THIS IS A....
We have been living on our 20 acres for over 18 years now, here in Corona CA.
17 years ago and both of us a lot younger & in better shape,
Ron and I came across this property through our realtor.
When she gave us directions and we were going down a bumpy dirt road,
we never imagined a house let alone people & families lived down this road.
We come to the address and this is what we saw
We are looking at the property and then each other and thought
Where is the house?
.
Behind the trees sat this old mobile home with leaves up to
5 feet all around the place.
So we decided to take a look anyways while we were there.
We walked around the half fallen, half up fence and see from the side,
the front of the house.
Beyond the front door was a horse arena in the front yard.
Behind us was the carport, below
Passed the carport and the fence was an
old broken down barn .
In the front of the place by the carport was a tack shed.
Below
Ron (right) & friend Jerry (left) stood there laughing at this mess before us.
We walked around to the backyard area.
Below
.We couldn't believe what a mess this place was and it
was for sale for $100,000.00. We sat in our truck looking at the place
and drove up and down the road to find out, that there were
about 10 more homes passed us.
When we got home we thought about it and we could see us doing a lot to
the property and the little mobile home there, I called our realtor next morning
and told her we would buy it for $75,000.00, that was our one & only offer.
the property and the little mobile home there, I called our realtor next morning
and told her we would buy it for $75,000.00, that was our one & only offer.
Next day she calls and says okay.
OMG!!! But low and behold I just offered her that thinking they wouldn't go for
it and it back fired. We didn't have $75,000.00 cash laying around in our bank account
or to buy it. We couldn't get a loan on property alone unless you had green cash!!
the mobile home, it was a throw in. Wow!!! What to do. Ron had been working
for this wonderful construction company for over 20 years and his boss was pretty
well off and a sweet honest man and so I told Ron to go ask him for a loan
and that we would pay it off in 5 years. Ron thought he just couldn't
ask him that and I told Ron, "What can he say but no". It doesn't ever hurt to ask
for something. If you don't ask, you will always wonder "Why didn't I ask".
OMG!!! But low and behold I just offered her that thinking they wouldn't go for
it and it back fired. We didn't have $75,000.00 cash laying around in our bank account
or to buy it. We couldn't get a loan on property alone unless you had green cash!!
the mobile home, it was a throw in. Wow!!! What to do. Ron had been working
for this wonderful construction company for over 20 years and his boss was pretty
well off and a sweet honest man and so I told Ron to go ask him for a loan
and that we would pay it off in 5 years. Ron thought he just couldn't
ask him that and I told Ron, "What can he say but no". It doesn't ever hurt to ask
for something. If you don't ask, you will always wonder "Why didn't I ask".
The next day after work, Ron walked through the door with the biggest
smile on his face and his boss said "no problem". Wow!! whose boss would do that?
smile on his face and his boss said "no problem". Wow!! whose boss would do that?
A few months later when escrow was closed and it was ours (oh boy), we now
had our work cut out for us. First thing was the outside of the place.
We needed to get that cleaned up first before even deciding on what to do with
the inside of the mobile home . We still had our home across the freeway from
this new place but had 60 days until we had to move because the owner of the
property had sold his property to a company and where our home was going to
be the 9th hole of a golf course. So we had to hustle big time regarding everything.
had our work cut out for us. First thing was the outside of the place.
We needed to get that cleaned up first before even deciding on what to do with
the inside of the mobile home . We still had our home across the freeway from
this new place but had 60 days until we had to move because the owner of the
property had sold his property to a company and where our home was going to
be the 9th hole of a golf course. So we had to hustle big time regarding everything.
So, On a warm day in July we began the clean up. Took a while, like 4 months. (we got
to stay the extra 2 months in our old place). To come over and clean after both of
us working all day at our jobs. Many of day's and nights we just didn't have the energy
to go over to the property but God somehow gave us the energy to do so.
First thing first was the outside. With some friends and a dumpster from the landfill,
it wasn't long before we filled it up and shockingly were charged over $500.00 for
that dumpster with the weight we put in it of all the crap outside. We only had about
a quarter of the property cleaned up. There was no way we could afford another dumpster
from the landfill or even filling up our trucks and driving to the landfill ourselves.
