The first couple weeks of May were very busy around here. In addition to getting the house plumbed for gas, replacing an old oil furnace, and converting appliances (and starting a new job), we also finally realized the big dream of getting a privacy fence!
Why this became such a big deal, I don’t know. The first two summers we were living here, no one really lived next door, where we share a large expanse of open lawn space. So it was very nice except that: 1) when sitting on the brick patio you felt on-display, and 2) the neighbor to the back left keeps a large rubbish pile, often covered in an eye-catching blue tarp (lovely). We’re sure that they just never realized that our patio arbor, covered with twinkly lights and blooming clematis, was framing this “Beverly Hillbilly” view (another neighbor's words). Then someone moved in directly next door. She’s quite nice, but busy and just can’t quite mow that lawn. Ever. Okay, once she had someone do it for her. And then of course, directly behind us was the family. I won’t go into all of that, but there was only a chain-link fence between us and their dog and kids and their swingset and their constant shrieking and barbeques.
So we’ve been thinking about this for a couple of years. Last year, we got a bid that was very high and were told we'd have to clear out all the bushes in the way. We tried contacting some other people about design and building, but it’s hard to get responses from people who actually want to be paid and work. We thought about building it ourselves but since we aren’t handy or good at math or have any tools, it felt a little like it was going to a long long sad summer of drudgery and never-ending post-hole digging and redigging (when we inevitably put them in the wrong place and have to redo it).
And then finally we got someone. In a shocking two days (well, after we spent about 16 hours of prep on the weekend ripping out chainlink, jackhammering concrete and cutting back shrubs), and several weeks beforehand of nervous fretting over neighborly discussions, we had a fence! The ex-Marine showed up
before 7 a.m. and got to work each day.
The yard feels different and it probably has lost a bit of its open feeling that you just don’t see in this area. But wahooo!! It is sure fun to enjoy the garden without feeling like you’re on display. It’s clear cedar and smells wonderful, and we’re looking forward to a carefree weathering to gray (no staining; we have enough to do around here!).
It’s going to be a fantastic summer! (Note blue tarp peeking out in corner of photo
on the other side of the fence!)
