Second Look

After our first visit to what we hoped would become Sanctuary we headed home to pray and think and save some more money. Our plan included another trip up after the snow melted to take a second look at the main buildings, and a first look at the outbuildings and rest of the property that had been inaccessible. I tacked the 8-by-10 inch flyer and our picture of it buried in snow on the refrigerator. Uncle Ray gently counseled me not to get my heart set on it yet. Later on, when I was boring our Thursday night community group with glowing descriptions of the property, someone remarked that I probably shouldn’t get too attached to it yet. Uncle Ray tipped his head towards me and, with some resignation, said that he was afraid it was already too late for that.

So I got online with Piety Hill Cottages and reserved ‘Walnut Cottage’ this time, because it has a big claw-foot tub. I anticipated soaking in this particular antique to warm up at the end of the day. Although the snow was now gone, it was still winter up in the woods of the Sierra Nevada foothills, and forewarned is forearmed, so they say.

We arrived at Sanctuary a bit early and walked around outside while waiting for Pam the realtor. The neighbor and her daughter walked over to talk to us and we got to hear stories of the previous owners. (A bobcat and wolf-dog for pets? That explains the extremely high and serious looking fence enclosing the patio!)

Pam came and we did a second, very thorough investigation of the property. Sandee and the grandkids came up after school to check it out. Another couple arrived with their realtor to take a look, but I think three children running about wildly on the outdoor stairs and balconies must have scared them off. Unless, of course it was the 18 kinds of wallpaper. Either way, they didn’t stay long.

Later on we checked in at Piety Hill Cottages and found that Michael must have remembered us. The heater was cranked up in Walnut Cottage to about 80 degrees. Did I mention that his breakfasts are to die for? He prepares them and delivers them to your cottage in the morning, everything fresh and piping hot. (The only regret about getting Sanctuary has been that we don’t get to stay at Piety Hill anymore and eat those amazing breakfasts.)

Now that it had the grandchildren’s seal of approval, we decided to move ahead and work towards buying it. What a thing! Never in my life did I ever even think to dream that we could own two houses at the same time. Yet, as we worked through all the inspections, discovering the secrets lurking in all the nooks and crannies, I had an overriding sense of peace that if it was to be, it would all work out as it should.

When we returned to San Diego I began piecing a quilt for that big bedroom upstairs. And indeed, when we drove up to get the keys to this blue house in the woods, I made up a bed on the floor with that very quilt in our new bedroom. We slept warm and cozy, and ever so grateful for a dream that had come true.