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Welcome to Liberty Hill Living! Spring sunsets along the Shin Oak Ridge are daily reminders of why we chose to make Liberty Hill home. (Photo by Shelly Wilkison)

pring in Liberty Hill is always a special time, but especially this year as our community unthawed beautifully from February’s icy grip. The blinding shades of green and the rainbow of wildflowers that color our landscape bring hope of better days. From our historic building downtown, we watch the changes to our hometown as more people discover what makes this a special place. While some insist that our sense of community gets lost with rapid growth, we have a different view. New homes bring new friends and neighbors, and new businesses bring dreamers and investors. While we may have different ideas on a vision for our town, we’re all invested together in the conversation. That’s the way it should be as we work to hold onto the special feeling that brought us here while opening the doors a little wider for newcomers looking to also make a difference here. In this issue, learn more from local real estate professionals about the impact that newcomers are having on the area housing market. The charm of small-town life and exceptional schools combined with the growing desire for more space as coronavirus continues to impact our lifestyles, has created a seller’s market unlike any we’ve seen before. If you’re thinking about selling property, read what the experts say about what you can expect. And just as COVID distancing has impacted the housing market, it has also inspired a new type of vacation. As the

number of RV enthusiasts grows at an incredible pace, creating some distance appears to be the mantra for the 2021 vacation. While some are experiencing life on the road, Stephen and Sam Hopkins are building a special destination for visitors in the wooded hills of the Shin Oak Ridge. It’s a vacation idea that is sure to draw the adventurers, as well as those just seeking space under star-filled skies and respite from big city noise. Having space to grow your own food is one of the many attractions of rural living. Meet Jennifer Harbour, who is teaching others to grow healthy gardens and building community at the same time. As more of us become vaccinated, confidence grows about the safety of participating in public events. Communities are once again welcoming visitors, and we have included an event calendar featuring special area attractions scheduled in the coming months. If you enjoy entertaining at home, consider adding an outdoor kitchen this summer, and prepare a charcuterie board for snacking. If you’re looking for a family outing, how about a drive-in movie? Enjoy springtime in Liberty Hill and celebrate with us the things that make our community special.

Shelly Wilkison, Publisher

PROUDLY CELEBRATING THE COMMUNITY OF LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS

LIBERTY HILL LIVING | A Publication of The Liberty Hill Independent Newspaper/Texas Independent News Corp. PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR | Shelly Wilkison PUBLICATION AND ADVERTISING DESIGN | Megan Sela ADVERTISING SALES | Stacy Coale CONTRIBUTING WRITERS | Mike Eddleman, Scott Akanewich, Anthony Flores, Rachel Madison

The information in this publication was compiled with great care to assure the accuracy of editorial content and advertising copy. Liberty Hill Living and its parent company assumes no liability for the accuracy of the information reported to us herein, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. For advertising rates and information, or to obtain additional copies, call (512) 778-5577 or send email to news@LHIndependent.com. The publisher appreciates the active support of Liberty Hill area businesses for their generous contributions to Liberty Hill Living. This publication is truly a collaborative effort of experienced journalists, a professional design team, advertising specialists and many others passionate about sharing the story of Liberty Hill, Texas. Find Liberty Hill Living online at www.LibertyHillLiving.com. Copyright © 2021 The Liberty Hill Independent/Texas Independent News Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.

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CONTENTS

www.LibertyHillLiving.com

12 | ROAD TRIPPIN'

There’s something for everyone in the word of RVs

26 | DEEP ROOTS

Using gardening to grow community

40 | LOW INVENTORY, HIGH DEMAND

The local housing market has seen a major shift

54 | ALL THAT’S MISSING IS YOU

An innovative hotel experience awaits in Central Texas

10 | LIVING Local

Meet Tim Dean, the voice of Panther sports

20| LIVING Live

Drive-in (To the Past)

32 | LIVING To Eat

Wow them with Charcuterie

36 | LIVING Healthy

CBD products offer a natural approach to treatment

50 | LIVING Home

Outdoor kitchens at the heart of the backyard

58 | LIVING for Fun

Explore upcoming special events

50 ABOUT OUR COVER Jennifer Harbour is eager to use her knowledge of gardening to develop stronger ties within the community. Her new Liberty Hill business, Wild Honey Gardens, offers gardening classes to those looking to grow their own vegetables. She believes gardening should be a shared experience across the community. Learn more on Page 26. PHOTO BY STACY COALE

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Q&A Tim Dean

Tim Dean bleeds Panther Purple and there's no aspect of sports – Liberty Hill or otherwise – he hasn't found himself a part of in one way or the other over the past two decades. Most notably, Dean has been the voice of Panther football on internet radio since 2007. He trades the microphone for a front row seat during basketball season to watch his son, Ty – a standout basketball player – take the court for Coach Barry Boren. But Dean's love for sports goes well beyond the typical favorites.

LHL: What is a hobby you'd spend a lot more time doing if you could? Dean: I love to curl. I grew up playing baseball, basketball and football. Now I'm a huge Astros fan and keep up with them, and I love the Texans. Curling has taken over for me. When I can watch it, I'm watching curling at its highest level with the world championships in both men's and women's. It is a hobby, I love to do it and I wish I could do it more. I do plan on traveling more to do it as well. It is definitely something out of my comfort zone compared to what I grew up with. I really enjoyed watching it, never really thinking I'd get a chance to do it. In curling there's a tradition that whoever wins the match buys the losers' drinks. That's called broom stacking, and it's really cool. Both teams sat down at a table, drank, chatted and talked.

LHL: What is it about curling that is so appealing to you? Dean: It's much harder than people think it is. A lot of people watch it 10

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on TV, and my friends say, 'I can do curling. I could practice a couple of years and be an Olympian.' It's not that easy. Until you try it you don't know. I'm a very competitive person, but I wasn't really good right off the bat, and I'm still not a great curler. It is challenging and also very social.

LHL: What other unique sports hobbies do you have? Dean: The other hobby a lot of people don't know I have is – and I don't really play it like I used to because I'm older – is Wiffle Ball. Not only do I run Wiffle Ball tournaments and leagues as part of my job, I travel and run national tournaments as well. Several years ago I was a nominee for the Wiffle Ball Hall of Fame, so I'm pretty immersed in that on the national level.

LHL: What's the most interesting, exciting place you've traveled? Dean: This ties back to curling. Last January (2020), I had the privilege to be asked to go and curl at a tournament – what curling

calls a bonspiel – at The Big Spiel in Minneapolis, Minnesota. One of the places I got to curl at was the Holy Grail of curling, which is the Chaska Curling Center, which is the Olympic team training center. I was like a kid in a candy store and as much as I like curling it was amazing. That was one of my favorite travel experiences.

LHL: What kind of food do you really like? Are you a food guy that really loves a certain food or meal? Dean: As a single dad I didn't do a lot of cooking, and I was really a big fan of burgers. At the time in Liberty Hill, the very best burger was at Hobo Depot, hands down. In its hay day it was the best. As good as Major's is now, it was better and it was an awesome experience. If anyone remembers how it used to be that was the best. I like it with cheese, and it needs to be with cheddar and not American for me because American doesn't have much of a taste. Bacon has to be added – crispy bacon and tomatoes. I do not like onions, pickles, lettuce or jalapeños.

