Why my Garden Room is gone and I haven't been here in awhile.

13 years ago

So,

Remember my lovely screened in carport with windows? Gone. Remember my lovely self-built stairs? gone, my nice little fish pond in the rocks? Also gone.

What happened is, 2 months ago a gentleman came walking down the drive (we rented a lot behind my daughters house) and it turns out he was a Real estate agent, there to lock the doors as my daughters house was in forclosure. To late for me to do anything about it, and we had 21 days to vacate.

Hysteria? You bet, Panic? you bet. Stress? yup. So, I called all the agents in town, and went looking for somewhere to move to.. Imagine getting everything you own off the property in 3 weeks, what whould you do?

Found a storage building and rented two huge rooms, and started moving. (hubby was in upper Indiana) moved all I could in between looking for somewhere to go to.. Remember I had 3 large carports 1 24/36 ft 14 ft tall.

I was driving from a storage run and spotted a real estate office I hadden't called yet. Stopped in, and the agent said, I might have something, lets go look and see what you think. Off we went, YES! Its perfect, can I afford it yes, can I finance it, no. Its an older singlewide on almost 2 acres, and no finace company would touch it.

Agent checked with owner, and yes, they would finance with significant down. Yes! So this was day 6 into move. Finance difficulity with borrowing enough for significant down.. working on that, in the meanwhile, owner says I can move stuff onto property, after agreeing to sale with full price agreed upon. Yes! So moving carports, outdoor kitchen, outdoor stuff and fish, plants, storage buildings, and RV (while living in it) Got everything moved, after much effort. (new place is 45 miles away)

problems with financing solved, and contract signed on day 18!!! moved final stuff, and now have been building fish pond, making home liviable, some landscaping. I know have 5 porches, a carrage house, 3 storage buildings, and an orchard with 8 apple, one pear, one grapevine, and a bunch of blackberry bushes. Tons of maple trees, creek down one side. No where for outdoor kitchen. Place doesn't even have an outdoor faucet? Crazy, so I now have rain barrels, soon to be installed.

Now, theres breating room.

Really amazed and its been a true miracle! I can't imagine anyone else finding this out and moving and closing in 18 days.

So, altho I miss the outdoor Garden Room, I love this place, and will make it mine!

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Comments (20)

Purplemoon
13 years ago
Dulci, what a terrible ordeal for you to go thru. And especially alone. I am amazed at all you accomplished
in such an extremely short time! Several years ago, a couple I know got evicted and told to clear out in THREE days. They had nowhere to go, half a dozen dogs, and were in a panic. Six of us helped them pack everything and get stuff into a storeroom before house was locked on them. Just remembering how hard that was makes me really incredulous at your move. I'm just so sorry you had to go thru all this.
Its good to hear you love the new place, and sounds like plenty of room for you to decorate with your wonderful yard stuff. I know you will make it as wonderful as the other was. (tho hope you can someday get an outdoor faucet). Its sad you had to leave that incredible garden room you made, I will never forget all your work on it.

Take care and I'm so glad you came back and let us know what happened.
hugs, Karen
sunnyca_gw
13 years ago
Sorry you have been through so much & amazed you held up so great under pressure!! A place of your own will be a lot of comfort & relief. All those fruits growing will be great, can't you break into the line going into the existing single wide? You need water for your plants & you, hope it has electricity & septic tank & all too. I knew a gal & hubby in their 20's that lived out in middle of desert with generators, trucked in water, it was crazy, watched TV 1-2 hrs day. Went to bed when it got dark. Don't know how they took the heat. Had chickens,fresh eggs & hauled groceries in. I think they did move to Oregon but don't live too much differently!! Sounds like you will have it pretty nice, is there a town nearby,gas station, cafe & general store would do !! Enjoy your new digs & show us some pics when you can!! Jan
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Marlene Kindred
13 years ago
Wow! Your story is both heartbreaking and exciting at the same time! SO sorry that you had to move in such a hurry and under so much stress...what a terrible ordeal. But, what a happy ending!! Now you have a place of your own and can spread out and rebuild your home....sounds so exciting (and tiring too). I'm happy that you found such a great place and will certainly keep you in my prayers as you get yourself situated and begin to have time to think about new projects in your new home! Glad to hear from you and so happy for your new home!
nonacook
13 years ago
What a shock!!
Sorry you had to go through that!!!!
But you accomplished a lot, and it sounds like, with a 'new slate' you will soon have it looking wonderful.
Prayers for health and strength to do all you have to do.
jeannespines
13 years ago
dulci...you've accomplished an inconceivable feat! Your courage & strength brought you through to a new journey in life! A new slate...& it sounds like a wonderful place to call "home." You & DH will grow tog with it...& it sounds wonderful!

Good thoughts & prayers to you & DH ...and hope your DD has found her way, too. Please share pics when you can...we always love seeing your progress! TFS your news. Jeanne S.
p.s. DH built me a rain barrel & it's a big plastic barrel which fills all the way up with just an inch of rainfall ...and that's just one part of eave from roof.
Calamity_J
13 years ago
WOW! Talk about making lemonade when life hands you lemons!!! Good for you! What a blessing to read, thank you for sharing all this with us! I am even MORE inspired by your Garden Room idea now, as you have accomplished so much in a short time, it makes me KNOW I can do it too!!! Talk about the 6 million dollar man(old tv show) theme" We have the power to rebuild...make it stronger, better than it was before"!!!
seamommy
13 years ago
Dulci, what an amazing inspiration you are to all of us. This must have been an agonizing experience when you were living through it, but when I was reading about all the things you were doing and how you dealt with each issue as it came up, I got the feeling that you are truely a winner. You are the type of person who will never be held down. No matter what life deals you, you will find a way to come out of it on top. I am nominating you for the

PURPLE DOOR AWARD

"For Bravery and Courage in the face of Overwhelming Financial Difficulties, Ignorant Bankers, Sneaky Realtors and Broken Dreams. You are being recognized and Awarded for your Perseverance, Determination, Spirit and Never Say Die Attitude. You stand as a Bastion of Wit, Strength and Intelligence to Men and Women everywhere. Think not of the things that are gone out of your life, but of the new things that have opened up great new possibilities for your creative spirit. Enter now through that PURPLE DOOR and charge ahead fearlessly into your wonderous and unknown future."
Barbara Kelly
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks everyone, I am truly blessed! I think mostly, I left it to the Lord to help me, and he lead me in the right direction every time.

