Beginner Gardening: Donna's before and after, 1 by rutholive

rutholive wrote:
Cici has such a wonderful thread going of her hard gardening work and before and after, gave me the inspiration to show a few of my before and after.

After I became a widow in 1993, I decided to sell the 3 acres with the house that we had lived in for almost 50 years. I was really tired of living in the middle of an orchard, with no views. Took me three years to sell, but in the meantime I bought 5 1/2 acres up here in the hills, nine miles away. Nothing here but sagebrush and grass. I felt the best option for me was a manufactured home. The top (I think) photo is of the area where the house would be located, next are the four cement slabs just poured, that the three sections of the house will sit on, on cement blocks. The bottom photo shows the 3rd., section being moved into place.

I was at a friends house playing bridge, when I saw the three sections of the house coming down the highway. I said I'm out of here and got into my little lavender pickup and followed the trucks through town and up the 4 mile hill road to my location. That was about 3:00 pm by 7:00 pm they were in place so the trucks could leave. Took the work crew one week to jack the sections up and put the cement blocks under, fasten the three sections together, put filler, etc. and paint. rugs in place and all the other necessary finish work. I moved in June 14, 1995 Before the papers were signed I spent 3 months redesigning/changing and working with the company to try to get exactly what I wanted. Of course every change I made cost me money!!!! But even now after 10 years I am happy with my house and would not make many changes.

There is a great view of the surrounding hills from anywhere in the house or yard. However my shrubs and trees have grown perhaps too well in some areas and are blocking the view.

My daughter first said "Mom, why do you want to homestead at your age",, now when she comes from VA to visit she is happy for me.

DonnaS