So I've mentioned how hard we worked on the deck and The Great Wall. But until it was all finished, I didn't realize how much I was going to like it. It thought it was going to be an improvement and something I could "live with" until we had the finances to do what we really want. (It involves a large covered patio that's attached to the house with ceiling fans and a built in grill, large outdoor furniture, etc.)
But now that it's done, and my plants are all in and my new over sized chairs are set up, I love it! I can put the awning out and pretend it's my permanent roof, and I can watch the trees blow gently in the breeze and admire my potted plants, all from the comfort of my red cushioned armchair and ottoman. :) And it certainly helps that the neighbors have been very complimentary.
But what bugs me more than ever now is my neighbors' yard. They don't do anything to maintain it. The couple that lives there are technically friends and you would think I would be able to say something to them, but I can't. And I think most of the other neighbors are fed up with their yard too. So much so, that they don't speak to them. It's awkward. And part of me wishes I could put up a fence so I didn't have to look at the giant weeds growing in their beds. I should sneak a picture to show you how tall them are. I think my dogs would get lost in them! Even their family is fed up with the way their yard looks because they've been over to trim the bushes and clean some of the smaller beds when they're not home!
Another pet peeve of mine is mulching. They haven't mulched since they moved in 2 years ago. The beds look bare and the mulch would actually help keep down the weeds! One neighbor was kind enough to give them a couple of yards of leftover mulch for some of their front beds, but even that didn't cover everything! And they keep saying they're going to get more mulch to finish the front beds at least, but it never happens. We had about 2 yards left over from our own job and I'm contemplating just finishing the job myself. It's just an eyesore on our street.
And I have to be honest and say I don't feel bad for complaining about them. Because I'm of the belief that if you can't afford to maintain the house, you can't afford the house. Just because you can make the monthly mortgage payment, you also have to factor in what it costs to maintain the exterior. I'm not asking them to water their lawn (heck, even I don't do that!) or put in new plants. I'm just looking for them to weed and mulch to help maintain the clean look of our street.
But I don't know how to say that without being rude. So I won't say anything. And will sneak over there in the dead of night to pull weeds. Or hope for an early frost. :P
4 comments:
Thats a toughy! I hope they get their act together so you can enjoy being in your yard!!
ahh, the joys of owning your own property....and not owning your neighbors'.
Unfortuntely there's not much you can do. It's their property, and unless there is a HOA that dictates what must be done, then you have an eyesore to stare at.
One of my friends HATES their neighbor's hedge, which then means they have a hedge on their adjoining property line. So they spray their side with stuff that attracts deer who chew it up, make it really ugly, and should slowly be killing the plants. hehehehe.
LOL!!! If it's on the property line, don't they have the right to whack the crap out of their side? And at least half of the top?
they hate the appearance of it, in general. So wacking it to be a foot further over doesn't give them the same satisfaction as giving it a slow and painful death. Really funny b/c that neighbor sprays stuff specifically to keep deer out of their yard; my friend has to put up netting all over her stuff so that they can spray the unsightly hedge to attract the deer. :)
I think it's brilliant.
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