Thanksgiving. Thanksgoogle.

Last post we wrote about karma and how a long lost connection to our home got reconnected. This morning we got to meet that connection and it was something very special. Chris, the great grandson of Mr. Tombleson accepted our invitation for breakfast (huevos rancheros, of course) and returned to the hill he grew up on. Although Chris is a fireman stationed about 20 minutes from Steinback Mountain, it was the first time he'd been back to his great grandparents' house since 1988. Back then it was for a holiday meal with the home's third (and first non-Tombleson) owner and his boss, Fire Marshall Dave Shaw.

Chris found our blog last Sunday afternoon after doing a Google search for his great grandfather. His girlfriend had spent the last few years tracking down her relatives in Michigan and Alaska and she encouraged him to try to do the same. His Google search led him to us, we exchanged a few emails where he answered some of the questions we'd had since moving in almost five years ago, and then he contacted his great aunt in Idaho in hopes of getting some more answers. Chris had not communicated with his great aunt Roberta in over 20 years and this week they had a three hour phone conversation, mostly about the Tomblesons and the area south of Salinas where they built their dream home. Roberta is the youngest and only surviving child of George and Rae Tombleson. We are very thankful Chris made that phone call. Roberta is now mailing Chris copies of every photo she has relating to our home. And, to our surprise, she will also be sending copies of a magazine featuring our home shortly after it was built. Chris can't wait to share the copies with us. Guess who else can't wait?

Seeing his great grandparents' house again was very emotional for Chris. And for us. We started with a tour of the guest house, then the BBQ room, and then the main house. Every few steps he would stop and see something and a memory would become a story and that story would lead us to more questions which would lead Chris to even more stories. Three hours, hundreds of stories. And it was awesome.

Chris grew up down the hill where he lived with his mother. He told us the Tomblesons originally owned dozens of acres up and down the hill and, over the years, his great grandfather built a number of houses for many of his relatives on the property. One of his uncles still lives one street over from us. Chris said it was a great place to grow up as a kid where he spent most of his time playing outside building forts and building dams in the nearby creek. Fondly, he remembered that whenever he got hungry there was always an aunt or grandmother nearby eager to hand out treats but the best was always his great grandmother Rae who would cook for him anything he wanted. According to Chris, her scones were the best ever.

Chris pointing out where the small deck and very large flag pole used to be. Mr. Tombleson was very patriotic and raised the American flag every day. And Chris said the flag was so large you could see it from miles away. Pictured below, Rachel and George Tombleson.

We definitely have a new friend in Chris and are grateful to be part of his reconnection with his family and the home George Tombleson designed and built.

Back to the renovation. Wednesday, the tile guys stayed until 6pm finishing the grouting of the guest house shower and the flooring in the BBQ room. They also found time to install the backsplash and wainscoting in the 1/2 bath.

All in all, a very good week on Steinback Mountain. And the rainbows keep coming….