A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall The Home I'm Buying

Yesterday the county called to tell me the check has been cut for my new home's down payment. I can't find where I had posted about this so I thought I would start a new post.

It's a double-wide trailer on a permanent foundation. There is 1.4 acres of land that is 2/3 wooded. It's out by Lynchburg, VA.

I go to settlement on May 29th. And I'm so excited. It's about 4 hours away from where I am now so I'll be taking the moving truck with me when I go to settlement lol.

It's a 3 bedroom 2 bath with a formal dinningroom and I love it. It has a deck on the back that I hope someday to turn into a sunroom but that's after the mortgage is paid off. I got it for about 20,000 less than the going rate for like properties which is a steal. I has a septic system and well on the property, so no water or sewer bill. And no trash bill either because you can just take you trash to designated sites and it is free. Isn't that cool?

There is a good sized shed on the property and that is where I'm going to keep all my potting supplies and garden stuff. It is perfect.

I bet you can tell how happy I am to finally have a garden where everyone won't be walking through it all the time.

tk, i'm so happy for you. i hope it continues to go well.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Oh, this is such happy news!

Will you keep posting in this thread so we can all follow this good story?



Merme

OH, Tammy--it sounds just perfect.--what fun you will have making it your own.

I have always been a yard person---& feel houses are incidental--but your sounds like you did very good on both counts.--I can't wait for the 29th either.

One last question.---what is the tree situation--in the yard proper I mean.---and the wooded part counds great too.

Congratulations and we'll be waiting for pics

I'm SO excited for you Tammy! A house! And finally a real yard to garden in! You're going to be in heaven.

Looking forward to seeing some pictures of the place eventually.

Congrats!

May 29th will be here before you know it.

Tammy that is wonderful news!!! AT last a place to call your own, with the land and space you need and deserve,, Good for you,, Do you have a camera?? We want to see pictures ,,
Looks Like we need to get up a Good 'ol Gardenhelper House warming party for you here soon!! And you know how we love having parties around here,, :wink:

Pics will have to wait until I have a new computer. The old camera died (got dropped once to often) and the new camera requires a pentium (not an old old 486). But I promise when I can I certainly will get lots of pictures.

Trees!!! Boy howdy do I have trees and I plan to add a bunch more. What is currently on the forested part of the property isn't one of the trees I'm familar with. But what I hope to do is to cut back the first 5 feet near the street so that powerlines aren't a problem. That will make the first 3+ cords of wood I'll need for the fire place. Then cut back enough for the two hazel nut trees I want.

The Red Lacy Maple is going to go in the wooded area but near the back of the property so I can see it from my deck that is around the back of the house. In front of it as seen from the deck I plan to have the Knot/Herb Garden.

I also plan to have a pond/bog/picnic area in the forested part of the property. There I want one Weeping willow. I love those trees.

On the front yard I plan to add 2 Golden Chain Trees, 2 Almond Trees, 1 Strawberry Tree, 1 Dwarf Plum Tree, 2 Dwarf Pear Trees, 2 Dwarf Peach Trees, 2 Dwarf Apple Trees, 2 Dwarf Cherry Trees, 1 Spike Witchhazel, 1 Walking Stick Tree, 1 Fragrant Abelia, and one Serviceberry. And I plan to use those as focal points and put beds of flowers around each one. So no lawn but lots of very short ground covers lol.

And yes I will continue to post here as things develop.

Yesterday while I was visiting with a friend someone brought me a grape hycinth and left it at my door. And it's in full bloom. Isn't that great?

And I couldn't resist a Red Lacy Maple priced at 15.00 over at Home Depot. Or the mixed and yellow bags of gladiolus at the dollar store. I have to stop buying because all of this has to be moved. But it is hard because I've got spring fever like you wouldn't believe. lol

I've already decided on the decors I want in the dinningroom, den, masterbath and the livingroom.

Did I mention that the livingroom has a bay window? I've always wanted a bay window and this one looks out on the front yard So I'm definitely going to be trading for fall and winter interest shade plants for that front area. I have quite a few seeds for summer and many bulbs for spring. So it's mostly the fall and winter that I want to make sure I have now.

The property slopes down from the street so I'm planning on building a berm About 5 feet out from the walkway to the front door that will slant towards the north boundry to divert any water runoff. My stoop is only an inch or sow tall and I don't want any water being able to get into the house.

I'll add more to this post later.

This is wonderful news Tammy!!! Very exciting! I'm sure you can't wait!

Oh, a Bay Window! How fantastic! Nothing could be nicer!

I look forward to your updates as time goes on.


