Our Neighborhood
by Zona
I've lived on and off in my neighborhood for over 40 years...and I've watched many neighbors come and go. I have to say, there have been some great ones and some that really didn't need to throw frying pans at each other in the front yard. Right now, there is a wonderful mix of people. Diverse in their heritage, knowledge and quirks. Across the street is a new family. They don't speak much English, but Mr. Z is learning Spanish from all his friends at work, and when they are outside we go over to their house and talk and laugh with them. We are learning more each day. We also have a young couple that just moved in next door. I was awakened one Saturday morning a few weeks ago to the news that they were taking down our fence...but it turns out they were making improvements...so we said thank you..and then we all talked for over an hour. The lady behind us..well...she thinks someone is leaving monkeys in her trees at 3am...after listening to her story we promised her we would shine a flashlight over the fence each night to check..and she seems content with that. I know that Mr Z and I are known as the 'boring couple' most of the year..until the holidays, when the lights go up and everyone gathers in our front yard for an impromtu block party, even people that have moved away come back to visit every year!!
I'd love to hear stories about your neighborhood...and your neighbors.
What kinds of things happen on the street where you live?
166 comments:
Good Morning Zona - my - Baby
Just the look of Mr. Rogers gives me such a warm feeling. I really feel he is my friend.
My babies are fed so I will read my daughter's blog now.
Wow, you have quite a neighbourhood. I can't wait to meet them when VIG and I visit you. I am especially interested in the lady with the monkeys. LOL
Lynn, Scirish, Want2sleep - Wakie, Wakie, it's morning and
time to get up.
♬ ♫ It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood ♫ ♬ Won't You Be Mine, Won't You Be Mine, Won't You Be My Neighbour $ ♪
Boy oh Boy, last night's 4th of July festivities must have really been something. Everyone is MIA.
I just learned something. If I put my cursor at the bottom right of the little owl's picture, it says
"tinkatia". It's still nice to learn one new thing a day.
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Good morning TINKA!!
COngrats on 1 thru 7!
I have to work today, so I will try and fly in tonight.
Have a good everyone!
make that 1 thru 10!!!!!!!
Morning Glories!
Tinka got First!!!! I'm awake. Well my eyes are open.
Things were noisy here last night and the dogs stayed in as they were not very excited about the fire works.
We had a great time at our friends but were home by 9:00 pm.
I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th!
Morning Mo: Don't work to hard.
I am not waiting any longer for sleeping owls to arrive. I will tell ♥Zona ♥ about my neighbours.
The neighbourhood where my kids grew up was my favourite. Because we all had little kids, we were like one big family. No-one locked their doors and the kids would play outside in the summer months from morning until dust, coming home only for meals. There was nothing scheduled but it seemed like each mother took turns giving out mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. Everyone had a freezer (that needed to be replenished frequently) full of popsicles and revels . I will continue after I check the nest for early owls.
Really don't know my neighbors here in the complex where I live. I know the people right next door and that is about it. It seems we all work a lot and have little time to socialize too much. The year I moved in, they tried to have a block party and no one signed up for it.
When I was a kid, both blocks I lived on, we were like one huge family. All the kids played together regardless of any of our differences. The mom's all had coffee and talked and shared recipes and the such. As kids, we always had safe havens on the street if a parent had to go somewhere or in my case, my mom had to work, a neighbor had the kids in. Oh, those were the days!
GOOD MORNING LYNN!!
No-one up yet.
Our home was the only one with a pool so I played 'life-guard' all summer long. There was always one house, the only one who did not have children, who threw a big Open House each summer. It always looked so strange to see one day and one day only, all the neighbours walking down the street all dressed up in their finery.
At Halloween, there was a neighbourhood party with a large bonfire, fireworks and lots of Hot Dogs and pumpkin pies. At Christmas there were more Open Houses. We lived there for 18 years from 1965 to 1983, when my father in law died and we moved to my present home. My children have such fond memories of that time.
There are no young children that live in that neighbourhood now. Instead of 25 or 30 little kids playing street hockey or roller skating down the sidewalk, there are now beautiful manicured lawns and no toys in sight.
Maureen - My friend. Oh how happy I am to see you. Did the blog post on time? Isn't my daughter ♥Zona♥ prolific?
TINKA...we were the only ones with a pool, too! The kids...and parents...were there all the time. My dad would bbq for the neighborhood and it seemed we were outside all the time. When we got the pool, all the neighbors ran their hoses to help fill it.
I really have to get showered and ready for work. Can you tell I am stalling? LOL!!
Our neighborhood is for the most part quiet. The houses are all on 5 acre lots. We are very rural but growing everyday.
The neighbor on the right is a single man with a huge house and we have lived next door for 10 years we have a talking over the fence relationship.
We have new neighbors on the left and across the street. These are both young couples and I believe it is their first time owning a house. Unfortunately they don't seem to have the same philosophy that we have which is moving to the country should be quiet! LOL
They seem to have moved out here so they can ride their dirt bikes at all hours and ATV's too.
We did have a neighbor about 4 or 5 houses from us. That lived up the road and was crazy!!! He had a Tiger in his garage and a bear in a cage in his backyard. The bear kept trying to escape. We were furious when we found out and many of us called to see what could be done. But he had a wild animal permit. Thank goodness he finally moved!
Our house and the one on the left share a driveway. We are at the end of a main road here and it seems if a car is going to breakdown and run out of gas they do it here. Mr. Lynn D and I have decided that a gas station would have been perfect for our front yard. LMAO
Over the years we have rescued our share of wandering livestock. Cows and goats and horses that have escaped.
I have seen an old farmer catch his cow and tie it to the back bumper of his truck to lead it home. I have lured a large goat home with celery and my coat.
My favorite day was when we saw a man in a van stop at the stop sign at the end of our driveway and I had to do a double take because he was wearing ski goggles because he had no windshield. LMAO I kept wondering if he had a pair for the whole family!
