Happy Saturday – it’s our weekly ‘Three Things” post where you’ll find a peek into my week and some things that are making me happy. And yes, that’s more than 3 things, ha! I’m simply using 3 as a way to organize these weekly updates, though I’m known to throw in even a few more things – but we’ll call those ‘bonuses,’ okay? 
Let’s get started! (Note: the links I provide are often affiliate links, though not always.)
Three Things That Happened
Just this. There’s no way, really, to have understood the impact removing all these trees would have on the home we’ve lived in more than 10 years. Not only the lack of privacy, the ‘war zone’ look of the area now (though, I know that will change), and the starkness of the landscape, but the change of light inside our house. It’s weird, it just makes it seem like we’re in someone else’s house. Bear with me as I share how the backyard – our former sanctuary – has been affected:
This is what I shared with you for our backyard makeover two years ago (and again more recently) – our park-like backyard that we landscaped gradually over 9 years to finally be a ‘dream’ place to entertain and relax. The trees? They were a selling point for us.
Last fall the neighbors thinned the lower branches and removed a few trees (obviously in preparation to sell, though we didn’t know that then). I was sad at this, as we lost some privacy since we also had to remove a key evergreen that didn’t make it through our record-breaking cold winter of 2013-14. We spent money and time planting a row of laurel to grow up to the limbed tree line.
The house sold in January and the new owners told us all the trees would come down. As you can see, the change for us is huge. Our son came home and said it looks just like suburbia now. I’m all for property rights, but I’m also for kindness and thinking of others when making decisions that impact an entire neighborhood. I’m pretty sure you could still plant a garden with a few large trees around the perimeter. Honestly, I’m trying to think of any of the people I know who live on a city lot and have a view like this – nobody I know.
It’s impacted our resale value as well, and now our pocketbook as we look for tall evergreen trees to add to our side to try and regain a sense of privacy again. Oh, and our time – we need to dig up the laurel, transplant them to help cover the ugly cyclone front fence that’s noticeable now, and then plant the new trees. Sigh. Please just talk to people when you’re contemplating doing something that will affect so many others and be open to compromise.
We’re also needing to add cover to our windows now, too, since we’re more exposed. We started with blinds in the bathrooms – and between them and the new bright light (way easier to photograph- there’s a plus for you!) it’s like we’re vacationing in someone else’s house whenever we go to the loo, ha!
Okay, moving on (thanks for allowing me a moment…) – I finished book #7 (and it’s only April!) towards my goal – Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It’s a book that’s been around awhile, but that I’ve always wanted to read since my daughter called it ‘life-changing.’ It is completely worth it and is very challenging. One of my favorite quotes summing up the book towards the end is:
God has called us each to live faithful and devoted lives before Him, by the power of His Spirit. You do not need to preach to your pastor or congregation; you simply need to live out in your daily life the love and obedience that God has asked of you.
Three Things I’m Loving
On The Voice I’m really liking Sawyer Fredericks, Kimberly Nichole, and Meghan Linsey – are you watching? Who do you like?
I just discovered yet another reason that I love Amazon Prime – free music! Well, we already have Prime for the video streaming, 2-day shipping, and bulk food savings, so it’s like it was free for us. You can stream from playlists (there are some really good ones, so you don’t have to spend a bunch of time making your own, which I like), create your own, or listen to a station – all ad free. It’s similar to the Spotify premium at $10 a month, so this is really a deal. I swear, they’re adding so much to Prime (you can also use it for photo storage!), it’s like they know I’ll never want to get rid of it now, ha!
I LOVE this Rada bread knife. I got it as a Christmas present and it works just as well as our electric knife for cutting bread (most of the time – the electric knife is still the best for crusty artisan bread and fresh, warm bread), without the hassle of getting it out and plugged in (admittedly, not much of a hassle, but still!). Anyway, it’s a great knife, so if you’re in need of a good serrated knife for bread, I highly recommend it.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links and by clicking on them you help support AOC at no extra cost to you – thanks so much! (Oh, and you can always read ourentire disclosure page here.)
Wendi says
Oh, I’m so sorry about the trees. I would be heartbroken!
We moved to a new state this winter, and so now we’re starting from scratch on landscaping an acre lot. There was pretty much a clean slate to begin with, they had almost nothing here.
We’re using your cardboard/mulch tips when putting in new beds. I’ll keep my eyes out for what you plant for privacy. We have neighbors on both sides and our back yards only have a three foot fence as privacy from one another.
Karen says
Losing trees is so hard. We’ve lost massive trees in storms and the effects were so sad – and such an adjustment. So sorry for the loss – even from the other side of the property line.
I’ve been LOVING my Amazon Prime music this past week! Yeah, the free 2-day shipping was the initial hook. They’ve got us now! 🙂
Jami says
Isn’t the A music great, Karen? I had just ended a free trial with Spotify and I was sad to see it go (though $10 a month for no ads? I don’t think so…) and this is even better! I find they have better, easier to find playlists. SO happy they added it. 🙂
lissas says
I feel for you. Our neighbors did the same thing. We are higher up than there home all we see is roof now
before lush green. Now we know why— a pool was put in and constant screaming is all we hear day and night.
