Anonymous "Dear Neighbor" letter

[Misty89]

Your response should have been...

"Sure, Thanks! Now turn around and bend over!"

 

[bnorm27]

Before you send out your own anonymous letter,please remember that it is a violation of Postal Service code to put anything in or on another persons mailbox. This is really being enforced with all the cases of identity theft that have been going on.

That being said, whoever sent you the letter is a real grassh**e!

 

[Chicago526]

Hey, you're lucky. My jerk of a neighbor doesn't bother with the unsigned note, she just calls the city code enforcement people the second she thinks there is a violation. 9 times out of 10, there is no violation. She just called the city on us trying to get a stop-work order on us because we're replacing our 60 year old side walk (goes from the street to our front door, and from the door over to the driveway). She called the code guys a couple of times to complain (we know because they kept driving by our house) and finally found one that was new and didn't know a that a permit was not needed to replace sidewalks, only if you were putting in a new one. We know this because we CALLED the city before starting work and asked if we needed a permit, and they said "no". Anyway, the new guy gives us a stop-work order and a $50 fine. It took my DH all of 2 minutes at city hall to have them tell us "No, you don't need a permit, keep working, and we'll let the new guy know what happened, you won't be bothered again" and tore up the citation.

She sueing her other neighbor for "damage" to her garage done by some landscape people that were removing a tree (I've seen the garage, if you weren't looking for it, you'd miss the "damage", and that's assuming the slight dents weren't there before the tree was removed) and she's called the city on just about every house on the street. We're all sick to death of her, and complain about her to each other.

I've decided she's just a lonely (she's single) middle aged busy body without a life of her own, so she sticks her nose into other peoples business just to give herself something to do. I pity her, DH is ready to kill her.

 

[Ephany]

Ugg, I'm so sorry you had to deal with this nonsense! Some people have too much time on their hands. We had a HOA at our last house and agreed never to do that again after dealing with them for 3 years.

Here's some pictures of a house near where I grew up. I'm sure your anonymous neighbor would have a heart attack if they had to live near this creation!

http://www.reflectorart.com/spot/resume/index.html

 

[roadtripper]

How sad that your neighbor has nothing better to do. Focus on your family, and pity the person whose life seems to revolve around what YOUR lawn looks like.

We have kids and live on the water, so we don't use any pesticides or anything on our lawn, and our next door neighbor is obsessed with his--he's out there constantly. What a good guy, though- he always says we should have seen his lawn when his kids were growing up!

Be grateful that you have much more important things-- the good and the bad-- to take up your energy and attention.

 

[DawnM]

Oh I hate neighbor problems!!!!

Fortunately we don't have too many of them where we are, but one neighbor keeps bringing his motorhome to park in front of our house and it irritates us, but it usually isn't there over a week or two before he takes it back up to his parents so we don't say anything, BUT, our other neighbor threatens to call the city because it is illegal to park a trailer or motorhome on the street in our city. He wants it towed!!!!

We also have a woman in the neighborhood we call "the rotwieler!" She is our busy body but she isn't on my street thankfully!

Dawn

 

[brandylouwho]

OMG-I am so sorry for your neighbor problems! And to the OP --I hope your husband's recovery is coming along well.

I think I might print this thread to show my husband. He gets really irriatated about the neighbor's crappy cars being parked on the street in front of our house...but maybe he should be happy that is the worst problem we have!

Actually, we have sort of solved that one too--now DH often leaves his own car on the street in front of our home so that no one else can park there.

 

[ceecee]

We're looking for a new house, another reason to stay here...our neighbors are okay for the most part (other than the city guy a few doors down) I guess it could be worse. My friend moved last year and the new neighbor came over to meet her and said "Oh, I see you have two dogs and two kids, I bet you'll be a noisy neighbor! My friend said it's not so bad until the other two get home from school!"