Living in the country we never know what we will see each day!
OMG...I didn't even congratulate ZONA on a GREAT blog. Yes, quite prolific!
ZONA...awesome blog today. I wish I lived in your neighborhood...without the 110 degree weather to go with it! ;)~
It sounds like the neighbourhood where you grew up was similar to the one where my children had their childhood. If someone needed an elastoplast for a scraped knee he/she went to the nearest house. I don't think there are neighbourhoods like that now because it is not considered safe for children to play without an adult nearby. That is sad but true.
Good Morning Lynn - I hope you had a great 4th of July. I will read your post now.
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Lynn - What an interesting neighbourhood you live in. I would like to visit you too. I am happy for you that the 'wild animal man' moved away. That makes a great story but that really was a danger to you.
Hey Tinka: We were all relieved when he moved. The bear got out twice and went into neighbors yards. The man was crazy and would yell at anyone who reported him.
Maybe later I will write about the chicken fiasco! LOL
I have to get ready this morning to, you are not going to believe this, go to the dentist. I don't know what I was thinking when I made this appt. 3 months ago but I am stuck. I can't believe they are working on the day after the 4th.
Will be back later.
LYNN...I hope all goes well at the dentist
We moved to our present home in 1983. It was 20 minutes from downtown but it seemed like we were living in the county. There were few houses. The house across the street is a huge old house that was built in the 40's and was a place where hunters would stay for a few nights when they were hunting in this area. The family who lives there has been the owner since the 50's. I never see them unless they need help when their cats go missing or I need help because I have locked myself out of the house. They are lovely neighbours.
That was the only family in the area until I subdivided my property and sold three lots. I wish I didn't have to do that because I loved the virgin land. My next door neighbours are wonderful people. He looks out for me as if I were his mother. He is on my speed dial if I ever need him in the middle of the night. They have had 2 children since moving here in 1990. I have been to all of their birthday parties since they were babies. They are now teenagers and lovely girls.
I guess I began the Big Change. After I subdivided, all the surrounding land suddenly mushroomed with huge monster houses as they are now called here in Victoria. Why anyone needs such a large home when they have only one or two little kids is beyond me. I don't know any of my other neighbours except to nod at when I am on my daily walks. At Halloween I decorate my house, fill a huge bowl with candy and wait. Each year my grandchildren come and the two next door. I never get anyone else. It's a very quiet neighbourhood and I guess I should be thankful for that but I do miss the good old days.
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Happy Saturday and day after 4th of July. I hope everyone had a nice celebration.
Tinka: Congrats on being the early bird today and having a nice conversation with yourself until Mo flew in.
Good morning Mo and Lynn.
Zona: Great blog. It sounds like you have interesting neighbors. I too, have lived in my house for 40 years. In fact, yesterday was the 40th anniversary. I live on a dead end street, with a park at the end, and the houses across the street back up to the American River levee. Those two things have made for some very interesting happenings.
Lots of people go to the river from an access about 6 houses down and some of them are really weird. They go to fish, or to party and we often have the Sheriff's helicopters flying over telling them on their loud speakers to leave. The first time we heard it, it was about 2am and my hubby goes running out to the backyard clad only in his tidy whities. They shined a light on him and told him to go back into the house. Later we heard they were chasing some kids that just robbed a liquor store. He never went outside again when the helicopters were overhead.
This neighborhood had lots of big families and we all became friends through sports or school. We used to have a big progressive dinner every New Year's Eve where we would walk to each house so none of us had to drive. The wind up party was usually at our house and my parents would cook pizza for everyone at 2 or 3 in the morning. The kids grew up and moved away, but a lot of the parents still live in the neighborhood. I love it here.
Lynn - Good Luck at the dentist.
I think I will leave the computer since the page is filled with pictures of my sweet little owl
Zona - Thanks again for the great blog and taking us down memory lane. I will be back later in the morning with perhaps a surprise.
Good Morning to Owls still to come. Have a great day.
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Great blog Zona-
I will be back later to talk about my neighbors.
My children are very restless today.
Everyone have a great day!
Thanks for another great blog, Zona!
The neighborhood where I grew up was great--lots of kids my age and we were all friends and did some crazy things together. My parents just moved from that neighborhood after 39 years. It was really hard for them because many of the same people are still there.
My neighborhood before I moved here (in MD) was fabulous. We were all friends and did lots of things together. We also had progressive dinners, SacBarb, every Christmas. It was so fun. There were lots and lots of kids so my kids loved it. It was hard to leave.
My current neighborhood is a little stuffy, if you ask me. I know lots of neighbors but am not really friends with any of them. They do have lots of neighborhood events at the club hosue but I just don't feel our neighbors are the friendliest people. It really surprised me since you always hear how friendly people in the south are. Well, they're really friendly out in town but not so much in my neighborhood.
Tinka, congrats on first! I enjoyed your conversation with yourself!
Mo, have a good day at work!
Interesting neighborhood, Lynn! Sounds fun!
Hi SacBarb and iteach!!
Happy Saturday!!
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a wonderful day in the neighborhood, won't you be my neighbor?!!
Zona - great blog!! Our neighborhood is extremely diverse. We have friendly neighbors, we have neighbors that don't give anyone the time of day, we have a house next door that the "tenants" change every 3 weeks or so - we are one a new "batch" as we call them - we are SURE it is a drop house for illegals....... but what are you going to do?!! LOL
Tinka - congrats at FIRST!!
Dianne in Denver - LOL at Happy new Year!! I think our weather put a damper on the fireworks...
I need to read all the comments!!
I hope everyone has an excellent day!!!
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Tinka - congrats on first thru TEN!!
I see you also sang the Mr. Rogers song - I used to LOVE to watch him!!!
