Junkyard

Okay--lots of pictures today, although these are actually from yesterday (Saturday morning). First of all, I would like to say that the pictures simply don't do justice to just how bad it is down in the valley. It's hard to explain just how depressing it is to see the guts of everyone's homes on the curb. Being down there makes me feel weird--my head starts to spin a little, I'm sure from all of the junk floating around in the air.

_____

So the first picture is looking down Souris Drive, where the Red Cross and Salvation Army can often be found handing out water and meals. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

___________________________

#5 Fairway is a mess! The guys working on the house are doing an amazing job---Perry says it's the best investment we've ever made. I agree wholeheartedly!

______________________

For those who have been in our house before, this is looking from the front door toward the old closet and in through the laundry room. Weird. That's the old fireplace on the left.

________________

No ceiling in the living room.

_____________

Looking from the kitchen into the laundry room and living room. The old built in china cabinet is gone...*tear*.

_______________

The kitchen. There used to be a window and door where our our cooktop and fridge were.
________________

The back of the fireplace. We're taking this down to make room for a larger, handicap-accessible bathroom for Natalie. I'm sure the guys are looking forward to THAT job! :)

____________________

The "great" room. I'm told our ceilings there can likely be salvaged. I hope so!

______________________

I am really not sure where this picture was taken, but I'll guess we're looking back toward the bedrooms.

___________________

Another view of the ceiling.

___________________

Junk pile in our yard...I wish the Corps would make a trip through the neighborhood to take the garbage away. However, since it is the Corps' job, I'm guessing they'll let it sit there until people start getting hurt, then take it away and declare it "a success."

_______________________

This is my neighborhood...a pile of trash with pickups mixed in. I wonder when it will ever return to "normal."

_______________________

My old stove is on the front lawn---still stuck on 12:54.

______________________

I'm ecstatic that I will have a brand new oven when we move back. Woohoo! Maybe I'll get serious about a baking business... :)

_________________

There she is...#5 Fairway with a big pile of junk in front of her.

Sanitizing is likely to begin tomorrow, then we let it dry for a week or two. We're currently trying to figure out how we want to remodel the place so that it fits Natalie's needs and is good for us as well. This includes a new, much larger bathroom/laundry room and a master bath with walk-in closet...I never thought I'd get that! We also need to decide on windows and doors soon. I have a lot of ideas; now I just need to channel them and start picking things out.

The good thing is that things have dried out down there, so it doesn't smell quite as bad as it used to, although it's still a stinky mess. I'm looking forward to the day when we'll all be together again as a neighborhood talking about the flood of 2011 in past tense.