Big Sky

Our hundred year old Berkeley Craftsman style home had its charm, but it was very dark with  small high windows, redwood paneling and taller houses close by on either side. The longer we lived in Berkeley the more urban it seemed to become with a dense population, a lot of traffic, tall buildings and tall trees. 

The weather didn't help. The 'marine layer', known in my book as 'fog' would frequently back up against the East Bay Hills and envelop the city in cold grey mist.  I would often drive over the hills to escape the depressing fog, but we could never eat outside in Berkeley. I grew up in a warmer climate where we often would eat dinner al fresco and stay out there until it was cool enough in the house to go to bed.

When Dana and Jim moved to Santa Rosa almost 20 years ago one of the first things I noticed when we visited them was the sky.  It seemed to be an ever changing canvas of clouds, rainbows, sunsets and sunrises. It isn't surprising then, that that was when the idea began to form in my mind that we should think about moving. I long to eat outside again. It took fifteen years....

One of the first things I noticed when we moved here was the light pouring into the house. And I never fail to notice the sky wherever I happen to be. This picture shows the last of the weird weather, (thunder, lightning,  hail and chilly breezes) moving out as I was driving back from Petaluma with Dana.  This evening it is warm and there isn't a cloud in the sky. 

I think it's time to adjourn outside for. glass of wine....