Good morning, Tinka, Mo, Lynn D, SacBarb, Iteach, and Sandie - and everyone else that will land!!
Lynn - sorry about the loud neighbors - we have some of those also - I think every neighborhood has to have at least ONE!! right??!
Our neighbors across the street call me everytime sometime goes on (especially the "stop" house) and asks me if I know what is happening - they have their office set up in the their front bedroom - my family room is in the back of the house, so I'm not "on the street" - too funny!! that is the room that we all watched the new neighbors move into from!! LOL
There is a house two doors down -the cops are ALWAYS there - it's a single mom with two teenagers - ALWAYS trouble there - very sad..
I better go get some things done around the house!!
later
SacBarb - LOL at tightie whities!! in our neighborhood in COlorado before we moved - the guy across the street used to come outside first thing in the a.m. to get his paper with his cup of coffee in his tighties and "observe" his yard - he'd walk up and down his driveway and sidewalk - noone could ever understand that - but there sure wasn't anything to look at!! :-)
Good Afternoon Lovely OWLS!!!
It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood...so I'm off to ejoy it! Just wanted to stop by and say Hey!
I have to run some errands, I need to get a birthday day card for my son and some other "stuff", then I may go over to my mothers.
I've been cleaning and cleaning, so I need a break!
My pain is managable, so it's time to enjoy the sun. Thank you for the comments about hoping I feel better!
This happens every time I work my ass off! But, at least my house is looking good! Yeah me!!!!
I'll try to stop by later and comment on my neighborhood!
Zona!!! Another great blog!!
Love you Owls!!!!
xoxoxoxox
Hi Zona! Great blog topic!
Congrats Tinka on 1st!
Good morning/afternoon Maureen, Lynn D, SacBarb, Iteach and Sandie! Did everyone enjoy their celebrations yesterday?
My neighbors, when I was a kid, owned a small convience store. Eli (the father) was also a shoe repairman in the back of the store. I always thought they were rich cause they owned their own store. In the summertime he would make a fire in the fireplace and ask us over for hot dogs and then ice cream. It was usually only Dad and I that went. We would play lawn darts or badminton until it got too dark. Then we could here mum yell at us to come home. Their youngest daughter is the same age as me and we have always been friends. They always got the latest board games (we got them the next year when they wre cheaper) at Christmas time. I loved playing games, so it was fun to go over there.
Thanks for sending me down memory lane Zona!
Good day after July 4th. Hope everyone had a fun and safe day!
Zona...fabulous blog! I love the way you write!! You live in a fascinating neighbourhood and you've got me thinking about the neighbourhoods I have lived in. And the best one was the one where I grew up. I lived in that neighbourhood from the time I was three months old until I left home at eighteen. It was the idyllic place to grow up..at one point there were 65 kids that lived on that street. Everyone knew everyone and we all went to the same school. There was a candy store at the end of the street where we took our ten cents allowances on Saturday morning and got a little bag filled with penny candy. There was an empty lot that became our soccer, baseball, kick the can and hide and go seek field. We played there all day until the Mom came out on the stoop and yelled your name to come home for dinner, bath, bed, etc. Mrs. M across the street always knew what everyone was doing and always had the coffee pot on for the moms and cookies for the kids anytime. Some of the kids I grew up with on that street are some of my closest friends now. Living in an apartment building now there is not that same sense of community, but definitely something to strive for.
I'm awake Tink......sort of.
Morning all! ZONA: Great post! I wish I lived in a neighborhood like yours!
Tink: Congrats on being first as well as the top ten!!!
My neighborhood growing up was an older one. However the kids that were in our neighborhood all played together. The older couples were like extended grandparents. We never locked our doors either and played from morning until the street lights came on (or you heard someone yelling your name)! Our parents never worried about us even though they never knew exactly where we were. In fact, one summer morning (when I was about 4 or 5) I could smell my neighbors cooking bacon (and it smelled good)! I went over to their house (still in my nightgown) and invited myself to breakfast! It wasn't until I had finished my breakfast that my sister showed up (as my mother noticed I was gone and sent her to find me)! I don't think I got in too much trouble, but my mom reminded me that we don't invite ourselves over like that! (It's still a funny story)! Well, if my mom made better breakfasts! ; ) We usually just had toast and cereal...boring!!!!
In the middle 70's the Ignacio family moved to my neighborhood. They were from the Philippines and had a ton of kids (six to be exact). I was in the middle of the youngest two in age. From that moment on I became an honorary Ignacio (I was introduced as their adopted daughter). They are still considered my family.
Ahhh...those were the days alright!
My neighborhood now?! Well, lets just put things into perspective! That Nick Sheley (the killer that was on the loose?) well, he lived only about 6 blocks from where I live! ICK!!!
Next door, we too have a "new batch" of neighbors too (as it is a dilapidated old house that has been turned into two apartments). Just when you think they have scraped the "bottom of the barrel"...bingo)!!! My most memorable year was when the family (that consisted of at least 6 adults) brought their living room couch out on their front lawn (along with their Kararokee machine) and sang, OVER and OVER, "Coal Miner's Daugher" (and none of them could carry a note)! I even remember the mail carrier asking me (with great sarcasm) how I was "enjoying" my summer!!!
The neighbors across the back yard from me are nice and I realized that they had children at the same private school as my daughter. Unfortunately we didn't get to know each other until a fire destroyed their garage (and my big maple tree in my back yard). However, they have been very nice to me. The neighbor on the other side of me is also recently divorced (and we share the same fist name). So, we kind of look out for each other. The rest of the neighbors keep to themselves and I'm OK with that (esp. since they are quiet).
This year's "batch" is very typical. They have several people sharing and have garbage strewn all over the yard. I can often hear them scream cuss words at each other! Everyone in the neighborhood was wishing it was that house (with no one in it) that would have burned down and not the neighbors garage! It is an eyesore and the tenants are never very nice (and are people you WOULDN'T want to approach)!!!
