How is everybody doing during this pandemic?
If you are like my family, you are taking it day by day. We have been so vigilant about wearing masks, hand washing, spraying everything down and staying home. One of our daughters is more susceptible to everything so we have been staying close to home more than most.
But for the sake of our own sanity, we ventured out for lunch for the first time since March.
We decided to head out to Utopia, Texas for the day.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven right through it on the way to Garner St. Park, Girl Scout Camp, or just driving around the Hill Country. The population is 227, so it never really seemed like there was much to see!
Boy, was I wrong!
We drove up to Lost Maples Cafe in downtown Utopia after driving around all the twists and turns of FM 470.
Who knew my car could grip the road like that? Whee!
After four months of only eating at home or bringing in take out, we literally just peered out of the car, not knowing what to do. I volunteered to mask up seeing about getting us a table outside in 100 degree heat! It felt weird and awkward being out among people! We sprayed everything down and kept our masks on when we weren’t eating. We finally got the hang of it! And the food was spectacular! We savored every bite. It was like a collective sigh of relief in unison. We can do this! We CAN eat in public~these are strange times y’all.
Anyway, with our new found confidence of being amongst our fellow human beings, hand sanitizer and color coordinating masks, we ventured out again the following Saturday to the Laurel Tree to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Like all of 2020, everything was different for this occasion. We usually spend our anniversary by ourselves in a hotel so we can stay married! This year, we spent it with our kids in a treehouse on the outskirts of Utopia, Texas.
There’s just too much to unpack about our experience at the destination restaurant in the middle of the Hill Country. I took a lot of pictures in hopes to share how really unique the whole place is; it’s only open on Saturday. And for a four course meal at lunch with this level of service, it is a bargain and worth the drive.
With all the precautions you have to take these days during the pandemic, please remember to carve out a little time for yourselves and your sanity.
We happened to find a little piece of it in Utopia the last two Saturdays.
Stay Safe and
Stay Sassy Y’all.
It looks lovely! We’ve been staying home, too. But a getaway like this seems doable. Thanks for sharing this hidden gem.
We were a little nervous but since you are all by yourselves in the treehouse and it IS air conditioned, we thought it was fairly safe! I hope you get to go, the drive along FM 470 is worth it alone!