Filoli

So call us crazy, but we took an afternoon trip only days after getting home from Milwaukee. We'd be wanting to visit Filoli since seeing this article back in March. W has been back to work full time since finishing school. His weekend is now Sunday and Monday which doesn't work for Filoli with it being closed on Monday. Work needed him on Monday night which replaced his normal Tuesday. So with Tuesday now open, we took the opportunity to go...even if we were trying to get the house back to normal and E on his regular routine.

Our drive to the property

 Loved the trees out in front

The estate is located in Woodside, CA and is just breath-taking. The whole grounds and inside the mansion as well. After watching a video on the property's history, we took a self-guided tour through the mansion. 

W was definitely coveting this kitchen and this safe.

 My two favorite rooms were the above sitting room and the library.

I would die to have one of those ladders with wheels that moves across the shelves!! {the small ladder on the far left}
 This is what E thought of the whole place:

  Clearly, amused by his parents choice of the afternoon activity. ;)

And the ballroom was amazing! Decorated with beautiful chandlers, floor-to-ceiling paintings, Tiffany blue paint and gold accents! Would love to have been invited to a ball here in the early 1900s.

Walk-in fireplace...because, you know, every true mansion doesn't just have a walk-in closet.

 From there we headed to the 16 acres of gardens.

Right after this entryway was an area that totally reminded me of the Secret Garden. Up the staircase that's behind me was a platform area set up for a wedding. How cool to get married here?!

In the rose garden we found a very awesomely named rose even if there's a typo. ;)

W took a picture of me smelling my rose.

Love me some weeping willows!

 "Time Began In A Garden".... love love love this!


We had a great family day date and are definitely planning on coming back in the spring time. It is truly amazing how much volunteer leg-work goes into keeping this place presentable. Could you imagine the time it takes to dust? No thanks! I can hardly keep up with my 1,500 sq. ft. of space! But we're thankful that the last owners, the Roths, donated this place to the National Trust of Historic Preservation. What a privilege to see such beautiful creations, both man and God-made!