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Well, I'm off to another picnic today. My cousin Kathy and her girlfriend are back from New York. My other cousins (her sisters) are in town too (one from Madison, WI and one from Mundelien, IL).
It should be a nice time.
Sorry to be the blog hog today! (I guess I am making up for not posting yesterday)!
Morning to all!
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Good Day Sacbarb - I am sorry I missed you this morning. You must have been hiding behind that big tree.
Good Morning also to Iteach, Sandie, Mek, Birdee, Shirley, Want2sleep (sure now you are awake. Where were you when I needed you?) Jennifer and VIG.
I hope you all had a great 4th of July. I am rushing. I will tell you why later.
55 And I am off.
I forgot to comment on my neighborhood now. The house I grew up in is at the north end of town and I now live in an apartment (old house renovated into 6 apartments)at the south end of town.
Not exactly a quiet part of town. The next block town is a tavern. To my right is a carwash/laundramat and next to that is the Legion.
As early as 5 am I can hear people vacuuming and washing their cars. WTF?? Of course they are the cars that have those new and improved giant mufflers on them and you know they have to sit there and rev the engine several times before they leave. Some of them play their music, but all you can hear is the thumping of the bass. So annoying at 5 or 6 am when all I want to do is sleep.
I also get to hear all the drunk walk up from the tavern after it closes at 2am. I watched a man one night stagger up onto the porch of a house across the street, urinate, stagger back down and disappear up the street. You get to hear some nasty arguement too. Women can get very pissy when their man has had too much to drink and didn't pay enough attention to her. Luckily these things don't happen every night and they don't usually last much longer than 30 minutes.
Last night at midnight, chip bingo let out at the Legion. I don't know what happened inside but there was a few ladies that apparently weren't too happy. They were yelling and screaming. I have played bingo, and one thing I have learned...people take it very seriously. Never, ever mess with a bingo player, and whatever you do don't sit in a regular player's seat. Talk about vicious! Wow!
I guess I'm getting a little sidetracked.
The neighbors here in the building I don't have too much contact with. I am on the top floor, living next to a drug dealer (who I think may be moving...cross your fingers). On the second floor are two pothead. I never have to buy anything (not that I would), I just have to sit at my kitchen window and breathe deeply. On the bottom floor we have an empty appartment and one with a dog that likes to bark when the owner ( a woman and her son)isn't home.
Did I mention that I live on a corner and people like to squeal the tire on their cars that have the loud mufflers and booming music?
Ahhhh! The joys of small town living!
Sorry for the long post. I got a bit carried away.
Surprise...it's Tinka and VIG together sitting in VIG's living room about to go for lunch. We have finally connected and it is very exciting!!!!!! Pictures and comments to follow! We wish you all were here. Zona pick up your phone!!!
VIG and TINKA - HOW exciting.. another successful blog buddy meeting!! have a blast!!! can't wait to hear all about it!!!
Good Morning Everyone!
I grew up in a close knit neighborhood, and now I am raising my kids in a close knit neighborhood. I have never lived near relatives, so my neighbors have always been like members of my family. We share meals, get together and play cards, sometimes we go shopping together (especially now to save gas) and we watch out for each other's children.
I just spent the 4th with a group of my neighbors out in the middle of our cul de sac. And when it is Halloween, Berry builds a firepit and serves hot cider to the parents. For Christmas, all the moms get together for a cookie swap and we share stories. It is always sad because we tend to hybernate during the winter here, but when Spring rolls around we are all out again to check up on each other.
We have had some great neighbors that have moved on. The closest, Cathy, just phoned me the other day from GA just so we could discuss The Batchelorette! We laughed so hard as we shared notes and we told each other how much we missed being neighbors. Cathy and her children moved back to GA because her 41 year old wonderful husband, David, died a few years ago from non-smokers lung cancer. We were ALL devistated! We were there though, to help Cathy until family was able to arrive and I would dare to say that she considered all of her neighbors to be family that year.
Zona, GREAT blog! Neighbors are incredibly important to me.
Tinkatia~ Congrats on being first! This American did not want to open her eyes this morning!!
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Tinka and VIG have a GREAT time today!!
Jennifer, I'm still chuckling about your neighbors bringing their couch out in the front yard and singing! You poor thing!
Shirley, sounds like you have lots of distractions in your neighborhood! You cracked me up about the bingo ladies.
Glynis, sounds like you have a wonderful neighborhood and it sounds like you really appreciate it. That's good because I don't think I appreciated my MD neighborhood as much as I should have until I moved here. I still consider some of my old neighbors among my best friends.
Tinka and VIG, that's so exciting!! You sneaky little owls, you . . . can't wait to see the pics!
Hope all of you are having a good day!! Waving a wing at tinka, mo, lynnd sacbarb, iteach, sandie, mek, birdee, shirley, vig, sleep, jennifer and glynis and all who come in after me!!
Yinka, congrats on 1st!!
Zona, great blog! When I was little we grew up in a neighborhood with all family nearby. Both sets of grandparents lived a block away. Aunts lived near and 3 cousins lived right in my building.
My neighborhood now is very quiet. I talk to all my neighbors outside. I think here the adage is good fences make good neighbors!
I will be on a family reunion cruise starting tomorrow and lasting until next Sunday. I hope you owls all have a great week!! I will talk to you when I get home.
But Sandie, it's true. DO NOT mess with a serious bingo player. I put my purse on the table one time, WELL I learned very quickly you are not suppose to do that! At least five people told me to take it off the table.
Vig and Tinka have a great visit! I look forward to seeing pictures.
Grandma Moses have a great time on the cruise! Take some pictures. Wait I don't think I have you on my friends list. I'll have to request you, then I can see the pictures. Have fun!!
