A fond farewell…

… to an Arizona house. My boy started kindergarten and graduated from high school here. Walls painted, then painted over. Fences stuccoed, curtains hung, pool built, gardens planted. Many memories — most wonderful, a few best forgotten.

I love living in California, but I miss this house and, most of all, the incredible people we met while living here.

The lollipop-looking ficus trees were my nod to East Coast landscaping.

The light maple floors throughout the house were one of my favorite features. They also hid dirt pretty well.

Great fireplace for the five days a year it was needed. Paint color here and in the kitchen is one of my favorite neutrals: “Scone” by Martha Stewart.

Another view of the family room, wherein we pretended not to have a TV.

Eleven feet was an ideal ceiling height for making a house feel spacious and airy; somewhat less ideal for Arizona summer electric bills.

Master bath.

The scene of many slumber parties. Taken AFTER my son left for college, hence the lack of SpongeBob and “Dwight from the Office” posters. (I spy … 12 things from IKEA.)

We miss this back yard. But never the maintenance.