Slow Living with Nature in Cypress
First experiences
My best friend from secondary school and her husband picked us up at Houston airport and took us to their home in Cypress. According to my friend, Cypress is an “unincorporated community”, meaning it is neither a city nor governed by any city. In recent years, many people from big cities have moved to Cypress because housing and living costs are lower, nature is fresher and the pace of life is slower.
On our first morning, a dark cloud drifted past the window, hinting at a gloomy day. A few minutes later, sunlight flickered through the curtains, bouncing off the wall and lighting up the room for a moment before vanishing. We put on warm layers and went for a walk. Birds chirped overhead. Little squirrels ran around the tree trunks. The crisp weather and peaceful air led us to savour the ease of our trip. Houses here are sparse and shops far apart, so almost everyone drives; the roadsides are grassed over, with no footpaths. Seeing the two of us strolling, everyone looked surprised.
Around 7.30 in the evening, as a purplish pink spread across the blue-grey sky, we stopped at the supermarket and filled a trolley to the brim. You know how, at a market or supermarket, just walking past the aisles shows you the standard of living, eating habits and even local culture. Likewise, cooking in someone’s kitchen, just looking at how things are arranged and using them tells you something of the host’s personality and tastes. Cooking also creates a deeper connection, naturally making you part of the life going on there. Sitting at the table, we finally had time for a long chat. In this small town, most people focus on the quality of the meal and the conversation.
Riding horses through the woods
In so many films I have seen about Texas, there are cowboys on horseback looking oh-so-cool. The word “cowboy” in American English means a cattle herder in the American West who rides a horse while working. Today, “cowboy” still refers to workers who use horses and raise cattle across the Americas, Europe and Australia. I have always loved horses but never had the chance to ride, so I wanted to see whether there was a short course here. As luck would have it, I found an hour-and-a-half horse ride through the woods.
Our guide was a genuine cowboy. Born and raised in the area, he owns two ranches. The one where we rode covers 300 hectares. It is called a ranch, but it was once a forest, and since he took it over the landscape has been kept intact. The trees grow completely naturally, with just a trail added for people to ride along. Whenever guests come, the horses wait near the gate. The rest of the time they roam free, but as soon as their owner whistles, they gallop straight to him. His main work is raising cattle and caring for these horses.
Our riding guide was a genuine cowboy.
The horses all looked very intelligent. Every one of them was attached to their owner and loved playing with him. Their bright, lively eyes showed how loved they are. In the cowboy’s eyes shone happiness and pride in his handsome horses.
We were shown how to steer and control the horses’ speed. Our group that day was six people: the rancher, my husband and I, and three visitors from Canada. The horses took us through rows of trees, over hills and across a little stream. On a few climbs or stream crossings, the horses picked up speed, leaving everyone both scared and thrilled. My horse was a little mischievous. Now and then she liked to veer off, stop to take in the view, drink, or speed up to overtake the others. But I only had to nudge her sides gently with my legs and pull the reins, and she quickly fell back in line.
An hour and a half on horseback was time close to nature that left us incredibly relaxed. The sky was calm, neither sunny nor rainy; birds sang, little squirrels hopped among the trees, and the stream babbled. Everyone enjoyed the scenery, breathed the fresh air and chatted. In that moment, I wished time would stretch out. Our guide said he was designing an overnight forest ride combined with camping and hoped we could come back another time. I thought it was a wonderful idea. If I could find the time, I would even ask to stay on the ranch to learn more about life there!
Visiting houses with history
My husband and I love seeking out lesser-known places we call “hidden gems”. To many people they may seem very ordinary, but to us such places always have a modest beauty that only the curious and passionate discover.
We found a 100-year-old wooden house called Little Eclectic House, set in large grounds surrounded by lush lawns and big shady trees. House frames in Texas are almost always made of wood, as it is plentiful, relatively cheap and there are many skilled builders who know how to construct timber frames. Today, exteriors are not limited to wood but also use brick, stone and stucco. Texas home design reflects adaptation to the region’s hot, humid climate and helps houses be more energy efficient and comfortable year-round without relying too much on air conditioning. Some older houses, like the one we visited, are made entirely of wood, with square frames, porches and balconies, often raised off the ground to guard against flooding and let air circulate beneath the house.
