The 2009 HGTV Dream Home winner has been chosen and evidently it's not me. Technically, it isn't I. I'm pretty sure it's not you either. Nope, the winner this year of the beautiful 3700 square foot farmhouse style home in Sonoma, California is Cheryl Smith from Lakeland, Florida. Cheryl and her husband Joe, a retired couple, were the randomly chosen winners from among 39 million entries!!! Can you believe 39 million? Online entries could be made only once a day and those entries accounted for the total 43 to 1. Unlike like last year's recipient (who acted strangely unemotional and detached) Cheryl and Joe were thrilled with the house and the new Acadia that goes with it. Now in case you are feeling sorry for yourself, consider this. Although most dream home winners choose to sell the house, the 2005 winner Don Cruz decided to live in the Tyler, Texas home with his family. With the $2900 a month upkeep, the $7000 a year insurance, and the $672,000 taxes on income received The Cruz family is facing bankruptcy! Surprise! But, take heart. HGV does offer to buy the house back and pay the taxes for you from the proceeds. Me, I'm still jealous. Cheryl and Joe walked outside in shorts and bare feet to see the Acadia. I'd settle for weather warm enough for that!
I always wondered what people did with the house when they won! I so wanted that one last year in Florida! I had decided if I won I'd go open up a Curves down there! God Bless you today Susan! and your friend too! Lauralu :)I'm still throwing that invite out there to drop by Curves and say hi! We could take pics and post them! In fact, I'll be there this afternoon and tomorrow morning and Wed. morning! Just a thought! Lauralu :)
ReplyDeleteI was wondering about the upkeep of these homes..., but I would love to win! Haha, who wouldn't, right!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan! Shoot!! Well, congrats to the winners. This years house is one of my favorites! Thanks for popping in to see me.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia :)
I guess we can all console each other that we didn't win.
ReplyDeleteI'll be there! Can't wait to meet a blogging bud! Yeah! Lauralu :)
ReplyDeleteShoot, I got all dressed up and was waiting for them on my porch and they never showed up!
ReplyDeleteIt is 5am which means the whap of the newspaper hitting my front door woke me up. This happens about twice a week, but I decided to embrace it and rise early on mornings this happens. If I complain it would end up at the end of my driveway. I would then have to plow through the snow to fetch it in boots and bathrobe which would not be a pretty sight. Instead I logged on to my blog and read the comments visitors left overnight which lead me here!
ReplyDeleteIt appears we started to blog around the same time. I however have relied more on photos then my words. You have no need for photos because your words are your photos.
It is unfortunate you are missing something truly wonderful since you have not been to the shopping Mecca “Marshalls Superstore”. I would have sent you this as an e-mail since this is long for a comment, but you don’t have one on your blog. Your enchanting writing drew me in which is a reason to celebrate the newspaper woke me up this morning. Cathy
Hey Susan! It was so nice to meet you today! You are so beautiful! I posted our pic and a really long post! I got a little carried away talking about Disciple! didn't realize how long it was! William said he'd probably recognize your son if he saw him but the name didn't sound familiar. I saw on the news about the crowd at the zoo! Did you get stuck in that mess?! God Bless! Lauralu :)
ReplyDeleteShoot, I just left a comment and it didnt go through...
ReplyDeleteI didnt win either. Shoot!
Tales from Bloggeritaville
www.lbratina.blogspot.com
I have decided that if I ever win, I will have a huge house party, invite all of my friends and then sell it!! lol What else can you do???...Debbie
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteI would think the yearly taxes on a house in that part of the country and that size would be quite expensive also.
I think you made everyone feel better about not winning!
You asked where I got the little teapot spoons. I found them about 2 years ago at WalMart of all places, in the kitchen gadget aisle.
Yup! I too wondered if the winners kept the house or sold it. I did a quick calculation in my head...and the property taxes alone would send me running!!! LOL
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