Then along came Jerry. Jerry has lived in Corona forever and is a rich old man with a heart of gold. Gives the best hugs ever and is funny and he sometimes told tell dirty jokes.
We didn't know him that well but I had "run in's" with him coming into the country store I was working at down the road. I was telling him about our property and where it was and about the landfill, when Jerry tells me he has dumpsters and we could use his and use as many as we want for a $100.00 each dumpster and the $100.00 included the towing and putting it in dumpster.
Another piece of our life falls into place.
So on the next weekend we come to the property and a dumpster has already been delivered.
to stay the extra 2 months in our old place). To come over and clean after both of
us working all day at our jobs. Many of day's and nights we just didn't have the energy
to go over to the property but God somehow gave us the energy to do so.
First thing first was the outside. With some friends and a dumpster from the landfill,
it wasn't long before we filled it up and shockingly were charged over $500.00 for
that dumpster with the weight we put in it of all the crap outside. We only had about
a quarter of the property cleaned up. There was no way we could afford another dumpster
from the landfill or even filling up our trucks and driving to the landfill ourselves.
Then along came Jerry. Jerry has lived in Corona forever and is a rich old man with a heart of gold. Gives the best hugs ever and is funny and he sometimes told tell dirty jokes.
We didn't know him that well but I had "run in's" with him coming into the country store I was working at down the road. I was telling him about our property and where it was and about the landfill, when Jerry tells me he has dumpsters and we could use his and use as many as we want for a $100.00 each dumpster and the $100.00 included the towing and putting it in dumpster.
Another piece of our life falls into place.
So on the next weekend we come to the property and a dumpster has already been delivered.
Ron here is tearing down the tack shed in the front yard
.
Another miracle fell into place for us was Ron working down the road about 10 minutes from home, doing 4 buildings there and his wonderful boss let Ron take the backhoe, or a tractor or whatever we wanted that was on the job to use. All we had to do was replace the gas when Ron brought it back to the job on Monday.
Another blessing from the Lord and us thinking it was just luck.
Time for the front of house and arena. Below is Ron tearing down arena
Tore down the horse arena (above) and the tackle shed in front first and cleaned up all the leaves around the place and all the junk in front.
Took about 9 days working our butts off but we cleaned it up. Next was the carport area. It was poorly put together with wood this past owner found anywhere he could and it looked tacky. Tore down that white fence too.
The next weekend was the barn area . That weekend Ron taught me how to drive a backhoe and so the Friday before we were to tear it down, I walked to Ron's job and got to drive it home. I felt like my crap didn't stink. Driving this big machine when usually you see guys only handling this equipment. People were staring at me as I had my golden retrievers with me and my music playing as I drove down a 2 lane road slowly, holding up the traffic but didn't care.
Here is the barn before we tore it down
Here is the barn before we tore it down
After barn is the back yard. we knocked down 2 trees and cleaned it up.
Before below
Now to do the other side of property where the horse arena was and the side of the house.
Below is when the arena was still there and I'm standing on the opposite side of the house in front. We had to cut a few trees down again and move more leaves and crap laying around.
Below is when the arena was still there and I'm standing on the opposite side of the house in front. We had to cut a few trees down again and move more leaves and crap laying around.
After getting most of the front area and back yard cleaned up ourselves, it was time for the inside.
So while Ron was finishing up the clean up outside, I was going through the house cleaning up all the junk inside.
Apparently a lady lived here since 1972 and had horses and a Indian boyfriend. He died and she let the place go and it got bad, and she was a little off her rocker we were told. She was awarded to the state and put in a nursing home not far from our property.
She had left a lot of her personal belongings here and as I went from room to room and found things this gal had saved for years, I decided to put the things she had given to her mom when this gal was little, pictures of all kind left behind and I threw in the box as I moved along the house cleaning it.
Above is the master bedroom before I cleaned it up.
Apparently a lady lived here since 1972 and had horses and a Indian boyfriend. He died and she let the place go and it got bad, and she was a little off her rocker we were told. She was awarded to the state and put in a nursing home not far from our property.
She had left a lot of her personal belongings here and as I went from room to room and found things this gal had saved for years, I decided to put the things she had given to her mom when this gal was little, pictures of all kind left behind and I threw in the box as I moved along the house cleaning it.