Opening the door and stepping in, the scent of candles mingled with the smell of wood warmed our nostrils. Jazz was playing on the speaker. It turned out to be a shop selling collectibles. The smiling middle-aged shop assistant was born and raised in Texas. She told us the owner of Little Eclectic House has rented this pretty wooden house and run the shop for over ten years. The owner collects all sorts of things, from jewellery and clothes to tables, chairs, cabinets, bowls, plates and tablecloths… and displays them throughout the house. Although it is a hundred years old, the house still looks new, probably thanks to careful upkeep. Even the bathroom is adorable and spotless, and customers can buy the items displayed in it too. In a developed country like America, especially in a suburb of Houston like Cypress, such a small, personal business is very rare, and we could have kept looking around forever.
Afterwards, we followed Google Maps to Season’s Harvest Cafe, a café hidden in a pretty wooden house in the middle of large grounds that look like a farm – and most importantly, exactly like the scenes in films we had seen about life in suburban Texas. Visitors are welcomed by a wide-open wooden gate with two banners bearing the café’s name, looking wonderfully free and easy. Drive through the gate to the car park, then walk along a little stone path to the wooden house. As soon as the door opened, the aroma of food and drink mingled with the fragrance of wood filled the space. The house was built in 1980, and Season’s Harvest Cafe has been running for 14 years.
Inside hang many family photos of the owners. The staff member greeted us warmly and helped us choose a seat. Since the weather was lovely, almost all customers walked through the main house to the outdoor area, and we did too. When I ordered, she warned me that the portion would be quite large for my petite frame and suggested a cup of minestrone soup if I only wanted something light. I love how direct and confident Americans are in communication; even servers know their role clearly – as someone who understands the job well enough to offer customers the best option.
The food here is made from natural organic ingredients. We had a lively lunch in pleasant weather, with gentle sun and a soft breeze, then took a walk around the grounds. Only then did I understand why, before we turned in, the place had felt like a farm. From the café’s back porch opens a cool green space. To the right is a garden of fresh vegetables and a chicken run. To the left are a few goat pens. Further away are rows of trees and a lake, perfect for weekend picnics. We strolled hand in hand around the lake and felt so tender inside, thinking we would hardly forget these peaceful days.
A few good places to eat in Cypress
• Ambriza – Social Mexican Kitchen: A Mexican restaurant with a varied menu, many unusual dishes and incredibly fresh ingredients; its breezy, colourful design makes you feel cheerful the moment you walk in.
• The Bake Shopee & Cafe: Located in a shopping centre, from outside it looks like a shop selling vintage furniture, but open the door and you smell fragrant pastries and are overwhelmed by lots of old tables, chairs and objects arranged in what seems like chaos yet is very harmonious. It has been open for about 30–40 years under two owners. The current owner, who has kept it going for the past ten years, is a wedding planner by profession, so they also offer wedding catering at requested venues.
• Mia Bella: An Italian restaurant on a corner of a large shopping centre, with indoor and outdoor seating. The food is good. However, it mainly serves Americans, so portions are large. Still fine for a date.
• Texas Roadhouse: An American steakhouse where every steak is huge, made from American beef, and packed with Americans at weekends. People gather, laughing heartily, to a soundtrack of all-American country music. The beef is tender and well seasoned. Even livelier if you go with family or a group of friends.
• Geaux Daddy’s Crawfish: Crawfish is a Texas speciality. Here it is sold as a combo with corn and potatoes or by the pound, but only in spicy and non-spicy versions; Cajun is not a sauce cooked with the crawfish but a soup ordered separately. It is a bit saltier than you might expect, but after a while it tastes delicious. With such pleasant natural surroundings, it gets a 10.
_Published in Elle magazine, August 2024 issue