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ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~
now off to read the blog~
oh..Tinka~ congrats on 1st~ :)
It's Tink and VIG still together and stuffed to the gills! Lunch was great and so much fun to meet a real live blog buddy! Definitely the first of many more rendezvous to come! The weather cooperated and we had a nice little walk to to the High Tea! Pics to follow after naps!
Tina - congrats on your 69!!
VIG and TINKA - SO glad that you are having a good time - thanks for checking in!!
Mr. Mek just saved two of our lizards - we have a nice little family of them in the backyard and two had gotten into an pitcher/vase thing that had a little water accumulated in the bottom - and they couldn't get out!! -
Grandma Moses - have fun on your cruise!!
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75 is alive!!
Zona~ Great blog~ your neighborhood sounds like fun~
Growing up, we spent all our time outside with the neighborhood kids...always in our bathing suits....no pool....just sprinklers and water balloons...and tons of fun~ We spent a lot of time at our cousins house too....at the time, they lived in the barrio...everyone spoke spanish...well...except me and my siblings...but we sure did understand it (mom yelled in spanish!) :)~
When we moved to UT, it was just so different....you quickly find out which houses you can drink at! Our neighbors behind us are Catholic and drink....all our neighbors in our cul-de-sac are mormon...no drinking...but they are nice...and the kids all play outside in the summer like i did when i was little~
Tinka and VIG....so glad you finally got to meet~ Can't wait for pics...hope you took boob ones~ :)~
GM~ have fun on your cruise~
Good afternoon owls!
I am back from the dentist. I now have a fixed cracked tooth and my teeth have been cleaned. Am I done? No next month is more but they are relativly minor fixes. I figure this seems to be the year of the dentist for me so get it done!
I am cracking up at some of your neighbor stories! LMAO
Jennifer what is wrong with a couch in the front yard??? ROFLMAO You should have put in your own song request just so they would have to try something other than Coal Miners Daughter!
Shirley I will make sure I keep an eye out for the crazy bingo ladies! OMG LOL
GM: Have a great family cruise!
Tinka and Vig have finally met! I am so happy and excited for you!
Zona: Fantastic blog!
The chicken Fiasco:
Last year the old neighbors across the street sold their property and were moving to Sweden. The husband was Swedish and wanted to go home.
Well there house then was little more than a shack and they always had plenty of farm animals.
We all watched as they packed and sold stuff off and one day they were just gone.
What they neglected to take care of was their chickens!!!! They basically turned them out to free range.
None of us actually noticed this for awhile as they had trees and tall bushes surrounding their property.
One day the single guy next to us noticed that he had about 5 chickens running aroung his yard. The next couple of days about 10 to 15 and soon there were about 20. The chickens had decided that his yard looked pretty good! We have 3 good sized dogs so they never headed in our direction.
We watched tho as the chickens started roosting under his porch and house in his trees and bushes and occasionlly one would get on his roof. Chickens can't fly for very long but they can fly short distances.
He felt sorry for them at first and was feeding them and before you know it he has two hens trailing another 10 to 15 chickees. They were taking over!!!
I caught him outside one day and asked him what his plan was? He was about pulling out his hair! Plan Plan??? I just want them gone! LMAO
I suggested he put an ad in the paper that whoever came over and caught the chickens could have them. Well he did and the great chicken safari was on!!
He had two guys show up and Mr. Lynn D and I had an entertaining day of watching them chicken wrangle.
They would race around the yard as the guys would try to heard them and then they would try to scoop the poor things up in a net. It was Freaking Chaos!
It took them all day to accomplish this task and it was a riot!
Lesson learned chickens are not very smart but have eggsellent survival instincts!
Lynn D - too bad you did get all that on video tape!! sounds like excellent entertainment!! thanks for sharing!!
:-)
ZONA - Great blog!!
As many of you know I live in the town that I grew up in. We have lived in the same neighborhood for 16 years and love it. We couldn't ask for better neighbors. Our little street (it is only 1 block long) decided to have a block party in 2001. Then along came the attacks on 9/11/01.....and some people didn't know if it would be appropriate to still have the party. Well we decided that it was exactly what we should do.....otherwise the terrorist would've won. It really ended up being a special day. I remember that it really did bring us together as a community. Now that the kids are a bit older, they have made friends outside of our little group, but that's ok. We still get together for "bonfires", fun, and a cocktail or two.
VIG & TINKA - So glad you two were finally able to get together today!!! Can't wait to see the pics from your day. :D
I hope everyone had fun on the 4th!! We ended up going to a friends house for a cookout and some fireworks. Well, after a glass of wine, the kids convinced me to get on the trampoline!!! Big mistake.....I am now nursing a very sore back.
Jodi~ I think you and your neighbors did the right thing to continue to get together and celebrate being neighbors! Sounds like you are in a great place!!
And don't you just hate it when the smallest things, the things we used to do without even thinking twice, come back to bite us in the butt and remind us we aren't teenagers anymore? Kudos to YOU for even getting up on the trampoline in the first place!!
83 the year I graduated from high school!
It was soooooooo fun to get back on the trampoline!!! Thankfully the "girls" didn't give me a black eye. :P
TINKA - Just saw the pics from tea with VIG!!! Looks like you had a blast!!
I better get off the computer and go ice my back some more. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend. :D
Jodi - You saw them as soon as I posted. You sure are fast. I am off for a nap now. We had a wonderful time. It was worth waiting for. Now we have lots more plans in the works. We just had to get started.
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I am off. Thanks for the High Tea VIG. It is fun celebrating one's birthday for 3 months. Would you call that
"Milking It?"
Hey y'all!! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July!!! Mine was pretty good!
Mr. Rogers seemed like a great man! That theme song is one you can never get out of your head! lol
Have a great rest of your weekend ladies and Whabby! lol
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94, I'm not a crackWHORE! LMAO
95, still alive!
