SUNDAYS WITH CELIA VOL 104
Hello friends. Thank you for stopping in today for Sundays With Celia Vol 104. I truly hope you and yours are well and finding hope and wellness in these unprecedented times. Yesterday I took some chicken soup to a 87-year-old neighbor who reminded me that in her long life she had never experienced anything like what is happening today. Quite a sobering observation. And on Friday my father turned 93 years old! As much as I wanted to bring him a meal and birthday cake, he requested that I stay home. Who would have ever dreamed this just a month ago? My calendar is now FULL of crossed off appointments and previously planned activities, including the visit of my Chicago dwelling kids who were to have been here with us this weekend to celebrate my father’s birthday. Instead, we are all sequestered at home.
COVID 19 Symptoms VS Cold & Flu
Because one of my children is not feeling great at the moment, Dr. Mom here did a little research in order to understand more about the symptoms. I found this chart. You may find it helpful as well. If you can’t get tested at least know the symptoms.
Looking Back On Sunday
So, speaking of the Coronavirus, did you catch my post this week entitled Pandemic Penny-Pinching Pointers? Click here if you missed it. It’s full of lots of practical advice for financially weathering this pandemic storm.
Huge Benefits To Living In A Rural Community
Unlike my son, who lives in densely populated downtown Chicago, and another son who lives in NY, and yet another son who resides in DC…
(where the chances of contacting Coronavirus are exponentially greater), my husband and I live on a rural mountaintop. We reside 5,500 feet above and beyond the bustling suburbs of Southern California. The population of Lake Arrowhead is about 12,000, with the large majority of residents residing in single family homes. My current home renovation client works at our wonderful little local hospital and reports that our community has only 6 reported cases of Coronavirus. I feel so fortunate to be living in a low density forest, in a gate-guarded community, where the homes sit on a minimum of 1 acre. On our nightly walks we rarely come into contact with another human. Our grocery store shelves are well stocked, have no lines, and are not crowded.
Here’s a few more reasons I love living in Lake Arrowhead…
- Zero Traffic
- Friendly People With Active Social Lives
- Plenty of Shopping in our Lakefront Village
- Fresh Air & Four Seasons
- Peace & Quiet
- Small Town Harmony with BIG TIME SOPHISTICATION (a very unusual combination)
- A Movie Theater & Bowling Alley
- Several Summer Concert Series
- A Ballet Company With Seasonal Performances
- Boating, Fishing & Swimming in our Beautiful Lake
- A Lovely Resort Hotel
- A Country Club With Spectacular Golf, Tennis & Swimming
- Snow Skiing 20 Minutes Away
- Loads of Hiking Trails
- Plenty of Restaurants
- A Dedicated Sheriffs Dept. to Keep Us Safe
- A Spectacular Fire Department
- A Great Hospital
- Doctors with Same-day Appointments
- Close to Beaches, Desert and SoCal Cities
- Closer To Heaven
So, you may be wondering why we have our beautiful home, in this idyllic area, FOR SALE. Well, because we plan to make our next home in an even more rural area: River Dunes, North Carolina. Population 900. And while River Dunes is rural, it is close to well populated towns with great shopping, restaurants and medical care. And, it will get us much closer to 4 of our children who live on the east coast.
But before we can make the move we need to sell our current, Mediterranean-Meets-The-Mountains style home. I designed this home with my wonderful architect from top to bottom, including all the hand-forged iron inside and out. Over the years I haven’t shown you a lot of my primary home. That’s because I’ve been busy showing you the other homes I renovate. But today I thought I’d invite you in and give you a look around. Maybe you, or someone you know, would like to make a little piece of paradise home? Here’s a link to the listing.
Come On In!
Welcome to the entry courtyard where a fountain makes lovely sounds, gravel crunches under foot, and roses bloom much of the year.
The beautiful and intricate wood carved front door opens into an expansive Foyer. The Walker Zanger Spanish Cotto Tile is accented with Verde Italian Marble. Custom hand-forged wrought iron chandeliers, sconces and stair rails decorate the entry.
To the left of the foyer a wood-burning fireplace warms the Dining Room, which seats 12 at a table fit for a king. By the way, we are selling our home mostly furnished, so most of what you see will stay.
