Upwardly Mobile Magazine - Fall 2009 by City Creative Group

mobile Upwardly

The Magazine of Mobile, Manufactured and Modular Home Living

Living the Dream

No longer at odds with the revolution, the building industry embraces industrialized homes FALL 20 0 9

WINGS ABOVE MALIBU • MODULAR IN THE MEADOW ARROYO LIVING • PROGRESSIVE PARTIES • GARDENING & MORE

$4.95

Reduced rates as low as 6.50% 6.86% APR Are you looking to purchase or refinance a mobile home? Community West Bank has multiple programs to fit your needs. Call Clay, Dave, or Nancie today! • Competitive fixed interest rates • Cash-out refinancing • No pre-payment penalties • Direct lender making local approvals and funding for faster response time

www.communitywestbank.com

Clay Dickens

Dave Weinhold

445 Pine Avenue Goleta, CA 93117

1463 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93003

Vice President, Mortgage

Senior Loan Consultant

805.650.8855

Nancie Irvine Sales Manager

2615 S. Miller Street Santa Maria, CA 93455

805.934.4556 ofc 805.345.6534 cell

Delivering knowledge, experience, and flexibility time after time. Allow Clay, Dave, or Nancie to impress you! www . u m h m a g . c o m

CONTENTS

B U I LD I N G B L O C K S

All Boxed In A California artist greens the desert with recycled materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

UP AND OUT

Modular in the Meadow Peace and serenity summon city dwellers to Gold Country. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

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30 34

26 46

D E PAR T M E N T S UP FRONT Letter from the Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

UPSCALE The Door to Your Hearth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

INNOVATIONS Malibu’s Wing House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

FOR YOUR FILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Adding Value to Your Manufactured Home The State of Mobile Home Financing A Glossary of Green Chosing a Mobile Home Park Become a Decorating Detective

DESTINATIONS Arroyo Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

UPGRADE Leak-proof your Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

RETRO Bauhaus to Your House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

IN THE GARDEN Today’s Victory Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

TRAILER TRASH TALES Episode 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

ENTERTAINING The Progressive Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

LAST LOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

INTERIORS Shoestring Chic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 OPEN ROAD Half Moon Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 IN THE PARK Escondido’s Champagne Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Celebrating Community . . . . . . . . . . 20 www . u m h m a g . c o m

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UP FRONT

anufactured housing is on the move! Recently the National Association of Home Builders went mobile. In past years, the Association has put a stick-built home on a lot near their convention. This year, at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas, they brought it inside the convention floor. Their product was a hybrid prefab-modular, plus panels. The Building Association partnered with Living Homes Kieran, Timberlake and Associates, and designer Color Design Art. In their article in Builder Magazine they said “it is a flexible system that allows for high volume fabrication, assembly, and easier transportation.” After the convention, the house was disassembled and trucked to Newport Beach, California. They further state in the Builder article “there is much to be said for factory prefabrication. Framing and sheathing are not exposed to the elements before they are closed in; sequences are not waylaid by bad weather, waste is all but eliminated by designing and pre-cutting materials to exacting specifications. Experts wager that cycle time can be shortened by as much as 30%, as the site preparation can be executed at the same time the house is being built. And modular structures are often sturdier than their stick-built counterparts because they must be engineered to withstand transport.” This describes the mobile/manufactured/modular industry perfectly! The building industry was once at odds with housing manufacturing. Now they are embracing industrialized components and even entire homes. Hooray! It’s not just the wave of the future anymore—so, if you haven’t done so already: Get on board!

Toni Gump Publisher

Please send your ideas for change to us at toni@umhmag.com. We love seeing your thoughts and looking at your artwork.

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Publisher & editorial director Toni Gump ADVERTISING SALES don roberson Design & Production City Creative Group Contributors Sherrie Clevenger Arnie Cooper Meredith Day Clay dickens Leslie Dinaberg Virginia Hayes Marge Jesberger Frank Nelson Jean Picard don roberson Onnah Roll Howard StIEr Photography Brent Winebrenner art & illustration Penny Arntz Troy Palmer-Hughes bruce thomas COPY EDITING SKONA BRITTAIN office support Rachael Barajas TECHNICAL support Ed Togami Upwardly Mobile: The Magazine Of Mobile, Manufactured And Modular Home Living is published quarterly by Upwardly Mobile Home Magazine, and single copies are provided free of charge. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs, artwork, and designs printed in Upwardly Mobile are the sole property of Upwardly Mobile Home Magazine and may not be duplicated or reprinted without express written permission. Upwardly Mobile is not liable for typographical or production errors or the accuracy of information provided by advertisers or writers. Readers should verify advertised information with the advertisers. Upwardly Mobile reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Upwardly Mobile® is a registered trademark of Upwardly Mobile Home Magazine, Copyright © 2009. All inquiries may be sent to: Upwardly Mobile, 1187 Coast Village Road, Ste. 1-394, Santa Barbara, CA 93108, or info@umhmag. com or visit our website at: www.umhmag.com.

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Photo Renee Golan

Catch the Wave

The Magazine Of Mobile, Manufactured And Modular Home Living

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LETTERS Toni, really enjoyed taking part in your forum at Sandpiper. One of the topics that came up was the frustration that there is no local source for repair materials, doors, skirting, railings etc. that fit our older mobile homes. I have found MobileHomeAdvantage.com to be very helpful with a wide range of improvements at fair prices. (Not that I can afford a lot at one time). Their customer service line is good. Ordering from them or one of the many other Mobile Home Improvement suppliers on line could save the contractors’ usual markup on materials. Shipping seems reasonable on most things. I’m sure local contractors or handymen would be glad to have the work of installation. (Lori knows a very skilled handyman for projects at Sandpiper). The only local source for materials is very expensive and also limited in what they carry. I would like to write an article on sources for mobile home improvements and also one on the joys of bird watching at and bird feeders in our yards. Are you interested?

Regards, Carol Terry 8

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Hello Toni, am a Certified Green Professional, former Planning Commissioner, builder and an aspiring manufactured/modular home builder. I came across your wonderful magazine at Silvercrest’s factory in Corona, CA. Congratulations and thank you for filling a void in the industry with a very classy magazine! Issue 2’s article on Details was very interesting and it is the type of company I would like to build. Yet, I have been unable to find any contact information for them. Would you have any contact or background information on the company you could share with me? Also, I would love to see an article on how prefab designs similar to on-site construction cost “30 to 40 percent lower than traditionally constructed homes.” It would be a welcome way to further showcase your magazine to people considering building a prefab home. Many thanks and I hope to be able to advertise with your magazine in the near future.

All the best, Clara Duran Reed

Hello Toni, just loved the Spring ‘09 issue! It’s so exciting to see more manufactured housing businesses represented. I especially enjoyed the article on the new Clayton iHouse—I want one! Kudos to you for bringing it all together: the manufactured housing makers, sellers, designers, and buyers! As much as we love our adobe-style manufactured home, we are planning on putting one on some land we have in the high desert and now the iHouse has me thinking about where I could put one of those. I’m not even interested in stick built homes anymore; manufactured housing has more to offer, like lower utility bills—friends who live in stick built homes can barely afford to cool them in the summer. And I like the idea that the iHouse is so affordable and green! Please let me know how much subscription rates are—my complimentary subscription time is up. Where do I send a check? I really look forward to each new issue and I’m not letting go of a single one! These are permanent resource materials in my opinion.

Thanks for your vision and hard work! Holly

www . u m h m a g . c o m

Hello Toni, OW!! What a great magazine!! I received one addressed to “Resident” about two weeks ago and I can’t stop looking at it!! I live in Silver Sands Village in Carpinteria. I just provided info for a ‘trial’ subscription but would like to buy all past issues. How do I do this? Also, I loved the “Trailer home pastel” by Penny Arntz on p.19 of the Spring 2009 issue. Do you know if this piece of work is for sale? Could you please put me in touch with her? Great articles, photos, features, ideas, tips, advertisements!! WOW!! Can’t wait to look at back issues...

Sincerely, Charlene Maltzman

ADD E N D U M

The Cooley House in the Spring 2009 issue (page 39) was misidentified. This is the correct photo of the property.

Letters, comments, suggestions, ideas or any other thoughts can be sent to us at: Upwardly Mobile 1187 Coast Village Road, Ste. 1-394 Santa Barbara, CA 93108 or email: toni@umhmag.com

We inadvertently left out that the two-story homes on pages 34 and 35 (Lido Peninsula) were Silvercrest homes. The original painting used for the “paint by numbers” on page 43 was painted by John Cushing . (The paint by number itself by created by James Esker.)

This is Factory Constructed Housing! The California

The only riches worth having—

Manufactured Housing Institute is a non-profit professional and trade association founded to advance the availability of factory

are the riches

constructed homes by promoting

of content.

desirable sites and communities

—L. FRANK BAUM

their sale and the development of in California.

www.cmhi.org Address: 10630 Town Center Drive, Suite 120 Rancho Cucamonga CA, 91730

www . u m h m a g . c o m

YOUR HOUSING RESOURCE!