96, pickup sticks
97 I'm in heaven
98 just can't wait!
99 he is so FINE! :)
100 WOOHOO!!!!!!!
101, I guess I'm done! haha
Hi All...what a fun afternoon! It was sooo nice to finally meet Tinka. She is as wonderful and as sweet in person as she is on the blog! High tea was delicious and it was great to celebrate Tink's birthday..even if it was a few months after the fact! Looking forward to more get togethers!
Hi Joey....marvelous marching!!! Woohoo!
Good Evening Everyone!
We've been in this house for 12 years now. When we first moved in, the neighbors closest to us were so mean! An elderly lady and her daughter. They stared at us constantly, and not with a nice smile either. If they did say anything to us, it was rude comment's. They have a beautiful yard with all kind's of flower's and tree's. They are constantly working on them, planting..They get mulch, dirt, and who know's what else, by the truck load. I mean a long flatbed piled high.
Well, the previous owner's here left some junk and we had carpet to pull up and replace, so when it came time to put trash out, my brother and I were putting it at the end of our drive. The daughter saw us and stuck her head out the window and proceded to YELL at us, the mother came running out of the house to Yell at us. Like we couldn't leave it (neatly) piled there for pick up the next morning at 6am! Sorry, but I told them to shut the hell up and leave us alone! When they went back in, my brother Mooned them! LOL
Their bad neighborly behavoir went on for year's! Only after we got our dog's did they start being nice. Now the daughter is alway's coming over to the backyard to talk to my dogs. When taking the dog's for walk's, she come's out and goes crazy over them. She doesn't even care if Boz jump's up on her. She encourage's it! Now she will tell us all about her flower's, tree's and she'll talk to us for hour's. Go figure!?
I like my neighborhood because it's quiet, but noone really talk's to anyone around here. Maybe a quick Hello or a few word's, but that is about it. Kind of sad, really.
There are two other ladies here, that have the same name as me. First and LAST, I mean.
We did talk to one of the neighbor's before last winter, they were out walking and they have the same last name as us. Well, while chatting, we found out that the Mr. is actually a cousin of my father-in-laws.
I wish my neighbor's were more into getting to know people, but after 12 yrs. I don't think thing's will change... much.
They are rarely out.
ok, that was long enough...
Now guess what I did??!!!
I FORGOT today is our 28th Wedding Anniversary!!!
I bought a card for my son's birthday on the 8th, but totally did not even think of our anniversary! How ditzy am I???
Now I will try to catch up on all of your stories. Mr. B said he would make dinner! Yippee!!!
Oh! VIG and Tink..I did look at your picture's.
I love them. You two are so CUTE!!!
LynnD, I guess I resemble the remark about chickens not being very smart, since I didn't remember what today was for Mr. B and I. LOL ;o)
VIG - Did you sleep? I watched a part of the "Sydney White" movie while I rested.
Birdee - Happy Anniversary. In two years it will be your 30th. You won't forget that one. Thank you for the nice comments about VIG's and my High Tea today.
Thanks to all of you who left comments by our pictures.
Joey - How are you? Haven't seen you for a while. What mischief have you been up to?
Hiya hooters!
Happy Saturday!
Fun blog today Zona!
Congrats to Pinka for being first, and for the blog buddy meeting! That is sooo cool! I'm happy for you and VIG finally getting to meet!
We moved to this neighborhood in January, so we have not met many of the neighbors.
The woman next door did have a husband when we moved in, and a couple months ago he moved out.
She is the GM for BMW and he was a stay home dad, so not sure what arrangement they have now.
A couple houses went up for sale shortly after we moved in and now we have new neighbors and no longer the new kids on the block.
There are a couple who live kind of in back to the side of us, they are VERY loud.
They got married a couple weeks ago and held the reception at their house. They had a DJ who was VERY LOUD and lots of drunk, happy people partying til late in the night.
This is the guy who has the Harley who revs it at all times of the day or night.
We haven't met them yet!
My mom and dad still live in the house I grew up in (we moved there when I was 8. Most of the original neighbors are gone. I love going there to visit.
I've loved reading all the neighbor stories today!
MEK tell MR. MEK that I am impressed at his reptile rescuing today. That was a nice thing to do!
Zona - Are you busy with your sister's birthday party? We were so sorry we couldn't get you on the phone. Call tomorrow please.
Jodi that is so great that you got on the trampoline! That sounds really, really fun!
And you didn't suffer any black eyes! ;)
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Happy Anniversary Birdee!
East Bay J - I think I got in your way, sorry. I didn't see you sitting there.
Sorry I interrupted your march Pinka!
I gotta go figure out what we're eating tonight!
These stories about the neighbourhoods are all so interesting. I think I will save some of them to read with my morning tea tomorrow.
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VIG and Tinka, the pictures were adorable! It looks like you two had a great time. I think it's so great that you got to meet!
I don't think I live anywhere close to any blog buddies to meet. :(
Hi all!
Zona~Perfect blog topic for a holiday weekend! Tried reading all the posts this morning while listening to 'Saturday Cafe' on our local NPR radio station. It's a 2 hour folksy music show with a theme each week. Today's theme: Songs of Going Home to Childhood Summers. The perfect companion to today's blog, but both had such interesting mind-pictures I had to focus on listening, so am just now catching up on the posts. bbl.....
VIG & Pinka~~Finally! What fun!!
Mr. Rogers is on tv RIGHT now!! found it scrolling the guide!!
EBJ - I will tell Mr. MEK. Sadly, one of the little guys did NOT survive - :-(
How did Poe do with the fireworks? the weather kept the kids in our neighborhood from doing them - so my dogs did great!! (it was the thunder!! )
Jodi - I'm having a vision of you on the trampoline - thank you!!
:-) (LMAO - but WITH you!!!)