As I'm cleaning up the master bedroom, laying on a heap of junk( where that black heap in pic above) was a white envelope under that black heap It was right above a window and I looked inside the envelope and there was 10- $100.00 bills inside, paper clipped together. Ron was looking across the dirt road at the riverbed when I started screaming for Ron. He came a running inside to me and I was waving the money at him like it was a hand fan. Ron thought it wasn't real money but rest assure it was. We literally were broke with all we had to put buy and put into this property but didn't know if it was ours to keep.
I say yes!!!!!
We called the realtor and she said it was ours since its our house. Oh the joy we felt and again, another thing falls into place for us. Jumping up and down and so happy we had now $1,000.00 to spend. We figure someone must of dropped it off inside threw the window, maybe for a drug deal or something, because the envelope was clean and crisp, not like it had been laying there with all the other stuff. So,we paid off a few bills and got grocery's.
I say yes!!!!!
We called the realtor and she said it was ours since its our house. Oh the joy we felt and again, another thing falls into place for us. Jumping up and down and so happy we had now $1,000.00 to spend. We figure someone must of dropped it off inside threw the window, maybe for a drug deal or something, because the envelope was clean and crisp, not like it had been laying there with all the other stuff. So,we paid off a few bills and got grocery's.
And so after that, the cleaning continues.
Below is the entry way that I had ripped out all the carpeting and we were getting it ready to lay tile.
Below is the entry way that I had ripped out all the carpeting and we were getting it ready to lay tile.
Here it is almost done.
Next on the list is the kitchen and new appliances. Below is the before pics of the kitchen with no sink, no cupboards, no nothing.
and here below is where the stove/oven, refer, and cupboards should be but are not.
Below is before shots of the Livingroom/dining room.
What a big mess
We had to paint, and I tore out all the carpeting below in the whole house
This is the living room with carpet ripped out
Like I said earlier I didn't get any pictures of the bathrooms or other bedroom. The hall bathroom was disgusting. It had so much rat poop in the bathroom we had to wear masks. The floor had a hole in it and ugly wall paper. What a job this will be.
OKAY-AFTER SHOTS
November 18th 2001, it was time to move our stuff into our newly redone mobile home that was a throw in with the 20 acres. It cost us a lot to redo that little place but we did it.
So when you drive up, before you couldn't see the place. But now alter cleaning up front yard, backyard and side area's, it still needed a lot of work outside but at least you could now see the mobile home and we put a chain length fence in for the dogs around the house area, and I put a few Knick knacks in the yard and some patio chairs
Below. Now you can see our little home from the road
Like I said earlier I didn't get any pictures of the bathrooms or other bedroom. The hall bathroom was disgusting. It had so much rat poop in the bathroom we had to wear masks. The floor had a hole in it and ugly wall paper. What a job this will be.
OKAY-AFTER SHOTS
November 18th 2001, it was time to move our stuff into our newly redone mobile home that was a throw in with the 20 acres. It cost us a lot to redo that little place but we did it.
So when you drive up, before you couldn't see the place. But now alter cleaning up front yard, backyard and side area's, it still needed a lot of work outside but at least you could now see the mobile home and we put a chain length fence in for the dogs around the house area, and I put a few Knick knacks in the yard and some patio chairs
Below. Now you can see our little home from the road
Front
side of house
Getting ready to pour concrete for a driveway, above
We poured concrete for a driveway and put up fence for dogs, below
Where the barn used to be below
Side of house where the horse arena was, below
Below is the front and we built temp stairs to get in house
Another angle below
Below we still have 13 sycamore trees across from front door so I added a bench and a few Knick knacks to make it feel homey.
Below, don't know yet what to do for front yard so I added a swing, more Knick knacks and plants in pots and river rock from the river bed across from us
As you walk in the front door finally, we did tile in the entry way below and our then furniture.
Below is the Livingroom as you walk in.
living room below and here is view looking from dining room.
Below is the master bedroom. I painted and we laid carpeting
Below is the master bathroom. Small but cleaned up and new flooring and painted
We did the other bedroom and bathroom but have no pics of them.