Phone: (909) 987-2599 Fax: (909) 989-0434 E-mail: info@cmhi.org Upw a r d l y

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FOR YOUR FILES

By Sherrie Clevenger common misconception is that manufactured homes only depreciate; however, they can appreciate significantly depending on current market conditions. This would be reflected in an appraisal by a licensed or certified appraiser with education and knowledge in manufactured home appraisals. The appraiser will consider many things during the inspection and analysis to determine their opinion of value. They will consider the home’s make, trade name (series), size, condition, components, accessories, upgrades, the community, and in many cases will make local market adjustments. First, the manufacturer and trade name will help the appraiser determine the quality of construction for your home. It is important to remember that the initial quality and cost of a manufactured home can be different from similar, lowerquality models. Also, the cost and quality of upgrades and accessories added at a later time can impact a home’s value. It is very important that you maintain accurate records about your home, including sales contracts, and receipts for not only the original purchase but any upgrades you’ve made to your home. This can save you a lot of headaches in the future. In addition, every manufactured home built since June 15, 1976 will have two identifiers that must be located by the appraiser: 1) The HUD Certification Label is a red, metal tag affixed to the tail-end of the home. Be sure that contractors do not cover this

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label if you have your siding replaced or retrofitted. 2) The Data Plate is located inside the home. Regulations state “on or near the main electrical breaker box” but manufacturers have been known to put them in bedroom closets, under kitchen sinks, and other places. The Data Plate includes the date of manufacture, manufacturer name and address, serial numbers of the home and all included appliances when new, and insulation standards—all sorts of good stuff that the appraiser will need to know. It is very important to not remove either of these identifiers. In many cases, a lender will not lend on a home that does not have one or both of these. The condition of the home will play a major role in the overall value given to your manufactured home. For that matter, it will play a major role in the appeal and what someone might be willing to pay if you are looking to sell your home. Basic maintenance and upkeep is also key. Is your home wellmaintained or have you let little things break without fixing them? Items such as chipped paint, broken or missing sections of skirting, loose steps, stained carpets, and leaky faucets, can have an overall effect on the condition. A regular checklist of maintenance items can be found online. (www.nadaguides. com offers a checklist specific to each season.) The components, upgrades, and accessories attached to the home would also be noted by the appraiser. Adjustments can be made for the condition of these items individually, as well. They would typically

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note the types of roofing, siding, and windows (single- or dual-paned). Air conditioning units will be noted, porches, carports and garages will be measured. If any items are not in working order, that will be noted as well. The appraiser may make adjustments for the community’s impact on the overall value as well. A community that offers a variety of amenities or onsite management is typically more attractive to a buyer. Take pride in the community you live in and participate in your community associations. And now we come to “local market adjustment.” What does that mean? Exactly what it sounds like. The appraiser will access a database of comparable homes in the area from a relevant period of time (depending on the recent market fluctuations or industry standards, this might be one-year or one-month). The appraiser will analyze those sales, consider what the manufactured home market for your area is doing, and adjust your home’s value accordingly. Keep in mind that while a manufactured home can appreciate and depreciate just like a sitebuilt home, it may or may not have the same local market fluctuations that the sitebuilt market has during the same period of time. There have been times that manufactured home and site-built home markets have been up together, down together, or opposite each other. It’s

the manufactured home appraiser’s job to know the difference and adjust accordingly. Now you might ask, “What does the appraiser do with all of this information?” The most common way an appraiser will communicate the appraised value is through a report form. A report form will allow the lender, underwriter, or other parties, to review the results in a standardized format. The type of form the appraiser uses will be determined by what the appraisal will ultimately be used for: Lending, insurance, estate purposes, etc. Keeping all of these points in mind, whether you need them now or in the future, can help you to maintain or add value to your manufactured home. Remember, your home is an investment and you want it to pay you back in the future! Sherrie Clevenger is the Managing Editor of NADA Appraisal Guides, Inc and Editor of the NADA Manufactured Housing Cost Guide and CD-ROM, as well as the National Appraisal System (NAS). She can be contacted at (800) 966-6232, ext. 237 or sclevenger@nadaguides.com. www . u m h m a g . c o m

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Adding Value to Your Manufactured Home

FOR YOUR FILES ✃

The State of Mobile Home Financing By Clay Dickens

get a lot of calls from people looking to save money on their mortgage payments. I am not surprised—many people have rates well above 9.00%. I even refinanced a person recently who was paying 15%! With rates as low as 6.50%, now is a great time to refinance a mobile home. Buying a mobile home, while both prices and rates are low, could turn out to be a great decision. Most people who are familiar with mobile homes know that the financing is very different from regular real estate loans—but what can you get these days? What recent changes in the mortgage industry have spilled over to the mobile and manufactured home loan niche? Here is some updated information you need to know when considering a MH loan.

Rates 6.50% is the lowest I have ever seen. Normally, good credit, good income, and a good equity position will get you qualified for the lower rates. These can be from 6.50% to 8.75%, depending on all of the factors listed here.

Reserves Terms Most people know that the best loan is a 30-year fixed rate loan. However, this is just not available for mobile homes (even on land!). Loan lengths are usually 5, 7, 10, 15, and 30 years. There are a lot of combinations; no one loan is the best for everyone. I recommend seeking the advice of a professional, someone who can give you many options and guide your choice based on what your plan is for the future.

Credit Age of the home Financing for 1970 and newer homes is common, even with very good rates as low as 6.50%. However, for older homes (1969 and older), there is hardly any money available. Though, if an older home was completely remodeled, it should qualify for financing.

Nowadays, it is critical that you have good credit to get a loan. This is especially true for mobile home mortgages. Any problems on your credit report must be explained and payments made current for the last few months, if not few years. Expect to pay a higher rate if your credit is not very good.

Down Payment or Equity

Income

Most of the time, 20% or more equity position is required. If you need cash out from your home, you will certainly need 30% or more.

Surprisingly, people try to apply for a loan who don’t have a job or source of income. You must have twice as much gross income per month as

A GLOSSARY OF GREEN The current emphasis on energy conservation and concern for the global environment has created a number of new terms in our vocabulary. Following is a brief definition of “green” terms used in the construction of homes and buildings.

USGBC This refers to the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC, established to encourage the use of energy saving materials in buildings. Tthe USGBC’s 20,000 member companies include builders, environmentalists, elected officials and concerned citizens. www . u m h m a g . c o m

your loan payment, space rent, and all auto and credit card payments combined. One recent problem is for self-employed borrowers— “stated income” is long gone, so a lender will only use the income you show the IRS on your taxes. It is always a good idea to have some cash set aside for a rainy day. A lender will look for two months or more of debt payments in a retirement account or bank account.

Cash out Yes, you can get cash from your Mobile Home! Normally it is only given for paying off other debts, or for home improvements, but it is available. The best idea for anyone considering a Mobile Home loan is to call a professional and discuss their situation. Lending is like fitting a square peg in a round hole—sometimes it fits, sometimes it doesn’t. Let a professional help you decide what the best loan to fit your situation is. They will ask probing questions to determine your qualifications. Then they will give you the options best suited to you and your plans for the future. ClAY DICKENS is Vice President, Mortgage at Community West Bank in Santa Barbara, CA and can be reached at (805) 681-3366.

LEED This is an acronym meaning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The USGBC (see above) administers the LEED rating system. Building projects are submitted for professional accreditation and LEED certification. LEED certified buildings are deemed to be energy efficient and environmentally acceptable.

ENERGY STAR A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) designed to help us conserve by using energy efficient products. You are probably familiar with the ENERGY STAR logo (insert picture of logo) from seeing it on appliances, heating and cooling units, water heaters, office equipment, home electronics and even light bulbs. By meeting strict EPA standards, even an entire home can earn an ENERGY STAR.

SEER rating is a term used to measure the energy efficiency of air conditioning and heating equipment. SEER means Seasonal Energy Efficiency continued on page 13

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Chosing a Mobile Home Park

If you are considering buying or upgrading a home in a MH community, it is advisable to check out the various parks first. Each one has a different personality and you will want to find the one that marries well with yours. Whether you are staying in your area or moving to a new location, you will save yourself time by asking yourself what lifestyle and community you are looking for. Here are some suggestions: ■ What facilities do they have available?

■ What kind of social life are you looking for? Active or quiet? ■ Do you want a senior park, a family park, or a combination? ■ Do you want to buy an existing home or replace an old one? ■ Do you want to lease space or have ownership in the land? ■ If you want ownership, do you prefer condo or coop ownership? ■ If you want to lease, are you looking for rent control?

■ Pool, tennis, golf ? Snack bar? ■ BBQ area? Picnic tables? ■ Shuffleboard?Bocce? Basketball? ■ Playground?(fenced?) ■ Exercise room? Shower room? ■ Library? With good books, dvds?

■ What can you realistically afford given the space rental/mainteinance

■ Card room?Pool tables?

fees and mortgage? ■ What areas or cities are you interested in?

■ Hobby rooms? ■ Dinner/meeting/dance hall? Stage?

INVESTIGATE:

■ Are these facilities attractive and well-maintained?

If you have friends who live in a MH community, ask them what they think you should look into. Get a copy of their MH Laws that are given to all residents of MHs in Calif. Search for the amenities and activities offered in the areas or cities you are interested in: Are there colleges, hospitals, recreation areas, libraries, etc.? Google the city or ask the Chamber of Commerce. Call the communities you are interested in and speak to the manager. ■ Do they have homes for sale now, or expect any to be available soon? ■ What are the Park requirements to buy/lease a space or replace an existing MH? ■ Are they willing to send you a copy of their requirements and rules? ■ Will they send you their activity calendar or bulletin? ■ What are their clubhouse use rules? Will they send those to you? ■ What are their rules regarding animals? ■ What are the regulations on buildouts and fences and trees? ■ Is there public transportation available? Are there schools and shopping nearby? ■ Is there an active Home Owners Association? What committees do they have? (Or is that set by the manager?) ■ A few possibly sensitive questions: Who owns the park—i.e. is it a corporate group or an individual owner? Is the manager hired as part of a management company or individually?

VISIT: ■ Is it in a good neighborhood/location? ■ Is the entry attractive?Is it gated or fenced or walled? ■ Is the park well-planned? Is there green space? ■ Is there adequate lighting? Parking? ■ Are there views? ■ What kind of landscaping is there? Is the landscaping in front of the

homes maintained by the owners or the park? ■ Does the park have dog walking areas and doggie bag stations? ■ What are the ages of the homes? Are they appealing? ■ Are there attractive yards, patios and/or porches?

■ Fireplace? Large TV? ■ Are they used?

MORE: Check out the activities at that park again. Some communities have people who are active on their own (in their own homes) and others have recreation committees or even staff. Some are very quiet with few activities offered while others have dinners, lunches, pancake breakfasts or teas. A few even have dancing (some require special insurance for such an event, especially if alcohol is served); many now have large TVs for group viewing (some only allow group events if everyone in the park is invited); a few of the most active have musicals and plays, bus trips, lectures, book clubs and Bible studies; many have coffee hours and card games—the variety is endless. The way the parks are managed also varies, depending on the owner or manager and/or former problems in the park. Some managers are professionally trained, but most aren’t. A five-star rating requires “Superior management interested in the comfort of residents and maintenance of park.” You can ask around to see what issues you might want to be aware of. There are websites that rate parks; the California state government does also, but only on some issues. Find out what your loan options are, given your circumstances, asking local banks and going online. Mortgage rates and requirements vary a great deal. Some banks loan only to specific parks—find out if your circumstances match their requirements and how it effects your rate.

web sites: www.oceanpacificcapital.com/five-star-mobile-home-park-financing.php www.cmhi.org www.mobilehome.com www.mhvillage.com/Communities/Search.php www.manufacturedhousing.org www.manufacturedhomesource.com www.modular-experts.com www.mfdhousing.com

■ What kind of people live here? Talk to them. Ask them about life there.

