"For Toby to just have moved into the city wouldn't have been fair," says Prue.
And this property has charm by the bucketload, with its sweeping entrance, mature trees, Prue's colourful gardens, the classically styled home and its far-reaching views.
It's screened from the road by greenery. The driveway curves around a big near-level lawn, harbouring a magnificent oak tree, and back out a separate driveway exit to the road.
Subdividers would consider this lawn Lot One. Those planning to keep the property as one would consider it an excellent place for kids to play.
The existing home and its surrounds could form Lot Two. It's a circa-1950s cedar board-and-batten home with part of its front clad in rock as a feature. One of its loveliest areas is the partially joined living and dining room flanking a central promontory housing an open and a closed fireplace. French doors embrace the outdoors.
Toby particularly appreciated having views all the way out to Rangitoto Island, as he could see so much despite having mobility difficulties.
Another striking room is the big kauri-lined billiard or games room. Prue rubbed her knuckles raw restoring its ornate kauri fire-surround.
Its fine billiard table - being sold with the house - was bought from a Cambridge farmer reputed to have housed it in a specially built, upmarket extension to his cowshed.
There's also a kitchen, laundry and internal-access double garage, a master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and en suite, another bedroom and two further bathrooms.
The existence of an upstairs attic and a crafts or computer room means there was enough space for 10 people to sleep when overseas-based children and grandchildren visited.
The home's northern face delights in a colourful area of the garden beside mature kahikatea and rimu trees, where Prue's daughter was married. There's also a swimming pool with a deck off to one side and a separate workshop.
The land purposely drops away in front of this colourful garden in a ha-ha - a landscaping feature that keeps grazing livestock out of the garden without interrupting the view.
Beyond this, another expanse of land sheltered by trees on both sides could form the third and final lot. Sharing in the glorious view, it's where the Humphries used to keep a few sheep.
It's time for a new chapter in Prue's life, now she's widowed. She's bought a home in Auckland's Stonefields and is looking forward to having less land and enjoying the neighbourhood's renowned sense of community. She hopes former SPCA cat Isabella will be just as happy there, because Greenwolds' freedom suited her so perfectly, too, since she was originally found living wild.
