Mop, and this Habitat house glows
<p>Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho's Marianne Bethke, right, gives Kathy French a cookbook in the kitchen of French's new home Saturday during the dedication celebrating the nonprofit's 34th completed home.</p>
<p>Seth Mayer snaps a picture of, from left, Kathy French, Sarena Mayer, Marlys Milligan and Cory Johnson after a tour of the new home.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Just when Kathy French was about to move in to her new home, everyone else tracked in mud.
Not one day old, and the first-time homeowner already had to mop.
"That's OK though," French said Saturday at Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho's dedication celebrating its 34th home, and first for French.
A small detail compared to the big picture, she said. The mother of two and longtime employee at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course was moving in to the two-bedroom, 956-square foot home off 12th Street and Hazel Avenue, after all. And plenty of friends were on hand to celebrate with her, bringing housewarming gifts with them.
"I'm just so thankful for all the volunteers," said French, a Habitat volunteer since 2009 herself, "for God, my friends and family helping through it all."
The local chapter for the nonprofit is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing by providing adequate, affordable shelter through grants, donations and volunteer work. Volunteers are locals, or sometimes bicycle riders who stop for a few days as they cross the country.
"If it weren't for the volunteers, nothing would happen," said Greg Nowak, board member who also built French's home. "I can tell you that."
The first home built in Kootenai County by Habitat for Humanity was in 1991. French's house is number 34. The next one is going up in Spirit Lake. But French's new yard still doesn't have grass, and tours left plenty of muddy footprints on the hardwood floor.
That's OK, French said. She happy enough. She doesn't even have plans yet on how she'll decorate.
"I'm just going to go one day at a time," she said. "Starting today."