!

 

4.

Tom's brother Steve and his wife, Kim, are visiting from Arizona. She's an agent with Keller Williams (my sponsor) and came in for the convention, and they just planned their trip to stay over for the weekend.

The last time they were here, six years ago for Tom's big 50th birthday party/Shallue family reunion, it rained and rained and rained. 

Then it stopped and we've been in a drought ever since.

Well, Thursday night it started raining and it didn't stop until early this morning.

Obviously, Steve and Kim need to visit more often.

Today...the first day of autumn...the sky cleared to a vivid blue, there was a golden tint in the sunlight, and temperatures dropped enough to enjoy lunch on a patio overlooking Lake Marble Falls. 

Hallelujah!

 

5.

Friday was Mama and Daddy's 64th wedding anniversary.  Sigh.

 

6.

 

Amen.