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DECIDE:

FOR YOUR FILES ✃

Become a Decorating Detective By Marge Jesberger

ost of us have the basic windows and walls that make a home; we just need to take inventory to make our living areas more spacious. Do you have a magical mirror? You can multiply your background by using framed mirrors of different sizes and shapes, placed strategically throughout a room. Create a carnival “fun house” feeling by putting them on the wall opposite your collectibles or artwork. Do you have a tray? This will become your portable office. Place stamps, bills, pens and stationery on it. This will corral your mail and you can easily take it from room to room. Do you have a hall or entryway? Turn it into a hall of fame. Anything your family has achieved will remind them of their accomplishments. Frame documents and diplomas; put special mementos into shadow boxes; hang medals of recognition from grosgrain or velvet ribbon. Do you have floors? Layer them. Rugs are great for defining living areas. They can cordon off an office, entertainment center,

or even a bedroom, all in one room! Think different sizes and fabrics in the same color scheme; a braided rug and an oriental rug can be placed side by side. Do have a corner? Then fill it with curiosities or flea market finds. A corner cabinet can become a mini-museum. Show off your individual family treasures in a forgotten nook. Do you have a special wall? If not, fake it! Dividing screens are the rage. You can use old shutters, screen doors or any fabric stapled to a frame. Add architectural moldings and hang up your photos, jewelry or postcards. Do you have a door? Paint it a welcoming color. If it is an inside door, add some graphics or a wallpapered mural. They come in a variety of photographic backgrounds. Bring a garden, forest, blue sky or rippling water indoors. Do you have an interesting ceiling? Suspend just about anything from it. Use invisible nylon thread to hang colorful fishing lures, kites, or model airplanes and baskets. Do you have an heirloom lamp? Ambiance is all about illumination. Sconces, chandeliers, oil lamps and tapered candles

add warmth and set a mood. Create a special corner, where you can re-read your favorite books, best sellers or first editions. Do you have a sturdy table and chairs? Smaller scale furnishings make an alcove appear larger than it actually is. Mix and match expensive antiques with second-hand accumulations. Don’t be afraid to move things out of the bathroom into the bedroom and visaversa. Do you have a favorite window? Then add a shelf or window box, indoors or out. Line up your crystal and milk glass vases, your porcelain cups and saucers. For a new dimension, put a row of cup hooks, up and down the sides of your window. Take advantage of natural sunlight, by adding see-through curtains made of lace or gauze. Do your have an idea? You can make your living quarters larger by paying attention to proportion and detail. Your fantasy blueprints might call for a wine cellar, but you are very happy with your new mini bar/social center you created out of a closet! You are also pleased with that den/library you developed from a corner in your dining area. See, I told you: You already have what you need!

continued from page 11

Rating. The higher the SEER, the more energy efficient it is. The US Government (DOE) sets the SEER rating for residential systems. As of 2006, a SEER of 13 or higher is required. Window units are exempt.

and energy efficiency. GREEN POINT evaluates both new and existing homes in five categories, then assigns points to determine a home’s total Rating. Points are scored based on benefits to the homeowner and the extent to which the home exceeds building and energy code requirements.

LOW e GLASS The “e” in LOW e means “emissivity.” A pyrolytic coating is applied to the glass, making it more resistant to heat and cold from the outside. LOW e applications are usually found on insulated glass. There are now LOW e, LOW e 2 and LOW e 3 designations.

R-VALUE indicates an insulation’s resistance (R) to heat flow. The higher the R-VALUE, the greater the effectiveness of the insulating material. Types of insulation include fiberglass batts, rigid foam, loose fill (e.g. cellulose) and sprayed foam. Some modular homes use SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) connected together to build a structure.

SOLAR POWER The sun is the earth’s most available energy source. Solar power captures the heat of the sun and turns it into electrical generation. The applications are many and varied and new products are being introduced regularly in our effort to reduce our dependence on coal and petroleum. SOLAR CLOTHES DRYER Many homeowners are reverting to a system

GREEN POINT RATED Build It Green is another non-profit organization

used by their grandparents. Just get a piece of rope and string it between two vertical elements (fence posts for example). This is called a “clothes line.” Damp clothes are then hung on the clothes line to dry in the sun. One problem is that there is a scarcity of clothes pins in the marketplace in 2009.

established in 2003 to promote resource conservation, indoor air quality

—Don Roberson

www . u m h m a g . c o m

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U P G RAD E

Raindrops Keep Falling? How to leak-proof your home by Meredith Day

THE SOURCE Leaks are crafty. While dripping here, the leak may be over there. If a leak is on the wall, look up! It could be a poorly caulked window, or lack of gutters. A roof gutter or awning may keep water from coming in. All vents and pipes should have rain-proof vent caps. Heat, weather and age cause caulk to crack.

ROOF TYPES Flat (Shed Roof Style). Commonly covered with roll tarpaper. With age it flattens and gets brittle, leaving speed bumps where the paper overlaps. Debris collects. Soggy leaves are a serial killer of flat roofing material. Peaked Metal Roof. Peaked metal roofs are low maintenance. A damaged panel of metal roof is easy to replace by removing the roof cap and sliding in a new section. Curved Metal Roof. Curved metal roofs require a fresh coat of sealer every two years, especially on older classic mobile homes that are prone to metal fatigue and rust. Pitched Shingle Roof. Roof shingle material should last 20 years. The in14

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stallation warranty is up to the contractor. There should never be more than three layers of shingles on a roof. If the shingles are curling upwards, exposing the black tar underlayer, that is a danger signal. Water can get in, degrading the plywood sheeting and roof joists. Tile Roof. Inspect your tile roof; look for cracked and missing tiles. A good roofing contractor will know if you need reinforcement prior to installation. This may be critical due to the significant weight of a tile roof. If you don’t reinforce to accommodate the weight of the tile, you may get roof sag. Not only can this lead to a complete loss of support, This promotes leaks as well as complete loss of support. When ordering a new manufactured home, be sure to add a “Tile Roof Load” to the order if you intend to install a tile roof. Porch Covers. Older aluminum porch covers are real leaksy-peaksies if not maintained properly. Leak stains on the acoustic ceilings could indicate a mold problem. Inspect the caulking between the patio cover and the house. Often there will be cracks in the caulking. They are easy to fix with a good sealer for 5 to 10 dollars, which could save you an expensive replacement.

PROBLEM ROOFS Certain types of roofs are almost guaranteed to leak at some point:

Flat/Shed roofs. Flat roofs drain slowly. Water and debris soak into the roof covering. Clean debris often. Fix cracks in caulking or sealant immediately. Parapet roofs. Parapet roofs have a soft slope, with the lowest point being inside the perimeter wall. With age or earthquakes, cracks may appear, allowing water to drain into the walls. Reverse angle roofs. Reverse angle roofs, very popular in the 50s and 60s, are becoming popular again. They are difficult to keep sound. The runoff is directed to the middle of the roof rather than to the outside walls. Any degradation of the roofing material will cause leakage at the midline. Double pitch roofs with inner valleys. Double pitch roofs with inner valleys started in the late 70s to create “quad” mobile homes. The valley between the middle sections needs to be re-caulked every year for a consistently tight roof.

WARRANTIES & gutters In some states, the contractor is legally responsible for ten years after the work is done, regardless of the stated warranty. Check with your Contractor’s Licensing Board to find out what kind of warranty you are entitled to. However, the golden ticket is good gutters and good maintenance. This alone can keep the water from backing up and damaging your roof and walls—and keeping “indoor rain” off your BarcaLounger! www . u m h m a g . c o m

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ou are snug on the sofa with your sweetie, watching your favorite show, ignoring the subliminal drip, drip, drip of that little roof leak you keep meaning to fix…until it shorts out the TV.

I N T H E G ARD E N

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Victory Garden

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By Virginia Hayes

Illustration by Virginia Hayes. Photo istockphoto.com

ass-produced and gene-altered food is appearing in grocery stores across the world these days. Buying locally-grown produce at farmers’ markets and road-side stands has always held its charms and now may be even more important in maintaining a healthful diet. Many people are also turning to their own gardens for healthy additions to their table—organically grown and freshly harvested. Home-grown produce is the freshest available and can be produced organically without the use of pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers for the maximum amounts of vitamins, color and flavor. Even in the limited space available to most owners of mobile or manufactured homes, it is possible to have a continuous harvest of tasty and fresh vegetables throughout the year. Whether you have enough space to actually dig into the soil or just grow a few vegetables in containers, there are plenty of ways to boost your nutrition and extend your gardening endeavors to include fresh and tasty additions to your cuisine. My father has been living in a mobile home for a few years now. A retired farmer, who always had a vegetable garden dedicated to supplying our table (and the pantry and freezer through the winter), he now harvests fresh vegetables or greens almost every day of the year in a much smaller area. The space available for such an endeavor on his small plot of land measures a mere 18-by-22 feet. When he moved in, it was covered with plastic mulch and topped with large pea gravel—a pretty desolate place. With the approval of his association, he raked back the gravel, cut through the plastic, and dug down to create several raised beds for vegetables and flowers, and also planted four dwarf citrus trees. In between these larger areas, he set up five self-watering containers called EarthBoxes. www . u m h m a g . c o m

With careful planning, he has been able to rotate edible crops through every month of the year. His preparation begins in September, when he harvests the last of the tomatoes and eggplants in the EarthBoxes. At that time, the soil mix needs some rejuvenation, so he adds fresh composted manure and tops up the soil mix to replace what has been lost through the removal of the spent plants and their roots. When they are ready, seedling

cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage plants can be planted. Next, in October, the beans and cucumbers, a zucchini or two and a few perennial herbs in his raised beds, are also coming to an end. The soil, which was turned over to a depth of a shovel blade and a half, is then topped with compost and other amendments. These are built up to another six inches high within pressure-treated raised planting beds. Each fall, they are again turned and amended, ready to receive onion starts, seeds of peas, turnips and other root crops such as beets and carrots. In the cool but usually sunny days of November, Dad will sow lettuce and other salad greens (using a mesclun mix) and plant parsley and cilantro. A light frost or two will usually not kill them; just slow them to a snail’s pace of growth to resume whenever sun and warmth coincide.