Mr. mek has gone to the grocery store to find something for us to eat for dinner!! Will be interesting what he comes home with!!
I hope everyone has had an excellent day!!
:-)
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Shirley, Mek, Tina, and lynnd, ty for the well wishes for my family vacation cruise.
lynnd, I love the story about your neighbor's chickens!! Nothing that interesting has ever happened on my block!!
jodi, hope your back feels better.
TINKA and VIG...how cool you finally met up!!! I wanna meet some blog buddies!! I will have to look at the pics!
LYNN...EGGcellent survival skills?? Too funny!!
SHIRLEY...beware of the brutal bingo babes!!
JENNIFER...I laughed and snorted when I read about the couch on the front lawn! HILARIOUS!
BIRDEE...HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU...Did you get orchids? They are kinda the traditional 28th anniversary gift.
JODI...you really were lucky the girls didn't give you 2 black eyes on the trampHOline!
I had a rather fun day at work today. I was barista, waitress AND bartender! I worked my ass off, but it was fun! And I made nearly $40 bucks in tips!! Woo Hoo...almost a tank of gas! I work next Saturday afternoon, so maybe I can do it all again ;)
I loved reading your stories today. Such a great walk down memory lane.
GRANDMA MOSES...where are you going on your cruise? Do you have room in your suitcase for one more ;)
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I have been thinking all day that I didn't have the correct words to Mr. Rogers theme song so I looked it up. I was right, I didn't. Now we can all sing it for the rest of the evening.
♬ ♫ ♬ ♫
It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
It's a neighborly day in this beautywood,
A neighborly day for a beauty,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you,
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.
So let's make the most of this beautiful day,
Since we're together, we might as well say,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?
Won't you please,
Won't you please,
Please won't you be my neighbor?
♬ ♫ ♪ ♬
TINKA...I would love to be your neighbor
Maureen - I would love to be your neighbour too. What fun we could have.
Mo!! Congrats on your tips!
About time! huh?
No flower's for me this time. But...Mr. B Finally cleaned around the comp. desk and organized all the cord's!! It look's so much better. Funny..at this age, I'll take help cleaning over flower's! ;o)
Jennifer, would you believe, I saw a pic of a house for sale and the people had a couch on the porch?!
Wouldn't you think the realtor would have told them to move it before taking a pic?!!
Grandma Moses, Have a wonderful time on your cruise!
Jodi, I hope you feel better soon.
JOEY!!!!!!! So nice to see you back in the nest! Miss You!!
Glynis, Did I see a post about you meeting Rosie?! How great.
Were you in her last video at the Wa. store?!
Evening All!
I have been laying on the couch and watching the travel channel all afternoon. Still worn out from yesterday I guess.
MEK: I did not have a video camera at the time. I wish I had it would have made a great Youtube video! LOL
GM: This kind of stuff happens periodically in the country. When we first moved out here it freaked me out. Now I am used to it and kind of forget how weird it is! We just kind of go with the animal flow.
Jodi: One glass of wine? Really???
I had 2 and half margarita's yesterday and I am dragging hiney!
Hey Mo!! Wohooo a tank of gas today is like getting jewelry!
Tinka and Vig I am going to try to get into MS so I can check out your pics.
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Oh Bird Crap!!!
I forgot Happy Anniversary Birdee!!!
I would take help cleaning over flowers any day!
Birdee~ Yes, I am still smiling about meeting Rosie at her book signing in Seattle...and it was me (and my daughter) on her blog along with all the really wonderful people we met in line. Fun, fun day!
It is cold and rainy here today. Is it cold anywhere else in the US?
LynnD, LOL *oh bird crap* ;o)
Glynis, I thought that might have been you. I've seen your avatar pic on MS page's. The person that take's pic's for her, does a good job. I'm jealous of you and Joey!
Lynn - This time I got in your way. I thought I had improved my marching skills but I guess I was mistaken. When one gets older one tends to overestimate her abilities I think. My mother still thinks she could get on a bus and go to town alone if she felt like it. She told me last night that with her crackly voice people may think she is an old lady and send her to the 'old folks home'. That brought a tear to my eye for sure.
Oh, Glynis, it's not cold here at all. We have been lucky to have great weather. Not too hot and almmost no humidity.
I love being able to get outside now.
Tinka: One does not have to be old or older to over estimate their abilities! Just ask Mr. Lynn D! (That was a Joke people!)
I do it all the time and I consider myself middle age!
Good evening Owls. I hope everyone had a nice day.
VIG & Tinka: How nice that you could finally meet. I am so looking forward to meeting new blog mates at the BABB and seeing the ones I have already met.
MEK: At least my hubby was in the backyard so none of the neighbors saw him. However, I used to tell him there was a pic of him somewhere in the Sheriff's office. LOL
Shirley: When my son played ice hockey, Bingo was our fund raiser and all the parents had to work. I can attest to how PASSIONATE some of the players got. They had a lot of superstitions and don't get in the way of them.
Lynn: EGGsellent story about the chickens. LOL
Joey: WB and congrats on 100
Mo: Glad you finally made some gas money at the hell hole.
Grandma Moses: How fun to go on a cruise for your family reunion. Have a great time.
Tinka: I would love to be your neighbour too. In fact it would be so cool if we all lived close enough to have coffee together.
Birdee: I hope you had a nice anniversary. Yes, getting help cleaning is much better than flowers.
SacBarb - Yes I wish we all lived closer or at least have the price of an airline ticket go down. With the increase in the cost of fuel a lot of us won't be making many trips.
I just watched a commercial for ASPCA and they had the cutest cats and dogs with the saddest looks on their faces that I want to adopt them all. It even brought tears to my eyes. Sara McLachlen is the spokesperson asking for donations. Since I can't really adopt them, I guess I'll send a donation.