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Road Trippin' POPULARITY OF RVS ON THE RISE 12

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etting away from it all once usually meant loading up the ol' camper and heading off into the wilderness. The days of the Winnebago rumbling down the road loaded with weekend warriors and simple, rustic living may be in the rearview mirror, but what has emerged in its place is a recreational vehicle culture – which has exploded in popularity – but offers a much more upscale experience. In fact, in 2020, the North American RV market was valued at $26.7 billion that includes 370 national chains and local dealers. One such dealer is American RV Specialists, located on SH 29 in Liberty Hill, which is owned and operated by the husband and wife duo of Scott Smith and Lisa Endicott, who have been the proprietors since 2004 and been at their current location since 2009. According to Endicott, there are a wide variety of options for an even wider range of people, whose needs differ based on each one's individual vision of what life on the road should be like – from those who simply want a vehicle to use sparingly to those who use them as a residence – and everything in between – but, there's one commonality between all of them. “It's really a family-based thing,” she said. “People can go out together and it's a lot more cost-effective than staying in a hotel.” Recreational vehicles are broken down into two different subsets, towable – known as travel trailers, fifth-wheels, folding camp trailers and truck campers – and motorhomes. Within these categories are many different kinds of RVs to choose from, ranging from 40-foot behemoths all the way down to pop-up campers, and the spectrum of prices is as broad as the difference in sizes, starting as low as $10,000 all the way up to as much as $500,000 or more. If your budget doesn't have room for an RV purchase, renting has become a more viable option than ever and with the always-growing range of amenities available, a different vehicle with varying features can be rented for each trip, which further enhances the experience.

Endicott said one of the most popular features people look for in an RV is cooking options. “People like to be able to pack up their kitchen and take it with them,” she said. “While others like the outdoor kitchens which fold out.” Endicott added people are more inclined to customize their vehicle based on what they put an emphasis on at home. If cooking is a priority, then the kitchen gets upgraded, if sleep comfort is of the utmost, the standard mattress is replaced with a more expensive variety, and if the bathroom is most important, amenities such as porcelain toilets and more roomy showers can be added. Nest technology is all the rage currently, which allows RV owners to create the same kind of “smart home” capabilities they have in their houses, ranging from thermostat control to lights to outside cameras – all of which can be controlled through a phone app with the use of Bluetooth. For people who don't need or want to invest in a more expensive, more cumbersome or drivable recreational vehicle, there's a wide variety of options on the market to suit many different needs and wants. Just like the tiny home craze has swept the land, the popularity of the tiny RV has grown in recent years. Rogers RV in Burnet, a local dealer that specializes in smaller and medium-sized trailers, has served enthusiasts far and wide for six years. Rogers has an exclusive agreement as the only dealer in south Texas that sells the nuCamp line, which features two of the most popular variations, the Tab 400 and the Tag Teardrop. The Tab 400 features many of the comforts of home, including a dinette that converts into a second sleeping area, a furnished kitchenette, a wet bath with a folddown sink and an option for solar power. A trailer of this size must be towed by a truck or an SUV and can be upgraded to feature the Nautilus Water Management System – which allows for easier wet camping, acrylic dual-pane windows, central heat and two 6-volt batteries that can provide power for up to CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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240 hours, making extended stays in the wilderness possible. For those who want to go off-road to camp, the Boondock package is the way to go, with 15-inch sport rims, off-road tires, an aluminum utility platform and a heavy-duty entry door step.

Another brand of trailers Rogers carries is the Sunset Park line, which are a bit more cost-effective than the nuCamp, but still offer many of the same features. A wide variety of floor plans exists, sleeping from three to six people. And for those who want fancier features, a comfort package is available, which features amenities such as Bluetooth with inside and outside speakers, an HDTV antenna, electric awning, furnace, quick-connect gas line, LED lighting, cable/satellite hookup and a six-cubic foot double-door refrigerator. Larger fifth-wheel trailers are more spacious and some of the larger models feature two bathrooms and two sleeping areas, as well as electric fireplaces, full-service kitchens, stainless steel sinks and an 80-inch interior height. The bottom line is there's something for everyone in the world of RVs, whether one chooses to traverse the continent in search of natural wonders, set up shop in the infield of a stock car race or simply vacation away from the rigors and stressors of everyday life. Most of all, having a home on wheels provides one with the option of picking up and changing locations at the drop of a hat – for whatever reason. “If you don't like your neighbors,” said Smith. “You can just move somewhere else.” - Story by Scott Akanewich / Courtesy Photos

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Nostalgic opportunities await those willing to work

hen Cressie Allen purchased her latest project -- a Mallard camper -- the situation was dire. Undeterred by the uphill climb, she rolled up her sleeves and began a complete overhaul. “It was blood, sweat and tears,” said Allen. “When I realized the ceiling and walls were rotten, I had my handyman come to assess it in case I had to hire him for that part. He told me it was beyond repair and to cut my loss and move on. That just fueled my fire. I demolished then rebuilt the studs, put in insulation and new walls and ceilings.” Today’s options for a luxury

experience with travel trailers and recreational vehicles are plentiful but can be costly. To save some money and still get the luxury experience of high-end camping, some are turning to refurbishing campers. Allen has remodeled four. “Of course, I do some research and try and get lots of ideas and try to figure out what works best,” said Allen. “That’s pretty much what I did with RVs that I’ve worked on. That is step one. Find the ideas.” Her first renovation was a 14-foot travel trailer that she drove from Lampasas to Katy to pick up. Allen found it on a Facebook buy and sell page. Her gamble paid off when it turned out to be in excellent shape and needed minimal repairs. Allen suggests finding a camper that is structurally sound. She says buyers need to be thorough in their inspections of potential projects before purchase. “You want to look for a sign of soft spots on the floor, any water stains around the ceiling. Take time looking at campers. You also want the ability to have it plugged in when looking so you can see if everything is working,” said Allen. “Tires are vital. The longer they sit and the less they’re taken out, the faster they deteriorate. Find one with a slide-out. It helps give you a lot of extra room, especially if you have a family. I was lucky with my first. It was structurally sound, and it only needed a light renovation.” For her first project, Allen only needed to apply new wallpaper, add some fresh coats of paint on cabinets, and place new floor tiles. With a travel trailer, the issue of weight distribution is critical.

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Allen stresses that people need to take that into account when deciding on renovation methods. “I had to think about the weight,” she said. “There are some materials that I would have used in my house that I wouldn’t necessarily use in a camper because you have to tow it. You don’t want to weigh it down more than it already is. For my first, I started with painting everything. It adds no weight.” To give the exterior of her Mallard a fresh look, Allen applied three colors of paint. For the interior, she offered a few affordable quick fixes. “Painting the cabinets and the walls can make a big difference. It’s the least expensive way to make the most dramatic difference,” she said. “Peel and stick vinyl flooring is very inexpensive, and you can easily use them. They're affordable, pretty, and sustainable. You can also do peel and stick wallpaper as well. These items make a huge difference.” Allen adds personal touches to the interiors with her Cricut machine, adding patterns or positive phrases around the camper. The veteran renovator shops markets for more unique items to enhance her interiors.

