Filoli - my ideal house

I decided that the first day of summer vacation belonged to me.  I knew that the rest of the summer would be filled with kids activities, summer school, movies, teaching kids skills, sightseeing, etc., so I went ahead and planned an outing for my mother and me on the very first day my kids were off from school. 

I had been wanting to visit Filoli for a little while, a historical country house located in Woodside, California, among such vast green coastal redwoods and beautiful Crystal Springs Lake that even before we entered the doors of this enormous estate of gorgeous house and 16 acres manicured gardens, my mother and I fell in love with its surroundings.

The house was built between 1915 and 1917 by Bourn II, owner of one of California's richest gold mines. This was used as a country house for their family and guests, and it was known not only for its elegance, but its comfort as well.  The Bourn family used this house till 1936, and it was William Bourn who named it Filoli, but using the first vowels of his favorite credo: "Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life."  

When Mr. and Mrs. Bourn died, the estate was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Roth, who not only kept its previous elegance and beauty, but added to it several collections of plants, flowers, trees, a swimming pool, and my favorite of the whole estate, a screened-in teahouse.  

The house was perfect for a big family like mine.  Big kitchens, exquisite dining room, very practical, but stately looking family room, an amazingly graceful library, and many more opulent rooms that made me think I had found the house I was born to live in!  Nothing gaudy, or over the top, everything had its place, and everything was charming and elegant.  This house, even a century later, was the perfect combination of charming comfort and delicate dignity.  Now, if only my father had been a rich man...

The Entrance

The Inside of the house

The little, quaint flower shop

Doorway to the Garden of Eden (according to Melita)

My favorite aspect of the house: screened-in teahouse

I could totally see myself writing or reading for hours in this stylishly simple room.

16 acres of absolutely breathtaking gardens, each enclosed spaced framed with brick walls and clipped hedges, filled with a variety of flowers, trees and bushes, and each providing a sweet sanctuary from the world around.  Needless to say, even though I am 6 months pregnant and required to take it easy, I had to visit it all.  Physical fatigue was left outside the doors of this estate, as the eyes and heart took all this beauty and elegance in.  I felt enriched in my spirit and regenerated in my body.  My soul had found a spot on this earthly state where it could feel peace and fulfillment.  I realized that the combination of God's beautiful nature and man's artistic touch was what I longed for.  Someday...

 

This is my favorite picture I took of the whole visit.  I could imagine my husband and I growing older together in a setting such as this, talking about life, philosophy, art, politics, children, grandchildren, and then he letting me be on my own for a few hours writing, while he tended to the gardens.  Simply poetic! 

We sadly said goodbye to the estate, but happily charged for having had a beautiful, restful, sublime day.

 

Spring In San Fran!

We dropped all the kids off to school this morning, and then mom and I drove to San Francisco. I had planned today to stroll around the city's botanical gardens. We started off with the Conservatory of Flowers. I love going inside this awesome building. From the outside, it looks so grandiose and gorgeous, and inside they have done such a wonderful job recreating all the levels of the rain forest that I delight in learning and observing the beauty of the numerous plants, flowers and trees growing in each level.

After enjoying the inside gardens, we directed our attention to the pretty trees and flowers of the outside world, starting with Stow Lake and Botanical Gardens:

However, mom really liked the neatness that the Japanese Tea Garden had to offer. I really enjoy taking friends and family here. It's a very different kind of garden and the trees keep it cool year round. After exploring the Japanese Tea Garden, we walked to De Young Museum, and then drove home. Unfortunately, I drove toward the opposite side of John F.Kennedy Drive, so instead of going home, I was driving toward the Ocean Beach side of San Francisco. That was okay with us since we both like the water. It was windy at the beach and there were many kite sailors in the water. It was fun watching tens of crazy people enjoying themselves in the cold water and wind. They did have wet suits, so they were not quite that crazy. As for me, I enjoyed watching the waves from afar.

We had a very delightful day today. The weather was beautiful, the flowers gorgeous, and the beach inviting. I'm grateful to Tammy, who picked up James from preschool and had him play and eat lunch with her daughter and James' friend, Sophie. He had a wonderful time, and that made my day even better.