One of my favorite things about coming east for the summer is opening our house for the season. The kids tear through each room at a lightening pace almost in disbelief that this two hundred year old house is still here. Aside from the beach treasures and sun faded books tucked away on the shelves, one of my favorite things to discover are gifts left from strangers. Our house is always open to friends and friends of friends to use when we have returned to California. A house becomes a home when it is filled with laughter and memories. This year we were greeted by a beautiful watercolor left on our mantle by someone that we have never met. It made our homecoming that much more sweet. The kindness of strangers.