“First, I figure out the palette for my camper. I try to add things that I might find at flea markets or small local places that I know have unique things that are affordable that I can repurpose. In one of my campers, I had some old décor from McGill’s in Bertram. If I can find something that adds a twist to the décor, I try to add those kinds of things.” To create a high-end or more polished look for a camper, Allen believes it’s a combination of small-scale CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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renovations that create the highend look. “For me, if I’m redoing one and I want to make it updated and have it look nice, I’m going to pay attention to what flooring I choose,” she said. “You want it to be practical and have good wear, but it can still be pretty. I use smart tile, and it looks like real tile. Focus on normal things like the countertops, adding textures to the wall, and light fixtures. Add curtains, too. All those things add up to make a bigger impact.” Allen hasn’t renovated for others but has sold some of her campers. She says the prices vary because of multiple factors, such as the number of axles or a vintage look. Prices can get as high as $15,000. Campers with a vintage look tend to be more popular with buyers. “I think it’s nostalgia. Older

models, vintage models have character. They have a charm that newer campers don’t have,” she said. “It’s very Americana to be pulling a little Shasta with the wings on the side. It’s a feelgood thing.” Allen enjoys the refurbishing process, but for her, the real treat is being part of the camping community. “I’ve done a Christmas camping trip with my friends, and we all had a good time decorating the outside of the camper,” said Allen. “It’s just fun to build on holidays and themes. It’s an easy way to converse with other campers at campgrounds. When you have it decorated, they almost always come around to start chatting.” - Story by Anthony Flores Courtesy Photos

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“We worked with Deborah DeBona to sell my mother’s house and she was just excellent. I’ve never had a realtor do so much ‘extra’ as Deborah did. She is an amazing stager and followed through on everything she said she was going to do in a prompt manner. Very efficient, organized and professional. I will definitely use Deborah again for future real estate transactions. When she said at the beginning that she would be there every step of the way, she wasn’t kidding. She has becomea lifelong friend to the family. Thank you so very much, Deborah! – Michele Hammer

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LIVING | LIVE

DRIVE-IN (TO THE PAST) Nostalgic movie options making a comeback

en Anderson fondly remembers loading up into the family station wagon for a night at the local drive-in in Kent, Ohio. Anderson doesn’t remember the movies she saw specifically, but what she does remember is staying up late and laying down in the far-back of the station wagon, defying her parents and sneaking to watch the second movie in the double feature instead of sleeping. Today the Liberty Hill resident

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takes her son to the drive-in she grew up visiting when they travel to her hometown to see movies like "The Incredibles". “I may have taken him to see the live action 'Lion King',” said Anderson. “I’m not really sure, because the movie didn’t matter as much as the experience does.” The drive-in is a unique movie experience that is making a comeback across the country. A staple of the

50s, 60s, and 70s, drive-ins fell off in popularity starting in the 80s, but that is changing. Josh Frank has been the owner and operator of the Blue Starlight Urban Drive-In Theater in Austin and Round Rock for a decade. He says the experience of the drive-in is a communal one, unique to the outdoor experience. “I think 50 percent of the focus is on the movie itself, but the other 50

LIVING | LIVE percent is actually around the movie,” said Frank. “From the pre-show to the post-show. It’s how we greet our customers and the vibe of the scenery. It’s offering people the ability to converse in their cars about the movie. To me, the movie is like the art in a frame that’s in the museum. We focus just as much on the frame and the museum as we do the art.” Part of the appeal for many drivein attendees, especially at the Blue Starlight, is the movie selection. The Blue Starlight and many other driveins offer the opportunity to see classic films rarely shown in theaters. “This is an incredible way to have a whole different movie experience,” said Frank. “When you show classic movies, the drive-in gives them a chance to experience that in a way they never have before. It’s like seeing that movie again for the first time. That’s the thing that I think keeps us in business. The audience is there for us to give them a whole new experience to their favorite movies.” Selecting classic movies is like curating a museum. “There are seven or eight movies that are guaranteed to sell tickets, but we don’t want to put the same ones up every month,” said Frank. “It’s about finding classics that we can give new meaning to by placing them at certain times of the year.” "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off", "The Princess Bride", "The Goonies", and "Dazed and Confused", are some of the popular classics Frank says always find their way onto the Blue

Starlight’s marquee. Concessions at a drive-in are often the same as a traditional theater. Easily, the difference about the drive-in experience is the outdoors aspect. It isn’t strange to see some drive-in attendees show up with a small barbecue pit, grill, or snacks from home. The drive-in is very much geared toward the family experience, some provide play areas for kids. “In 2018, we went with my good friend, Amanda, and her three girls,” said Anderson. “We piled all the kids in her van and brought a ton of candy and popcorn and glow sticks. There’s a playground there at the drive in, right in front of the screen and we got there early so the kids could play. My son fell asleep at some point while eating a blue ring pop, and the next

morning he woke up with his lips still dyed blue-black and with crazy hair.” With a resurgence in popularity over last year, Frank believes that people’s patterns of going out are changing. He thinks drive-ins must shift with them “There is new importance to driveins. I think the future is bringing about a new need for entertainment,” he said. “People are going to be more selective in what they choose to go out and see. I think the drive-in is going to be a place for hybrid entertainment. If people are going to come out for a night, let's give them more than just the movie. Let’s give them comedy with the movie, maybe some music. Let’s try and get performers to record shows before the movie. People deserve a deeper experience.”

~ Story by Anthony Flores

LOCAL AREA DRIVE-INS • Blue Starlight Mini Urban Drive-in Cinema 800 Harrell Pkwy, Round Rock • Blue Starlight Mini Urban Drive-in Cinema 2015 E M. Franklin Ave., Austin • Blue Starlight Mini Urban Drive-in Cinema Rooftop 300 San Antonio St., Austin • The Globe Drive-in Theater 8017 Cele Road, Manor • The Last Drive-in Picture Show 2912 S. Hwy 36 Bypass, Gatesville

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L I B E RT Y H I L L L I V I N G | A PR I L 2 0 2 1 14362 W. Hwy 29, Suite 101 • Liberty Hill • 512-548-5040

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Buyers are my specialty and Liberty Hill is home! Vanessa Nunez, GRI The V-Group | Realtor® 512.750.5716 vanessa.nunez@exprealty.com aus.exprealty.com

