sm
member
This thread reminded me of something.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=172401
Many folks in rural areas will already be aware of their Surroundings and the 'Noises" of surroundings. Be it the "crunch" of gravel of someone walking , or a vehicle on the gravel. Livestock will also alert these folks to "changes outside".
Rural and City folks can use Pets to alert.
Here is something I did and have had others do as well.
I hate rain gutters. I have better things to do than stand on a ladder and clean the durn things. I use the deflectors on the roof to keep the rain away from entrances.
I hate having to deal with weeds and such up next to the house. I remember a time before weed-whackers and cutting these on my hands and knees with hand held tools.
So when I built a house with the wifey and the time..."okay, I know you have some something about the security and still want landscaping". <head tilt, smirk grin, bats eyes>.
I pointed out the "line" the rain made on the ground. Being a new house, sod out front ,seeded out back...getting things done was easy. Landscape folks had not arrived yet.
We measure the distance of where rain falls and come out about 6" more. I make sure dirt in running away from house (downhill slope every so slight). Found a deal on decorative rocks. Let the wifey choose which color she wanted to match siding and brick. Then I installed metal edging. Dump rocks and spread out.
Crunch Crunch Crunch if someone were to walk up next to the house and be snooping. Granted they would have get past the cedar fence to gain access to the back, still anyone in areas accessible could be heard. One gets used to the dog and how he "sounds", we got to where we could identify neighbors pets.
We just figured digging in the dirt better to be done out of decorative pots...easier to change about. If we wanted Silk Lilacs in the dead of Winter...hey why not?
Besides the idea of this house was "Maintanence Free" as much as can. Including two middle aged folks not having to hear knees go "pop" when getting back up.
This seemingly "landscape" idea I used with simple "chat" for one older couple in a more rural setting. Boy was daughter sure surprised how daddy greeted her. She forgot her key and figured she raise the window as she had done before. [Allowed to do so and be there]
"Daddy, you have gun and how did you know someone out back".
"Sorry honey, but I ain't deaf, and you still make a lot of racket getting into stuff".
This of course led to daughter getting rocks.
"Sure saves my legs standing on ladders, and with the rain gutter gone house looks a lot better".
Like us - alleviates any worries about mower/ weed-whacker hitting the siding. There is that part about less actual grass to mow as well. "Honey, you do realize there will be less grass to mow?" My turn to do a "head tilt and grin".
My other great idea took a bit longer to get to work. I put a bell on the cedar privacy fence gate. Durn dog figured out if he jumped up and shook the gate the bell would ring, and we would come out to check on what was going on.
There he would be with a toss-toy ready to play. Gives new meaning to Pavlov's Dog".
Quite a few ways to make a yard , driveway work to your advantages.
Steve
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=172401
Many folks in rural areas will already be aware of their Surroundings and the 'Noises" of surroundings. Be it the "crunch" of gravel of someone walking , or a vehicle on the gravel. Livestock will also alert these folks to "changes outside".
Rural and City folks can use Pets to alert.
Here is something I did and have had others do as well.
I hate rain gutters. I have better things to do than stand on a ladder and clean the durn things. I use the deflectors on the roof to keep the rain away from entrances.
I hate having to deal with weeds and such up next to the house. I remember a time before weed-whackers and cutting these on my hands and knees with hand held tools.
So when I built a house with the wifey and the time..."okay, I know you have some something about the security and still want landscaping". <head tilt, smirk grin, bats eyes>.
I pointed out the "line" the rain made on the ground. Being a new house, sod out front ,seeded out back...getting things done was easy. Landscape folks had not arrived yet.
We measure the distance of where rain falls and come out about 6" more. I make sure dirt in running away from house (downhill slope every so slight). Found a deal on decorative rocks. Let the wifey choose which color she wanted to match siding and brick. Then I installed metal edging. Dump rocks and spread out.
Crunch Crunch Crunch if someone were to walk up next to the house and be snooping. Granted they would have get past the cedar fence to gain access to the back, still anyone in areas accessible could be heard. One gets used to the dog and how he "sounds", we got to where we could identify neighbors pets.
We just figured digging in the dirt better to be done out of decorative pots...easier to change about. If we wanted Silk Lilacs in the dead of Winter...hey why not?
Besides the idea of this house was "Maintanence Free" as much as can. Including two middle aged folks not having to hear knees go "pop" when getting back up. This seemingly "landscape" idea I used with simple "chat" for one older couple in a more rural setting. Boy was daughter sure surprised how daddy greeted her. She forgot her key and figured she raise the window as she had done before. [Allowed to do so and be there]
"Daddy, you have gun and how did you know someone out back".
"Sorry honey, but I ain't deaf, and you still make a lot of racket getting into stuff".
This of course led to daughter getting rocks.
"Sure saves my legs standing on ladders, and with the rain gutter gone house looks a lot better".
Like us - alleviates any worries about mower/ weed-whacker hitting the siding. There is that part about less actual grass to mow as well. "Honey, you do realize there will be less grass to mow?" My turn to do a "head tilt and grin".
My other great idea took a bit longer to get to work. I put a bell on the cedar privacy fence gate. Durn dog figured out if he jumped up and shook the gate the bell would ring, and we would come out to check on what was going on.
There he would be with a toss-toy ready to play. Gives new meaning to Pavlov's Dog".
Quite a few ways to make a yard , driveway work to your advantages.
Steve