Post Sixteen: Open for Business

It always seemed to me that Barry's birthday, June 8th, would be a great time to have his family up to the new house for a "party." I love it when a plan comes together.

We have had visitors here before; Mom and Dad coming by for lunch from Truckee, Clint spending a couple weekends helping out with remodeling chores, my friend Meryl spending the night with me last weekend and doing dinner downtown at Matteo's.

But this was more serious. We have spent the last four days in the company of varying numbers of family members, culminating with nine of us here last night joining us in an evening of great food and drinks, songs around the campfire, sleeping under the stars. All right here in our "backyard."
It was a pleasure touring each group of newcomers around the house, describing the current and potential uses of the spaces, the changes we have made, the decorating we planned to do. Explaining the before and after of the grounds around the house. Without exception, the reaction was genuine affection for the house, the trees, the space. And that gave me such a sense of pride, satisfaction, a renewal of the appreciation I have for our new home.

All that being said, the core of the long weekend was as much on the brothers and sisters (in-law) coming together again, sharing stories, memories, talking about the past, the present and the future. A running joke was my insistence that Barry was turning 52; not 53, as was correct. Another, that each expression of gratitude for our hospitality was responded to with a price tag of $29.99 for the particular good or service. The high point perhaps being last night around the campfire, Neil and Bridget taking turns with the guitar providing the musical backdrop for group singalongs and giving us the soundtrack for a long evening of family bonding.

The idea of continuing to have many guests here is a welcome one. Touring around our historic and charming little town. Taking the Blue Boat out on the big lake, or our Watermasters out on the little lake. Stream fishing on the Yuba. Maybe even skiing and snow sports in the winter. Warm summer evenings on the deck and around our campfire, and cold weather nights in front of the wood stove looking out at the Madrones lit up from the living room window.

The first of many great get togethers at Madrone Haus..... and, with the Novato house going on the market in about a week, another big step in making this our home.