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I had finally found a daily rhythm of morning pages, photography, writing, and blogging, all balanced between dog care and house care and working out and sleeping and Breaking Bad and pastoral council duties and trying to spread the news about our upcoming high school reunion and hanging out with my hubby and helping my kids and filling out job applications.

And then… kids moved home. We went on vacation. A cow showed up in our "back yard".

I haven't even tried to get back into a rhythm or routine yet, just keep bouncing wildly from one activity/project to another in my own pinball machine world until I finally run out of steam around midnight, feeling like I haven't accomplished much of anything. 

But I remember that what I love about life are the surprises and detours and diversions, like kids and vacations and cows.

So when my dear friend Tamara emailed that she would be in town this week and how about meeting for lunch at the Oasis,  of course I said yes. 

I can be smart that way.


Spending time with friends is one of my favorite diversions.

 

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Years ago, the Oasis was just a restaurant perched on a hill overlooking Lake Travis. It had an outdoor area with a dance floor. I watched Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes perform there once.

Then it burned down.

This was my first visit back since it was rebuilt and HOLY COW! it's not just a restaurant with a dance floor anymore. It's a little village, filled with restaurants and unique art and gift shops and photography galleries and wine bars. We were there almost 5 hours, talking and browsing the shops after we finished eating.


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We pretty much had the place to ourselves, which I liked, but I bet it's a hoppin' place at night! I'm ready to find out!

 

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20 responses to “Rhythm and Routines, Detours and Diversions”

  1. Lissa @ lafcustomdesigns Avatar

    I love everything about this post, Barbara–the title, that you were spontaneous and met with a friend, and what a lovely little village!! Wish I lived nearby, I would have invited myself along!! Haha superb pictures. Looks like you’re on a beach not a lake. And a view I would neve rplace in Texas!!

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  2. Andrea Febbo Avatar
    Andrea Febbo

    Barbara,
    It is funny how your life is shadowing mine. Laura has been in and out this summer and Kacie moved back home for the summer. We have had the house turned upside down with their things again…always coming and going…especially Laura’s cat, Buddy, who she leaves here for me to babysit when she travels or has weddings of friends…that is another story. Anyway, this blog today made me think…Yes…someone else is having a not so routine summer…Anyway…loved the post!

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  3. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I know I don't have to tell you that we need to hang on to these days and cherish them, as annoying as it might be to have their stuff underfoot (and everywhere!) because we know there will come a day when it will seem way too quiet and ordinary, right? Sigh.

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  4. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Isn't it gorgeous? I wish you could have gone along! The lake is really down a lot right now. (I took about 50 photos. lol)

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  5. Gail Avatar

    I love that place! Ate there twice with good friends. We pretended as though we were spending time on the Amalfi Coast. It looks so similar! Of course the whole time sweat was just pouring out of me and I was thinking we wouldn’t be perspiring in Italy like this. :/

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  6. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Oh my gosh, I was sweating, too! The waitress kept coming over to adjust the umbrella. We could have eaten inside, of course, but we would have missed that view! Frozen margaritas helped, but only so much. 🙂

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  7. Walker Thornton Avatar

    I was so tickled to read the opening paragraph and envious then things just went haywire. I love your gentle spirit…you take everything in stride and seem to have a smile on your face at all time. It’s wonderful.

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  8. silverneurotic Avatar

    I think if I ever go through Texas, I’ll have to make a detour to this place. It looks like too much fun (and beautiful) not to.

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  9. joanna jenkins Avatar

    Isn’t it funny how a vacation can change things up sooooo much!
    This looks like a gorgeous place to spend an afternoon. Wow! They did a beautiful job of rebuilding.
    And your wondering cow– he’s a cute one!
    happy weekend, jj

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  10. lisleman Avatar

    Are you posing in a type of old spaceship? Cows jump the moon I guess. Are you starting to live a Forrest Gump type life?

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  11. Brenda Nowicke Avatar

    Run, Barbara! RUN!!!!

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  12. Bella Casa Avatar

    Some people have all the luck 🙂

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  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I consider myself very lucky in family and friendships!

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Yes, it was some kind of spaceship! 

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  15. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    It was a fabulous place (and would have been even better if it was ten degrees cooler outside!) Thanks, Joanna!
     

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I highly recommend it!!

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  17. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I highly recommend it!!

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  18. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Oh, Walker, you should have known better than to think I've got it all balanced out. lol 
     

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  19. Wolf Pascoe Avatar

    This makes me think of John Lennon’s lyric: Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans. We are so lucky when that happens, most of the time. The blessings of haywire upon you.

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  20. Otto von Münchow Avatar

    Sometimes being overwhelmingly busy feels stressful. But at the same time it’s a sign that we are living – at least when it’s not all busy by work. Still it’s great to be able to be spontaneous. So, yes, enjoy life, even when it’s at its most busiest. A very cheerful post!

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