Good Fences Don’t Always Make Good Neighbours

There was an article in the Ottawa Citizen today about a family that built a solid wood fence in the front yard to screen off the neighbour and the neighbour’s garbage bins.  The fence is solid and over 8 feet high – in the front yard.  So, someone complained and the by-laws have kicked in.  According to the article, if no one complains, even if the fence does not meet the requirements, the city will not take action.  However, when there is a complaint, the by-law officers show up and the fence needs to be changed.  I expect the owner to appeal but it seems that there will be little recourse and her fence will have to be either removed or cut down to the approved height. 

Who wins?  No one.  The fence builder has made her point but it is going to cost her some money.  The neighbourhood has lost because the fence is inappropriate for the street and a bit of an eye sore.  The neighbour is suspected of calling the by-law office (and maybe he/she did and maybe it was someone else).  The article did say that there was an acrimonious relationship between the two and I can imagine that the fence was the preferred solution by the owner but…..  everyone looses in the end.  

Sad, isn’t it, when good fences do not make good neighbours?  

If you are considering a fence, please look up the by-law requirements.  If you are wanting to exceed the limits, have a good discussion with the neighbours to ensure that you will not have to have the fence removed.  

Photo credit:  ”Fences are made for those who cannot fly.”  Elbert Hubbard

You can’t always get what you want.

Even the Rolling Stones know this.

You can’t always get what you want.

But if you try sometimes you just might find

You get what you need.

When you are shopping for a house or for furniture for your home there are going to be some limitations on getting what you dream that you want.  These can be budget, location and  condition for the house.  They can be budget, room size, style, availability and a whole lot of other factors that will start you narrowing down a furniture purchase.

Sometimes I look at those huge homes with front foyers that just look magnificent.  I want a grand entrance with a round table in the middle and a huge bouquet of fresh flowers.  Well, I don’t have what I want but I do have what I need.  A front door, a little table for keys and mail and a small hall closet for coats and boots.  Most days I am satisfied with this and then I look at Houzz photos and well…….

I find that I have what I need.

Photo credit:  Purple Bouquet

Bye Bye Dear Copper

On Thursday last week, the Canadian Federal Government announced that the Mint will no longer be producing the penny and that it will be pulled out of circulation.  Apparently is cost 1.6 cents to produce a penny.  Millions or maybe billions of pennies are in jars and couches, the bottom of purses and on sidewalks (where no one thinks it worthwhile to stoop and pick them up).  We grumble about the amount of change in our pockets so we should be happy that one of our coins is going out of circulation.  However, the penny has contributed to English language idioms and expressions.  What we will do when there are no pennies.  Imagine the following conversation with a real estate buyer:

“Well, Cathy, here is that two bedroom condo you wanted to see.  Nickel for your thoughts. (Wait a minute the nickel may go the way of the penny so best to think ahead.)  Quarter for your thoughts.   If you’ll just let me put my two quarters in, I would like to point out the granite counter tops and upgraded lighting fixtures.  To a lot of people, those wouldn’t be worth one silver quarter, but I know you like these types of upgrades.  The owner of the last condo we saw was a quarter pincher and wouldn’t upgrade.  As a result, he is only going to get a quarter on the dollar for the things he did do.  I see the owner coming into the parking lot, just like a bad quarter, he always shows up.  Guess we need to be quick.  It will cost you a pretty quarter to move into this building but over time you will see that a quarter spent here is a quarter earned.”

I will remember that, if I take care of the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves.

RIP Dear Penny

Photo credit:  1974 Canadian Penny (Reverse)

Recommended on CityLine

There are a myriad of home improvement shows on television.  Homes are improved, updated, changed and sold and it all looks so terrific.  I recently saw one of these shows and the “paint expert” recommended a Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172 colour for walls.  He said it had a hint of green.  I have a lot of green in my home and thought – wow, I could do grey walls that would update my home and still be okay with the furniture and furnishings that I own.  Off we went to the paint store and got a small paint chip to take home, reconsidered that this would not be big enough to test and bought that little can of paint and a piece of test board to place around the home depending upon the time of day and the light.  Well, it might have been the best bit of money spent in the month of March.

We did a paint sample that is 24″ by 24″.  I really wanted this colour to work but it doesn’t.  Sad but true.  The grey might have a green undertone but it is a blue green and looks even bluer when placed against the mossy greens in the house.  We have saved a few hundred dollars in paint and the work of my husband and our painter.  I have heard that doing the sample is important but couldn’t really see the value of it.  Now, having seen the big sample and how it shows that the colour is wrong, I am an HGTV / Nate Burkus / Cityline believer.

The recommended paint didn’t work but the recommended process did.

Photo credit:  Paint Job