The Smiling Hill-Top, and other California sketches

A playful chronicle follows a modest New England family as they trade crisp winters for the endless sunshine of Southern California. Narrated with gentle humor, the sketches capture the adjustments of two adults, two boys, and their loyal dogs as they settle onto a “smiling hill‑top.” The tone is informal and affectionate, inviting listeners to share the family’s curiosity and occasional bewilderment.

The setting bursts to life: a red‑tiled bungalow surrounded by fragrant jasmine, heliotrope and geraniums, with a terrace that overlooks the Pacific’s ever‑changing palette. Wild quail, rabbits, and the occasional rattlesnake provide spontaneous moments of adventure, while the occasional tremor reminds everyone that even paradise has its quirks. Through vivid, sensory details the author paints a portrait of a place where sunshine, garden fountains, and distant sea breezes feel almost theatrical.

Listeners will find a warm, witty portrait of early‑20th‑century life on the West Coast—part travelogue, part family diary, and wholly inviting. The sketches celebrate the simple pleasures of outdoor living, the humor in everyday mishaps, and the joy of discovering a new home under an endless sky.