 

[jltwdw]

My sister and I had an across the street neighbor (elderly lady) that was anal about her lawn too. DSis & I had two cats that would go outdoors occasionally, but were mainly indoor pets and used a litterbox. I don't think they knew how to use the 'outdoor litterbox' The old lady would clean doo-doo out of her yard (complete with 'washing' the grass with a watering can and scrub brush) and throw it onto our front porch while we were gone to work during the day. There was so much left one day that the postman wouldn't even go up the steps to our mailbox...the next day the mail had hand-written message on it 'too much crap on porch'. Now, I understand it is not pleasant to have other folk's animals do their business in your yard, but there is no way our cats that went outdoors once in a blue moon could do enough business that landed on our porch...they'd look like deflated balloons!

Anyhoo, OP, hope things go well for you and your family. I'd come give you a hug and help you out in the yard if I wasn't a bjillian miles away!

 

[MEM]

I have to agree with the other posters - its someone with too much time on his/her hands. You don't owe anyone an explanation - if you do give one, it just validates that what Anonymous said is true and gives that nosy person the opportunity to suggest/recommend how you can fix up/maintain the yard to his/her satisfaction in spite of your current limitations.

 

[dogluva]

I

This is kind of budget related since lawn care in my area is outrageously priced. I am so pi**ed right now I can't stand it. I received an anonymous letter today from a neighbor. It stated "As you know spring is here and it is time to clean up your yard. So please mow and get rid of the weeds, edge along the drive and sidewalk and flowerbeds. Be proud of your new home and considerate of those who live around you. Thank you." We just mowed our grass a week ago and our shrubs need to be trimmed and there are a couple, literally, of weeds in the flowerbeds. We have several rosebushes that just got to the point of needing to be trimmed back, but I haven't researched yet the best way to trim them. We have not bought a weedeater yet, our old one was stolen at our previous home. So we haven't edged as we don't have an edger either. My husband had a total hip replacement on March 31, he just went back to work after not working since the beginning of March, so we have really cut back on our spending. Add that to the fact that since his hip replacement he can't do much in the yard so all of the laundry and inside of the house is mine to do as well as the yard. He is now working at a commission only jobs so we still need to watch our spending. We recently received a flier from a neighbor who has a landscaping business and charge 150/month with a year contract and these are small yards. If this concerned letter writer had made an effort to get to know us since we moved into this home in October, they might know all of this and maybe would have offered to help out when my husband. We also have 4 children, which makes it difficult to spend a lot of time to have a perfect yard. I think we obviously moved into the snobbiest neighborhood in town. Another neighbor received a note on his car for parking in the cul-de-sac. "That is why you bought a house with a garage. Use it" UGGHHH. But my thing is, Yes I realize our yard could look better, and I see that every day. And we are working on it. But we have other issues, including my husband's recovery from his surgery, his change of jobs, child care issues, and my recent identity theft that are taking precedence. And our yard does not really look bad, and there are other homeowners who haven't edged their yards. I'm sure that the concerned neighbor let them know about it too....Well, just wanted to vent

Don't stress over this (hard not to , I know). I also recieved an usigned letter (very cowardly) about bringing in my toys at night. The toys are sand box toys-who brings them in? It was pathetic written by someone with too much time on their hands. Also, my neighbor got one (unsigned as well) about bringing in her trash barrels. I guess they were left out an hour too long. Sorry this happened to you-it was upsetting to me as well.

I hope your husband is feeling better-that is really all that matters.

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

I'm so mean and spiteful. After I got that letter my grass would be ten foot tall and I would have friends come and park there cars in the culd sac

You are just like me!!!!

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

Im leaning toward it being a solicitation from a landscaper/lawn service & when you find out its them...file a complaint!!!

if it IS a neighbor...like its been said...ignore it...not everyone can be home all day & just do yard work!!!!
GEEZ!!!!

 

[DisneyBeagle]

Im leaning toward it being a solicitation from a landscaper/lawn service

I tend to agree that it's probably a landscaper that sent out the letter. Here's my reasoning:

So please mow and get rid of the weeds, edge along the drive and sidewalk and flowerbeds.