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Deep Roots

USING GARDENING TO GROW COMMUNIT Y

any things can tie a community together, but Jennifer Harbour believes the strongest ties develop from the deepest roots. And with her own roots well established in Liberty Hill, she is eager to use her knowledge to do the same for others and help the local love of gardening bloom. There's a lifetime of curiosity behind Harbour's new business, Wild Honey Gardens, and a decade of experience through the Williamson County Master Gardener Program, but what truly fuels the nearly year-old endeavor is the chance to share and be included in a new gardener's success. “I love a Facebook or Instagram message where someone shares that with me,” Harbour said. “One of my favorites was a picture of someone's backyard and their entire yard was a big watermelon patch. Everyone in the family was excited they had these homegrown, sun-warmed watermelons to share. I get messages like that all the time from people.” Harbour has been helping others and teaching classes for a number of years, so the business was the next logical step. “I've taught dozens and dozens of classes in the community, had people into my garden to do classes,” she said. “I've been doing that for years and I thought I really just want to make this my business.” But there was a time she was the one just dreaming of a garden. “I've always wanted to garden,” she said. “You know, when your kids are little you want to have a garden with them, planting your carrots and tomatoes, but it was very small like a fun family activity for us.” Later on, as time became available, and a move from Houston to Liberty Hill opened up more space, Harbour decided to finally take the plunge, getting involved in the Master Gardener program. “I learned so much, and worked alongside people who knew so much,” she said. “They gave me so much confidence.” The confidence wasn't simply about how to grow vegetables. It CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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The harvest is the ultimate goal, but the stories, the lessons and the friendships cultivated along the way make every harvest a success.

Through her new business, Wild Honey Gardens, Jennifer Harbour is teaching others how to grow a successful garden while inspiring a sense of community. L I B E RT Y H I L L L I V I N G | A PR I L 2 0 2 1 27

The most popular vegetables to grow by season SPRING: Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Beans SUMMER: Corn, Eggplant, Okra, Summer Squash FALL: Beets, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage WINTER: Lettuce, Radish, Spinach, Asparagus

How To Start A Vegetable Garden:

Plant vegetables your family will eat and choose a location for your garden that gets about eight hours of sun every day. Jennifer Harbour has turned her garden of raised vegetable beds into a magical place.

1. Location, location, location. Pick a spot in the yard or on the porch that gets about eight hours of sun. 2. Decide on a raised bed, pots and containers, or dig up an area in the yard. 3. Add nutrients to the soil by adding a good quality compost. 4. Decide what to plant, and plant what you'll eat. Either buy transplants from a nursery or start them from seed. 5. Water in vegetables, and make sure to continue to water them regularly throughout their growing season. 6. Harvest and enjoy.

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was a confidence to step out into the unknown. “The confidence is the confidence to fail,” she said. “Even master gardeners who have been gardening their whole life fail at things. I realized it's not necessarily me and it gave me confidence to grow new things. “My favorite things to share are my failures, because I can plant tomatoes one year and gets hundreds of pounds and run out of friends to give them to. I can plant it the exact same way the next year and not get that amount because of soil, pests, mother nature, family, things that happen in life. Just because you do it right every single season it is really not up to you. Mother nature is still in charge.” The harvest is the ultimate goal, but the stories, the lessons and the friendships cultivated along the

way make every harvest a success. She always circles back to a sense of community. Her own garden is an inviting collection of raised beds filled with the early Spring green promise of all kinds of vegetables — some that make it to her family's table, others that don't. “The sugar snap peas never make it inside,” she said, laughing. “I have never brought a sugar snap pea inside because that is a snack, the grape tomatoes are a snack. I didn't know how much I love a raw bell pepper. They're juicy enough to drip down your chin.” But there is plenty of harvest that feeds her family many of their favorites year round, from tomatoes and carrots, to potatoes and herbs of all kinds. “In the summer, I can't think of any produce I buy, except for the fruit,”

Harbour said. “I know I have better at home. We can make the freshest tasting food that store bought just can't match.” Even with her vast experience, there is the occasional new surprise addition, like when she first began growing potatoes. Harbour no longer purchases potatoes. “I love that I can take a potato, bury it six inches underground and a few months later that one potato is now 20 potatoes,” she said. “To me that is magical.” The difference in home-grown and store-bought vegetables is night and day to Harbour, and begins with the juiciness many lack by the time they are consumed. “I can take a potato and cut it and you can see the juice dripping out of it,” she said. “We think of a potato as a dry vegetable, but when you grow it at home it is full of flavor and juice.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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Jennifer Harbour grows vegetables in raised beds in her Liberty Hill garden. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

Diving In

There are a number of myths about home gardening that Harbour said hopefuls must escape to finally take the plunge and grow something. The first is a lack of space. “If you live in an apartment and you have a sunny balcony, get a 20-inch pot and you can have a beautiful tomato plant and you can have pounds and pounds of tomatoes from that one plant,” she said. “It can be as simple as that or you can be tilling rows in your back yard. Any vegetable you grow, the max you need is 18 inches. A tomato needs about 18 inches, everything else needs about 12 inches.” Herbs and strawberries are ideal patio garden items, and Harbour said herbs are always a good choice for any garden space. “Everyone can grow something,” she said. “Herbs are essentially weeds, and they just grew naturally for our forefathers in some areas of the country. So your best return on investment is herbs and they're so easy. The way people kill herbs is by

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over tending them. They really just want to be ignored.” The myth of a small planting window is a notion Harbour is always having to dispel. “We're really lucky here in Williamson County because we can grow vegetables 365 days a year,” she said. “There's never a time when your garden needs to be empty. Even through the polar vortex my potatoes, my carrots, my peas, my garlic, onion, celery and cilantro all were totally fine. In the heat of the summer we're eating tomatoes and basil and those things, and in the winter we're eating lettuce and spinach and all of those things.” The hardest part might be deciding what to plant. “Grow what you'll eat,” she said. “If you won't eat eggplant, don't grow eggplant. Then grow what you're willing to share with your family and your neighbors.” Location is also important, but not always for the reason people think. “The first thing you have to do when you want to plant your garden is track your sun,” she said. “You want eight to 12 hours of sun, so if the sunny part of

your yard is all rocks, just put a raised bed on top of those rocks.” When it comes to watering, the goal is to water the roots, and not every day. “You definitely do not need to water every morning,” she said. “There is nothing in the garden you need to water daily even through the 100-degree days. The most I water is three times per week, and the key is to water deep.” Regardless of where people plant and what they grow, Harbour insists that gardening can and should be a shared experience across the community, maybe with community gardens or local gardens for area restaurants to harvest from. The motivation is simple – homegrown goodness, mixed with a homegrown sense of community, to create a bounty for all. “I think gardens bring a community together and even if you don't have a community garden, but maybe a neighborhood garden, it's an instant connection with a neighbor or an instant conversation starter.” ~ Story by Mike Eddleman Photos by Stacy Coale, Jennifer Harbour

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LIVING | TO EAT

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Simple tips to wow with your charcuterie Using charcuterie boards as a focal point for decoration, conversation and snacking at parties has never been more popular, and with a few tips and tricks, you can impress your guests with a delightful board of your own that can be the centerpiece of any event.

