‘Oh, oh, turn here,” Realtor Judy Pennycook directs as she holds on from the passenger seat. We passed up Pezzini Lane anyway. It’s a little tricky to find off of Meridian and San Miguel Canyon in North County. But it’s nothing a U-turn won’t fix.

The tiny drive, shaded by enormous trees and marked by a charming—albeit unofficial-looking—street sign, seems like it might lead to pretty much nowhere but the hills. Instead, it leads to a tucked-away home full of the warmth and charm of fables.

“We moved here when…” Jerry Lathrom begins. His wife Nelia picks up “…when we left Marina. We left Marina…” And Jerry finishes: “…when it incorporated.”

They’re connected, in sync, married far too many years to add on fingers and toes. That connection plays out best in the home they’ve built together for 30 years. You can feel the hominess, the years of gatherings and raising a family and being together. It shows in every inch of the 1,650 square feet.

An acre of land surrounds the expanse, a world away from the incorporation of their last hometown. There’s plenty of room for a pool or horses.

A new hardwood floor decorates the foyer. A large, formal living room takes up most of the front of the home. The large brick fireplace will be the perfect place for settling in with a good book and a glass of wine.

Walk out of that room, though, across the hall, and the dining room/family room combination manages to come as a bit of a surprise, with brilliant outdoor light through glass everywhere. It’s easy to imagine that must be the family gathering place. Large sliding glass doors lead to a lovely wooden deck full of cascading greenery, winding vines, and lush, natural landscaping.

The kitchen opens into that combination room. Its exceptional design means culinary creators aren’t darting from place to place for this or that. It’s all right there, and still big enough for lots of extra help.

A separate laundry room is so large and has so much storage space, it could easily double as an office or retreat. Two good-sized bedrooms each have views of oaks and wilderness, truly giving the place the feel of a tree house from the comfort of a snuggly bed. A full bathroom, flanked by closets and more storage space galore, is just across the hall.

The larger master bedroom has a bath of its own, with a standup shower and generous vanity. The same view of tranquility and oaks can be had from either of the two rooms.

It seems as though the Lathroms, sitting in front of their fireplace in the living room, could go forever and a day with stories about their home. It’s understandable. They’ve been there a lifetime.

They both stare far beyond the front bay window as they talk. Still, they’re somewhere else, even as they sit right there drenched in memories and finishing each other’s sentences. Perhaps they’re in the kitchen cooking a Thanksgiving dinner or in the yard tending to the orchard. Wherever they are in their collective mind, they’re still living them, even as they just sit and recall them. And every bit of that adoration for their family home is present around every corner. “I remember when…” Jerry begins. “Yes, those chickens…” Nelia finishes.

Price: $625,999. 8895 Pezzini Lane, Prunedale. Contact Judy Pennycook of Coldwell Banker at 663-0288.