In January, seed potatoes also go into the soil and seeds of sweet peas are sown along the back of the small shed to grow up a simple string trellis. These fragrant flowers are picked and passed to friends and colleagues to grace their tables and workstations. It’s still pretty cool in central California (and points south) in February, but more herbs can be planted and the onions have grown enough to pull a few to add to salads. All the while, cauliflower and broccoli stems have been maturing. The central stems make a fine meal, but the slender branches that continue from the base after they are harvested keep growing and are just as flavorful and packed with vitamins and minerals. Once they have exhausted themselves, the plants are relegated to the compost pile and replaced with starts of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. The first of the string beans are also going into a raised bed as March comes to an end. April is the first of the golden months—there’s lots to harvest, and still more to plant. He digs potatoes, clips some greens and pulls whole heads of lettuce while thinking ahead to harvests of cucumbers that are planted now along with a second planting of beans. May and June bring more salad ingredients: onions, lettuce, greens, the last of the peas. The first of the tomatoes begin to color up, as well. The sweet peas are done, so a planting of zinnias or other heat-loving summer flowers can replace them. July and August provide an abundance of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers and more. Even in this small garden, Dad says, “I have enough for my own use and often enough to give away.” His pepper relish with tomatoes and peppers is canned and passed out as hostess gifts to appreciative recipients. And then—”start all over again.” Virginia Hayes writes frequently about gardening and is the curator of Ganna Walska Lotusland in Santa Barbara. Upw a r d l y

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E NTE RTAI N I N G

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Making the rounds for an exciting evening By Jean Picard

Photos istockphoto.com

he chic little dinner party remains a classic form of entertainment, but few people today have the time, energy, spare cash or confidence to pull off a sophisticated multi-course menu. Such a dinner party doesn’t have to be draining, physically or financially. A progressive dinner, which moves to a different home for each course, is perfect for a group of friends living in a mobile or manufactured home community. They can walk from house to house, with no worries about things like parking, traffic, or designated drivers. It can work for any number of people, but let’s use eight as an example. Four couples or pairs of friends would each host one of four courses in their home: 1. hors d’oeuvres and aperitifs; 2. soup, salad or other appetizer; 3. main course; 4. dessert, coffee, tea and liqueurs. During the planning, make sure that each host has room for all the guests. Someone with a smaller home, or without a large dining table, might choose the hors d’oeuvres or dessert course. Ensuring that your course will be ready on time while you are enjoying another course elsewhere is the challenge for all but the hosts at the starting location. The menu must be chosen with this in mind. Best are dishes that can be kept warm or be quickly reheated, as well as cold and room-temperature foods. At least one of the hosts of the next course will need to leave about 10 minutes ahead of the guests. Allow about 45 minutes at the first two homes, an hour for the main course and as long as

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you like for dessert at the final stop. Assign the most punctual person in the group the important task of keeping everyone on schedule. Once you have your moves down for a party of eight, you might want to attempt a progressive dinner for a large group of neighbors, organized in groups

have to be “dry” if management does not allow alcohol. And event liability insurance naming the mobile home park as “additional insured” may be required for any type of event. Such insurance, with or without liquor liability coverage, is available as a singleevent policy or a rider on a homeowner’s policy.

of eight just as for the small party. All would meet in the clubhouse for appetizers and aperitifs (hosted by one couple or pair from each group), and then split into prearranged groups of eight for the next two courses (just as for the party of eight). Everyone would return to the clubhouse for dessert (hosted by one couple or pair from each group). When utilizing the clubhouse, keep in mind that the appetizer and dessert courses will

If the cuisine does not suggest a theme, look to the season for the theme as well as the menu. You and your friends may find the progressive dinner party concept so liberating that you’ll want to do it on a regular basis—monthly, seasonally or annually. This could be the end of solo entertaining! Jean Picard writes frequently about entertaining and planning for social occasions. Upw a r d l y

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IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Celebrating Community Focusing on the positive can ensure contentment for all By TONI GUMP

any mobile home park residents celebrate their lifestyles. Why? They say it is because they live in a real neighborhood—like stepping back into the 50s. Everyone works together to make them a wonderful place to live. MH residents who work well with each other and with the management take pride in their parks. Research bears this out. Members of groups who cooperate and participate form a bond. The strength of their relationships and

The connective glue is respect for the other’s differences… Sometimes this involves small acts of kindeness sense of satisfaction actually grows from their involvement with each other and their common goals. They give something back instead of complaining about unimportant matters, and they work together to solve the important issues. These active residents don’t concentrate on the differences as much as the common concerns for the entire community. 20

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Parks where the residents and management are confrontational have continuous conflicts. To avoid this, neighborhoods with problems might want to look at what it is that causes barriers to good community. These can include: lack of patience and flexibility, making assumptions, lacking the ability to listen to the others point of view or show empathy, and an inability to admit or take responsibility for ones own errors. The connective glue is respect for the other’s differences and point of view with honesty tempered by kindness. Research in “community building” plainly indicates that a sense of membership—where members participate, recognize, and support the contributions of each other’s shared views and values (and promote those values), along with enjoying their time together and understanding that the health of that community is a concern for everyone—unites the group and provides a true feeling of contentment. For those parks where there is not yet a sense of community, there is a need for successful models. One example is in the Dec 2007 issue of WMA Reporter. Bruce Matthias wrote about Casa del Rey in Hemet. He said that they have a thriving volunteer spirit focused on service. Instead of just

an emergency response team, they also organized a “Neighborhood Assistance Committee.” Volunteers in this group organize to help their senior neighbors. Elderly or disabled residents are given a card saying “I’m OK” to put up each morning. Nearby residents look to see if the sign is up—if it isn’t, they check on the resident. Sometimes this involves small acts of kindeness, he said, like going to the drugstore. Or, it could be a real emergency where medical assistance must be called. This committee also takes neighbors to the doctor or grocery store or arranges for taking care of other errands or needs. Residents among the neighborhood volunteers are identified for their particular talent that they are willing to offer to other community members. This residentled committee also organizes trips, dinners, craft projects and other community building events and programs. They work together and enjoy their community. Community building is a long-time American tradition. Let’s celebrate it! If your MH park has a program that encourages “Community,” please let us hear about it. Opposite: A lovely aqueous ink and acrylic work by Penny Arntz. www . u m h m a g . c o m

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U P S C AL E

The Door to Your Hearth An entryway says a lot about how welcoming your home BY TONI GUMP

Illustrations by troy palmer-hughes

hether or not you have a fireplace inside your home, your front door can show the warmth you have for your friends. An inviting entry says “come visit awhile.” Your door can be more formal, dramatic, or practical, depending on your style. Painting your current door is the easiest and least expensive change to make. Even the color you

choose makes a statement. New, wellfitted doors can help increase your home’s energy efficiency. If you are buying a new door, choose one that is environmentally friendly. It should introduce your interior ambiance. These first doors are more contemporary. The first one (#1) is on a home that has been coated in stucco. The stucco marries well with mid-cen-

tury glass blocks and the brushed steel door. The succulents compliment the look. What you choose in the way of plants and lighting will add to the statement you want to make. The next illustration (#2) features a glass door. This door has clean lines that can be used with many different styles or decontinued

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U P S C AL E

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6 cors. It will need interior shades, though some companies sell glass doors that have shades imbedded between the insulated glass. The trim under the windows gives balance while the plants soften the look. Dutch doors (#3) open at the top, keeping pets inside while allowing air circulation. These doors exude charm. The Victorian screen door (#4) not only holds back pets but pests as well. The addition of posts cut in half on each side of the door add to the doors enchantment. Be careful not to add too many dĂŠcor elements, a common mistake. Too many objects will actually take the eye away from the main element you might want your visitor to notice. An old English door (#5) with metal straps (you can fake it with Masonite cutouts painted black) and leaded glass makes a more traditional statement. They allow viewing through the small window. The French doors (#6) are also more traditional but let in more light. The shutters next to the door add width without having to recut the door opening. Most older MHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have smaller openings than stick-built homes. Wooden doors can usually be cut down to fit the opening. These red double doors (#7) require major recutting of the opening and he addition of a stronger beam. Alternatively you could try just one door with add shutters( like the French door in the third row). Our final door (#8) has inset Italian grillwork. The grillwork protects the glass and the residence. You can also find screen doors with artistic grillwork, or you can have one made. Whichever door you chose, it can make a winning impression. www . u m h m a g . c o m

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I N N OVATI O N S

Winged Victory BY HOWARD STIER

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A re-purposed Boeing 747 melds with the Malibu Hills

Renderings courtesy David Hertz Architects, Inc. and the Studio of Environmental Architecture (S.E.A.)

he twisting roadway climbs steeply up from the Pacific Ocean. Down the center line a coyote pack saunters, out on an early afternoon foray. Unimpressed by vehicles, the beasts glare at a driver before bounding into the tree line. This is, after all, their territory, Nature’s realm. And constructing a home that embraces these wild hills above Malibu is a design challenge that one architect has taken on with innovative flair. Standing atop the starboard wing of what had been a Tower Air Boeing 747 model 200 Jumbo Jet, Santa Monica based David Herz is surprisingly soft spoken as he explains he has taken a jetliner, cut it into pieces and built structural elements from the aircraft’s aluminum parts. “This was the inspiration” said Herz, jabbing a finger across a valley to a muscular ridge of Santa Monica mountains. Along the horizon, a silver swath of ocean glistens. “I started making drawings for a roof, and taking in the clients considerations (unobstructed views, feminine lines) it started to look like a wing, but it would be expensive. Then I remembered the salvage site” said Herz, referring to an aircraft boneyard in the Mojave Desert north of Los Angeles where entire jet fleets of bankrupt airlines languish. Not for novelty sake as some neighbors among the ostrich ranches and summer camps here believe, which would befit a tradition of eccentric architecture in Malibu, but rather in all seriousness, the architect has embraced the “above ground mining” designer Bucky Fuller anticipated to sustain our planet into the 21st century. “It’s re-purposing of existing metal artifacts to build new forms.” The wings, as well as the horizontal stabilizers from the tail section, now function as prefabricated lightweight roofing for his 4600-square-foot two-bedroom Wing House. The roof structures do seem to float, supported on columns and custom steel joints bolted into four points where the engine nacelles were mounted. The project, actually two separate structures, consists of a main residence and a guest house, each roofed by a wing. Herz worked out the relationship of the disparate wings using Google Earth.