Who in their right mind looks at a neighbor's house and thinks "boy they sure need to edge along the driveway and sidewalk." I can see looking at a neighbors yard and thinking "boy they need to mow that lawn and get rid of those weeds", but you just don't look at someone elses lawn and think they need to edge it along the sidewalk.

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

I honestly would be like an eagle waiting for someone to come on my property again so that I could pop out and give them a piece of my mind..... Luckily, we don't have neighbors like that. Thank God!!! Actually last year we were having money issues and the teenage boy next door saw me trying to mow while babysitting 11 kids and gently pried the mower out of my hands and did it for me--- FOR FREE! He knew that my DH was working 12 hour days and thought I needed a break. My DH has went over and helped our elderly neighbors cut their bushes more times than I can remember just because he didn't want them to overextend themselves. That is what neighbors do. Not write rude letters . I feel badly for you and your DH is in my prayers.

 

[momofpirates]

You must live in my neighborhood. Most of the moms are SAHMs (nothing against that) so they have lots of time to pay special attention to each weed in their garden. I work at least 50 hours a week (as does my DH) and sometimes I have to travel for work and be away for weeks at a time. We are lucky if we get the lawn mowed each week (in between the rain) and keep the weeds from overtaking the grass. Hanging baskets are the extent of my gardening lately.

Our next door neighbors actually build a planter box and planted a tomatoe plant in our yard last year because they felt our kids were missing out not having a garden. WTH At our old house we had a huge garden. We found it was cheaper to buy fresh vegetables at the store than pay the high cost of watering the garden during the hot summer months. Our kids aren't missing anything. This is coming from the mom who can't keep her laundry done or make a dinner at home (her husband has to do all the cooking). And if that is ok with them, it is ok with me. I don't care about their laundry or who cooks dinner, but don't lecture me about not having a garden!

People should just stay out of others' business. You spend your time the way you need to, which is on the priorities you set. If the neighbor is so concerned, let them mow and trim for you. That's what being a true neighbor is about. Let that letter just role off your back!

 

[Mom B]

Edging? What's that??? If anyone ever has the audacity to come out and say anything, why don't you just say, "Thank you for your concern. Feel free to come over and fix it up anytime you like, I just don't have the time for it myself." That will most likely scare them off!

 

[Steven41782]

Our grass is high right now but who cares...we'll cut it soon.

Tell your neighbors how blessed they are to have time to worry about your grass. ;0).

We have those in our subdivision that call the home owner's assocation for anything... most are home all day with not much to do but yard gawk. I don't even look at our neighbors' yards myself.

 

[sunnyday123]

You must live in my neighborhood. Most of the moms are SAHMs (nothing against that) so they have lots of time to pay special attention to each weed in their garden. I work at least 50 hours a week (as does my DH) and sometimes I have to travel for work and be away for weeks at a time. We are lucky if we get the lawn mowed each week (in between the rain) and keep the weeds from overtaking the grass. Hanging baskets are the extent of my gardening lately.

Our next door neighbors actually build a planter box and planted a tomatoe plant in our yard last year because they felt our kids were missing out not having a garden. WTH At our old house we had a huge garden. We found it was cheaper to buy fresh vegetables at the store than pay the high cost of watering the garden during the hot summer months. Our kids aren't missing anything. This is coming from the mom who can't keep her laundry done or make a dinner at home (her husband has to do all the cooking). And if that is ok with them, it is ok with me. I don't care about their laundry or who cooks dinner, but don't lecture me about not having a garden!

People should just stay out of others' business. You spend your time the way you need to, which is on the priorities you set. If the neighbor is so concerned, let them mow and trim for you. That's what being a true neighbor is about. Let that letter just role off your back!

Man, that tomato plant would've pushed me over the edge!!!

 

[princesscj]

IMHO - I would do nothing, as others have mentioned about growing the grass, hanging Christmas lights, etc, you would be stooping to their level. But, on the other side, I would continue what you are doing. I wouldn't rush out and get that yard work done anytime soon either!

So sorry you are having to deal with this!!