kids and the great outdoors

[randell]

Moderator note:  this topic was split off from here.

A few proud, but subtle moments in my life today.  My neighbor's daughter got one of those $200 jeeps that hauls 2 kids around.  They were driving around the cul-de-sac and my neighbor's daughter says "let's go to McDonald's!".  My neighbor commented on how cute this was.  

My son looked clueless so I had to tell my neighbor that my son doesn't really know what McDonald's is as we only go there about twice a year.  

Later my wife and I were practicing dutch-oven cooking in the backyard (we just got a dutch oven yesterday).  I just threw some coals on the ground in an old flower bed and started a fire next to it with a bunch of branches I was saving.  My 3 year old comes out and says "Yeah, a bonfire!" and we proceed to have a marshmallow feast in our suburban backyard well after dark.  There's just something cool about a 3 year old being excited about a campfire.

[SHANEA]

Too cool.  When you get good at it or if you want to learn more, there's a yearly dutch oven cook off in Terlingua I think..

[RichardM]

A few proud, but subtle moments in my life today.  My neighbor's daughter got one of those $200 jeeps that hauls 2 kids around.  They were driving around the cul-de-sac and my neighbor's daughter says "let's go to McDonald's!".  My neighbor commented on how cute this was.  

My son looked clueless so I had to tell my neighbor that my son doesn't really know what McDonald's is as we only go there about twice a year.  

Later my wife and I were practicing dutch-oven cooking in the backyard (we just got a dutch oven yesterday).  I just threw some coals on the ground in an old flower bed and started a fire next to it with a bunch of branches I was saving.  My 3 year old comes out and says "Yeah, a bonfire!" and we proceed to have a marshmallow feast in our suburban backyard well after dark.  There's just something cool about a 3 year old being excited about a campfire.

I've already let my wife know that our daughter will not be getting any battery operated motor vehicles.  Anything she rides will have to be self propelled.  Gotta get her to use up some of that energy!

Better hope the neighborhood association or local fire department doesn't hear about your open fire.  [-X  I know our association would go nuts.

[homerboy2u]

Better hope the neighborhood association or local fire department doesn't hear about your open fire.  I know our association would go nuts.

 I did not know, one would have to get permission from an association or Fire Dept. to do an open fire...Everyday , I learn something new here.

[bdann]

 I did not know, one would have to get permission from an association or Fire Dept. to do an open fire...Everyday , I learn something new here.

Home Owner's associations, (IMHO) are out of control.  I have a buddy that was told he was not allowed to use his table saw IN HIS GARAGE if the door was open.  A guy I work with borrowed his dad's boat, took it home, put it in his driveway, received a message on his answering machine within 8 hours....not allowed to keep a boat in his driveway.  Another person I worked with...got in trouble the first week they lived in their brand new house...one of their garbage cans was visible from the street.

suddenly I find myself way off topic.  

[randell]

Better hope the neighborhood association or local fire department doesn't hear about your open fire.  [-X  I know our association would go nuts.

I'm sure they wouldn't like that.  But I haven't been caught yet!  Nothing like feeling like a crook on the run in your own backyard!

[randell]

Here are my neighbors to the rear of my house.



Actually, my little fire was in an old flower box.  It's a huge dirt pad with a border around it.  It's my home-made firebox because I didn't want to pay $100 for one at Academy.

[homerboy2u]

 I did not know, one would have to get permission from an association or Fire Dept. to do an open fire...Everyday , I learn something new here.

Home Owner's associations, (IMHO) are out of control.  I have a buddy that was told he was not allowed to use his table saw IN HIS GARAGE if the door was open.  A guy I work with borrowed his dad's boat, took it home, put it in his driveway, received a message on his answering machine within 8 hours....not allowed to keep a boat in his driveway.  Another person I worked with...got in trouble the first week they lived in their brand new house...one of their garbage cans was visible from the street.

suddenly I find myself way off topic.  

 YOU, DEFINITELY HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME :!:  :!: ......

[SHANEA]

 YOU, DEFINITELY HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME :!:  :!: ......

To continue with the off-topic direction, yea, they are serious.  In some places, it's really bad with no wiggle room.  At least in Texas, home owners assoc. have a lot of power and can actually seize your property/house for not paying your dues, etc.  Some lady down in the Woodlands of Houston got behind in her dues and they seized and sold her house.  I think she finally got it back.  Reminds me of the old X-files series when Mulder was out playing basketball in the driveway one night and a neighbor comes over to tell him that the home owners assoc. won't approve of that!

[bdann]

They can also levy fines.  For example - Non-approved Christmas decorations? - FINE.  It seems everyone I work with has a HOA story.  When I was looking for a house a few years ago, one of my requirements was no HOA!

[randell]

I'm always getting notes.  Forgot to pick up the garbage cans ONE time - got a note.  

Mold on the side of my house that nobody can see - got a note.  I even asked my neighbors to look for the mold and they had to know what they were looking for and be looking between two particular branches in one of my trees to even see it!

I even got a note about my lawn needing mowing - but I pay for it to be mowed every single Thursday so how can it need to be mowed?  I think they had the wrong house, but I just ignored it.

There's no escaping them unless you move out of the suburbs where houses are so close together.  You need nice plots of five acres + so you can't see every move your neighbor makes.

[homerboy2u]

I'm reading this...I believe you because you are all are mentioning it. But I can't believe this HOA can mess with you and your private property.

  Here, there is no such thing as an HOA what so ever, we may have city inspectors watching the over grown grass in our houses or some maintenance requirement but that and bump in to your home...No Way  :!:  :!: ....WOW :!:

[Al]

I'm reading this...I believe you because you are all are mentioning it. But I can't believe this HOA can mess with you and your private property.

  Here, there is no such thing as an HOA what so ever, we may have city inspectors watching the over grown grass in our houses or some maintenance requirement but that and bump in to your home...No Way  :!:  :!: ....WOW :!:

It's nothing compared to co-ops like there are in New York City or living in a condo, but Bad!  Problem is you always have neighbors and some are better than others, for sure.  

The closer the neighbor the better the chances are it could be a pain!  (Better means worser which is even BADDER!)  Back when I lived in the city my neighbors claimed conditions in my backyard created unsanitary conditions due to the presence of Rattus Rattus.  I loved having that notice stuck in the door.  Well we passed inspection and our friends, the neighbors, filed then under the barking ordinance because of our dogs.  We negotiated our way our of that (I was willing to bet our neighbors, who had just moved from New York City to Travis Heights, were not of normal sensitivity as specified in the city ordinance.) Who knows if I would of won but we worked out a deal by me blocking off a part of the yard from the dogs.  

The good news about living in the city is it makes those with common sense and a knowledge of the alternative want to get the hell out and enjoy our state and national parks!

Al

[TexasGirl]

My nice, close-in, 1966 neighborhood has no HOA ...AND we get our mail delivered to our front doors!  What a deal!

[Undertaker]

Homerboy, home owner associations are binding contracts and enforceable, the fun part is you can play the game both ways, when I moved my dogs into the new home and yard, I was told I could not put up dog signs. Now I have a very loveable mut that weighs about 10 pounds and a 95 pound Malamute, loveable unless you are in her back yard, I had my attorney notify the HOA that since I could not place signs they assume all libility from injury from same, had about 6 months of fun over that one.  I could tell you several but they have a large amount of power.