“The Wing House” combines unobstructed views and feminine lines to marry the wilds of the hillside with a recycling ethic (opposite). Glass and light figure prominently in the design of the kitchen area (this page, top), while perspective, angles and curves draw the eye to the immaculate scenery (above).

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Site construction continues as framing joins many of the components for the final tour de force design. 28

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A previous residence on the site burned in a wild fire and Herz has incorporated the existing concrete foundation and retaining walls. Glass walls—a Modernist convention exemplified in Phillip Johnson’s Glass House in Canaan, Connecticut—will complete the home. Herz has been building modular homes for over a decade, but he’s never before made anything out of an aircraft. While in college, laboring at a construction site in the Sierra Mountains, his commute took him past mothballed jets. A testament to the adage that all experience offers some payoff, the image of the abandoned planes remained with him all these years. It is curious what appeals to some people: the client, Francine Rehwald, went for both the design solution and the cost savings of using manufactured elements. The wings will have solar collectors embedded into the roofing material—a Carlisle single-ply membrane—powering the homes electric and heating needs. The array of Landing lights on the wings’ leading edges will be functional, lighting up the exterior and pool area. Herz can’t comment on construction costs and the client isn’t talking numbers either. But the Associated Press video report on the project cited a figure of 2 million. “At one point it was getting too expensive and I said the hell with the wing “ says Rehwald, a sprightly retiree whose successful luxury car

dealership allowed her to patronize this “re-purposing.” On a recent day at the site, she is bounding around, talking of faucets, a team of Italian cabinet suppliers in tow. At first she wasn’t committed; she didn’t want to be known as the women who lives in a plane. And as with any innovation, there were setbacks. The moveable control surfaces of the trailing edge couldn’t be stabilized. The material, not aluminum but rather composite, was removed. Currently, carpenters are replacing the sections with wooden trusses. When the wings couldn’t be trucked up the narrow winding road, they were hauled by a twin-rotored helicopter at a cost of $8000 an hour. Then there was the paperwork for 17 government agencies to sign off on. Herz had to explain that his wing can withstand loads beyond what it would be required to in its static state, and in the end there were no objections. But that took a year and a half. It was after pricing a contemporary-styled roof that interested her in Malibu (a wave shaped roof of architect Jay Vanos—at $600,000) that Rehwald was sold on the wing. “I paid less than $50,000 for the plane. Even with the costs of transport, I got a real steal.” Standing beneath the wing of the home which should be completed within the next two years, Rehwald is convinced of her choice. “When David suggested it and I agreed, that was a moment I was foolishly fearless,” gushing “ this is just fantastic.” Yeah, some might say the Wing House evokes a plane wreck (it has been registered with the Federal Aviation Authority so that pilots do not mistake it for a crash) but taking in the spectacle, one can only be impressed. There’s one less aircraft rotting in the desert, fewer workers driving into the hills, and even though the coyotes will remain unimpressed, the community will be pleased. Howard Stier has reported for The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Denver Post, The National Inquirer, and In Touch Weekly. www . u m h m a g . c o m

Photos by Brent Winebrenner

I N N O V aA tions innov TIONS

Remodel, Redecorate or Recycle at the ReStore!

The Habitat ReStore is a not-for-profit discount home improvement center where used, salvaged and surplus building materials are sold far below retail prices and the revenue from sales goes directly back to the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate to build more homes for low income families.

•• •• •

New and nearly new Windows: Wood, Vinyl, Aluminum Interior/Exterior Doors, French Doors, Swing, Sliders Electrical Fixtures, Lights, Fans Tubs, Toilets, Sinks, Vanities, Faucets Kitchen Cabinets, Counter Tops and much more! Habitat for Humanity ReStores

Santa Barbara www.sbrestore.org 6725 Hollister Ave. (805) 692-2226

Santa Maria www.nsbhabitat.com 2053 Preisker Ln. (805) 928-5399

San Luis Obispo www.hfhsloco.org 784 High St. (805) 546-8699

Ventura County www.habitatventura.org 167 Lambert St (805) 485-6065

Sacramento www.shfh.org 8351 Umbria Ave Bldg 5 Bay1 (916) 440-1215

Garden Grove www.restoreoc.org 12827 Harbor Blvd (714) 590-8729

Gardena www.shophabitat.org 17700 S Figueroa St (866) 746-7434

Pasadena www.sgvhabitat.org 770 N Fair Oaks (626) 792-3838

Riverside www.habitatriverside.org 2121 Atlanta Ave (951) 787-6754 x113

San Diego www.sdhfh.org 10222 San Diego Mission Rd (619) 516-5267

San Diego www.sdhfh.org 10222 San Diego Mission Rd (619) 516-5267 x511

Grass Valley www.vvhabitat.org 13355 Grass Vly Ave (530) 274-3761

Modesto www.stanislaushabitat.org 630 Kearney Ave (209) 575-4585 x112

Oakland www.eastbayhabitat.org 9235 San Leandro Blvd (510) 777-1447

Bakersfield www.habitatbakersfield.org 622 Jackson St (661) 327-7067

For more ReStore locations, go to: www.habitat.org

B U I LD I N G B L O C K S

All Boxed In A California artist greens the desert with recycled materials By ARNIE COOPER Photos by BRENT WINEBRENNER 30

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The lure of hot springs brought Scott Griesbach to 29 Palms and container-home living.

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(Clockwise from above) The sheltered entryway; trees and relaxing hot springs are close by; another view of the main unit; close enough to Joshua Tree National Park to warrant a sign; Griesbach and friend in the living area.

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here are do-it-yourselfers and there are those who take the concept to extremes. Scott Griesbach, a 42-year-old visual artist and painter, clearly belongs to the latter group. Just visualize the laidback desert dweller standing in 100 degree heat cutting through core-10 steel with his acetylene torch and you’ll understand why. After purchasing a 3-acre ranch home in 29 Palms, California four years ago, Griesbach wanted to create a studio/living space. But to avoid the expense of a new construction, Griesbach, who divides his time between his West Hollywood studio and the Mojave, used his creativity to think inside the box. “When I started looking for properties out here, I noticed a lot of people using these shipping containers for storage.” After combing through “The Green Sheet,” a local classified magazine, he saw an ad for two 20-foot containers at $1800 bucks a piece. “I just thought that’s exactly in my budget: cheap and easy.” Not that most people would consider blowtorching out windows and doors, and installing drywall, insulation and plumbing easy, much less moving the two five-thousand-pound monoliths into their current “L” configuration with hydraulic lifts purchased at Tru-Value. Some may scoff at the notion of setting up shop in this barren terrain, buffeted by scorching sun and occasional windstorms, but like the reptiles that scurry through the sand, the Wisconsin native has long sought out heat whenever he had the any chance he could. Following high school graduation in 1986, Griesbach packed up his jeep and headed for southern California to pursue an art career and escape the mid-western winters. But before heading west, he passed through Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he took his first dip in a thermal pool. Griesbach was hooked. And the idea of one day having his own hot spring became etched in the back of his mind. Once settled in Los Angeles, Griesbach started taking weekend camping trips to hike and rock climb in Joshua Tree National Park (just a few miles from his current digs). He eventually discovered the nearby town of Desert Hot Springs, known for its abundance of mineral pools. Griesbach soon became an aficionado— though “fanatic” is more like it. “Whenever I get vacation time, I seek these places out. I’m just a hot spring junkie. Besides, there are therapeutic benefits,” Griesbach says. Of course, finding a getaway property with a hot spring wasn’t going to be cheap, so he opted to develop his own—no small task, especially for someone who is more comfortable reading Plato than topographical depictions.

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Nevertheless, Griesbach got his hands on some geothermal maps and purchased a 3-acre piece of desert in 2002. Though this first attempt didn’t work out, three years later he found a smaller 1½-acre plot with a three-bedroom ranch house and, most importantly, the perfect geological conditions. No doubt, Griesbach’s hot-water soaks serve as a counterbalance to the many hours he spends hunched over a computer, researching and Photoshopping for months the monochromatic digital images that eventually morph into paintings—many of which adorn the walls of the two 160-square foot containers, now painted the color of the desert floor. “They were bright orange to begin with. Then a bunch of my buddies and I graffitied the whole thing.” However, guests, family and friends eventually persuaded him to change it to blend in better with the environs. Apart from those early modifications, Griesbach insists that visitors are thrilled whenever they see the structure, which also serves as the office for his B & B. The Joshua Tree Hot Springs Inn is available to sun-seekers throughout the year. “A bunch of people from a fancy architectural firm in Century City rented the house out one weekend and when one of the guys came into the studio he was just floored. He said: ‘I’ve been an architect all my life but I’ve never seen anyone actually do this.’ He was amazed I could have it turn out so well with no architectural background.” Indeed, with a floor-toceiling-tiled bathroom, a small kitchenette, and artwork covering the walls, it’s no wonder Griesbach likens the space, which took him about three months to complete, to a small New York apartment. (I wonder though, how many Manhattan studios have small springs outside the front door.) What’s most striking of all is the fact that you’re actually inside a giant tin can. Luckily, you won’t have to worry about feeling like you’re baking in a toaster oven. Griesbach says the space is fully insulated (yes, he installed the insulation) and features an evaporative cooler (they only function in ultra-dry climes) which ends up being 1/10 the cost of air conditioning. “It’s probably 95 degrees outside right now and I’m totally comfortable sitting in here.” What’s more, by using a structure that in essence has been entirely recycled, Griesbach has found a sustainable way to live and work in an especially challenging, yet starkly beautiful, environment. Arnie Cooper writes from Santa Barbara for the Wall Street Journal, Dwell, and other national publications. Upw a r d l y

