Post Three - At First (well, Second) Glance

So, after we have read, re-read and pondered over the listing, talked to the agent, and it was decided that Barry would go visit the property while I was off volunteering for something (as usual.)  While the visit was successful, Barry felt the house was not exactly....  well....  not sure.  He said we needed to go back together.

So, with Carol, on a rainy Wednesday (October 24th), we drove to the property and gave it a look.
The only indication there was a house at that address was the For Sale sign at the end of a long driveway that wended its way slowly up the side of Pasquale Road.  A keypad enabled gate that looked like it had not been closed in a very long time hinted at the kind of property this was.  Driving up and then around a corner, you see the house.  Not take-your-breath-away beautiful, but attractive and with a very mountain-home architecture, with some nice gabled windows.

But what dominated the scene was the "forest" - trees, foliage, green with colorful accents, and thanks to the weather, smelling earthy and clean. Increasingly dense the farther away from the house it was. I could have wandered off into it easily.














But, Carol was there, and after brief introductions we entered the house, taking off our shoes as requested by a small basket inside the entry.

I walked about slowly, taking it all in. High ceilings with roofline definition showing inside, big windows and the gables giving visual access to the forest, clean white walls. Not surprisingly, it felt like Mom and Dad's Tyrol Road house; it was build one year later than their place, and from the information provided by the seller, built as if it were at Donner summit.
Barry took his time as well, measuring and taking in the floorplan, mentally mapping our furniture and life into this house.
 

Of course, I quickly concluded it was more than livable, and started making mental notes on the cosmetic changes I would make. As they say... "That escalated quickly."


After wandering the inside for a while, we toured the outside. Carol had brought a friend of hers who is a professional Forester.  Or is that a Forest Technician?  Scott was a great guy, had lived in Novato when he was a kid, has spent 30 years or so in the Nevada City area....  and just a total pleasure to talk to.  He was very interested in the property, and seemed sincerely impressed by the variety and health of the trees.  Of course there were the ubiquious Doug firs, but also a lot of dogwood, some maple, even a red oak that Scott says only grows where there is very fertile soil.




But the most impressive and dominating part of the forest was the madrones.  I feel like I should write it every time with a capital "M"! 

So, we finally wrapped things up, and of course, then as we are driving away.... "Well, what did you think?"


Stay tuned.