Merme

I didn't actually mention the fireplace in the first post did I? Well it has one and it has a wonderful wood mantel and all. After I gather up some money I'm going to have it checked and see if it has a full liner in it. If so I'll just add the glass doors and then I'll have the most efficient fireplace for heating. It already has the insert in place so it's just the liner that is in question. Well that, and the fan on the top of the chiminy. We don't want any hot ashes escaping.

On My Goodness Tammy It all sounds Lovely,, I saw the red lace maples at home depot too,,! I'm soooooooo excited for you!! a fireplace and a bay window,, I love bay windows,, are you planning on making a seating area out of it or a place for house plants?? :wink:

Tammy--I am so very happy for you. The house sounds wonderful and what is better the yard sounds to die for!!! (I would pick a good yard over a good house any day)

You sound excited which is as it should be--and I look forward to lots of pictures.

keep the updates coming.--

It does, indeed, sound very very nice!

Does your state require or merely suggest home buyers having a home inspection by a professional before closing? An inspection would include looking at the chimney/fireplace carefully. I know that in many areas, the results of the inspection can help the home buyer lower the cost of the purchase if there was an undisclosed big problem. I've heard some folks say the cost of the inspection can be worth it simply to find out everything is perfect because it gives them peace of mind concerning the likelihood of unforseen repairs. Dunno what the majority of people do in your area, though.

I know I'm wishing you a very sound roof, a fully functioning safe fireplace, and a lovely snug home!

These updates are fun. Thanks.


Merme

Our state just suggest the home inspection. And full disclosure is an absolute neccessity.

There were two different inspections done on the home. The reason for the fireplace inspection is because a fully lined chimney is quite a bit more efficient when it comes to heating the house. And I would like to have it as efficient as possible. It doesn't have anything to do with the structural soundness of the home. Just progress in new technologies to bring old technologies up to new standards.

The bay windows will hold two winged back chairs and a gate-leg table to begin with. But I strongly suspect they will become a plant gathering place before to terribly long.

The orchids and av's are going to go on the breakfast bar that is between the kitchen and livingroom and they will probably spread down to the stools that will be placed under the bar as well lol.

The Epi will go on the fireplace mantle until fall when I fire up the fireplace. We don't want any drafts making my Epi unhappy.

The oyster plant, croton, kalanchoe, and jade are going in the dinning room near the sliding glass windows.

The Arabian Jasmine is going on the other side of the dinningroom on the peacock shelf.

And assorted ferns and other high humidity plants are going in the master bath.

That's all I've planned so far but as you know I'll have plants everywhere before I'm finished lol.

As far as snug that is one problem with trailers. They don't have the amount of insulation that would make for a snug home. Since I don't care for wall board I plan to put up a radiant barrier, and then drywall over that and then create "focal points using stencils, flocking plus moulding to really make the paintings I do stand out. It's hard to explan but someday I'll have pictures of it.

Good idea, and that's not too expensive.

the waiting begins.......tk is at it at last.

Nope just labor intensive. Or where you talking about the camera? I get sooooo confused lol.

Your right I'm on the decorating planning rampage lol. I'm getting ideas here and there for things that I want to do. Mostly in the garden but some interior stuff too.

Today I went to the grocery store and came home with a wrought iron bench for the garden and a beautiful pure red dragonwing begonia. I don't believe they were on the shopping list but what can I say. They were both stop dead georgeous and I've always wanted one of the benches so I just had to. It's was 62.00 including tax. That wasn't too bad of a price was it?

Thanks for explaining about the home inspections. Interesting!

I know what you mean about wall board. I'm not a fan, either. Do you know a friend who can help you put up the sheet rock you want when the time comes? I used to love to do that kind of work, all the mudding, sanding and painting and whathaveyou. I miss it! Wish I could come help!

I don't blame you in the least for impulse purchasing drop dead beautiful things for your new home. Yeah, they may not be groceries, but they feed the soul. That counts!

You are going to have a lovely home.

Merme

It's a great feeling isn't it Tammy? I remember when we were building our home. It took years of saving and a few years of building but the planning was the best part.

Merme, I can't believe you like sanding drywall~that has got to be the worst part of home renos. Well, in my eyes anyway.

tk
Nothing isn't bad in price if it is for yourself......Keep shoppin .
Your having fun..

dodge

congrats tkhooper!

I was very lucky in one of my boyfriends. He was a carpenter and very good at drywall so I learned all the tricks. If I do it right there is very little sanding required. Of course working the top three feet of the wall is going to be a pain cause I don't like heights but what needs to be done has to be done.

I plan on doing it one rooms exterior wall at a time. Then coming back and doing the interior walls. I'll be living in chaos for awhile but I'll get there within a year or two lol.