Onward now to the biggest job, the kitchen. Below is the sink side where we went to Home depot and picked out cupboards and got sink, dishwasher, double pane windows through out the house & nice counter tops
Below is coming in front door and entry way tiled and the cupboards and new back door.
On the other side of kitchen, got more cupboards along entry way to the kitchen and refer, stove/oven and microwave above the stove below.
Inside done for now. We took a little break and I mean a little break and decided to pour concrete in the backyard. Oh Boy!!!!
Below is Ron and a few of his guys from work poured the concrete in back.
Below, adding our little touch to the backyard with plants, lounge chairs and a jacuzzi we were given but only has cold water. Great for summertime.
All that's left is the front yard and don't know what to do yet, so more plants and flowers for now.
above I made little flower gardens wrapping rock around the trees that are left for now.
Below is a little sitting area on the side of house where the 2 trees are
Below is another flower garden by the 13 sycamore trees and I put an old wheel barrel out there.
The front yard was just dirt for now & above were my goldens.
Just as we get settled in & with Christmas time coming up, and we were so exhausted by now.
Ron came home with some news. His boss was sending him to Oklahoma to do a tilt up job there and it would take about 6- 9 months. I couldn't believe it. Just as we just moved in and now this.
We didn't want to be separated that long, so I quit my job which I loved & we packed up some stuff and our 3 golden retrievers and left for Durant Oklahoma from Dec 2002 to July 2003.
We had to rent a house with 3 goldens retrievers because staying in a hotel was out of the question.
Found a really cute place and after begging the owners to please rent to us with the dogs, they gave in. The nice thing about this situation was, we only packed clothes and a toothbrush and his boss paid for our rent monthly and all the furniture we bought to put in it. He also paid for the utilities and cable and internet. We had to buy silverware, plates, furniture, drapes, dressers etc. So I bought a lot of stuff at this second hand store to make our rental in Oklahoma homey to us.
Here are some pictures of the rental and inside.
Ally
We didn't want to be separated that long, so I quit my job which I loved & we packed up some stuff and our 3 golden retrievers and left for Durant Oklahoma from Dec 2002 to July 2003.
We had to rent a house with 3 goldens retrievers because staying in a hotel was out of the question.
Found a really cute place and after begging the owners to please rent to us with the dogs, they gave in. The nice thing about this situation was, we only packed clothes and a toothbrush and his boss paid for our rent monthly and all the furniture we bought to put in it. He also paid for the utilities and cable and internet. We had to buy silverware, plates, furniture, drapes, dressers etc. So I bought a lot of stuff at this second hand store to make our rental in Oklahoma homey to us.
Here are some pictures of the rental and inside.
We bought a boat out there and everyday we went to Lake Texoma after Ron got home from work. The dogs loved it so much and wouldn't get out of the water, I had to buy them life jackets.
NOW,
Then in July, July 1-4th, we left Oklahoma and had a houseboat waiting for us in Lake Mead. My bff Lorrie and her hubby at that time, met us there and we spent 3 days on a houseboat relaxing and swimming and having fun with the goldens.
Ally
Ally, skipper of the boat
My girls. Brandi Ginger & Ally
Below, girls in life jackets
below, Lorrie & me. She's my
above, Me and Lorrie
Above my BFF Lorrie
Below is Ally standing and Ginger in front of house boat we rented on Lake Mead
Below, Ginger
Loving the water, Ginger
Another miracle fell into place for us.
So bye bye house we hardly lived in but did s much work to live there
and now it's going next door to the Golf range in Corona CA
and now it's going next door to the Golf range in Corona CA
We rented an container to put all our stuff in and put it in the driveway and bought a 5th wheel to live on the property until the leach lines, the construction of the land, more pouring concrete to make it a permanent foundation
Lived in this 5th wheel which was 25 ft long with 3 golden retrievers and both of us. It was tight & fun at the same time. Then a bad rain storm happened at that time (2004) and we had rented an out house and it was at the end of the driveway, up by the road. It was flooding everywhere and very cold and very wet, but we survived 4 months in it.
NEW HOME COMES
New house came and sat in front of us in the 5th wheel and now the outside we need to get done, and then maybe relax for a few months. This is in 2004 we moved into the new house and I wanted a pathway in front to lead up to the front door.
