Don’t you hate it when you really care about how your place looks and you have that one neighbor who doesn’t do anything and ruins the entire neighborhood? That’s us!
Vince had raked up all our leaves and piled them under the solar panels, which is near our fire pit. We were going to burn the leaves when we have day that the wind isn’t blowing hard, or when it isn’t too cold, or when it isn’t too wet, or when there’s not a football game on or, . . we have a multitude of legitimate reasons to keep from doing yard work. I do have marshmallows and the long metal things to roast them so I was ready . . just never happened.
This morning I got a message from our neighbor that her husband is going to suck up the rest of their leaves today. Do we mind if he comes over and sucks up the leaves under our solar panels? I said “Of course we don’t mind!” I wanted to ask if he would clean the windows too but figured that would be pushing my luck. I told her that we don’t have our yard equipment here yet (we don’t own a leaf vacuum but I guess we’d better be getting one before this time next year) and told her that hopefully soon we’d have the equipment to be responsible homeowners.
They’re a young couple and Vince said they probably see us as the old people who need help keeping up their place . . which is kinda true. Or, maybe they’re just being nice since it’s almost Christmas. The real truth is that if they vacuum up all their leaves, then all ours will blow over into their yard so, in the long run, getting rid of ours saves them time and effort, but . . they didn’t have to do it so it’s nice that they’re doing it.
vivoaks says
When I first started reading I thought you were talking about your neighbors, not you!! ๐ Then I waited 2-3 minutes for all the ads to load so I could actually respond. My computer is slowing down, so it’s at the point now where I tend to get very aggrevated when I have to wait so long. (It’s the darn video ads that take so long!!) And no place to X them out!!
Okay, done with my rant…. It’s always great when the neighbors want to help, so definitely never say “No!” to help! ๐ Unless, of course it’s something you really want to do yourself! Wish I could do leaves that easily. We aren’t allowed to burn them here, and we live in the woods with a LOT of trees – some of which don’t lose their leaves till spring. Enjoy! The less outdoor work you have to do, the more you can get done IN the house! ๐ Merry Christmas!!
Carol says
Think that neighbor needs a fresh baked goodie soon!
Sara Fridley says
Sounds like you have very nice neighbors! We have a nice younger neighbor who often pushes the snow out of our driveway. Very much appreciated!!
Becky Rhodes says
I was thinking the same as some of the other commenters here. They may have already received some of your tasty gifts and this is their way of repaying your generosity. I’d sure continue to give them extras whenever you can just to show your appreciation! It’s wonderful to have friendly neighbors!
Cilla says
This post is hysterical, especially the part of asking them to wash your windows. Yep, some cookies or bread would be a nice gesture, but I’m sure you were on that already.
Judy Laquidara says
I gave them a jar of freeze dried strawberries and she wrote me that her kids ate them in about 2 minutes. ๐
Dorothy Matheson says
I do rake leaves but compost them. Freeze dried strawberries are the best.
Judy Laquidara says
My little composter is full already and the guy who vacuumed them up was putting them in his compost bin. His vacuum gizmo shreds them to make them compost easier. It was pretty neat!
Paula Nordt says
The wind takes care of most of our leaves. Blows them right into the cotton fields!
Nelle Coursey says
I have been lucky in having very nice neighbors. I have spent my time helping others out with their yards though. I have mowed the yard across the street because the woman lived out of town, had bad heart problems and the city harassed her when the grass got too tall. Funny, now that she doesn’t own the property they have not put that sign in the yard once and it has looked worse than it ever did when she had it!
Twyla says
Leaves smoke they do NOT burn. My neighbors prove this to me every year. SHe smokes when the wind is blowing from the north and he smokes leaves when the wind blows from the south. Most always when I have raised my windows to air my house in the fall.
Judy Laquidara says
For several months we smell leaf smoke as there’s always someone burning leaves. After living in Texas, it makes me happy to smell it because (1) there are trees and (2) there’s not a perpetual burn ban here due to a drought.
Sheryl says
I would love to have all those leaves for mulch! I’m going to try growing leeks this year and was thinking about using leaf mulch/pine straw to pile up around the stalks as they grow instead of dirt. Most of our trees are evergreen so we don’t get leaves.