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D ESTI NATI O N S

Arroyo Living A one of a kind home on California’s Central Coast By FRANK NELSON PHOTOS BY BRENT WINEBRENNER

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hen friends visit Jim and Judy Earnest at their home in Arroyo Grande, the reaction is usually the same. “People say ‘Gee whiz, this doesn’t look like any mobile home I’ve ever seen,’” says Jim. The retired Bakersfield couple has poured a lot of ideas, and a fair bit of money, into this one-of-a-kind manufactured home tucked away in a gated community on California’s central coast. With the help of high ceilings, lots of extra windows, mirrors and light-colored walls, Jim and Judy have given their home an open, airy, spacious feel that seems to increase the 1,350 square feet. Additional touches, like black leather couches, flashes of nickel silver and aluminum, and plenty of sharp angles, lend just a hint of art deco, an impression enhanced by a baby grand piano. Jim says they don’t play…but they have grandchildren who like to try! Their home has three bedrooms, though the third does duty now as an office/ den/television room. The master bedroom

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has its own bathroom, complete with soaking tub, and there’s also a second bathroom. The home boasts a large living room, a kitchen, a walk-in closet, a fireplace and crown molding. Most ceilings are 9 feet high, though in a few places they tower 12 feet, with high windows creating the effect of skylights. Outside the owners have built a brick approach to the covered front porch, complete with planters, and added a huge rear deck. The yard also features a hillside, some 50 feet wide and 15 to 20 feet tall, covered in lantana, lavender and other plants. The overall result is an eye-catching home—inside and out—that sits in a park for residents age 55 and over, about two miles from the sea, with views over farmland, sand dunes and the ocean in one direction, vineyards in the other. Such is the care and attention lavished on the property that it comes as a surprise to find this is Jim and Judy’s second home— they typically spend long weekends here and four days a week at their main residence in Bakersfield. www . u m h m a g . c o m

Like many residents around Bakersfield and Fresno, the couple wanted somewhere to escape the Central Valley’s climate extremes—stifling summer temperatures that can crest 110 degrees and winter days prone to cold and fog. Jim, 64, retired owner and operator of a lumber yard, and Judy, 63, who worked as a registered nurse, had spent a lot of time around Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande. They liked the area, which is only a couple of hours from Bakersfield—and from their two adult children and eight grandchildren. They already lived in a 55-plus community in Bakersfield, so when they found a similarly well-maintained and cared for mobile home park in Arroyo Grande in 2006, they bought in for $283,000. Being keen golfers, they were attracted by three par-3 holes, plus other facilities, such as a gym, pool, tennis and clubhouse. “It’s an active adult community,” says Jim, who likes the www . u m h m a g . c o m

fact that it’s communally owned and looked after by the residents. They decided to replace the existing home, which Jim estimates was built in the mid-’70s, the first manufactured home they had ever owned, for which they were referred to Peter Houck, regional manager for San Jose-based Advantage Homes. “We worked with him on the design,” says Jim. “Some ideas were ours—we definitely wanted lots of windows and a very spacious, open look— and some were his. Peter helped us achieve what we wanted and basically it all worked out very well. It was a really good experience.” Houck says Advantage sells homes manufactured by its sister company, Champion Enterprise, which has factories around the nation, three of them in California. A large part of the company’s business involves replacing old mobile homes, and he estimates that maybe 20% of the units in this particular park have now been renewed.

Houck says Advantage homes are about 95% pre-fabricated off-site. They arrive in sections and, once assembled, are anchored to steel pier foundations, and the ground, with seismic bracing. The Earnests’ unit cost about $152,000, though they then spent more money on decking, brickwork and customizing the interior design. “The general décor is unusual for the type of home in a senior community,” says Houck, who describes the end result as a house with “very high style appeal” and a “refreshed Art Deco look.” The couple’s love of golf recently led them to buy a third home, this one just south of Arroyo Grande and close to Nipomo’s Monarch Dunes Golf Course. Talk about upwardly mobile! Frank Nelson is a business reporter for the Santa Barbara News-Press Upw a r d l y

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UP AND OUT

Peace and serenity summon city dwellers to Gold Country

modular IN THE MEADOW By LESLIE DINABERG 36

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PHOTOS BY BRENT WINEBRENNER

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High ceilings and a flood of natural light make this Grass Valley home extremely livable.

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UP AND OUT

uring their 47-year marriage, Lanie and Jay Keystone have lived in just about every type of home in every part of the country—starting out during Jay’s medical internship in San Francisco, before going back home to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and then to Air Force housing in Montgomery, Alabama, they have inhabited a haunted Victorian on Santa Barbara’s Riviera, as well as a variety of houses in other places: New Hampshire; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlestown, South Carolina; Toledo, Ohio, and Reno, Nevada. But their 24th house, a 2,650-square-foot Silvercrest manufactured home, looks like a keeper. “I can’t imagine us willingly moving to any other place,” says Jay, a retired physician who still does some medical administrative work. Peaceful is the first word that comes to mind when the Keystone’s describe their lives on their five-acre property in Grass Valley, California, which features rolling hills and two large ponds. Because of the Sierra foothill topography, the back of the house rests 12 feet off the ground. “It’s like living in a tree house. Looking out you can touch the trees off the deck. The hummingbirds come and the woodpeckers come and a whole panoply of birds fly to these giant oak trees that are probably 100 years old. Across the road from us there are four ostriches, a bunch of goats, cattle, horses, peacocks…it’s just wonderful to just sit out there and take it all in,” he says. The property was undeveloped when they purchased it in 2001. “We are inveterate home lookers,” laughs Jay. They considered all different types of home construction before deciding. “The best value clearly was this manufactured home. It really gave us a lot of square footage and design capability for the money…ultimately we found this manufacturer (Silvercrest) and they just had superior designs in their homes that we thought just beat every thing else off the wall.” “We really did a lot of research on different companies,” adds Lanie. “Some of them had really good quality but I would say most of them had just not great designs, and Silvercrest had the whole package. It had great, great design and a lot of flexibility in terms of what we could do with it, but also it had incredible quality.” Touring the factory really clinched 38

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the deal. “We’ve built a number of homes from the ground up, stick built homes, and there’s always been little problems because of weather and so on,” says Lanie. “But this is all climate controlled because it’s all built inside and so there’s never a problem with any of the quality.” The Keystones especially liked having the ability to customize their home. They had some walls knocked out to create a very free-flowing space, and added clerestory windows for extra light, additional fireplaces, including a see-through fireplace that serves the master bedroom’s sitting room and the family room, granite counter tops in the kitchen and pantry, and skylights in several rooms. Along with the 800-square-foot deck, where from spring to fall they eat three meals a day, the Keystones also love their kitchen. “We’ve lived with it now for four years and we’ve been just delighted. In all the houses we’ve had, we’ve never had a kitchen that is as beautiful as this kitchen,” says Jay. Another favorite feature is the “kid’s room,” where all five grandchildren sleep together at “Camp Keystone,” an annual summer family retreat. “We’ve got a bunk bed with a trundle bed under it and then we have another trundle bed and regular bed that’s built into the wall—and the kids immediately go to their room when they get here,” says Lanie. “We just love it so much. Sometimes it’s really hard to pry us away,” says Lanie, an arts educator who travels to schools around the country. “I have to say that living in the country is quite a kick,” says Jay. “Over the time that we’ve been married, we have had an opportunity to discover within ourselves whether we are city mice or country mice. We’ve decided we’re pretty much country mice. We walked out the front door the other day and not a hundred feet from us was a golden eagle sitting in a tree. It was absolutely huge and it flew away with about a six-foot wingspan. The house is very deceptive—when you’re outside it looks very ordinary, but the minute you open the front door it’s a very wow type of experience. We are just thrilled with it.”

Opposite: (top) The back porch takes in a splendid view of the backyard and pond (this page); more available light adds cheer to the kitchen, while less adds tone to a bedroom; and a cozy nook beckons you to ‘relax’ (below)

Leslie Dinaberg is a Santa Barbara-based freelance writer. www . u m h m a g . c o m

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INTERIORS

Shoestring Chic A small investment in time and money can transform your home By TONI GUMP

Here are some suggestions:

Before you go bargain hunting, look carefully at your homes, both the new one and the one you live or lived in. What do you already have that you love? What colors make you happy or serene? Do you have pictures of those rooms? See what looks good to you and what doesn’t. What does your home say about you? Does your preferred style seem to be traditional, modern, eclectic, or something else? Take some measurements to put in a notebook. Take it with you when you shop.

Look through magazines, catalogues and websites. Go on eBay and craiglist. Take note of prices. Watch TV design programs to see what pleases you. Buy a throwaway camera to take pictures of what you like when you walk through department, bargain, antique and junk stores. Put them in your notebook with the prices. Go on home tours for further reference. Go to furniture sales and flea markets. Garage sales are great places to poke around. Make note of friends’ homes where you feel particularly comfortable. All this will help you think about what fits YOU. 40

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From this you can make a plan. Now it will be easier to find what you need at that less expensive price.

Keep in mind that there is a big variety in pricing. Sometimes the cheaper store doesn’t really have the better price, after taking all things into consideration. Compare not just price but quality. Does it have good lines? Knockoffs can be cheaper but they might be badly built. Is this a temporary piece? Can you use it in another place later? Can you fix it yourself? Would that be fun for you? Or do you need to hire someone to put it together, adding to the cost? Will painting it make a difference? Can a new fabric on the seat bring it up a notch? Do you have to have matching pieces? If you were to cut off the legs of that old credenza, would it look better in your home? If a unique piece of furniture is central to your “look” and is something you will treasure for year’s, it may be worth that higher price. Perhaps you prefer to wait a few months to buy that much-needed chest of drawers so you can have that mid-century Lucite clock.

