Dear new home owner,

Today you will acquire our house and I could get all nostalgic and tell you that I fell in love in that house and how my sweat is mixed with the dirt in the back yard and the paint on the walls, but instead, I am going to give you some practical tips from my first few years as a new homeowner:

 

- When you are at the store buying equipment for the house and you are standing before, say, hoses and you want to buy the shorter - and cheaper - version ... don't. Always go for the larger, longer option, you wont regret it. For instance, when you send your fiance  over the roof with the hose to spray out the gutters on the other side, a nice long hose comes in handy. In the meantime, however, Gideon, the old guy across the street, has everything you may need and then some.

 

- The yard may seem a little daunting at first but if you take care of the weeds and overgrowth, that will go a long ways to making it look nice. The first year, it's a good idea to wait and see what comes up so that you don't go messing with something that is already there. My general rule for weeds is that if they weren't there yesterday and they pull up easily (short root system), then I am safe to rip them up to my hearts content.

 

- A squirrel has spent the last two winters in the shed and I haven't done much about it since I don't think it does any harm. So, just don't let him scare you in the spring. And a rabbit sometimes lives under the gazebo ... I call him/her/it Thumpy but he/she/it does not respond.

 

- I am sorry about the grass ...

  

- two words: weed hog. (or fertilizer). ok, three words.

 

- maybe it was because I was a single girl for part of the time I lived there but if I left the leaves un-raked or the sticks un-picked up or the snow un-shoveled for too long, one of my neighbors, usually the Bosnian guy would just do it for me. They are nice neighbors and they are all retired in the I'm-going-to-sweep-my-sidewalk-sort of way so don't even attempt to compete with their yards. In fact, instead, let them help you with yours (that was my motto anyway).

 

- always, always, always get promised work in writing.

 

That's all! I hope you enjoy the house, kitchen and yard!