Commencing With Fencing...
The old and the new
I've often heard people talk about how fences keep people apart in the suburbs... neighbors become strangers. I can happily tell you that this is not always the case. Our neighbors across the street (married couple with two young children) and our next door neighbor (single teacher) have been joining us in some improvements around here.
It started when Himself rented a haul truck to get rid of some old fence materials and a few other pieces of junk that had been piling up in the back yard. I was at work at the time the truck was delivered and came home to the young mom across the street and the next door teacher helping Himself load up the truck. Some of those things were very heavy! They were then able to put some of their own junk in the truck to be hauled off. Afterwards, we all got together for a cookout on our back porch and a swim in the pool. That was just the beginning...
While we were all sitting around eating, the worker bees got to talking about replacing old fencing. The decision was made to measure for what was needed and order together so that it would be cheaper and delivered at the same time. They would all get together and help each other. Great plan!
Some more neighbor helping neighbor... The next night, the mom (Amy) from across the street called and asked me to come over and look at a strange rash on her baby's leg... she now knew me well enough to be comfortable in asking. As it turned out, Amy had to take the baby to the hospital emergency room, and I babysat with her little boy since her husband (policeman) was working until her dad could get there to take over.
The fence sections arrived and the plans were made. My son Matt came home for the weekend (actually, he was only able to get here for Sunday). Fence sections were moved to the appropriate yards and a fence hole digger was rented. Another neighbor loaned us a gadget on wheels that made moving the fence sections to their eventual positions much easier. Holes were dug, fence sections were put in place and held by a couple of screws while other sections were put in place. One yard almost done (single teacher). Our yard was worked on next before we all got together across the street for a picnic on their back porch and a swim in their pool. WE all chipped in with the food. Today, Himself lent a hand across the street to help them get started on their fence before doing some more work on ours. I think that they will all work together tonight when it is a bit cooler.
All in all, we have become better neighbors and friends all due to some old junky fence sections that needed to go. This is much better than the friendly acquaintances we all were before. Linda (single teacher) has even volunteered to help with the painting trim work on our house on the back and side that still needs to be finished.
It started when Himself rented a haul truck to get rid of some old fence materials and a few other pieces of junk that had been piling up in the back yard. I was at work at the time the truck was delivered and came home to the young mom across the street and the next door teacher helping Himself load up the truck. Some of those things were very heavy! They were then able to put some of their own junk in the truck to be hauled off. Afterwards, we all got together for a cookout on our back porch and a swim in the pool. That was just the beginning...
While we were all sitting around eating, the worker bees got to talking about replacing old fencing. The decision was made to measure for what was needed and order together so that it would be cheaper and delivered at the same time. They would all get together and help each other. Great plan!
Some more neighbor helping neighbor... The next night, the mom (Amy) from across the street called and asked me to come over and look at a strange rash on her baby's leg... she now knew me well enough to be comfortable in asking. As it turned out, Amy had to take the baby to the hospital emergency room, and I babysat with her little boy since her husband (policeman) was working until her dad could get there to take over.
The fence sections arrived and the plans were made. My son Matt came home for the weekend (actually, he was only able to get here for Sunday). Fence sections were moved to the appropriate yards and a fence hole digger was rented. Another neighbor loaned us a gadget on wheels that made moving the fence sections to their eventual positions much easier. Holes were dug, fence sections were put in place and held by a couple of screws while other sections were put in place. One yard almost done (single teacher). Our yard was worked on next before we all got together across the street for a picnic on their back porch and a swim in their pool. WE all chipped in with the food. Today, Himself lent a hand across the street to help them get started on their fence before doing some more work on ours. I think that they will all work together tonight when it is a bit cooler.
All in all, we have become better neighbors and friends all due to some old junky fence sections that needed to go. This is much better than the friendly acquaintances we all were before. Linda (single teacher) has even volunteered to help with the painting trim work on our house on the back and side that still needs to be finished.
We have chain link fencing across the back with a vibernum hedge. I'm not sure which is preferable... replacing fencing every few years or keeping the vibernum watered and pruned.
Next door is almost done
Ours should be done today
Himself and his second favorite power tool... his first favorite is the chain saw. Workerbee is holding the fence from the other side.
7 comments:
the new fencing looks good -- I still always love the back hedge, though.
If you're like me, you start thanking your lucky stars that you've got any trees left at all if there's a chainsaw on the property! :)
Unlike rurality I love the sound of a chainsaw. (we have miles of fencerows encroaching on us with the trees)
I am really impressed with the fence. Aren't neigbors fun. It's always neat how these things get started.
This is wonderful to see. A real community at work. It's been a long time in your neighborhood where neighbors all pitched in with each other.
It is really good to see communities working together. I wish I could say the same for mine
That has got to be the smartest way to put up fencing I have ever seen. I've done all mine in the past with individual planks and built each section as I went!! artway through I consider laying a match to the whole mess and moving.
I love hedges! Sounds like you live in a really nice neighborhood.
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