Still had the 13 sycamore trees in front of house and blocked our view.
We rested a little (about 2 months) and then decided to put
in grass in the front yard and a white picket fence to
separate the front yard from the back yard
You would think we had enough and wanted to relax a little but oh no.
Now we wanted a pond in front where the 13 tree's were and
started digging our pond. Jerry came to help us.
There were so many huge huge roots.
THE DIGGING & THE ROOTS
Now we wanted a pond in front where the 13 tree's were and
started digging our pond. Jerry came to help us.
There were so many huge huge roots.
THE DIGGING & THE ROOTS
Pond is 18' x 20' by 4' deep
Ron wanted to save the roots to make some furniture out of them.
So they laid there until about 2012 and we finally chopped it
up and used in our fire pit.
Trees are out and now to make the pond for the front.
We went to the river bed across the road and got some
big boulders for the front area.
We went to the river bed across the road and got some
big boulders for the front area.
THE DOG/PUMPHOUSE
Our neighbor was throwing out a old dog house and we took it
for it to be the pump house for the pool filtration, which
will hide inside it and the little water fall will come out the front of it.
Took the roof off for now and will add a hinges
so we can lift the roof to clean the filters
Put it on top of some blocks
Roof on and pump in (above)
It's filling it up with water time
THE BRIDGE
Then came the water and we already had some fish from our old place and had them in a pool in back for a few years and then Ron wanted a bridge to go over it so he build one.
we planted plants, put in the fish and finished the bridge to look like this
I painted the side of the dog house
Added the Koi and other fish
I painted this fairy and put by the pond and this guy fishing too.
Now it's time to relax and enjoy our house for a while.
Almost 9 years went by before we decided we needed new
carpet and paint in the house.
We are quite a bit older now and a lot less energy.
we started moving stuff for the carpet to be put in
April 2018
above is the new carpet in dining room and below in Livingroom.
Below, I'm painting the dresser red
Below, my Zoey girl checking out the difference in the colors from the bedroom to hallway. Zoey is in the hallway
The front pathway Ron did.
Front of the house from the road
Yes that hill behind us is part of our 20 acres.
Took picture from across the road
1st half of our kitchen
above is the middle of kitchen
taken from a lift
My pond now 2018
View from the driveway
Almost 9 years went by before we decided we needed new
carpet and paint in the house.
We are quite a bit older now and a lot less energy.
we started moving stuff for the carpet to be put in
April 2018
Our bedroom before painting (below)
bedroom after painting (below)
And that is it so far. Almost 19 yrs of work.
And here is the
out side of our home
we live in now as of Dec 25th 2018
1st half of our kitchen
Taken from one end of kitchen
this is the other end of the kitchen
Master bathroom
My Garden
Our Fish
All these fish were feeder fish below for the Koi's
but they survived and grew up
Whitey, my Walmart Koi. Got it when it
was about an inch long in 2006
(Above.) I painted this fairy
and glued it on the back of pump house.
And last but not least our yard now with grass.
Had grass put in around 2007 and its been green ever since.
Below is the back yard area & it looked awesome for about 3 weeks.
With 4 goldens at that time (2007) they were crapping and peeing all over
it, while one was digging but couldn't figure out which golden.
Today in 2018, its just sand & dirt in back yard
of throwing it out, I had Ron hang it first with Rope to the tree
and that was a joke & sight to see. So instead told
him to use chains and it worked great. Take down in winter time
Above picture was in 2015 and now its the same flower
garden today (2018) where the tree given to us is now.
And different plants.
Always changing plants.
and picked it up, sanded it, and then painted it like in the picture. Its still out in front.
A Love seat, and 2 chairs with a coffee table.(below)
.
because my girlfriend from Arkansas
was coming out and it needed to be done. Looks Pretty
that I got for free and love it.
Was going to paint it, but I like it the way it is.
When you actually write it down with the beginning to the end,
it's a long time working on our home.
2000 to present 2018. 18 years.
If we were to do all this today in 2018,
There is No Way that could we.
Well
this morning and with taking a few breaks in between. It's now 9:30 p.m. and done.
.
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