With a wide variety of cheeses, the choices for what you want on a charcuterie board are vast. It comes down to personal preference for flavor and appearance. “Typically, I always place cheese on a board first,” said Board Me owner Trisha Zeimetz. “When I look at cheese, it has so many different colors to it that I have to focus on it. When I put it on the board and display around the cheese, my colors work together beautifully.” CHEESE • One Year Old Aged Cheddar • One Year Old White Cheddar Cheese • Apricot English White Cheddar Cheese • Aged Rosemary Asiago Cheese • Soft Smoked Gouda • Mini Bite Brie Cheese • Mini fresh Mozzarella balls • Garlic Herb Goat Cheese • Cream Cheese

The word charcuterie means, a delicatessen specializing in dressed meats and meat dishes. The main event for most charcuterie boards is the meat. MEATS • Prosciutto • Genoa Salami • Sopressatta • Rosetta Peppered Salami

Crackers and breadsticks work to bring together the cheeses, meats, fruits and other items on the board. The type of cracker or breadstick comes down to preference. Nuts also serve as palate cleansers and add texture to each bite. CRACKERS & NUTS • Soft Rosemary Crackers • Ancient Grains Crackers • Breadsticks • Almonds

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LIVING | TO EAT Vegetables on a charcuterie board are somewhat controversial. Zeimetz enjoys having them on her boards to serve a specific purpose. “A lot of people don’t care for vegetables on their boards ,but I do because it serves as a good palate cleanser,” said Zeimetz. Herbs play multiple roles on a board stimulating sight, smell and taste. VEGETABLES • Carrot sticks • Sweet Plum Tomato (red and yellow) in a deli vinigarette • English Cucumber • Baby Dill pickles (considered both a vegetable and fruit) • Basil • Rosemary

The importance of fruit can’t be understated. The contrast of the sweetness of the fruits, the savory flavor of the meat and the saltiness of the cheese work together to attack the taste buds. Fruit also works to cleanse the palate. FRUIT • White Grapes • Red Grapes • Strawberries • Blackberries • Sicilian Olives • Large Pimento Olives • Dried Apricots • Red Anjou Pear

Spreads can serve as a key flavor enhancer for many of the items on the board. Jams, mustards and even roasted bruschetta are good options. SPREADS • Fig preserve spread • Honey to drizzle

Trisha Zeimetz is the owner of Board Me, a Bertram-based business specializing in creating custom charcuterie boards for any occasion. She can be reached at (512) 525-1670.

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LIVING | HEALTHY

A NATURAL APPROACH Local pharmacy adds CBD products

hitney Brace, owner and compounding pharmacist at Liberty Hill Pharmacy & Compounding Center, is a big believer in modern medicine. She’s also a big believer in more natural options wherever possible. That’s why she recently added a line of locally made CBD products to her offerings at the pharmacy. “CBD products go hand-in-hand with my overall philosophy as a pharmacist,” she said. “Prescription medications are there, and they have a use, but some people can get to their treatment goals without them, and that’s where CBD comes in.” CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound from the cannabid sativa plant, also known as hemp. It is not a psychoactive

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substance like its cousin, THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the main ingredient in marijuana. “I’ve learned more and more about CBD as a natural option in place for pharmaceuticals or in addition to,” Brace said. “It’s really good therapy, and I have seen several patients able to lower their doses or completely get off prescription medicines. They can use these products without worrying about failing a drug test, because I chose a product line that does third party independent drug testing and the products do not contain any THC.” The product line Brace offers, called First Responder Fuel, is owned locally by retired Austin firefighter Lee Vernon. The products include oils, topical balms, capsules, gummies and even coffee. Vernon created the

supplements after seeing the effects first responder jobs can have on people’s minds, bodies and overall health. Vernon said taking traditional pharmaceuticals for most ailments can be a slippery slope, because it leads to having to take other medications to counter the effects of the original medication, or as the body adapts to a certain medication, it starts to need more and more to get the same results. “It just leads to more problems and never addresses the underlying root cause of your issues,” he added. “I’m not saying there’s not a place for traditional medications, but in today’s world we are vastly overmedicated.” The main reasons people are coming to Brace for CBD products are

LIVING | HEALTHY

HOW DOES CBD WORK?

CBD works directly with the human body’s endocannabinoid system. CBD intercepts both the CB1 and CB2 receptors. One controls brain function and emotional state, while the other controls muscles, the immune system, and works to put the body in a state of homeostasis. The oil can be dropped under the tongue and will absorb sublingually, so it goes into the bloodstream quickly.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

CBD products come in three different forms—isolate, broad spectrum and full spectrum. Isolate is pure CBD and is the lowest quality form. Next is broad spectrum, which takes everything from the plant but the THC. Full spectrum includes everything from the plant, including the legal amounts of THC. Every CBD product should have a QR code on its label that will pull up third-party independent drug test information that solidifies if the product has THC or not.

for pain, anxiety and sleep issues, she said. “For people whose pain is chronic, we have a pretty good amount of topicals they can put on their injury, or they can put the oil under their tongue,” she said. “I have seen several people be able to reduce their pain medications or go off them completely. When it comes to anxiety and sleep, I have seen several patients be able to reduce the sleeping pills they take and have less anxiety and panic attacks, which has been huge during COVID. It’s all really good therapy to add to mainstream medicine and in some cases its perfectly effective by itself.” Brace said a dose that works for one person might be too much for someone else, so using the products effectively does take some trial and error. Pricing for the products at her pharmacy start at $12.95. “CBD products may have started as a trend, but there’s been enough

real information behind it that it is here to stay,” Brace added. “We are finding more and more legitimate uses for it each day, and it’s very likely it will stay because of that.” Brace warned that nearly every convenience store sells some type of CBD product, but not all of them are quality products or contain the ingredients they claim. “The quality will impact the effectiveness,” she said. “You want to make sure any CBD products you are getting come from a reputable company.” Vernon said First Responder Fuel is unique because the company has partnered with a top manufacturer in the U.S. that doesn’t allow any THC in the product, not even the legal amount in Texas of 0.3 THC, and his products are all third party independently tested. The hemp used in his products is sourced in the U.S. and grown organically. ~ Story By Rachel Madison

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Low inventory, high demand The local housing market has seen a major shift in recent months

nventory on homes for sale is low, bidding wars have ensued between buyers scrambling to present the best offer, and sellers are making far more money than what their home is worth. This new reality can be attributed to several reasons, from the number of new businesses headquartering in the Austin area to shifting trends caused by COVID-19. Shane White, owner and broker at RE/MAX Town & Country, said while COVID-19 did initially slow the market, that didn’t last long. “You would assume with COVID that the market would have done the opposite of what it’s doing, but I think it caused this pent-up buyer demand,” White said. “As soon as things opened back up buyers flooded the market and at the same time sellers weren’t super excited to sell and have a bunch of people going through their houses. That pushed our 2020 spring market into summer and fall, and then the inventory has just been depleted since then.” Amy Gandy, a local real estate agent with Realty Austin, said currently within the Liberty Hill Independent School district, there are approximately 16 homes on the market. Normally, there are anywhere from 260 to 290 homes available, she added. “What we’re seeing is very low inventory and very high demand,” she