Be flexible. Finding that special piece that adds flair to your home may not have been on your plan. Also consider shopping in unusual places such as camping stores or Army/Navy stores. Art stores or craft shops also have items that might be useful. Junkyards are great for “found objects.” Re-stores are a good source, as are overstock stores. Break out of tradition and put outdoor furniture inside. Can that piece you like be used for a different purpose

later? Will that horse trough you are using for a table base now work as a planter later? Search even catalogues and stores you disparage, as they may actually have something just right for your need, at least temporarily.

The color of your walls makes the biggest difference for the least amount of money. Choose colors that fit the ambiance you are looking for:.white for purity, lighter blues or greens for serenity, orange and red for energy. The color of the wood you choose can be modern or traditional. Painted furniture can blend or compliment your wall colors.

Art objects and accessories should be a reflection of your taste, not someone else’s. Don’t buy it just because it is in fashion. Shells, gears, giant letters, architectural salvage, pillows, throws and ceramics can be found at reasonable prices in a variety of places. These are the things that give your home that extra punch. We started decorating an imaginary modest mobile home by painting bold colors. The colors add drama. To give the walls warmth and dimension, we added chair railings but painted them the same color as the wall. Since we wanted to find the least expensive way to furnish the home, we used ideas from several different stores, catalogues and websites. The couch was our anchor piece. It is a very popular and reasonably priced piece available at IKEA. The Persian style carpet and the throw added coziness and color. Both are favorably priced at several stores such as Ikea, Pier One and World Market. www . u m h m a g . c o m

Illustration istock/City Creative

ou have just purchased your first mobile home, you are planning to retire to this area soon, and your new purchase will be a weekend place until then. Or maybe you are planning to replace this older unit with a newer one, so you do not want to spend a lot of money on it. With these scenarios in mind, how can you achieve fabulous results while decorating on a budget?

We picked out bamboo blinds for the windows. They allow light yet can block an unattractive view. Bamboo blinds come in a variety of styles and range in price from inexpensive to modest. In order to disguise an old TV and some boxes, we placed an Office Mart folding table and coverlet over them. We will use the table somewhere else later for added guests at dinner. We dyed the white coverlet we found at Tuesday Morning to compliment the other colors in the room. The www . u m h m a g . c o m

overhead lantern hides a bare bulb. It is very inexpensive. We used decorative boxes on the wall to display ceramic objects. The boxes are from CB2. For a side table, we put a glass top on a plant stand. Both the plant stand and the outdoor chairs from Lowe’s can be used outside later. The entry wall has a hook for coats and a cubby for shoes, purses and things. Ikea and Pottery Barn have similar items at different prices. To give the room some “pow”, we added a large stool covered in

zebra fabric. It can be used for seating or for placing a basket of favorite photographs. We were going to use a bench (very versatile) from the crafts store in front of the couch but the room asked for something with more bulk. We decided to take an old dining table and cut it down. We ordered a pillow from a website for a sense of pizzazz. Though it was somewhat expensive, we just couldn’t resist. Giving ourselves a reward for cutting costs made our problem solving worth it. Upw a r d l y

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every man is a creative cause of what happens, a primum mobile with an original movement.â&#x20AC;? Friedrich Nietzsche

Protecting Your Rights through Education, Communication & Unity

We serve oWners of mobile/manufactured homes in rental parks Call: 1-800-929-6061 Email: comocal@yahoo.com Write: P.O. Box 4821, Chatsworth, CA 91313 42

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O P E N R O AD

Half Moon Bay

By the bay,

Photos courtesy Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce, www.halfmoonbaychamber.org

by the bay, by the beautiful bay…

ust 25 miles south of San Francisco, snuggled between the Santa Cruz Mountains, lies this charming mariner’s village with its relaxing laid-back atmosphere. Half Moon Bay is known for its floriculture as well as commercial fishing, but there is much more. Half Moon Bay was once called Spanish Town—it dates back to the 1840’s, before California was a state. After the 1906 earthquake, when the adobe buildings fell, only the wooden structures remained, so it lost its Spanish flavor. Many of the historic wooden buildings still stand today. Half Moon Bay had stage coach as well as train service. The train was popular with the wellheeled visiting there and nearby towns. During prohibition, it was the center of liquor smuggling.

TO DO Shop for antiques, jewelry, apparel, or art; stroll, picnic, or horseback on the long beaches; visit the lighthouses or elephant seal rookery; meander along the coast to explore the quaint villages nearby; surf, fish, kayak, or bird watch; venture into the redwoods at Purisima Creek (one path is surfaced for the disabled); visit the Green Oaks Creek Farm and Retreat organic farm or Lemos Family Farm; or go to local beer or wine tasting rooms. www . u m h m a g . c o m

TO SLEEP

There are several chain hotels, the luxurious Ritz Carlton with a golf course, and several bed and breakfasts, many of which are in historic buildings.

Princeton Seafood Co. #9 Johnson Pier Pillar Point

Lands Shore Ocean Front Inn 211 Mirada Rd (650)726-6642

Pasta Moon 315 Main

Days Inn (dog friendly) 3020 N. Cabrillo Hi (650)726 9700 Beach House (on the beach) 4100 N. Cabrillo Hi. (650)726-9000 Half Moon Bay Campgrounds (RVs) (800)444-PARK

TO EAT

Sam’s Chowder House 4210 N. Cabrillo Upw a r d l y

Moons Bakery and Café 604 Main

MOBILE HOME PARKS Pillar Ridge MH Community 164 Culebra, Moss Beach Canada Cove Highway 1 and Miramar Point Hill Top MH Park 249 San Mateo Rd Road Pacific Sky’s Estates 1300 Palmetto Ave, Pacifica Mob i l e

I N T H E PAR K

Champagne Village keeps Lawrence Welk’s spirit alive and dancing By DON ROBERSON

Top: An overview of the secluded park just north of Escondido. Opposite: Many amenities make park living truly like a village. 44

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unnerful. Wunnerful. These are the words used by a guy from North Dakota to express his pleasure with Big Band music, accordions and the Polka. The guy was Lawrence Welk, the son of German immigrants, who used his love of music and dance to create one of the most popular entertainment groups of the last century. Starting at the Aragon Ballroom in Santa Monica, Lawrence Welk and his Champagne Music Makers produced weekly variety shows that captivated live audiences. Lawrence himself starred in the show and it was not unusual for him to dance with the ladies on the Aragon dance floor. From 1955 to 1982. The Lawrence Welk Show was telecast live every week. Welk’s popularity grew with the spread of television. It is estimated that 10.3 billion people have watched the show on

TV (more than the world’s population). It was no surprise that the successful Welk used his financial strength to invest in California real estate. Like contemporaries Bing Crosby, Art Linkletter and Fess Parker, Welk had an interest in mobile home parks. In 1965, Welk and an associate, on their way to the Golden Door health resort, drove by a park 7 miles north of Escondido with lush green fairways and spreading oak trees. Lawrence purchased it. It was the Esquire Oaks Mobile Home Park on old Highway 395, wiith 79 spaces and a small golf course. The name was changed to Lawrence Welk’s Country Club Mobile Home Estates. Welk himself maintained a 1400-square-foot home in his park and attended as many social events as his schedule would allow. As you would expect, at the evening dances, Lawrence danced with all the ladies. www . u m h m a g . c o m

Photos courtesy Ken Hansen of Champagne Village Realty, www. champagnevillage.com

Truly Wonderful

Fast forward to 2009. The park has grown to 457 spaces on 135 acres and is now named Champagne Village. The park is adjacent to Welk Resort San Diego and can be found near the corner of Lawrence Welk Drive and Champagne Blvd., just off Interstate 15. Champagne Village is no ordinary mobile home park–residents insist on calling it a village. Unlike standalone parks, Champagne Village is an integral part of the resort and within walking distance to the resort’s many amenities, Including a restaurant, a convenience store, a gift shop and the famous Welk Theater San Diego. Two golf courses surround the park (with reduced green fees for residents). “It’s like having the privacy of your own home inside a 5-star resort neighborhood,” said resident Arlene Garich. “With so much to do, you rarely have to leave the Village.” Garich ushers at the 300 seat Welk Theater and organizes the Holiday Parade of Homes. Residents own their lots and pay an association fee for the many common area amenities— tennis, pool and spa, fitness center, and RV parking, just to name a few. Champagne Village is in transition, like many www . u m h m a g . c o m

other parks built in the 1960’s. The older homes are being phased out and replaced with new manufactured homes. Architectural styles are being modernized, making the street scene look more like that of conventionally built homes. Because of its low density, many spaces are over-sized (some up to 7,000 square feet) allowing for 2-car garages in place of single carports. The park is age-restricted (55 and better), but as one resident says “sixty is the new forty and grey is the new blond.” You don’t have to wear polyester to attend the dinner-dances. A “Dancing with the Stars” event is being planned for those who want to strut their stuff. Don’t have a dance partner? No worry, they’ll find one for you. On Sunday nights, the Welk Theater presents “At the Hop,” a tribute to the greatest hits of the 50’s and 60’s, featuring the Alley Cats. So if you are considering a move to a manufactured home community, you must check out Champagne Village. With prices starting at $150,000 (including the land), you can live a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget. That’s truly “wunnerful.” Upw a r d l y

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RETRO

Bauhaus to Your House By Barbara Brontë Bernal

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For example, the 4’ x 8’ panel dimension we use today was chosen due to its capacity to fit on a flatbed truck that could travel safely down a major highway. The peripheral parts and joining devices were selected to permit the assembly-line manufacture of many different products. Which brings us to what happened when Bauhaus design and industrial machine-age ideas arrived here in the Thirties. Bam! America invented the travel trailer! A rolling “house” that could be mass-produced along with cars. What a nifty idea the trailer was. It was an immediate success—and a bargain—during the depression, when owners could move from site to site to find work and still enjoy many of the comforts of a stationary home. It wasn’t long before communities of trailers gathered together in parks to share clubhouses and facilities and a friendly social scene. America loves its trailers! We’ve watched as, following the Second World War, trailers were grabbed up by returning vets to play the role of their first homes. Once embraced by Americans, trailer designs morphed into luxurious cottages and even mini mansions with sophisticated ultra-modern interiors furnished with spiffy kitchens and baths. You can now choose to live in a two-story model and join other mobile home aficionados in what have become charming neighborhoods, perfect for families looking for a nice home that they can afford. What’s more, because of its economical design, you will use less energy in a mobile home. If you’re passionate about living in a greener world, what a great place to start. And today, new age trailer parks take landscaping seriously—shade trees and flowers bring the countryside to your door. Le Corbusier, one of America’s greatest architects, is famously quoted for saying, “Less is More.” However, when it comes to this new generation of mobile homes, sometimes “more” is more than welcome! Barbara Brontë Bernal whose long career as a photographer/ journalist/editor in New York City included gigs with CBS and The New York Times. She misses Manhattan—but cherishes the time she now has to work on the book she always wanted to write. www . u m h m a g . c o m