Here's a before of the new house.

{{gwi:127301}}

and this is what we've done so far,,

{{gwi:127302}}

Sorry if its too big, I haven't figured out (remembered lol)how to size them,,
concretenprimroses
13 years ago
Wow! What an amazing story! Congratulations on your new place, and on the well deserved purple door award. Love what you have done so far.
Kathy
excessfroufrou
13 years ago
What a story! The new place looks so peaceful and shady and you've already done so much, it looks wonderful. Sometimes I think it would be great to have a blank canvas, but I wouldn't want to be put in the postition you were. I love that pond, the whole front looks great, it's like an instant makeover.
Frou
Marlene Kindred
13 years ago
Your new house looks so peaceful and quiet! LOVE all of the work you've done so far....you've been busy! The fish pond is awesome!
jeannespines
13 years ago
dulci...you need to start a post on the other side...especially these last 2 pics you just showed...
WOW...amazing at the changes ALREADY!!!
Please share on other side...Jeanne S.
bebob
13 years ago
dulci I'm so happy for you, yes the Lord will lead you though.
I'm not on the site very much anymore because I just don't have the time. But was looking around today and saw your wonderful porch. (before) and then read your story. God can always find someone worse off them myself and your story has just inspired and renew me. (I guess I was setting here at work feeling sorry for myself) I too have a wonderful Daughter and three grandchildren but her choice of men has not been the best so I moved them into my home. Seems all I pay for is Attoney fee for her and now one for the grandchildren. Ex is really bad man, But I know that God will find and end to this 2 year battle where we all can be happy in the end. Sorry.
Just wanted to say God Bless you and please keep the pictures coming. I so enjoy watching your progress.

I agree with Seamommy on the PURPLE DOOR AWARD
God bless
Betty from Indiana
luna_llena_feliz
13 years ago
Good lord, woman, you have been through some ordeal! I am so glad it had a happy ending. God was definitely looking over you during those 18 days! I can only imagine the stress you felt. Good thing you didn't lose your head though! It looks like you found a wonderful spot and are very busy making it your own. You don't let any moss grow under your feet, do you? lol! I can imagine how heartbroken you are over your outdoor kitchen but I'm sure you'll have plenty of fun fixing the new place up. Keep those wonderful pictures coming!
Barbara Kelly
Original Author
13 years ago
OH how kind you all are. I hereby accept the Purple Door Award, and am painting my door as we speak...lol a lovely Behr color Atlantic Tulip which is a lilac/purple. I will post a photo on the other side when I've put the second coat on.
I was really touched by all the encouraging posts here.
I know the Purple Door Award is all in fun, but it brought me to tears, and I'm so "touched" I felt painting my front door had to be done.
I explained it to Hubbs, and he's in! He thinks I'm "Wonderwoman" too..lol I've just done what had to be done, and trusting in the Lord to pull me through.

Goodness, I love GardenWeb!
sunnyca_gw
13 years ago
You've made great headway & you almost have a garden room. Are those bench looking things benches or dividers? They are great for dividing off space. Your fish pond is awesome! DH looks contented!!With 2 acres maybe you can find a space a little ways from your living quarters to make a screened in room! I didn't realize you had a mobile home, it looks like a house in your other post, it's shaping up nicely!! You deserve the Purple Door award for sure!! Congrats! Jan
Barbara Kelly
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks all!
Yes, those are benches, and I built them from mailbox post hammer-in-the-ground thingys. They are very sturdy.
We've decided not to put up the Garden Room again, as once we screen the porches we really won't need it. We'd rather concentrate on fixing up the Carrage house to use for a hot tub/spa room.
Yep its a smallish older mobile home, (I call it a large RV) lol
Um,, ok but thats not DH. Thats a friend of ours that stays with us ocasionally.
seamommy
13 years ago
The first thing that went through my mind when I saw the pic was to warn you that, Hey, there's an old guy sitting on your porch... MWahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

That's how it always is, you do all the work, get the place all comfy and fixed up, and then here they come, old guys who just want to sit around, drink tea and read the papers. Just like stray cats. Next thing you know thye'll be folding dollar bills into little footballs and shooting them around at each other, falling asleep in the shade, and wanting to help with the dishes. Gotta love those old guys, can't live with 'em, can't scrape 'em off your shoe...

Cheryl(married to a near-sighted, bald-headed, fat-bellied old guy who likes to sit on the porch in the shade, drink tea and make little footballs out of dollar bills)
goldenpond
13 years ago
Oh I think it is grande.Wish we could all show up and help you junk and garden it up!
But,,,, It looks like you have done a great job all ready!
tanya
luna_llena_feliz
13 years ago
I wish I could show up and sit on the awesome porch! he-he I'd keep your friend company. Keep those pictures coming! Love the purple door you did too!

Why my Garden Room is gone and I haven't been here in awhile.

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