Random bits and bobs

[stoney321]

I spent the weekend outside in the garden because *sucks in breath, hands on hips* I happened to get a Certified Letter from my HOA saying that the weeds in my garden were unacceptable.

O_O

WAIT. Wait. Let me explain. I have no weeds. Well, there was one. ONE. This is in a flower bed that is over 60 feet long and just over 20 feet deep, mind. ONE WEED. The letter that I received a) had the wrong address in the photograph, which indeed had weeds and b) was dated in July.

To say I was affronted is putting it lightly. (Newcomers: I'm a Texas Master Gardener. I take that shit personally.) This was a perfect excuse to start the Fall rip-out of plants that are done for the season, dead head, divide bulbs, etc. So that's what I did. It's all tidy and open and empty and waiting for new babies and I am VERY HAPPY. And I took a nice picture and will be emailing the HOA later with a bit of a hemhem, you were saying? added.

I went to a neighbor's house on Friday for drinks, met the CUTEST GUY (not like that. Well, he's attractive but just keep reading) that was a) former Mormon, b) former Missionary, c) gay as rainbow glitter on a mustache and d) hilarious. AND ALSO E) A GARDENER. I told him he was my gay doppelganger and we spent hours swapping stories. ALSO. ALSO. AND. His mother and sister both sing in my father's exclusive choir. O_O I MEAN. (omg, my husband had to peel me off of him to get me home and now we're FB bff. Lol.)

AND LASTLY. My son came home from work last night with a straggly bouquet of flowers for me (he works in a grocery store as a sacker, so they were those kind of flowers) and I am still looking over at their bedraggled selves and grinning from ear to ear. I'm fairly easy to please, it must be said. <3 Also, AWWWW. <3

AND NOW I WANT NACHOS. Or guacamole. Or something fatty and bad for me. *grumbles* I am completely surrounded by a lack of bad for me foods, stupid healthy living.

Comments

[canuckpagali.livejournal.com]

Okay, I find this intriguing. You all own your respective properties, but you willingly pay dues to your neighbours to police you?

Up here, those dues would typically be called "propery taxes" and the entity sending the weed notice would be called "the City". (Sadly, the City does not have nice ladies that send postcards for good behaviour.)

What is the consequence if you put a couple of rusty old cars on your front lawn and let it get overgrown with ragweed? What happens if you don't pay your dues?

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

We have property taxes and City Code/Enforcement, too. I live in a gated community, so our extra fees go to the golf course, private swimming pools, gardens, etc.

If we put garbage on our yard and didn't haul it away we'd get fined. Beyond that, I don't know because I can't imagine doing that! ;)

[canuckpagali.livejournal.com]

Oh! Shared property and services are involved. Now I get it...