It is so hard to see the photos that I have also uploaded them to Flickr. You can see them here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8309344@N05/
Enjoy,
Linda B:)
Friday, July 24, 2009
My "New" Home
I have to tell you all about the group that came to work on my trailer. If you have been following my progress over the past few years you know what has been going on. No running water, no heat, things falling apart and me falling apart. I finally accepted that I could not repair all of this and applied to an organization locally that helps people do repairs on their homes.
Sunset Gap Community Center
http://sunsetgap.org/
http://sunsetgap.org/
Sometimes it is as simple as building a ramp or installing a handicapped bathroom for someone with the need. Other times it is as major as building a complete new home. They help about 200 families each year just with the building projects. Church groups come from all over the country to spend time in our area and help out. They spend the year gathering donations to pay for the trip, supplies for the repairs and $190 per person per night to stay in the camp at the Gap.
My group came from Delta Presbyterian Church in Lansing MI:
The group was made up of 15 men and women. They were all wonderful, friendly and determined to make my life easier and more comfortable. They arrived early every morning and worked until late afternoon. Everything was done to spec and they made sure no detail was overlooked.
They repaired holes in the roof and covered it in vinyl. There is a wonderful ramp to my front door so no more falling out the door on those concrete blocks. I can even roll my groceries right up and into the beautiful new front door.
They fixed my falling in floors and painted my old lawn furniture. I was able to get a pump for the well but all the pipes were busted. They replaced them all plus repaired the leaking pipes inside and replaced the old faucets in the bathroom and kitchen. They even replaced the old leaking toilet with a high one (a Jacuzzi brand LOL) and replaced that old cracked plastic bathroom sink with a beautiful ceramic one. After eighteen months I finally have running water again. HOT running water!!!!
They patched the leaking roof and gave it several coats of vinyl sealant. They put up snug stainless steel skirting around the bottom of the mobile home (which the mice are already working on tunneling under) and they gave the entire outside several coats of primer and paint. I no longer have to ask which direction people are coming from before telling them the color of the trailer LOL.
They fixed my falling in floors and painted my old lawn furniture. I was able to get a pump for the well but all the pipes were busted. They replaced them all plus repaired the leaking pipes inside and replaced the old faucets in the bathroom and kitchen. They even replaced the old leaking toilet with a high one (a Jacuzzi brand LOL) and replaced that old cracked plastic bathroom sink with a beautiful ceramic one. After eighteen months I finally have running water again. HOT running water!!!!
They patched the leaking roof and gave it several coats of vinyl sealant. They put up snug stainless steel skirting around the bottom of the mobile home (which the mice are already working on tunneling under) and they gave the entire outside several coats of primer and paint. I no longer have to ask which direction people are coming from before telling them the color of the trailer LOL.
There was also lots of cleaning and trash to haul away. It has been over a year since I fell and couldn't drive anymore. I had washed a lot of cans and plastic stuff and put it in boxes under the trailer to either reuse or haul off later. I had used up a lot of the cardboard boxes between the rows of my garden but there were still quite a few left that got stuffed under the edge of the trailer.
Then there was all that extra furniture I have been trying to give away or get hauled off. My son's 7 foot couch, the dryer that doesn't run, those display racks from my craft show/shop days and more. We even tackled my van. It was loaded with yard sale junk that everyone had given me. The mice had taken over the place and it reeked but the ladies gamely held open bags as I filled them up and we got it done.
And there were lots of little things, too many to even remember them all. They bought me a lovely stand for the umbrella on the deck and made a stand for the old umbrella at the oasis. They hung my ladybug welcome sign and did much, much more.
I can't say enough about how wonderful this group was plus the people from the Gap who helped coordinate the work, bring supplies and pick up trash and just keep the projects on track. Everyone was full of smiles and love. Each day I left to go teach the crafts at our Vacation Bible School. When I returned home a few hours later it was like Christmas with new projects done and more surprises.
Before - yellow, rust and green slime:
After - lovely greens that blend with the mountains:
Each day Bo, the big dog, was moved down by the creek so the group could work. Miss Bubbles would sit in the glider with me - you can barely see her gray head popping up here. Also someone is cutting the no slip covering for one of my ramps. The small green umbrella in the distance is in the garden. I don't handle the sun well so I sit under it when I am working out there.
In the background you can see the gray trailer the group brought with them. It was filled with equipment. Each morning they spread out everything and got to work.
Now that they are gone it is so quiet. Bo is sitting under the umbrella and looks lost without all the people to keep him company :)
I just realized I didn't get any pics of the front ramp and the new door. I will try to do that tomorrow.
Keep Sunset Gap and Delta Presbyterian Church in your prayers. God blessed me one hundredfold by sending them my way. They far exceeded anything I expected or would have asked for.
Now I am off to elevate my swollen legs and rest so I can tackle the rest of that carpet tomorrow.
Hugs,
Linda B:)
Then there was all that extra furniture I have been trying to give away or get hauled off. My son's 7 foot couch, the dryer that doesn't run, those display racks from my craft show/shop days and more. We even tackled my van. It was loaded with yard sale junk that everyone had given me. The mice had taken over the place and it reeked but the ladies gamely held open bags as I filled them up and we got it done.
And there were lots of little things, too many to even remember them all. They bought me a lovely stand for the umbrella on the deck and made a stand for the old umbrella at the oasis. They hung my ladybug welcome sign and did much, much more.
I can't say enough about how wonderful this group was plus the people from the Gap who helped coordinate the work, bring supplies and pick up trash and just keep the projects on track. Everyone was full of smiles and love. Each day I left to go teach the crafts at our Vacation Bible School. When I returned home a few hours later it was like Christmas with new projects done and more surprises.
Before - yellow, rust and green slime:
After - lovely greens that blend with the mountains:
Each day Bo, the big dog, was moved down by the creek so the group could work. Miss Bubbles would sit in the glider with me - you can barely see her gray head popping up here. Also someone is cutting the no slip covering for one of my ramps. The small green umbrella in the distance is in the garden. I don't handle the sun well so I sit under it when I am working out there.
In the background you can see the gray trailer the group brought with them. It was filled with equipment. Each morning they spread out everything and got to work.
Now that they are gone it is so quiet. Bo is sitting under the umbrella and looks lost without all the people to keep him company :)
I just realized I didn't get any pics of the front ramp and the new door. I will try to do that tomorrow.
Keep Sunset Gap and Delta Presbyterian Church in your prayers. God blessed me one hundredfold by sending them my way. They far exceeded anything I expected or would have asked for.
Now I am off to elevate my swollen legs and rest so I can tackle the rest of that carpet tomorrow.
Hugs,
Linda B:)
Busy, Busy, Busy
There has been so much going on I don’t even know where to start. I had Vacation Bible School, the work crew who fixed so many of my problems around the trailer, our church’s annual homecoming and more all going on at practically the same time. There is so much to tell and lots of pics so I plan to write a separate blog on each.
Right now I am rushing about trying to get the house cleaned up. After all that repair work I figured that I could get it done in a week. When everyone was talking about coming by to view the repairs I invited them all for next Monday, sort of an unofficial “open house”. Of course I blew out my knees again last Monday and have been barely able to stand much less walk so I am way behind. Are we surprised? LOL
The only major project is the living room and moving the computer. I managed to start cleaning the carpet this evening. I needed my rolling chair but I am almost halfway done. Ever the optimist I am sure I can finish it by Sat. Isn’t that what I said about the cleaning spree two weeks ago? Hmmmm, seems I never learn – or have a very short memory. :)
Hugs,
Linda B:)
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