The gardens are much easier to plan. Since I like specimen gardens I'm going to have 1 of every semi-shade plant that I can get my hands on lol. So far the list has over 100 plants on it. Then there are the 15 or so trees that will provide the shade for the plants lol. And then the ground covers to fill in the garden between the different beds. No lawn for me. The grade is too steep for me to try and mow.

And I have to leave enough of a sunny place for the plants I'm taking with me. So far they number 18 and I'm still digging things up lol. Hopefully I'll manage to find pots for all of them before the move date. I can see me out there on moving day potting up plants as the moving van pulls away lol.

Then I have to carefully excavate around the drain field until I find out what kind of pipes they used. If it is the white pvc then I can have my zen garden. If not I'll have lawn back there. Then it's on to the knot garden that I'll be able to see from the deck. That's were the herbs are going. Also a bunch of dwarf boxwoods. The shed is going to get covered in trellises and then I'm planning on planting all of my vine seeds. It should look overgrown and fantastic in a short amount of time. After that comes the picnic area in the woodland area. I want to build a stream/bog/pond and then plant a weeping willow and a bunch of bog plants around it including of course, tropicana Canna Lilies, cattails, pussy willows, lotus, and ornamental grasses.

Of course I'll be one hundred years old before I run out of projects but that's the way it goes I guess lol.

when you get moved, you want some cuttings of my corkscrew willow?
they were in a bouquet of roses for my anniversary, and when the flowers faded, the willows got shoved into the ground, rather unceremoniously, as this was in october and growing cold out, oh 12-13 years ago now. i think they are about to brush the power lines now...(note to self, pole pruning this weekend)

See how time flys when your having fun?
b

patunia thank you so much for your offer. I've pm'ed you with my address.

Dodge you are such a kick. But your right the growing seasons are going to fly by now that I have a place to work that is protected from 2 legged vandals anyway.

Thankyou so much Cindy. I'm so glad you are feeling better and are posting again. I missed you and was very scared. You are always in my prayers just try not to need them quite so much in future ok? I love you.

Tk I will soon dig out some RED TULIPS FOR YOU ...... And save till you send an address..............Do you want Hosta Plants? I have lots.

RED TULIPS wow fantastic. Those are going to be amazing. I can't wait. As far as hosta go, I have three that I have never identifed. Once I know which ones they are I'll be looking for other types. And I'll remember you have many. Will that be ok?

...........I can show you photos of my types and you might know quicker????//

Ok Make sure to send me the New address......so I dont ship to a stranger..LOL

Tk I'm going to look over my seeds and such and compile a list to see if there's anything you want,, It will take a couple of days,,I also have different kinds of sedums< both ground cover and 'not'. In the late fall I could send lots of Brug cuttings to root over winter,!

Tammy, I'm soo very happy for you!! It will be soo nice for you to get into a place that you can garden as much as you want to! ...oh I can't wait to see pictures and to hear all of your making a new garden adventures! Your going to have to have an Adventure column like Wild Willy does!!! :)

tk wins again............It has been a longggggggggggggg time in the making>>
Right ?

Angelbloosom, I put up a wish list in the Cuttings and seed Exchange. That will save you making a list. Of course about every 6 months I go through my seeds and make a list because my old one is woefully out of date lol. So if you need to update your list don't let me stop you lol.

Thanks hisgal2, yes the property will keep me busy for the rest of my days and I hope to get before and after pics from many different spots on the property. Both before and after. It may be a good while before I get them posted but I'll try.

You know it's kind of funny, I had given up on the dream of owning my own place years ago. Heavenly Father sent this to me like a gift. There is no way I could have done it on my own. So really I didn't have the years of saving up for a down payment and all the rest of it that most people do when they plan to buy a house. And because of the time constraints I didn't spend a great deal of time looking. I think total I only looked at 3 houses. Again, I think Heavenly Father knew I couldn't look for a long time like most buyers do. I just don't have the energy with the health problems. I've been really lucky.

And remember I only started gardening as Wild Willy reminded us about 3 years ago and that was just a few herbs on a window sill. Can you believe how far we have come since then. It just doesn't seem possible.

Isnt that funny.I began with nothing also.
Today they call me the flower lady.. LOL

Were good for something here............

Definitely, the first few trades I made everyone sent me oddles of extra seeds. So I really want to share back whenever possible.

Dodge do you have pictures of your garden beds. Like wide focus so that I can see entire areas? I don't think I've ever seen your garden to total. Or maybe I forgot. I do that alot.

I take photos I have to go back to photobucket and look.....
My favorite way to do beds is rectangulars, so I can work on both sides. I find it easier. about 4 feet wide.. I will go see.

tk

Here is the tulip bed this time.. New one only about 10 ft long.