THE CHANGING PICTURES OF MADRIGAL

Leaving The Nest

I came to California in the late 60”s when I was in my early twenties. Taking me 3,000 miles away from my family, instead of the 350 miles like my mother from her family. I started in San Francisco and then ended up married and living in Los Angeles and a new chapter in my life had begun. How excited I was. I now had a partner in life, my new husband, and a little baby boy. How much fun this would be to have someone to share the journey was my thought. But I was wrong, for this journey would be mine alone and I had a little one that I needed to protect and raise! This was going to be work. I was now a married, professional woman, although still a little girl, and now a new mother living in a big city with no support system. What had I gotten myself into? I came from a community of support and expected to find it out west. However, try as I might, Los Angeles always seemed foreign and temporary to me. I never felt connected with the place until I moved to Venice Beach 20 years later. That small, undeveloped seaside town, with all its diversity appealed to me. It was a colorful place to be, full of history and culture. In fact it was the closest thing to New York of any place in Southern California that I knew of. However, still in the back of my mind, I knew I would not be growing old in Venice and even while I was living there I talked about leaving and finding this place where I could grow old and people would want to come together. A participatory gathering place I thought! A place where people would feel comfortable to share their stories with each other, create new rituals of growing older, make art, work in the garden. Almost like a moving meditation.

The Property

 

The house, which was very outdated, looked like it had been neglected for a very long time. It was two-stories situated on the side of a steep hill, with the back portion facing towards the Northeast and the front Southwest. The upstairs had all it’s windows in the back portion with a 180-degree view of the mountains and valleys below. The lower level which was built into the hill had few windows to let the light in, so this portion was dark, with low ceilings that gave it a dark dungeon like feeling. The house had definitely been neglected and outdated, and I really had no idea of what I was getting myself into nor did I care. All I knew was that the couple, The Heinburgs, who had owned this house since the early 1940’s had both passed on and their three adult children, were selling the property, as is, in an estate sale.

It wasn’t until later, after I purchase the property, that I began to hear a little more history of the place. Different people, whom I met, including one of the gardeners who use to work for Mrs. Heinburg, told me that the place had been a showcase for a long time. The Heinburg’s were considered a very comfortable family of five. They were from German decent, and Mr. Heinburg, who I was told was a workaholic, owned and ran a boot factory that was started by his father. Mrs. Heinburg was a member of the Orchid society and with the help of the two gardeners, who were employed three to four days each week, took care of the land and grew Orchids in the four greenhouses for which she won prize. I often wonder if she sold them commercially as well! I was also told that Mrs. Heinburg died approximately 10 years before her husband. Then, so the stories were told, Mr. Heinburg became depressed and sick, needing 24 X 7 nursing care and he had just recently passed on. So that made sense as to why the place had fallen into disrepair.

The Day I Made My Decision

Monday, January 17, 2011

The land, although overgrown and neglected, didn’t bother me at all. It fact it just looked like the land I knew in my youth. There were around 150 big old trees with exotic plants and flowers, and what we many times call weeds. I used to walk with my Dad and my siblings on land that looked like this. A land at rest, that didn’t get a lot of people pulling and changing it. So I saw nothing unusual about its dress. The house, however, was so different from what I knew. It was a total mess as far as I was concerned. Old, outdated and dull with no character. However, once I walked in the backyard and planted my feet on the dirt I could see nothing but its beauty. I also liked the fact that the house had two kitchens, one upstairs and one downstairs, which meant I could rent a portion of the house to bring in income. Plus, there were six detached buildings that would be fun to develop and make into useable structures. Of course little did I know at the time that these kitchens and the building would become a problem for me. Nor did I have a good understanding of the amount of work that the place needed.

I can still clearly remember the realtor’s response when I told her that this was it and I was willing to pay the full asking price. “Are you sure? You never mentioned you wanted a fixer upper, an acre of land, to be on top of a hill with a view, a pool, four greenhouses, or a house with 3500 square feet.”

She was so right! Now it made perfect sense why I had looked at so many properties and worked with so many realtors. How could I ask someone to help me find something if I didn’t know what it was I was looking for myself? Of course I didn’t know it then, but it wasn’t a house I was really looking for, it was the space surrounding the house that I was in search of and I had now found it. I had no second thoughts regarding my decision. The only thing I was afraid of was someone else might also want this place and I didn’t want to lose it. After all this time I had finally found my home. In fact, thinking back now, I think I had been looking for this place ever since I moved to the West Coast.

Intentional Community Next Phase

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

It is now January 2011 and a new phase of Madrigal has begun. Richard, who has been living upstairs for the last 8 years has moved on ( there has only been one other family who lived upstairs since I took over the place). So for the last few months I have been remodeling this area to make it more compatible to the rest of the property.

And now, I can finally feel like Madrigal has passed it’s adolescence phase and it doesn’t really need me as much.  This is a good thing!

Here is the first ad that was placed on Craig’s list expressing my dream-“Community living”.  An artist ~ writer ~ retreat with ample of privacy.  Surrounded by beautiful gardens, panoramic views of the hillsides and night lights, walking paths with lush landscaping within the compound, and a pool with spa.  Covered parking. The main level of this two story house  offers approx. 2200 sq. feet, 2 bedrooms with an office/den, and 2 bathrooms.  A formal dining room, spacious living room with fireplace and vaulted ceilings.  Walking distance to the Village, and easy access to three major freeways, the trolly, and close to Grossmont shopping mall. You’ll be inspired by the beautiful surrounding known as “Madrigal.”  A peaceful place to reside.

And the picture at the top is a little of what the kitchen looked like before I started.

And the Journey Continues One Step At A Time

Well after what seemed like a very long time, the upstairs of Madrigal is finally done and updated within my ability at this time. And the next day after it was finally done the place was rented and we now have a new housemate that will be moving in next week.

Year 2011 is coming to an end and I am in Australia spending it with my son and will be welcoming 2012 at Sydney Harbor. So it has been almost one year since my last entry. Time does move quickly!

The upstairs is vacated once again, this time only after one year so now a new search  to fill that space has begun. What will the universe provide this time?

Another Year at Madrigal

I love John Lennon’s saying -”Life is What Happens When You Are Making Other Plans”. So true, so true.

So much going on. Young couple are living here at Madrigal now, and they are having their first child. How exciting. My Dad was here for his 95th birthday celebration,and all my siblings were in town.  William was also here due to his AVID work in Australia.

Had a wonderful art event put on by a young artist by the name of Hearth.

As to Madrigal, it has come out of adolescents and doesn’t need me as much now, so I get to PLAY more.

Hope you too are play more!

WELCOME

WELCOME TO MADRIGAL

 

Madrigal is the private estate of Ellen Arcadi RN,MPH, an artist, and creative thinker who dreamed Madrigal to reality. Ellen will help you discover the artist within by forging new pathways to Spirit and a reconnection to the Earth. Through her journey, inspirations, and life forces she followed her spirit and connected with the essence of this land to develop a better understanding of the Purpose of Becoming All You Can Become.

MADRIGAL HAS BECOME-

A Place for Inspiration, and Renewal.

A Serene place to contemplate.

A golden bridge to Spirit-the essence of it and you.

A participatory Gathering Place for people who are searching for A More Meaningful Life.

As you walk the Gardens of Madrigal, you will feel the magical energies that flow through its pathways and special places. On this walking mediation you will discover the many flowers, trees, animals, and pieces of inspired art that call this place home.

MAKE A COMMITMENT TO SELF AND COME TO MADRIGAL, A PLACE FOR COMMUNITY, CREATIVITY, DIVERSITY AND PEACE.