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[<eureka AT hctc.net>]

To give a better idea of the kind of destruction: 10 of 
the largest trees in Texas (including the largest) are 
either across the street or within a few miles of us. As 
much as we love trees (I am a botanist) I don't think that 
stick in the pit of my stomach is ever going to go away. 
Finding a new place to spend the rest of our lives is not 
feasible until my husband retires 3-5 years...and what's 
to say it wouldn't happen again? There are plenty of 
people with big bucks hankering to retire,ready to clear 
the land to plant WalMart shrubbery.

What makes it really awful is we truly like our neighbors 
(and they us) but don't understand their vision (ie. 
stupidity) and there are no fast growing native trees for 
our part of Texas. We have access to plenty of Japanese 
ligustrum seedlings, but I really hate the idea of 
spreading invasives. The cost of larger native plant stock 
and digging the back breaking holes through mostly rock 
conglomerate would be prohibitive. Our neighbors could 
barely swing the note on that property, so I'm sure they 
won't be buying mine anytime soon. And as angry as I am, I 
still value their friendship in this remote area.

I have the feeling knowing our grief over the situation 
they would let us collect rock out of their newly aquired 
wash, but I've never done stonework and river rounded 
cobbles don't stack very well. I've helped build several 
strawbale houses, so I'm comfortable with that process, 
only we do get enough rain it couldn't be finished with 
earth plaster. It's also hard to find straw around here 
and we have no place to store it. I like the idea of 
wiring twigs and driftwood on the existing fence, and we 
certainly have plenty of sticks...it would probably be 
acceptable as a "good neighbor" solution. I just wasn't 
looking for another project right now! I'm sure all of you 
can commiserate.

Is there any affordable product out there that could make 
a large running quilt wall of cotton sheets, etc. 
waterproof to the elements? If it could last 10 years it 
might give us time to plug in landscaping as we can afford 
it.

I'm making that list of ideas, so please keep the ideas 
rolling!

--Sage
Way out in Texas



On Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:09:08 -0500
 Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com> wrote:
> On Sep 12, 2007, at 1:52 AM, <eureka AT hctc.net> 
> <eureka AT hctc.net> wrote:
>
> > I am putting out a call for ideas for an affordable,
> > good-looking (maybe even artful), and relatively quick
> > solution to creating 800 linear feet of privacy. . . .
> > Recently the 5,000 acre ranch that surrounds two sides 
> > of
> > our land was sold to a developer who is chopping it up
> > into small parcels. We were not aware of this until our
> > only neighbors announced they had bought one that
> > surrounded us. . . . Tonight on our walk we
> > were devastated by the sight of all the shrubs and trees
> > ripped out on our one remaining virgin side, a small
> > sliver of land no wider than 10-12 feet between us and a
> > deep wash. . . . Give me your ideas!!!
>
> Well, #!*%##!
>
> In your present emotional state you are not thinking 
> clearly, so keep  
> all ideas and come back to them in a month or three.
>
> If you are past the sick-in-the-pit-of-the-stomach 
> state, start  
> making a list of all possible answers.
>
> Include finding a new place to spend the rest of your 
> lives.
>
> In the meantime it will give you solace to feel like you 
> are doing  
> the best you can to deal with the situation. Check with 
> your  
> Extension service and see if there is a fast-growing 
> vine that  
> thrives in the dry, rocky landscape.
>
> Mind you I am not seriously suggesting this, but you 
> could start  
> hanging really crappy looking stuff on that fence and 
> let the  
> insensitive neighbor know that you would sell if he were 
> to give you  
> more than the land is worth, but in the meantime you 
> just can't  
> afford to do anything else but hang your old lingerie, 
> panty hose,  
> grandkids soiled diapers, holey socks, etc. on as much 
> space as you can.
>
> Expect a call from his lawyer saying you can't do such a 
> thing to a  
> commonly held fence. Ask the lawyer to send you his 
> research.
>
> Meanwhile, see if there is a copy of my book in your 
> local library.
>
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