On a quarter of an acre, slopes down from the street. Rare second story ability. due to height restrictions and position of the lot. Low, affordable HOA dues, recognized Lago Vista Independent School District and a lower tax bill than the surrounding areas due to an additional 20% Homestead exemption.

SOLD!

Nestled on a tree lined street in the Mueller urban village is a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath yard home.  Built by Meritage in 2008, this 1544 square foot home has Energy Star appliances, a back yard, and a detached two car garage. The master suite is downstairs with a garden tub, separate shower, double vanity, and walk in closet. The home is designed with formal dining and the kitchen is open to the living room featuring a breakfast bar and large pantry. The utility room, half bathroom and coat closet are at the back entrance. Upstairs has a full bath, linen closet, and a nice view looking down Threadgill Street in both bedrooms. Just 5 miles from down town and 3 to The University of Texas the home is blocks away from parks, trails, and a food trailer court. Priced at $315,000

Follow for HOA rules 

Short on time? Have it delivered. Johnson’s Backyard Garden, Farmhouse and Greenling are local and have delivery services. With your membership you become a part of their community which includes invites to potlucks, live music at their open houses, pickling parties and recipe sharing and with your delivery comes recipes to try.

Want an experience? Go to the Markets. Most days of the week you can go to a year round farmers’ market that not only provides you with the freshest, in season produce, meat, and eggs, but delicious locally pre-made foods, locally grown cut flowers, and beautifully created crafts and gifts. Bring your wagon and make grocery shopping fun for the family.

Up on a hill looking East to downtown Austin is Barton Creek Farmers’ Market held Saturday mornings.

Hope Farmers’ Market is held mid-day on Sundays in East Austin.

The Sustainable Food Center offers four markets. Downtown and Sunset Valley on Saturdays.  The East Market at the YMCA on Tuesdays for fresh eggs, veg, and fruit and Wednesday evenings at the Triangle.

6701 Burnet Rd Market is open Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings.

Mueller Farmer’s Market is held Sundays

Great Hills Farmer’s Market is held Sundays 

Become apart of the “growing” community with Urban Patchwork. UP helps families and neighbors in small communities turn unused yard space into farmland that provides fresh, organically grown produce, fruits, nuts and eggs to the nearby residents of each neighborhood farm they establish.

Lamar Boulevard from Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge.

The view from the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge at Lamar Boulevard and Riverside Drive looking East.

Looking out from Lou Neff Point. The trail crosses Barton Springs and continues NW towards the Austin Nature and Science Center which bumps into the Zilker Botanical Gardens.

The Grackle is infamous in Austin.

Swans and ducks getting their free lunch.

Zilker Park, home to Barton Springs Pool, Philosopher’s Rock, the spill over where your dog is welcome to swim , and The Zilker Zephyr.

Canoeing, kayaking, and rowing boats can all be rented along the shores. Here are two people fishing in a rented kayak.

Austin has Hike and Bike trails all over. Town Lake has always been a favorite of mine, but there are so many others with vistas, wildlife and wild flowers that will beckon you to explore.

It’s best to choose native plants that can weather our Central Texas extremes. You will want to plant a variety of herbs and flowers to attract the butterflies. Native trees such as Oak, Pecan, and Wax Myrtle are common in the Austin area and provide a place for them to lay their eggs and food for the caterpillars. Other host plants(egg holders and food for the caterpillars) are Dill, Fennel, Parsley, Sunflowers Esperanza, Lantana, Thistle, and Okra which I think makes a beautiful display.

Adult butterflies need nectar from flowers and food from stinky stuff like dung or rotten fruit. My husband brews his own beer and we found butterflies like to drink from the steeped, discarded grains. Jasmine, Lantana, Marigold, Milkweed, anything in the mint family and Butterfly Bush are all easy to grow flowering plants that do well in the Austin area. Plants that continuously bloom need at least an inch of water a week to make sufficient nectar.

Drinking from beer grains.

The ideal placement for your butterfly garden is in morning sun and late afternoon shade. Create a puddle by filling a shallow container such as a terra cotta plant saucer with sand and dirt and filling it with water. To make it a real treat for butterflies sprinkle some manure and a bit of salt on top. Choose native perennials and every spring and fall you can expect these delicate visitors. The aromatic herbs will enhance your cooking and lightly scent the air around your outdoor sitting area. Just remember if your plants are potted they will need to be watered every other day in the late heat of the summer.

I will admit to not having a green thumb but I take so much pride in seeing my plants bloom and sitting with the butterflies that come visit my wall of flowering Jasmine.A tiny oasis I love to share with my family while we sit outside chatting about our day makes the dirt under the nails therapeutic.

Places to find native flowers and herbs:

Whole Foods Market

The Natural Gardener

Red Barn Nursery

local farmer’s markets

Central Market

The Village Shopping Center on Anderson is home to the Alamo Draft House. Dinner, drinks, and a movie in one spot is great when out with the family. Madam Mam’s for Thai and Korea House for Korean and sushi are two of my favorite Asian spots. Cover 3 prides themselves on great food, service, sports, and their Allendale salad is yum-oh. Hopdoddy, a new Austin favorite for burgers and brews, is opening its second location in the next week. At the corner of Anderson and Burnet Road is Bartlett’s with a great wine list, delicious food and quality service.

This area has great shopping for kids. My daughter has loved Terra Toys since she could walk, The Pumpkin Patch is a wonderful children’s resale shop, and Sandy’s Shoes has the best for kids’ feet and quality toys. Austin’s crafting community can also find beads, fabric, notions, and classes at several locations all along Anderson Lane.

Anderson Lane, also known as furniture row for all its furniture stores, gives you many options from made in America, imported, and modern to classic styles.

Down Burnet Road you can find the new, used and weird at Austin’s Furniture Depot. If you’re looking for a drink, there are several delightful offerings: The Pour House(large outdoor area with large picnic tables, tasty bar food, and an indoor area for the cooler nights), Lala’s Dive Bar(it’s Christmas year round in memorial of the owner’s son and the juke box has all your favorite tunes), The Poodle Dog Lounge(a place for cheap canned beer, indoor smoking and pool tables).  For the early riser on Saturdays, the  6701 Burnet Road Market offers in-season produce and nifty finds at the flea market.  Asahi, located in the Northwest Center (you’ll know it by the blue awnings), is a great little Japanese import store for food, kitchen accessories and gifts. Another gem under the blue awnings is Dragon’s Lair Comics and Fantasy an ideal place for those into comics and role play gaming.

Allendale is a charming neighborhood with a park, a pond and a quaint elementary school at its center, grocery stores at the NW and SE corners,  and surrounded by entertainment, retail, and a multitude of dining options it would be a  lovely place to call home.

When buying a home there are so many things to consider.  Do you want to be close to public transportation, which neighborhood, what square footage will fit your needs, and does the house have enough closet space and storage? Energy efficiency is usually an after thought. It doesn’t need to be.

There are several opportunities to green your home whether you are building a new home or purchasing an older one.

• Austin Energy offers qualifying properties free improvements and rebates.  
• Xeriscaping uses local, drought tolerant plants to lanscape your yard.
• Austin’s Green Building program offers rebates on water conservation efforts such as rain capture barrels and low flow toilets.

When buying your home in Austin you will receive an Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure summary you can use this as a guide to finding ways to save money by reducing energy and water consumption.

The Austin community is leading in Green programs that help its residents lessen the impact on the environment and lower their monthly energy and water bills. It is worth the time to explore the programs offered and take advantage of all your options to green your new home.