I’ve learned that cheerful posts don’t get as many hits, but, too bad. I had a really nice weekend, and I can’t change that fact. We didn’t go far, but it was quite relaxing in Lago Vista, Texas, capital of the North Shore of Lake Travis.
As I mentioned before, Lee and I spent the weekend at the condo where I showed you all the deer and flowers, along with our business partners, Carol and Russell. We hadn’t spent much time together in person lately, so this was a much-needed time to relax, reflect, have fun, and plan.

And we did! We chose going to thrift shops as out first “team building” activity, which was a lot of fun. I liked the fish sculpture.

Later, we had a celebratory dinner after our “big meeting” where we decided to move forward in a new direction with our real estate redevelopment business. We went to Broc’s, an Italian restaurant in Lago Vista, where we were absolutely charmed by the crooner singing 60s standards, a family with a toddler as cute as my son Kynan was at that age, and the whole family that owned the restaurant celebrating the owner’s 70th birthday.

This place had surprisingly good food. Lee couldn’t stop talking about the alfredo sauce he had. We all tasted it and agreed, it was both light and creamy, with a side of buttery. And their red sauce was such a wonderful combination of flavors that I bought a pint to cook a dinner for Anita, Declan, and Rylie (the younger son and his partner) on Wednesday.

Today we sat on the patio and talked and laughed and had ideas. We decided we need to do that more often, since we come up with great ideas when we are relaxed and not under pressure to accomplish this or that or meet deadlines.

The next team-building event we did was drive around this area and practice evaluating houses for sale. We did see some interesting lakefront homes that just needed updating to be great.

And we were impressed by the small newer houses that are going up. It’s nice to see the area developing a mix of high-end and affordable houses out here.

The best house we saw is on top of a hill and just about the most pleasant floor plan I’ve ever seen. It was fancy but tasteful and calm. If I ever was able to live by a lake, it’s how I’d like to live. It’s up high with a great view but far enough from loud boats and yelling people to have peace and privacy. That’s been my dream most of my life.

But, no complaints about my cattle tanks and meadows. Life is fine. I think I’m over the hump of the confusing and hurtful times.

And deer tongues are so soft. I’ll miss Buddy the teen stag and all his friends. Sometimes I feel like Ellie Mae Clampett the way all the critters just love me.
