When asked "How did you find this place?" I tell people that I didn't, that the place found me. I knew everything that brought me back to Texas after living around many different cities in the U.S. for the last 12 years brought me to this place. The previous owner had been here 30 years and after the passing of his beloved wife, whom he met when they were both tenants at Agua Dulce, he decided to start a new chapter in his life, sell the land and move to California.
However, he refused to sell the land to just anyone, for he wanted to ensure that Agua Dulce, or "The Shire" as he called it, was preserved and not turned into some corporate housing or business. "The Shire" was a place of community. were musicians, painters and eclectic people of all sorts came and went. I ensured him I would preserve the integrity of the land via a letter and he chose me out of 5 other offers, including the band, Metallica (so I'm told). We are now friends and call each other every few months and I send him photos of "upgrades".
Why did I rename it "Agua Dulce"? With change in owners and creative energy of the property I wanted to feel like it was my own by giving it a new name, so it too could have a new chapter. Nothing came to me until my grandmother came to visit. She told me it reminded her of her home in Agua Ducle, California where everything went wrong with the place yet, it was the best 30 years of her life. It was always an uphill battle but those were her favorite memories. She told me "This is your Agua Dulce!" I immediately got chills and new that was the name.