Jami says
🙁
Lori says
So sorry about your trees, the same thing happened to us, and to make matters horribly worse, they built 3 tall skinny houses within about 15 feet from the fence. Each 3 stories high. I feel like the little old man in the Disney movie “UP”with huge Sun blocking structures on each side. I’m 60 years old and my grandparents built this house by hand, I hate to sell but the property has been destroyed.
Jami says
Oh, that is awful to think about, Lori! I’m sorry 🙁
Mindy says
I would be LIVID. And sick to my stomach. I’m so sorry.
Cecile says
I feel your pain about the trees. The house across the street sold a couple years ago. It had huge beautiful trees in the front with a sheltered walk , the tree branches came clear down, cedars & cypress. As soon as it was sold all the trees came down and they painted the house a bright stark white so it really glares with all the windows and door right there. They just had the lawn sodded too so now there is not even a dandelion to break the monotony!
Jami says
Ha! That sounds like the “American Dream” landscape – perfect, boring lawn. Sorry for your view, though. 🙁
Dee says
I’m sure that is a huge shock to the senses. I would research for a fast growing, easy care tree or shrub specifically listed for use as a screen. I think as home owners we need to keep in mind that what is planted on the other sides of ours fences can change at any time. Whether by that owner’s choice or disease or storm damage, we have no control. And as home owners we have liability for large trees causing damage to other neighbors. The new owner might be concerned about that or already had a bad experience. As I am house hunting at the moment I look closely at everything in the neighboring yards that could or would be a problem. Hopefully by the time you sell whatever you plant will have reached at least 9 feet or so and be the new long view. Good luck.
Jami says
Yes, all very true Dee! It actually did cross my mind in the first years we were here that someone could cut them down, but they’d been there for 40+ years, it just seemed like it wouldn’t happen on our watch. We are in the process of rounding up some trees right now – I’d like a mix just so it doesn’t look too much like a row of trees – so stay tuned. 🙂
Dee says
Yes, please post what you decide to plant. It could be an evolving post on types of plantings and their progress. I’m starting now to think of a plan for screening with trees and maybe shrubs that are capable of good height. I want to avoid some of the mistakes I see in yards in the neighborhood on my walks. Is this the only side of your property that had the potential for a big change depending on what bordering owners might do?
Jami says
Yes, this is the only side that owners could change our experience with, Dee. That’s a good idea – I’ll keep updating. 🙂 Curious as to what mistakes you’ve seen other’s make – with trees, or hedges?
Dee says
I’m paying attention to the yards with a few yrs growth so I will avoid planting to close to the foundation, too close to walkways/driveway or any area where the natural growth will hang over or roots will disrupt the concrete or pavement. And of course trees planted where the height will become a problem when it reaches roofs, any overhead power/utility poles. Trees that will have a large diameter and crowd each other, some of the ‘pruning’ that owners have done to remedy the crowding ruins the natural shape of the trees. Some hedges are planted too close to fences so when they mature they are crowded against fences, in particular wood fences….so the fence rots or is eventually displaced and plants need good air circulation so they don’t become diseased. It’s easy when the plants are small to plant in the wrong space, we forget they will fill in. Varied my walk route today and the development is about 15yrs old and there are plenty of examples to avoid now that some many of the plantings have outgrown the site. I’m very interested to see what you find, I so want to make good choices for this next yard, rather do it right the first time and not have to move or worse remove anything. Maybe there are nurseries near you that will give a discount on multiple trees/shrubs.
Jami says
Oh, right – that’s the hardest, I think to see what the mature plant/tree will look like when it’s just a tiny thing. I’ve made that mistake SO many times, ha! We do have an acre, so happy to have a bit more space to create some privacy. But no promises that something we plant won’t have to be taken out 10 years down the road – sometimes I even plan for something to be temporary to cover an eyesore. 🙂
Marjorie says
I completely understand the “exposed” feeling. Four years ago this June 19 we had a wildfire sweep through our 10 heavily wooded acres. By the grace of God, our house was left unharmed, but the large majority of the trees were a complete loss. A house that once no one knew was there is now exposed to everyone. We are in the process of replanting, but it is odd to live in the same home, but look out the windows or be in the backyard with a completely different landscape.
Jami says
Oh, my, that would’ve been so scary, Marjorie – so glad your house wasn’t affected! That’s a much larger acreage of trees, so I can imagine the huge change. There are good things about more light, so I’m trying to embrace that 🙂
Marjorie says
It is a very hard “feeling” to describe to anyone. Yes, we are so glad our home was not damaged, BUT the loss of the trees was SO huge. Everything is so different. Need curtains where never needed before. See neighbors terribly ugly horse boarding area. So as you try to embrace the positive, just know it is okay to really be bummed from time to time. We have replanted about 2000 trees over the past two years, seedlings….so each year they get a little larger. In about 10 years we will be much more sheltered again. 🙂