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said. “The more high-tech companies bringing their headquarters to Austin brings a significant number of employees here. We don’t have the housing to put them in.” Gandy added that apartment complexes are all but full, and while new homes are being built, they can’t be built fast enough to meet the demand. “COVID stopped a lot of manufacturing, which slowed down the building process as well, causing a bottleneck,” she said. White said a lot of subdivisions in the Liberty Hill area, like Santa Rita Ranch and Rancho Sienna, have waiting lists because the ability to build homes has slowed drastically. “A lot of builders won’t even write contracts because they are so far out, so as your name comes up they’ll call and let you know what today’s price is and if you want to buy, you have to get in and sign your contract,” he said. “The demand is too much for them to keep up with, plus pricing of building materials went through the roof last year. Lumber prices went up 50 percent, which means some builders can’t contract a buyer because they don’t know what the cost of materials will be two or three months down the road.” In a normal market, there is a four-to-six-month supply of inventory, White said. Right now, there is a .4-month supply of inventory, or

about 12 days. “This time last year we had about a 3.5 to four-month supply,” he added. “That shows you how light the inventory is and how high the demand is. Until we get more inventory to come on the market, those numbers will continue to stay that low. It’s mind boggling. I’ve never seen anything like it.” The numbers are up in median home price by about 5 percent. However, with so many new home developments in Liberty Hill, when a builder releases a slew of inventory in a price range, it can show a negative percentage in median home prices, White said. “I like to look at average sale prices for that reason,” he added. “From February 2020 to February 2021, sales prices are up 10.4 percent. Most of that increase would have happened in the last four months. We have upwards of 10 to 20 offers on every home, and the winning price can be anywhere from 10 to 30 percent over the list price. Prices are going to move up quickly until we get more supply on the market to slow that down.” Gandy said because there are so few properties available in the Liberty Hill area, finding a home for under $300,000 is nearly impossible. “Prices have gone up, and builders are sold out,” she said. “There are no lots available. Lots themselves are getting multiple offers. For example,

Additional Homes by 2030 These area neighborhoods have big plans this decade

Santa Rita Ranch 3,305 the waiting list for Clearwater Ranch goes into 2022.” Gandy said she’s seeing offers anywhere from 12 to 20 percent over asking price as the norm on a singlefamily home, while condominiums are seeing offers 10 to 12 percent over asking price. “That’s happening in the entire Austin area, and it causes appraisal deficiencies,” she said. “A house won’t appraise for what people are bidding on them, so that difference has to be made up in cash. It’s not uncommon to see 30 to 40 offers on a home, so as agents we’re having to keep spreadsheets so we can advise clients on which offer is the best. It’s a tedious process of guiding them in the right direction because people are willing to pay higher prices and there are plenty out there with cash. Some people are even choosing to waive appraisals, or are waiving the option period to back out, or are paying for fees that sellers would normally pay, just so they can win.” White said a lot of agents are hopeful that when 2021’s spring market hits its full stride this month, traditional home sellers will come on the market and relieve some of the pent-up demand. “This is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been selling in Liberty Hill for 21 years,” he said. “The low inventory is frustrating even for agents because I can guide a seller

on where pricing should be, but in reality, it’s all a guess, and some sellers might try to take advantage of the market. But even if homes are priced where the market shows they should be, we’re still seeing offers $50,000 over asking price or $100,000 over asking price in certain price ranges.” Dax Oglesby, a real estate agent with San Gabriel Realty, said it’s practically impossible to keep a listing for more than a day because of how quickly inventory is getting bought up. “If you put a home out there prior to actually listing it and say it’s coming soon, you’ll have offers before it even hits the market,” he said. “People will offer cash for the full price because they want to keep it from going live. If your home does go live, you can expect multiple offers.” Oglesby believes this new trend could change the market for the long term. “What is this doing to our market?” he said. “These buyers, are they going to get anything out of the house in the end? They may have the money now, but is that value going to be there a few years from now when they are ready to sell? I’m not sure if the appraised value will continue to go up.” Before now, sellers were often

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encouraged to invest in modernizing or updating some parts of their property before putting it up for sale to increase the value and possible sale price. That’s not always the case anymore, White said. “If your home is in the $500,000 or higher range, you do want the property to show well, but if your home is $350,000 or less, it’s really not going to matter,” he said. “Buyers are willing to take properties in their current conditions. Your home should still be clean and may still need to get staged to help it show well, but it’s not necessary to spend money to improve it.” Gandy agreed and said improvements before selling isn’t necessary anymore. “If it’s not a new construction home, buyers want to do the updating themselves so they can choose what they want,” she said. “What increases the value if someone wanted to put something in before they sell, would

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be an outdoor space. Since COVID happened, people want outdoor patios. That’s one of the places we’re encouraging people to spend some money.” Gandy warns that eventually, when all the latest data gets into the MLS system, the values of everyone’s properties will go up whether they are selling or not, which in turn will increase property taxes. White expects that once the Austin area gets back into a more “normal market” with a two to three-month supply of inventory—currently the market is at a 20-day supply—that home prices will level off. Until then, he predicts they’ll continue to appreciate. White said it’s a great time to sell with the fact that sellers will likely get more than their home is worth, but if they are going to stay in the area, there won’t be any homes for them to buy. “It’s a catch-22,” he said. “If you’re going to move out of the area, it’s a great time to sell, but if you’re wanting to stay in the area and upsize or downsize, it’s a real challenge.” Oglesby added that sellers can’t compete as buyers if they don’t have a cash offer to bring to the table, so they are scared to move because they may not be able to afford to buy a new home. “That’s another reason why inventory is so low,” he said. “The market is overpriced, so people who

wanted to sell can’t because they can’t afford to buy.” Oglesby said COVID-19 has played a huge role in real estate over the last year, by pushing a lot of people out of bigger cities. “People are moving from California and New York, and they’ve got big money,” he said. “They sell their properties for way more than our properties are here, so when they get here, they think they’re getting a steal. COVID is pushing people out of the big cities, especially now that they are working from home so much more, so they are coming out to the suburbs to get bigger homes and more space.” Gandy said Liberty Hill residents will continue to see an influx of people coming to the area because the prices aren’t as high as they are in surrounding cities. In addition, there is more land in the area, which people seem to be more interested in due to COVID-19. “With people working from home and schooling from home, it’s making people reevaluate what they want,” Gandy added. “They aren’t tied to a commute or specific school, so it’s opening their eyes to other opportunities and they’re looking for land. My land selling business has taken off over the last year, because people are moving from town and with the same budget, moving farther out and having more space.” ~ Story by Rachel Madison Courtesy Photos

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LIBERTY HILL

P R O U D LY C E L E B R AT I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y O F L I B E R T Y H I L L , T E X A S

Preserving the Past A nostalgic look at days gone by amidst a rush toward the future

More Liberty Hill Living to Love in 2021!

