Where We Live

Today we are going to tour Red and City Gal's house in San Rafael, California, twenty-five miles north of San Francisco.

They bought the house when City Gal was seven months pregnant with their little girl.  So naturally the nursery was the first room they made over.



They have lived in their 1958 ranch style home for a little over three years now which means their daughter is walking, talking and marking space as her own..

  

This is the play room where Little A makes her artistic voice heard.  She entertains her friends, lets her imagination fly and uses every inch of her play space for fun, fun, fun!


But I think I have gotten ahead of myself.  Anytime a kid is around, I loose my head.  I just let them lead me around by the heart.

Let's start over, this time beginning with the front door.  A great landscape and tidy yard makes one want to slow down and take in the view when walking by.

The gently winding sidewalk leads to the front door which takes you into a cozy living room with an abundance of natural light streaming in from large patio doors.

If  lucky enough to be invited to dinner expect a home cooked meal by City Gal and Little A or even Big Red.  They all love to cook, especially when they can use the veggies and herbs from their own garden.

With the pleasant California weather, they spend as much time as they can outside which is why they concentrated their efforts on redoing their backyard last year.


Looks like Little A has chosen something yummy for tonight's dinner.

I'm going to guess that the hammock in the back corner is where Big Red likes to relax while the girls uncover the newest growth.

Check out those raised beds.  Such an efficient way to grow a garden.  You can reach it from all sides and don't have to break your back squatting down to weed or harvest.

 Red tells me that their back yard is walking distance from China Camp State Park.  He says that they visit often to hike, run or ride his mountain bike.  Wildlife is abundant and they are grateful they live so near a refuge.  Little A is on the ridge above their home. The neighborhood is at the bottom of the picture looking over San Pablo bay. The Richmond-San Rafael bridge is in the foreground and the bay bridge in the background. To the right you can see Sutro Towers in San Francisco and the tops of the golden gate.

There are miles of single track under a canopy of oak and bay trees with streams and ferns below. A trail run or a couple laps on his mountain bike on the weekends has become church for Red, where he renews and recharges for the week to come.

A comfortable guest room awaits visitors.  So if you find yourself in San Rafael, give Big Red a call and you might get to nestle yourself under a bright quilt after a dinner of spinach pie and a leisurely walk about the neighboring hillside.





I hope you have a yummy dinner around a table of friends.  I hope you get a chance to let your artistic voice heard.  I hope you allow yourself a moment in the arms of nature.  I hope you have a special place where you can be renewed, recharged and feel the church of God's creation.