Grand Rapids, MI

Okay here it goes, I went out several months ago, when everyone here was talking about the Flip camera and purchased one. I have been scared to use it. However I did want a log of the the drawing that took place for the people selected for the landscaping. As you all know we have raised enough money and product to landscape 10 yards in the city of Grand Rapids. So here it is!

I was just watching a update on the woes of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae...the losses they are sustaining and all you can say is....it is going to get worse before it gets better. Anyway that is the way it looks and the stock market, housing market and GNP are all going to take hits.

I looked at it and somehow it seems as though we are selling off the American Dream at bargain prices and the bottom line is it is a loss. So every buyer that finds one of these homes to purchase is getting a discount for a home that should have been worth much more....or was it?

I just toured a foreclosure with one of my buyers. The sheriffs sale has already happened. The home was unsecured...anyone can walk right in....but once in you can see how little value the former occupants placed on the American Dream.

Every door has a hole kicked in it. Wire closet shelving ripped from the walls. Dog and cat feces left on the carpet and in the basement. Light fixtures pulled lose or taken.

All the appliances gone, cupboard doors missing and the sheriff sale had the home purchased by the lender for $148,000.....we wrote an offer for $100,000 and wonder if we went to high based on the repairs and cleanup required.

This type of owners needs to get a reality judgement with a long term cash payback for the damage...it won't happen.

When honest people who tried to do the right thing lose their homes I feel bad for them and will do everything I can to help them avoid foreclosure with a short sale or debt negotiation.

However, when people do this type of thing to homes...and they walk laughing at the mess they have left behind for other to clean up, I think they need to reimburse the lender for every penny that they walked away from without paying. It could take them a life time to pay off but they are not in jail and they gave up their chance to do the right thing leaving the home in the lowest possible condition. A mean spirit isn't going to change losing a home.

I decided not to show the carpet or the basement. These are some of the photos I used to get the lender to accept our offer. They were shocked to say the least. This is two days after the sheriff's sale. I did a BPO and our offer was right in line with estimates to get the home in livable condition.

Now this is the real tragedy...this is one of the better HUD homes in a nice neighborhood!

I drive the streets of Grand Rapids, daily! In the summer months we do have quite a bit of construction on the roads. I do not complain too much about this for a couple of reasons. I am glad to live in a city that cares enough to keep our streets and community updated as much as possible. Moving here from a place, that did not have the budget to do as many updates as they should, I know it could be worse. Also it makes us take the time to smell the roses, or in the spirit of this blog, take in the unframed art.

We have much eye candy in Grand Rapids, if we choose to take the time to look! Below are pictures of the unframed art that I admire on daily bases. I wish I knew all the stories behind them, so Grand Rapids if you do please add your comment to tell me more.

I know there are more, and I will add as I find them, so keep coming back for updates.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much I as I enjoying looking at them myself.

The forth-annual 28^th Street Metro Cruise is on. The Cruise is a 2-day event-taking place on Friday, August 22^nd from 1 - 9pm and Saturday August 23^rd from 9am - 9pm. This year, at least 13,000 special interest cars and 230,000 people are expected to attend.

I took the kids there last year and we had a great time. One of my son's favorites was the ‘bounce off", where Low Riders would compete to see whose machine could hop the highest. That was quite an amazing sight. I've done that "by accident" in Dad's old Chevy but never by design and needless to say. he wasn't impressed.

It's fun to see the many different cars on display and you can see the pride and meticulous attention to detail the owners have taken to restore and maintain some of these beauties.

Schedule of Events from the Official 28th Street Metro Cruise Website

Many concession stands for snacks and drinks are available. Bring the family and have a great time or just cruise 28^th street in the family minivan.

We are excited! September 27, 2008 will be the Garden Tour and Garden Party to celebrate F.L.O.W.'s first years success!

Yes, we have a commitment for 10 yards to be transformed..........and a great party planned! For those of you that have been to a WCR party, you know we can throw a great party!

Here are the details:

Garden Tour Saturday September 27th, 10am till 4pm

Garden Tour books with maps of the homes cost $10.00

Garden Party - Saturday 27th 5pm - 8pm Tickets Cost 20.00 Ticket price includes:

Entrance to Garden Party at Republic on South Division (Rockwell's and Republic NEW Restaurant)

Vallet Parking

Appetizers

Door Prizes

Auction Art (book mark this blog, as will be adding pics of the art to be auctioned) All local artist!

Meet our Sponsors and Landscapers

A fun time had by all!

Buy both - Garden Tour Book and a Garden Party ticket at a reduced price of $25.00

To order your tickets please e-mail Dannielle Rowland - Danielle.Rowland@flagstar.com

www.flowgr.com

To be auctioned off: Framed and Matted 20 x 24

By Bobbi Jo Kenyon

Bobbi Jo has had a passion for photography since she was a young girl. It has always appealed to her nature and allows her to be creative both during the photographing and in post processing. She enjoys not only doing natural pictures but to use her artistic skills to create unique pieces. Bobbi Jo always strives to capture the spirit of the subjects that she photographs and to create images that show beauty in everyday life.

"I have been drawn to the art of photography for as long as I can remember. There is something amazing in the ability of a photograph to capture a timeless moment, and how that one unique image can evoke so many different emotions in each person it touches along the way."

She does both portrait and fine art photography. Her work can be viewed at www.greentreestudios.net

to be Auctioned off: Min bid $100.00

By Stephine Timmerman

Stephanie Timmerman is an artist who has made Grand Rapids
her home, but draws from the world for inspiration. She believes
in the words of St. Augustine who said, "the world is a
book and to not travel is to read only a page". Her paintings are
textured by the beauty, people and lands she has visited.

Stephanie has studied art locally, as well as abroad.

She paints because she must, and strives to place on
each canvas the images feelings and ideas that have
inspired her life.

Stephine also help kids around the world, she has a project she holds near and dear to her heart. www.tesfa.org, she refers to these kids when she talks about them as "her kids in Ethiopia. Her art work can be viewed and purchased at Bottega Salon, 820 Monroe Ave, suite 222. She is a local artist with a cause!