Did you miss advertising in this issue? With five issues publishing in 2021, you have three more opportunities to reach 8,800+ homes in Liberty Hill by mail in June, October and November. Packed with more in depth articles, professional photography and regular features on local businesses, cooking, home and garden, travel, history and entertainment – each issue holds something for everyone!

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Join us for a FREE Family-Friendly Smile event

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lots of fun for family members of all ages- everything is FREE!!

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LIVING | AT HOME

OUTDOOR KITCHENS The Heart of the Backyard

t’s often said the heart of the home is the kitchen, and that mantra is quickly becoming true for outdoor spaces as more homeowners are building outdoor kitchens. From a seamless connection to the rest of the home to plenty of functionality, outdoor kitchens are becoming more popular as people prefer more and more to get outside, stay outside and

have all the comforts they might have indoors. Nancy Burris, owner of Georgetown Fence & Deck, said before building an outdoor kitchen, it’s important to think about how you will use the space, who will be using the space, how often it will be used, and its connectivity to the indoors and other outdoor spaces, such as a firepit or swimming pool.

“However you would use an indoor kitchen is how you will probably use an outdoor kitchen,” she added. “Think of all those considerations. For example, lighting is important. In Texas, we have temperate conditions most of the year, but if you forget lighting, the kitchen won’t function for you during those winter months when it’s dark early.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

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LIVING | AT HOME CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50

The biggest trend in outdoor kitchens is having a covered space, Burris said. “You might just have a concrete patio with a roof and ceiling fan, but that’s a great starting point because we’re in Texas. You have to have your outdoor kitchen covered. It doesn’t matter how beautiful it is, you won’t want to be out there if it’s not covered.” Popular appliances for outdoor kitchens include refrigerators, barbecue grills and pizza ovens. “When it comes to appliances for outdoor kitchens, you can spend a few hundred dollars or you can spend thousands and thousands,” Burris said. “Pizza ovens are exploding in popularity right now, and they come in a huge range of cost points. Grills also come with a range of options and price points. Think about what you want to add around your grill—warming drawers, stainless steel cabinets to hold tools, a sink. Fridges are popular, but you don’t have to do just a fridge. You can get a wine fridge or a kegerator with a keg dispenser. You can do a whole outdoor bar station with a garbage disposal, drop-in cooler and margarita machine. There’s a whole gamut of things you can do when it

comes to appliances.” Another popular trend comes in the design of the outdoor kitchen, Burris said, and it’s all about bright, bold colors. “Make choices outside that you were afraid to do inside,” she said. “Have fun with your outdoor kitchen. Get the red grill, get a fun-colored countertop or go for the decorative sink. Where you’re spending the most money is not where you have to take the most chances. It can even be the furniture and accessories that are bold.” Prices for outdoor kitchens have a wide range, Burris said, based on the existing framework your backyard already has, and what you’re looking to include in your kitchen. The average range on outdoor kitchens is $5,000 to $25,000, Burris added. In your overall budget, you need to consider the cost of appliances, labor and other materials needed to build the kitchen. “Overall, I would start the process from either the bottom up or the top down—flooring, appliances, countertops,” Burris said. “Just take that first step and go from there.” ~ Story By Rachel Madison | Courtesy Photos

• Invest in a cover for your outdoor kitchen. Not only will it keep you out of the elements, but it will also extend the life of your appliances. • Don’t forget about outdoor televisions. Will your outdoor space be used to host friends for sporting events or family movie night? • Think about the amount of counter space you will need. Many people regret not having enough work space. • Choose your own appliances to control that part of your budget. • Be sure your general contractor is knowledgeable when it comes to subcontractors, like plumbers and electricians. Bring them in on the project bid so you aren’t surprised by their bill at the end of the project.

AREA OUTDOOR KITCHEN BUILDERS Georgetown Fence & Deck georgetownfenceanddeck.com (512) 948-7539 Anderson Landscapes andersonlandscape.com (512) 577-2345 GHM Masonry & Stone ghmmasonry.com (512) 819-0202 B&B Landscaping & Masonry txlandscapingmasonry.com (512) 635-7701 Stone Deck stonedecktexas.com (512) 863-0057 52

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* With purchase of 3 night stay. Discount subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offers. Lodging discount applies to first time lodging clients only and is valid for any lodging accommodation selected. Code: LHL21 expires 12/31/21

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L I B E RT Y H I L L L I V I N G | A PR I L 2 0 2 1

ucked away in the Hill Country, somewhere between Liberty Hill and Neverland, is 100 acres of intrigue, personalized with a dash of unique style where two traveled souls have poured their life of adventure into a new kind of escape. It is a place of beauty and quiet, where treasure maps and scavenger hunts remind visitors to look for what's missing or uncover a new love. The Missing Hotel is anything but, promising a wealth of opportunities different than any other escape Central Texans might seek. Proprietors Stephen and Sam are adventure seekers, and when they decided to put down roots on a beautiful stretch of Central Texas and turn it into a travel destination they were determined to translate as many of their own feelings and emotions about the fun of new experiences into their project. It is what they believe is the real translation of finding happiness. “Excitement is really the better term than happiness,” Stephen said. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple spent a

L I B E RT Y H I L L L I V I N G | A P R I L 2 0 2 1

year globe hopping, visiting 50 countries and soaking in the culture and color of places far and wide to a depth not typically experienced by most travelers. “We just love that kind of new experience and getting engrained into the local culture and community. We went to be immersed in the culture and to really get an idea how people live,” Sam said. “We would get in the neighborhood, we'd get to know the people and then we started staying at some more unique sites. We realized it was making the experience much richer.” On the last stop on their worldwide adventure is where the map for this new venture began to take shape, in what Sam said was more than 90 pages of notes and brainstorming about how to make a destination more of an experience. “We're trying to create an experiential place where people can stay and make it as different as possible,” she said. If the couple that recognizes all that travel and adventure has to offer can share just a piece of the experience they have enjoyed, it will all be worth it. “This is something we've talked about to some degree for

10 years,” Stephen said. “The goal is not to make money, that's part of it to fund the project, but this is a passion project, it's not just throwing some units up and having accommodations. What Sam and I want to do is take elements of what we've experienced through our travels and provide those to people and really drive toward this goal to get people out of their norm, out in nature and working on themselves.”