On the other side of the foyer is the Wet Bar, also graced with a wood-burning fireplace and intricate wrought iron chandeliers, pendants and sconces. On either side of the entrance stands two Canterra stone columns that I had made in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. They are just 2 of the 22 hand-carved stone columns in this house.
A winding staircase leads to the Wine Cellar, located below the bar.
Heading back to the Foyer you are met with my favorite parts of the house: the Double-Barrel Gallery Hallway that leads to the Kitchen & Great Room, and the curved staircase that delivers one into the Gym/Media Room and my husband’s Private Office.
Another feature I love about our home is the open staircase that overlooks our kitchen, which has 25 foot ceilings.
The beams were hand-hewn from trees that were cut from our property. I designed the massive chandelier and lighted pot rack, along with all the other custom light fixtures in the home.
The Kitchen Great Room opens into the spacious Family Room which overlooks the rear Covered Porticos and Dining Pavilion. Notice yet another fireplace?
The kitchen is complete with a 48″ Viking Range, Warming Drawer, Convection Microwave Oven, 1 of 2 Dishwashers, and Built-in Side-By-Side Refrigerator and Freezer.
Adjacent to the Kitchen is the large Butler’s Pantry with a row of Appliance Garages, a second sink and dishwasher. There is an enormous amount of storage for many collections of China and Glassware. The Butler’s Pantry opens into the spacious Dining Room you saw earlier.
Conveniently located behind the kitchen is the Laundry Room and Mudroom.I LOVE my giant Laundry Sink, which I use as a flower arranging station. Another tiny, wall-mounted sink in the Mudroom is great for washing hands upon entry. My Private Office (which is a sewing and gift wrapping space as well) is on the other side of the Laundry Room, where I sit as I write this post.
Our Master Bedroom is also located on the Main Floor. It is entered by way of a Vestibule. I’m am a real fan of Vestibules! It is so much more grand to enter a room via a Vestibule rather than a simple doorway. I also added a 10′ door for extra grandeur as you enter the Master Suite.
Here’s the Master Bedroom, where another one of our 5 fireplaces graces a corner.
Our Master Bathroom is really 2 Bathrooms in one. We have two separate Vanity Areas, 2 Water Closets, a large Shower with 2 shower heads and a Jetted Tub. This is my husband’s side of the bathroom. The door on the right leads into his private Walk-in Closet. My private Master Walk-in Closet/Dressing Room is on the opposite side of the Master Bathroom Suite.
And this is my side of the bathroom.
The tub has a beautiful private view of the vegetable garden, greenhouse, orchard and forest.
We have two staircases in our home that you saw earlier. The one in the kitchen leads up to our Guest Suite and 2 additional Bedrooms.
Here our guests can enjoy a fireplace, wet bar and mini fridge, as well as their own Private Balcony.
This is the elegant and spacious Guest Bath with a marble pedestal sink and jetted tub/shower combo. All of the tile is Walker Zanger.
We have two additional bedrooms upstairs that share a Jack & Jill Bathroom. Here’s what we call the Fishing Bedroom.
And the adjacent Bedroom which has one of the most interesting features in the home: a Juliet Balcony that overlooks the Kitchen/Great Room.
Heading back downstairs let me show you the Exterior Rear Courtyard, where we enjoy over 1,000 feet of Covered Loggias and a Dining Pavilion. They overlook an acre + of beautiful forested property.
The front of the house has a very large, gated, Motor-Court which opens into a 3 Car Garage.
Well, now that you’ve seen my home I hope you’ll help bring us a buyer. Because as much as I LOVE Lake Arrowhead and all my wonderful friends here, I left my heart in River Dunes. Plus, during these uncertain times I look forward to finally living closer to family.
In Closing Here’s Some Good Pandemic TV Watching Suggestions
Today at noon EST Joanna Gaines is hosting a 1 hour cooking show on Food Network. She will soon be hosting a cooking show on her own Magnolia Network as well. I can’t wait!
Tonight at 9/8C PBS Masterpiece Theater is debuting a new series called World On Fire. I’ll be watching!
And just because we could all use a little pick-me-up in these dark days, here’s a little Uptown Funk. ENJOY! Stay well my friends!
So there you have it: SUNDAYS WITH CELIA VOL 104
Thanks so much for dropping in!
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