Yes, I know that area fairly well. Dime Box, Lincoln, Leabau (sp), Warda, Smithville, Paige, etc. I lived there until 1973.
There was an elderly German lady outside of Deanville who would make quilts for me (back in the same timeframe you’re talking about having lived near there).
She and her “quilting party” ladies would take the patchwork tops I would piece together on the sewing machine and put them up on a big frame outside under the cottonwood trees and hand-quilt them into real quilts for me, adding the batting and the backside fabric. Or, they would make their own designs, which were nice.
These were priceless and I think I paid her a pittance - $10-15. I would go up and take a top to her on a Saturday and the next weekend, I could go back and pick up my quilt! I bought dozens from her for family and friends.
We knew people in Caldwell and Deanville, so I sort of hung out around there from time to time. All around Lake Somerville. Also, Chappell Hill and Brenham. Smithville I remember well, for the smokehouse - must be on the “main drag” to Austin. Also, down as far as Bastrop?
The others were on backroads - Burton, Carmine - oh, and Round Top, of course. The Stagecoach Inn. Very fun places to “meander” on a weekend. Not to mention coming back to Houston via the BlueBell Creamery tasting store (in later years).