Sunken Garden @ Filoli House, originally uploaded by mslaura.

Today I took my hiking group to Filoli House and Gardens in Woodside. It was lovely. Not really hiking, per se, but many members are currently gimpy or pregnant, and not up for strenuous hiking.

We met in the cafe there, then toured the house and gardens. Very impressive. Wow, those people really knew how to live...ballrooms, drawing rooms, fruit orchards, cutting gardens, libraries, even a Men's Lounge (where children and women were not allowed). Hrrrumpf.

The swimming pool is magnificent, and I love this sunken garden with reflecting pool. I am tempted to turn our underused bocce ball court into a water tank like this. At least part of it. The rest can be a glassed-in office for Dan/workroom for me and the kids. It would be especially nice in winter when the house gets dark and cold.

I'd like to get the guided tour of Filoli sometime...the self-guided tour was much more sparse on details, but as it was I think I'm the only one who did it all the way, the rest of the moms just wandered wherever. But their babies are smaller and fussier.

The photo at right is of the study at Filoli. The oak floor is gorgeous. It looks like it was burned with hot metal, but actually it was etched with the pattern and then stained, that's what makes the crosshatch design.

Wow, the Bay Area has so many cool places to visit. I'm trying to cram in outings before it starts getting cold. The weather right now is perfect..warm but not too hot. So much to see and do.