November 2017

Historic Downtown Elgin will be full of holiday activities on Saturday for Holiday by the Tracks. A holiday bazaar will take place at the library and include crafts for the kids as well as handcrafted items and baked goods.

Santa will be at the library from noon-2 p.m. and Martha’s Market from 2-4:30 p.m. From 2-5 p.m., take part in the Hot Cocoa Sip and Stroll by purchasing a mug and sampling cocoa from more than a dozen participating locations. The Depot Museum will have pencils and chocolates from 2-5 p.m. as well.

Stick around after dark for the lighted Christmas Parade sponsored by the Elgin VFD and a live nativity to follow the parade at Veteran’s Memorial Park put on by St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

Downtown shops will also be open

When buying a home, probably the most important decision you will make will be regarding your mortgage. Your mortgage lender will be a great source of information when it is time for you to decide. Go ahead and discuss your financial situation with your lender and get a preapproval letter. This letter will indicate the basic terms of your mortgage such as interest rate and repayment term.

So you are prepared when you meet with your lender, here are some pros and cons for the different mortgage options that are currently available.

30 year term

This is the most popular mortgage type and offers you 30 years with a fixed interest rate to pay off your mortgage. You will have a lower payment each month than if you financed your mortgage for 15 years.

You need only step inside this recently renovated home and you will immediately appreciate all of the updates made to make the home more enjoyable and comfortable for everyday life.

This two bedroom, two bathroom home has 1,874 square feet and sits on 9.05 acres that also includes multiple covered patios and a 2-car breezeway that could be used for entertaining.

Some of the recent updates include new paint, new flooring, new fixtures, enlarged baths and closets, and the third bedroom was converted to a dining room. Beautiful and abundant cabinets in the kitchen, an island with additional cabinets and great counter space as well as a breakfast bar overlooking the living room make this the heart of the home. A large utility area provides space for

Visit Downtown Bastrop on Saturday, November 25th between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and enjoy a variety of mulled cider recipes from local businesses.

Downtown businesses and restaurants will provide samples of their special wassail recipes for participants to taste. After you stroll and taste, don’t forget to vote for your favorite. The Wassail Fest Trophy will be awarded to the people’s choice award winner based on votes.

While enjoying Wassail Fest, make sure to support the downtown merchants on Small Business Saturday. Many downtown stores will offer specials and promotions on this day that you will want to take advantage of.

What a way to kick off the holiday season with wassail and shopping.

When: Saturday, November 25th 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Fall is a wonderful time of year to incorporate nature’s beauty into your home décor and with Thanksgiving almost here, these simple ideas will make prepping for guests quick and easy. Use the bounty of the season to brighten the interior and exterior of your home with an assortment of items. Here are some ideas you can incorporate into your home with just a quick trip outside or to your local farmer’s market.

•          Pumpkins speaks for themselves and are one of the most popular symbols of the season. Today pumpkin’s come in so much more than orange and you can really make a statement with a few pumpkins, gourds and squashes combined on the table or at the front door.
•          Pick a few fallen leaves outside in a variety of fall hues. Add

This property would make a wonderful escape for recreational activities or just to unwind. Explore 284.432 acres of heavily wooded land with oaks, cedars and loblolly pines.

You will have wonderful potential for hunting of all kinds including deer, turkey, hogs and dove. Two ponds as well as three intermittent wet weather creeks are found on the property. With so much land, the possibilities are endless when it comes to your recreational choices. Escape for privacy, star gazing, hunting, exploring, fishing or 4 wheeling.

The only limit to your enjoyment here is your imagination. Get ready to escape when you step onto this Smithville property. Great location in Smithville. 

For more information or to see additional photos of this home, visit

Come out to support Men Who Cook at the Bastrop Convention Center during the evening of Saturday, November 18th. This event features 30-40 of the community’s leading men serving their favorite dish in aprons and black-tie attire.

The men are chosen from Bastrop County business owners, community leaders, elected officials and local celebrities. Twenty-four local chefs will prepare delicious dishes for you to enjoy. There will also be entertainment and an open bar for you to enjoy.

This event is the Rotary Club of Bastrop County’s premiere fundraising event for the year. Individual tickets and tables are available to purchase.

When: Saturday, November 18th 5:30-10:00 p.m.  

Where: Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut Street,

Water problems can cause extensive damage very quickly if they aren’t corrected. Diligence on your part about inspecting your home regularly and keeping up with regular maintenance can help prevent problems before they start and minimize damages if you catch them quickly. Here are some tips to help you prevent issues in your home before they become major expenses.

Do a Thorough Inspection

When you are touring a home you’re interested in buying, it’s a good idea to look for signs of leaks. Open up the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and check the pipes. If they are wet or if there are water stains on the bottoms of the cabinets, it’s a sign of current or past water leaks.

Look up at the ceiling for stains, which could be from a leaky roof or leaking

Calling all golfers! This home will delight you both inside and outside. Located on the #1 fairway on Pine Forest Golf Course, this home offers a flexible floor plan with four bedrooms, two full baths and 2,760 square feet on a 0.65 acre lot.

This full brick home has been well maintained and offers a gorgeous private lot with beautiful landscaping, fencing and mature trees to provide ample shade surrounding the home. The home is very energy efficient with 16 & 19 SEER HVAC units and foam insulation that provide nice savings on your electric bill.

Step inside the front door to a tile entry way. The spacious family room has a wall of built-ins that make keeping your home neat super easy and provides a place for everything. Ceiling fans throughout the

Stroll down Smithville’s Main Street for the Airing of the Quilts on Saturday, November 11th. Quilts will be hanging on Main Street and all around town for this annual event. Vendors will be setup for the event as well.

Other activities are planned in conjunction with the Airing of the Quilts. The Smithville Garden Club will host a Tour of Homes that includes five historic homes and a church that can be toured for $10 per person.

The First United Methodist Church on Olive Street will have quilts on display in their sanctuary as well as a quilt show and vendor area. The Smithville Stitcher’s Quilt Guild will host a quilt show at the Smithville Church of Christ with a free gift for attendees, door prizes, light refreshments, vendors, quilts on display