SacBarb - I have seen that commercial too. It's the one where she is singing "In the Arms of the Angels". It breaks my heart every time I see it. I find it so upsetting when you see the sadness in those beautiful eyes.
OMG, SacBarb. Is that the commercial that plays 'In the Arms of the Angels'? I used to love that song. Now I can't bear to hear it on the radio as I see all those precious sad animals.
(Wrote this, then saw Tinka's post as I previewed)
MEK Poe was ok last night for the most part. Someone had cherry bombs or something that were really loud, and he flew off the cage twice.
GM have a great time on your cruise! Where are you sailing off to?
Glynis it was smokin' hot here today, upper 90s and sweltering. Although our Arizona gals were much hotter I'm sure.
OK I need to go take a shower then will see if I can sign into Myspaz and check out the blog buddy meeting today!
SacBarb I've seen that commercial too, it is a tearjerker. It is so hard to see those sad eyes.
ROFLMAO Myspaz! Ebj!
I can't watch that commercial at all you guys. It sends me into a depression. Makes me feel helpless!
Off to watch the idiot box some more. See ya all in the morning!
BonO - I feel the same way about that song. I think they may have overused it. I loved that song and I hope it brings good results. I sometimes think commercials like that one and the ones for MADD where the baby is crying for her mother who was killed by a drunk driver are 'preaching to the choir'. The people who need to be affected by those ads don't take notice of them. The rest of us who would never be cruel to animals or who would not drink and drive are so affected. I don't know what the answer is but there must be one somewhere.
It is just about time to settle down to a good movie. Last night I watched both the original (1950) "Cheaper by the Dozen" DVD's. The second one is called
"Belles on Their Toes". There is no comparison between them and the remakes. The originals are fantastic. Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy are so good in them. I love the turn of the (20th) century movies so much. Mary Poppins and Little Women, I can always get into them by just watching the first five minutes.
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Thanks again VIG for the beautiful day.
Thank you Zona for the entertaining blog. I am so glad I made you take English at University. It has paid off.
Thanks for all the kind comments about VIG's and my pictures today.
Good Night everyone. May you all be safe in the arms of angels tonight. God please keep the little animals safe from harm too.
Love, Tinka
Goodnight Tinka~
I'm trying type, but Carolyn is on my lap.
It isn't working. :) lol
I' llbe back later.o
Maureen, wish there was room in the suitcase for you! ty
Thank you also for the well wishes mo, birdee, sacbarb and ebj!
We are going to Bermuda and have found out that there is a hurricane out there! LOL It is called Bertha, I think!
Hey Owls! Thanks for all the great comments today about Tinka and I meeting and about our pictures. What kind and wonderful people you are!
Tinka...it was so great meeting you today. And so much fun going for High Tea! If any of the Owls come to Victoria we will have to take them there.
Grandma Moses...hope you have a great cruise! Have fun!
*****ATTENTION WEST COASTERS*******
My honey, Jon Bon Jovi is the host on the repeat of SNL tonight!!
Back to your regularly scheduled programming ;)~
Mo: Thanks for the JBJ alert. I will watch it again just to see Jon. He gives me that secret signal, you know. Oops, I wasn't supposed to tell you that.
Tinka, Bon, Lynn and EBJ: That is the first time I have seen that ad but I won't be able to watch it again either or listen to the song.
Tinka: Yes, they know they are preaching to the choir, but they need funds and only the choir will respond. Good night Tinka, sweet dreams.
Grandma Moses: I hope Bertha stays out of your way. It sounds kinda scary.
Zona: Thanks again for the blog. It brought back a lot of fond memories.
Carol: I hope you and your family are enjoying the Jersey Shore. Thanks for taking care of us even when you aren't here.
Jodi: I hope you are feeling better. Glad the 'girls' didn't get hurt.
Tink and VIG I loved the photos. I finally got to see them. It looks like a very nice place to visit and have tea!
We just got home from seeing Wall-E. We all really enjoyed it. A bit sad because of what happened to the earth, but you know it's gonna be OK in the end. It's Disney/Pixar afterall!!
Have a fun Sunday!
Shirley: I love your description of your apartment building and neighborhood! I wish you could move!!! (I'm sure you do too)! I actually wish I could move too...but you do what you have to do!
VIG and TINK: So glad you two met! (I'll be checking out the pictures after I post)!
JODI: It is sad when we can't do things as well as we once could! I tried going roller skating with Katie not so long ago. I used to LOVE to roller skate! I guess now that I am fat, it is a lot more difficult to balance myself than it once was!!!
I know what you mean about getting black eyes! I give that very reason for why I don't "run" for exercise!
BIRDIE: Yes, I would think that having a couch on the porch would not promote the best image for trying to sell a house! (Perhaps it was a warning)! ; )
JOEY: Loved your rhyming march! LOL!!!
Well, I am getting tired. I have enjoyed all the stories as well!
I'll be gone all day tomorrow, so I'll write on Monday...
Have a great Sunday everyone!!!
160...NIGHT!
Just thought I would try out my new avatar!!!!
SACBARB, what do you think?????
SacBarb - that commercial ALWAYS gets me!!
I guess no matter how many times I watch "Steel Magnolias" - it ALWAYS makes me cry!! it's on back to back - but I think I'll switch over to the JBJ alert!!
thanks MO!!!
our storm has rolled in LATE today!!
I hope everyone has an excellent Sunday!!
:-)
Jodi & Jennifer~I'm so comforted by your tramp*HO*line and roller skating stories. I'm not alone!
Just a week ago I bought a 'hula hoop' thinking 'what an easy way to work on the love handles while watching TV'. Gosh, I was a pro with it at age nine (last time I used one).
You'd think a little trunk junk would make it easier to keep it at the waist...uh, NOT. There are times I'm SO glad I live alone!
Good Sunday to all!!
Mo: Love it!
Hey,, when did it get so late?
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Hmmm, what's the number before first?
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