THE ADVENTURE

The mystery is no accident. Stephen and Sam believe the adventure is in the unknown, tucked away in the surprise of it all. Think of it as a gift-wrapped vacation. Once dates are booked, the unwrapping begins. “We want to leave some mystique to it,” Stephen said. “Then let people come and go, 'Wow, this was beyond all our expectations'.” The plan is for visitors to even have to find their way through clues on a local area scavenger hunt. “We'd like there to be an interaction between the guest and the local businesses, so we want to create this scavenger hunt element to find the property” he said. “We want to get people to the place, we want to have fun with this scavenger hunt element and we love the authenticity of the local small businesses in Liberty Hill.” It is of course not a complete mystery, and Stephen said the search is not to be complicated. “We're telling them it's in the Texas Hill Country and 45

minutes from downtown Austin, giving them some general parameters so they know they aren't being sent out to West Texas and they're a little more comfortable,” Stephen said. “We're going to try it out to begin with and see how it goes.” Throughout a guest's stay, the hope is they will explore the property, and get lost in new interests or random, adventurous fun. The option is there to lounge around and soak in the view, or even connect to the world, though the latter is discouraged in favor of something more simple. Another scavenger hunt perhaps? “We will hide a Yeti full of beer every weekend and we'll give a set of clues and whoever finds it keeps the Yeti and the beer,” Stephen said as one example. Sam added that efforts will be made to tailor experiences to interests, even perhaps those guests never knew they had, by asking a series of questions before arrival to gain some insight on what might add that bit of extra enjoyment. “Let's say you've always been interested in woodworking or motorcycles,” Sam said. “We want to try to have something on the property for them to access, whether it be something as simple as a book or even a woodworking shop. This gives you the opportunity in the time you're there to spark that interest in something you've never taken the time for before.” All of this desire to connect guests with a special experience or to create a unique memory stems from their own memory-making journeys. “When we've gone traveling and someone has gone out of their way to make something a surprise or provides something we weren't expecting it changed our whole perception of that place and how we felt when we left and those are the places we remember the most,” Sam said. “Our two biggest goals are to create spontaneity because I feel like a lot of people don't have that in their life, and when you experience it, it is really magical and fun.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 56

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The property for the Missing Hotel spans more than 100 acres of mysterious Texas Hill Country. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55

THE HOTEL

The 10 current accommodations on the 100-acre property sit along a ridge, offering spectacular views for miles. “Each unit sits on a ridge line that spans about a milelong area snaking through the property,” he said. “Each unit has a dip pool for cooling off set into a raised deck which hangs off over the cliff so you really feel like you're in the trees.” To open this summer, there will be three dome structures, three villas – similar to hotel rooms – and three vintage Airstream trailers. That number will ultimately

grow, but Stephen said the plan its to limit it to maintain the remote feeling and opportunity for peace and quiet. “What we're doing is taking a 100-acre property and we're putting 20 units, and spreading people out so they have their own area,” he said. “We've left much of the vegetation in place and just kind of created paths. They're very unique accommodations with each one being pretty custom and individual. No two are the same, with different features and décor, but that's all part of the effort to create a one-in-a-million experience that ultimately is Missing nothing. ~ Story by Mike Eddleman/Courtesy Photos

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May

LIVING | FOR FUN

ROME & DUDDY

ART, HERB, AND WINE FESTIVAL

MID-TEX FESTIVAL

Georgetown Community Center 445 E Morrow St. 7-9:30 p.m. Bertram 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The 2nd Annual Art, Herb, and Wine Festival is bringing fine culture to the Bertram area. The Festival features local artists and crafters, musicians, along with wine vintners, and craft beer brewers. Just a short drive from Liberty Hill, the adult leaning event is free of charge.

CRAIG MORGAN AND ROOTS & BOOTS

Cedar Park HEB Center, 2100 Ave of the Stars 7:30 p.m.

GINA CHAVEZ

Cedar Park Haute Spot, 1501 E. New Hope Dr. 7 -10 p.m.

GAULT SITE TOUR

Florence The Gault Archaeological Site

L I B E RT Y H I L L L I V I N G | A P R I L 2 0 2 1

9 a.m. to 12 Noon The Williamson Museum and The Gault School of Archaeological Research are hosting tours of the Gault Archaeological Site. Tours last about three hours and includes about 1.5 miles of walking. Gaultschool.org

WHIMSY & WONDER

Downtown Liberty Hill 6-10 p.m. Whimsy & Wonder returns to downtown Liberty Hill. The annual festival offers the community a chance to embrace local creativity. The event includes six live bands, art demonstrations, wine tastings, vendors, street performers, and a Children’s Imagination Garden. The 2021 edition of the festival will include a new event called the Show and Go. The Show and Go will allow anyone to sign up to take the stage for three-minutes to show off and discuss their art or a talent like singing or dancing. As a precaution art displays will be held outdoors.

MID-TEX FESTIVAL

Georgetown Community Center 445 E Morrow St. 7-9:30 p.m.

LIVING | FOR FUN OUTDOOR SKILLS: FAMILY FISHING

Georgetown Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243 8-10 a.m.

PISTONS ON THE SQUARE CAR SHOW

Georgetown 816 S Main St. 1-3 p.m.

STRUMMIN' AT SUNSET WITH CORY MORROW

Georgetown Reunion Ranch, 850 County Road 255 8-11 p.m.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY SYMPHONY OUTDOOR CONCERT

Cedar Park Elizabeth Milburn Pool, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd. 7 p.m.

MUSIC WITH CARA ELIZABETH

Cedar Park 2000 Windy Terrace STE 2B 3:30-6:30 p.m.

BILLIE JO LIVE

Georgetown South Fork Fun Food & Brew, 3309 W SH29 6 p.m.

RUSS: SHAKE THE GLOBE TOUR 2021

Cedar Park HEB Center at Cedar Park, 2100 Ave of the Stars 8 p.m.

Florence Salado Creek Saloon, 12061 TX-195 8 p.m.

Cedar Park Haute Spot, 1501 E. New Hope Dr. 7-11 p.m.

AMY N' ME

OLD 97'S LIVE

L I B E RT Y H I L L L I V I N G | A PR I L 2 0 2 1

LIVING | FOR FUN

OLD TOWN STREET FESTIVAL

12-13

BURNET COUNTY AREA FAIR: BLUE JEANS AND COUNTRY DREAMS

will hold demonstrations Friday afternoon. The event will feature special guests, the Blue Knights Motorcycle club. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

JOEY KIPFER

Cedar Park Bent Oak Winery, 2000 Windy Terrace, Ste. 2B 3:30 p.m. Leander Old Town Leander, 100 N Brushy Leander's most charming annual festival welcomes local and national artisans to share their crafts with the Central Texas community. The Old Town Street Festival features live music along with events for both adults and children, and a variety of food vendors from around the area. 11 a.m.

LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECTACULAR

Liberty Hill The annual Liberty Hill Independence Day Spectacular returns this summer, and features live music, a variety of food vendors, events for the family and a fireworks display to close the celebration. 60

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Burnet Burnet Community Center The Burnet County Area Fair offers families a chance to enjoy a variety of events and vendors over two days. The theme of the 2021 fair is Blue Jeans and Country Dreams. Burnet County 4-H clubs will serve a barbecue lunch on Saturday, tickets can be purchased in advance. Food professionals

SMOKEY ROBINSON

Cedar Park HEB Center at Cedar Park, 2100 Ave of the Stars 8 p.m.

SAM LEE GRONA & KYLE PILAND Georgetown Roots 7-8 p.m.

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Bertram Art, Herb & Wine Festival Saturday May 8th, 2021

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BUYING OR SELLING A HOME OR PROPERTY?

Whether you are looking for your first home, acreage for horses or gardening, a high-tech home in one of the community’s newest subdivisions, or a commercial property – the Shane T. White team of agents can help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

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