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Broken Bow, NE on Jun 19, 2012

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Backyard Mega Makeover

When we bought this old house three summers ago, the backyard was a nightmare. I remember standing on the back porch with the realtor and saying, "Wow, this could be beautiful." She looked at me as if I were out of my mind. ;-)

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The side yard before shot. The old retaining wall and fence sat at least 2 feet onto our neighbor's property. They are grand folks, and would never make an issue o...
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The view of the backyard from the south side of the house. And it is already missing the very, very sad 'privacy fence'--a failing wooden mess that our lab found...
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The side yard as it looks now. All fencing is repurposed and was purchased off of Craigslist.
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There had been some attempt to deal with the slope. The timbers were quite well rotted and collapsing in places.
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This the west end of our yard as seen from just inside our alley gate.
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Gate from side yard with upcycled (what a nice way to say we hauled concrete rubble from the dump) pathway. There was a gate of sorts here, but nothing mo...
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Flagstone stepping stones lead to a lower patio. Steps take you to the upper patio and the backporch.
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An old view from the neighbor's backyard. After demolishing those rotting timbers, we found a collapsing cement retaining wall behind it.

48 Comments Displaying 25 of 48 comments | See Previous

Becky Blair, NE

Lori.... one word....WOW!

on Jul 14, 2012 · Like 2
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Lori, I am ecstatic looking at your pics. Ideas are popping all around in my head. I think I was stuck in the fact that a lady neighbor on one side stands and sweeps her driveway (of which I allowed about 4 ft of my own front yard for her concrete) with a broom before I can finish mowing. Of course I would blow the few blades away when I finished if she would just wait. On the other side is a perfectionist man who chews me over a few blades that blow down on the hillside between our ...»
property and chewed me about the OAK tree recently. My mind was stuck between pleasing these two neighbors and controlling this dog. I too have built a haven out of terrible former neglect. My back yard is the prettiest in our neighborhood but getting old is slowing me down as of this recent back problem. So many animals swarm the yard and trees while in the spring the birds swarm me. I will go looking for a dog house and maybe a little more fencing for Cosmo. I am motivated!!!!!!! Will finish my little rain forest before next spring.

on Aug 21, 2012 · Like 3
Marg C Middletown, NY

how gracious of you Nancy to give her 4ft of property to use for her concrete! neighbors...don't have them and don't want them!
I'd love to see your ideas come to life when you finish :)

on Aug 21, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Marge, I always had hugging neighbors so this past 10 years has been new and strange to me. Actually the 4 feet were not given to my neighbor - they were just allowed for her use. Nothing in writing. My husband did it and I never really knew how much until I had the gas company mark off my pipe lines when I planted a couple of Dogwood trees. I thought it was 4 inches. Hahaha. He might have been told it was 4 inches. Never bothered us either way but one would think she would be kinder.

on Aug 21, 2012 · Like 1
Becky Blair, NE

With some people you give them and inch they take a mile. Or in your case give four inches they take four feet. Sad really.

on Aug 21, 2012 · Like 1
Marg C Middletown, NY

Nancy, I do know for a fact that with our laws here in NY that you won't get it back. If she took you to court, she would win and it would be hers to keep. no kidding. Once you do that, it's a done deal. Check out your laws in AL and see if it's the same.

on Aug 22, 2012 · Like 2
Leida R Tampa, FL

Marg C, WOW!!! It's not like that here in Florida. At least I don't think so.

on Aug 22, 2012 · Like 1
Marg C Middletown, NY

yes, property lines can change. say if you've been using a part of your neighbors property and no one has corrected it and you put up a fence or any other fixture that ties in with your yard, then you can claim it as long as no one has ever complained or corrected it. This law is many years old now....I first heard of it about 30 yrs ago.

on Aug 22, 2012 · Like 2
Becky H Tampa, FL

Leida, better double check that. When I worked for attorneys here in Fla., that was the law on our books at that time.

on Aug 22, 2012 · Like 3
Leida R Tampa, FL

Becky H, REALLY??? I will check on that. Thanks.

on Aug 22, 2012 · Like 2
Marg C Middletown, NY

stake your claim!!

on Aug 23, 2012 · Like 3
Sherrie S Debary, FL

What Marg C & Becky H say are sad but true comments. It is so wrong that we really have no control over lawyers & judges that override common sense.

on Aug 24, 2012 · Like 2
Marg C Middletown, NY

so Nancy....have you checked the laws in AL? Have you told your husband?

on Aug 24, 2012 · Like 3
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

My husband passed away and I am assuming this was what he did. I was a Realtor for over 20 years. I think you all are talking about adverse possession where you take over a piece of property, using it and keeping it as your own with no complaints by owner, it can become your own. I would not want her to have to dig up her driveway, which is the heavy thick concrete on that strip but my gas lines run over there and all the way down to the street. Yes, I had better check and see what has ...»
gone on for certain as someday the house might be sold and this problem could ruin a good sale and cost my heirs a bunch in legal fees.
But also remember my tax records show the owner to be myself, I have the original survey which is very clear that the land is mine.
My brother had that same problem with a road in Alabama in the country. He just kept sending his taxes in from Florida and finally got it cleared up to where the neighbor has to keep off his road. The neighbor had even planted grass on the road and put a gate up because my brother had cut the rope he had up prior. The neighbor even had mischievous mischief charges brought against my brother but he just kept paying his taxes. I even went there once to plead with the neighbor to take that gate down to no avail. Eventually my brother won and the neighbor took the gate down and leaves my brother's road alone.
I will take care of this soon.

on Aug 30, 2012 · Like 3
Leida R Tampa, FL

Nancy Rhodes, that sure was a lot of work, but at the end he prevailed. I enjoyed reading it.

on Aug 30, 2012 · Like 1
Becky H Tampa, FL

No sense in having to go to battle later, when all can be prevented.

on Aug 30, 2012 · Like 1
Marg C Middletown, NY

yes, check this out soon so there is no problem later :S

on Sep 02, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Thanks girls and don't let anyone encroach on your property as there will always be problems down the road with surveys. I had my share of them and now I have allowed my own. Still will take care of it.

on Sep 03, 2012 · Like 2
Beverly P Sterling Heights, MI

BEAUTIFUL!

on Mar 04, 2013 · Like 0
Cindy Mink Winston Salem, NC

You did an amazing job!!

on Mar 04, 2013 · Like 0
Barbara Sawyer Umatilla, FL

Love what you all did to your yard. It was a lot of work, believe me I have transformed many backyards, have moved many times but it was always worth the joy it gave me and the satisfaction that I had created a pretty spot for the next person that lived there. It also helped sell our house!

on Mar 04, 2013 · Like 2
Sondra A Janesville, WI

Your yard turned out absolutely beautiful. Love all the little extra touches with the birdhouses, etc.

on Mar 04, 2013 · Like 0
Making It Best Sapulpa, OK

Great job!

on Mar 21, 2013 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

Lori, where are you? Did you winter well? I hope all is well with you since we've not seen you here for quite some time.

on Mar 21, 2013 · Like 0
Lori J Broken Bow, NE

Just busy and waiting for spring...

on Mar 23, 2013 · Like 0