Photos by istockphoto.com

t heart we are all nomads. People have been traveling for thousands of years, carrying their homes on their backs—or the backs of their pack animals. The first such “home” was a tent, a piece of cloth or animal skin stretched over sticks found along the trail. We’ve come a long way since then. The extraordinary streamlined trailer introduced in America in the Thirties, now a famous icon, caught fire in the public’s eye for its sleek design and cleverly compact interiors that satisfied the practical needs of a family of four. And where, you might ask, did this marvel of industrial design come from? It can be traced to The Bauhaus, a wildly inventive art school launched in Germany following the First World War. Walter Gropius, the architect who founded The Bauhaus, invited the most innovative and imaginative artists from all over Europe to join in this venture as master teachers. Among them were Mies Van der Rohe and Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, the most celebrated abstract artist of the time. Handicraft classes were taught. But at the same time these powerful architects and Bauhaus designers began to adapt their ideas to the new industrial age, they saw the advantage of mass production to turn out a series of “art” objects produced by machines rather than human hands. And because factories could create beautiful objects relatively cheaply, these idealistic designers could fulfill their ideal of putting objects of luxury and beauty and convenience into the hands of ordinary folks. Until then, only the wealthy had the means to acquire such things. The Bauhaus artists recognized that for such designs to work, a new aesthetic was needed. Mass-produced objects had to be sleek and devoid of ornament. The look became what we call modern. Designs were stripped of excessive and unnecessary complexities. Eager to get their designs into production, they began to work side by side with industry. They needed to seduce industrial engineers who would create the machines and the methods of manufacture that would produce this new genre of objects. To begin, they established standardized sizes of building components, which had never been done before.

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By Onnah Roll

“Purple Trailer” by Bruce Thomas

T RA I L E R T RA S H T AL E S

Episode Five

he Ladies,” Doris, Pearl, and Marge, are sitting on the cool, protected porch of Doris’s pre-fab estate (they do refer to the park as “Mobile Home Estates”), exchanging priceless information, as usual, on a mild summer afternoon. Doris returns from her impeccably remodeled kitchen with a tray full of glasses of ice water. “I wasn’t sure if you girls were thirsty but I always get thirsty ’bout this time in the afternoon.” “Yes. Thanks!” says Marge, as she and Pearl gulp down the elixir. “So. I was telling you about the peeping tom horse, right?” asks Doris. “Yep. So what happened to it?” Pearl inquires. “Well, after Cindy called 9-11 thinking she had a pervert at her window, and the sheriff ’s department came and everything, nobody would claim the poor, lost thing. You’d think

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someone around here would notice if one of their horses was missing!” “Really!” Marge agrees. “They didn’t find its home?” “No.” Doris says with a sigh. “But Cindy, she’s such a dear, a real animal lover, donated her own money to have the poor horse taken to the local 4-H. Hopefully, the kids there will take good care of poor Mr. Ed. Obviously, Cindy couldn’t keep the horse here in the park. She wouldn’t want to be publicly reprimanded for breaking a park rule, ya know.” “Course not,” Pearl chimes in. “Management eats the cats here if they wander off beyond their owner’s property lines, don’t they?” “They might as well,” adds Marge. “They gleefully hand out those cat traps regularly. What do people think, ‘Oh my God! A cat might scare away the gophers tearing up my yard! We can’t have that!’

Idiots. I tell ya!” “Guess the management hasn’t fashioned a horse-trapping device yet. What will I do if another stray horse should wind up at my window?” inquires Pearl sarcastically. “Well, if I were you, I’d jump on it bareback and have the ride of my life, kicking up the loose patches of dirt the gophers left, all the way down to the manager’s office,” suggests Doris with a wry smile. “Yes!” laughs Marge. “But don’t forget to have the horse leave a sizable gift in front of the office door!” The Ladies laugh heartily, lighting their cigarettes in unison and sighing with satisfaction. “I’m just kidding,” Marge continues. “I don’t leave my dog’s mess lying around. I wouldn’t want some kid to play in it or anything. But why is it that people with dogs are supposed to be responsible for picking up their waste www . u m h m a g . c o m

and people with horses aren’t expected to stop when their horse poops to clean it up? It’s been really bugging me. Inquiring minds want to know.” “Good question!” Doris remarks, with no answer. “Life’s not fair,” Pearl suggests as a solution. “No kidding!” agrees Marge as she sucks the last hint of life from her Marlboro. “I think your phone is ringing,” she says, shooting a glance at Doris. Doris disappears into her house leaving Pearl and Marge alone to drink more water than they’re thirsty for, both of them busying themselves so as not to have to come up with something to talk about. Doris has always been the center of the group, and her absence, although temporary, creates an uneasiness, as if one forgot how to breathe. Thankfully, Doris returns quickly, breaking the awkward silence. “It was Betty. She’s coming back by. She says she has something for us.” “What?” asks Pearl. “Hopefully it’s edible. And full of sugar.” “Well, knowing her…” Marge considers. “Hey, Doris. What were you gonna tell us about her husband, Bob, by the way? You never did fill us in.” “Okay. Quickly,” Doris obliges. “She’ll be here any second.” Doris lights another cigarette for dramatic support. “You’ll have time,” Pearl joins Doris with a flick of her lighter. “I think she moves as slow as I do and you know how long it takes me to hobble up here when my arthritis is acting up!” “Well, at least that didn’t bug you ‘til you were older. Ya know, Betty has had physical problems since her early thirties and Bob is what caused them, too.” “What do ya mean?” asks Marge. “Well, when he was drunk and they got hit by that train…that was a long time ago. But Betty just kept on going, didn’t blame anyone. Then years later, as if that wasn’t enough, Bob was fooling around with some barfly floozy. And when she tried to talk to him about it he picked up their glasstop table and hurled it at her. Gave her www . u m h m a g . c o m

a bad concussion. That’s why she talks so slow sometimes and why she got a facelift. She thought he’d stick around more if she prettied herself up. Plus, she didn’t like the scars on her face from the glass.” “She had a face lift?” Marge double-checked. “She looks good. You can’t even tell. Bob’s an idiot!” “I’m next!” Doris asserts. “What do you think, Pearl? Should I get a little nip/tuck?” “Whatever,” Pearl shrugs. “If that’s what you want to do with your money. But Frank adores you, so why would you go through all that?” “Just for me!” answers Doris with excitement. “It’s high time I do something just for me.” “Here, here!” Marge agrees as she takes a swig of cold coffee from the cup she has been nursing for hours. The Ladies jump slightly as Doris’s gate latch clamps closed. “Hi ya, Ladies!” Betty’s southern drawl oozes up the walkway like warm honey. “Ya’ll enjoying this weather?” “Sure are!” welcomes Doris. “Come on up and sit down, sweetie. I’ll get you some coffee.” “Whew! Thanks, hon! I need it!” Betty eases into a patio chair with a slight wince, and places a foil-covered paper plate and a few other items on the crowded table. “What’s new?” she asks Pearl and Marge as she catches her breath. “You know us. We’re always up here busy solving the problems of the world. What’s in the foil?” “Yeah,” adds Marge. “What have you been up to? Whatever it is, it smells good!” Doris comes back out with Betty’s coffee, offering a warm-up to the other ladies as Betty answers. “Well, I’ve been havin’ the most god-awful time with the ants this summer. I swear they’d eat everything in my house if I didn’t wrap it up like Christmas, so I had to get rid of some of the sweets I had settin’ in the pantry. I got some great stuff from those Food Bank angels and had to finally come up with somethin’ to do with it. Now that my grandkids are grown, I just can’t find

a thing to do with that Marshmallow Crème gunk anymore. They used to love that stuff! But I finally did it! I just couldn’t stand for it to go to waste and all. I hope ya’ll like it. I made a white cake with canned peach slices and peach/ marshmallow crème frostin’. Don’t know what I should call it though.” “Mmm!” Doris licks her lips. “It smells yummy! My mouth’s watering!” “Well, go on! Dig in!” Betty encourages as she dishes out the cake on the spare plates she brought, offering up utensils as well. “You don’t miss a thing, do you?” teases Marge as she takes a bite of the treat. Betty is a giver, always has been, especially when it comes to food, regardless of what she does or does not get in return. She smiles a wise smile as she watches the Ladies enjoy the flavors she has created. “As my grammy used to say, ‘Though problems are plenty, suffering is a choice, not a requirement.’ So enjoy!”

Betty’s Smile-causing Cake 1 Box of white cake mix Canned, sliced peaches, or fruit of your choice (as many slices as you like) 2 Tbsp. Peach preserves (or your choice of preserves) 1/4 cup Marshmallow crème Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box in a loaf, square, or Bundt pan. Drain the canned peaches. Ten minutes before the cake is done in the oven, arrange the peach slices on top of the cake batter as quickly as possible. Bake the cake for the remaining ten minutes. The cake may require a few extra minutes because of the moisture of the peaches. After the cake has been removed from the pan and cooled, mix the peach preserves and marshmallow crème in a small, microwave-safe bowl. Heat the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds or until heated through. Stir again and drizzle the mixture over the top of the prepared cake and serve. Upw a r d l y

Mob i l e

LA S T L O O K â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rationalism does not exclude ecstasy: no, it needs it. Ecstasy is the motor which sets the machinery of practical reason in motion and keeps it goingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;its heart Kurt Hiller (1922) Photo by Brent Winebrenner

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