Friends House

If you walk too quickly through our campus, you might miss the magic happening right under your nose!

Following up on our recent look at the 7-acre campus, we wanted to shine a spotlight on some of the incredible close-up photos our residents and staff have captured lately. From the intricate petals of a blooming flower in our established gardens to the busy bees and morning dewdrops, these shots remind us to slow down and appreciate the micro-wonders all around us.

Our garden spaces aren't just beautiful backdrops—they are living, breathing sanctuaries that our community nurtures and enjoys every single day. Taking a moment to appreciate these small details is a wonderful form of mindfulness.

There is a quiet magic to our 7-acre campus all year round, but there is something truly special about these early summer days. Whether you are taking a morning stroll under the canopy of our mature trees, listening to the birds chirp, or just taking a deep breath in one of our established garden spaces, nature has a beautiful way of grounding us.

We recently asked our residents and staff to share photos of their favorite spots around campus, and the responses have been breathtaking! It reminds us that beauty isn’t just in the big landscapes—it's in the quiet corners where we stop, sit, and just be.

Spending time in nature is more than just a pleasant way to pass the hour; it’s where our community connects, reflects, and finds peace together.

Residents and staff got into the spirit today! Over 100 kids from the local elementary school came for a parade through campus and some trick or treating. Afterwards, residents and staff celebrated a Halloween lunch on the back patio.

Residents and staff gathered to celebrate with an End of Summer BBQ today! Our dining staff provided a wonderful spread of burgers, veggie burgers, watermelon, potato salad, green salad and peach pie. A couple residents surprised us with some homemade apple crisp, apple pie, grape juice and chocolate zuchini cake. The apples, grapes and zuchini were all grown right here at Friends House! We enjoyed our lunch out on the lobby patio with live music and great conversation. If you're looking for an active, welcoming community, please reach out to inquire about joining the waitlist.

Sundays at Friends House are a day to explore all that Sonoma County has to offer. Residents suggest different places and locations that they would like to see and our driver arranges the trip for residents who are interested in going. They recently went to the Museum of Sonoma County to see the Bruce Johnson exhibit. Bruce Johnson is near and dear to Friends House as he built the resident thrift table that resides in our lobby, affectionately called Susan's Table. While Friends House residents are lucky enough to see his beautiful work daily, residents had fun seeing many of his other pieces at the exhibit.

Friends House gathered for a to enjoy the abundance of fresh summer produce that California gives us. Residents were able to sample local cheeses, enjoy fresh fruit and take home some local vegetables to cook with. With Friends House's over 100 fruit trees, residents took home some apples that were picked that day from our trees!

In honor of Culinary Arts Month, we are honored to highlight an incredible member of our dining team. Vicky Detlefsen has worked as Dining Services Manager at Friends House in Santa Rosa for 7 years but her connection to the community goes back much further. Before working at Friends House, she volunteered at the community since the 1990s, helping her grandmothers out at community events including the Day on the Green and Quaker Tea. When she was offered the opportunity to work at Friends House, she was excited by the chance to work at a place she already knew and loved.

There are a number of reasons why Vicky loves her job, including collaborating with residents on community events, having a part in different areas of the community and finding ways to surprise the residents with special meals and ingredients. She shares:
“What I love is giving the resident’s special food surprises. When we have events or an ingredient catches my eye, I want them to experience it in the best possible way. Surprises are part of a good life and good living and food has so many surprises you can bring to people.”

Thank you, Vicky for your dedication to creating community at Friends House through good food.

Friends House residents are active in many ways, including in our very own Bocce Ball Team. The Quakes, Friends House's 2025 Bocce Ball Team won their final game today! The Quakes finished the season in 4th place out of 15 teams. Friends House residents play against teams from Spring Lake Village, our sister community in a tournament twice a year. Not only did they represent Friends House through their great teamwork, they did so in their beautifully homemade t-shirts! Team members gathered in our art room and utilized the many communal art supplies to make their team shirts. There are so many wonderful ways to gather when living in community.

We hosted our Grand Opening of our new fitness center this week. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony and staff demonstrated how to use the new machines. We are looking forward to classes in the space and more great opportunities for residents to focus on their physical and mental wellness.

From ice cream to whale watching at Bodega Bay, Friends House residents enjoy weekly outings to explore the beauty of Sonoma County, its museums and beyond. We are regularly adding new destinations and returning to our favorite places.