Look What My Neighbor Threw Out!

15 years ago

I found this next to my neighbor's trashcans last week, so had to pick it up. I went to see her later, to make sure it was trash, although it was pretty obvious they were throwing it away. She was happy that I took it and could use it, and gave me the keys for the lock on it. This was the security door for her front double door, and they just bought nice new doors. The top bar was cut, just so they could manage to move it (It's VERY heavy!), so it was in 2 parts. Another neighbor came over and welded the bar back together today, and was nice enough to charge nothing to do it. The best part is that when our pool was removed last November, we cut the gate opening to 6 1/2 feet wide so equipment could get into the back yard. This gate is 6 feet wide, so will fit nicely. DS will install it next week, and we'll have a free new gate, yay!! I guess this is technically still garden 'junk', lol. Linda

{{gwi:186635}}

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

luna_llena_feliz
15 years ago
If it is "repurposed" I would say you are posting it in the right place! Although this is definitely not junk! Geez, I am amazed at what people will throw out. They would love something like this at the Habitat for Humanity Restore and I'm sure the donors could get a tax right off. When I see things like this thrown out ... well maybe not this because it would be too heavy for me ... I grab it and if I can't use it, I give it to Goodwill or some other charity. I imagine I'm not alone when I say how much I hate for good stuff like this to go to the dump! I can't wait to see how it looks once you have it situated as a gate. Very pretty!
daisyme
15 years ago
It's so beautiful!
Related Discussions
omg neighbor is shearing the heck out of my hemlocks
Q
Comments (4)
This need not become, or remain, an argument about how shrubs look best. It is a simple case of property rights, and no opinions need be exchanged. I'm not a lawyer, but a homeowner who has encountered the problem of shared foliage. And I discovered that there is a large body of legal cases that establish some basic guidelines. A full understanding of nd respect for those guidelines could keep you from adding to that body of casework... or enable you to do so, but I think you'd lose. First, I think you were within your rights to restrict his access to your property if he had not asked you in advance. However, I think if he requests access to your property to maintain his hedge, the situation will become different, if it is indeed his hedge. If it is ON the property line, then it is shared property and you have the right to determine how your side is maintained. If it is on his, then I suspect it is up to him for several reasons, but above all to enable him to control his liability should the branches, debris, or ultimate unbalanced form of the shrubs cause some damage to your property that would allow you or a future owner of your property to sue him. Were he to petition the court for access, I think the court would grant it to him. If he is satisfied to leave your side natural while trimming his own, I think you have as good a situation as possible under the circumstances. But I would also remind you that hemlocks continue to grow indefinitely, and as they do so, the inner foliage dies off and they become gaunt brown structures with a thin coating of green - although their tips are always lovely, they are not attractive close up forever, not to mention that the lower branches may even eventually die off entirely. And once that internal foliage dies off, cutting back into bare wood will not generate new growth. That is to say, if you want this hedge to be dense and green forever, then pruning now is probably the best thing to do. It depends on what you want in the long run. One good approach might be to gather some information on hedge maintenance - for example about how they should be wider at the bottom than the top - and share that with him in the context of a discussion with him about whether, and if so how, you would like the hedge to be maintained on your side. You could even offer to do it or graciously grant him access for the purpose (personally, I'd offer to do it). You could also get a property survey if your property lines are at all unclear, to see exactly what your legal rights are pertaining to this hedge. If the trunks are at all on your side, you have some rights. KarinL
...See More
Grrrrr - I threw out my seeds...
Q
Comments (5)
About 5 years ago I bought a little used refrigerator and chilled several large batches of tulip and hyacinth bulbs all winter. Took them out and put them in a box on the north side of the house behind a bush to keep them cool until I was ready to plant. Forgot all about them and when I went back, critters had eaten everything and just left droppings and papery husks in the box.
...See More
Help please- neighbor threw out Gardenia - I took it home....
Q
Comments (3)
Thanks Melvalena, I have a true love for the smell of a blooming Gardenia. I grew one in my back yard in Georgia, at the time I did not garden, I just stuck it in the ground. It was so simple! It took full sun, and the soil was already perfect! --- Wish it was going to be that easy here. I did cut the plant back to about 2 1/2 feet - just the bare limbs left. I hope that does not kill it. The rootball is almost 3 feet around. I think I will plant it beside my small pond, maybe the humidity will help, besides, it is just outside my bedroom window:) My only concern is that it only gets a bit of AM sun, and the rest of the day filtered light. I will probably dig out maybe three feet deep, and three feet wide (get rid of the clay) and put in some nice compost rich soil. Hopefully it will make it! RT
...See More
What locked my Neighbor’s 6.5 Briggs Quantum Edge Engine?
Q
Comments (0)
I wanted to see what locked my Neighbor’s 6.5 Briggs Quantum Edge Engine on his small 22” mower as mine. Last season he told me his son hit a rock that bent the blade throwing it out of balance. He straightened the blade well enough to finish last season. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> I wanted to see if the bent blade and balance issue could possibly be related to it locking. IMO, the flywheel key s/h sheared to save the motor. Causing it not to run until the key was replaced to put it back in time. I pulled the head and the cylinder had deep scores deep on the carb side. That was leading me to pull the carb until I saw approx a 1/16” layer of grit due to no filter. At that point I felt the grit entering the cyl caused the scores. I forced the piston out of the locked position and it turned fair but I knew it was a parts eng at that point. I stripped it of the spares I wanted and gave the bulk to a friend that had 2-3 of the engines needing parts. Do you feel the grit and low very dirty oil was the Killer? I felt the crank probably looked bad due to the condition of the “Low Dirty Oil”. Splitting the case was out of my time frame after seeing the cyl. LOL! No Pics due to not being able to post 1 or 4 but once vs a Red X. All the problems are since the software switch and switching to AT&T U-Verse Broad Band (about the same time). There were indications that my modem was switching Off/On that a Tech seems to have resolved. All of my past and present Pics attached were .jpg extensions. What extensions are working for you?
...See More
lindasewandsew
Original Author
15 years ago
Here in So Cal, there are junkers driving around all the time looking for metal, etc. If I hadn't gotten this thing right after they put it out, it wouldn't have lasted long. I only live 2 houses from where was, but was afraid it would be gone before I jumped in the truck and got it. The people who had it wanted to recycle it, but don't have a car big enough to transport it, and our thrift store pick up trucks are extremely picky. I'm guessing that most won't pick up wrought iron, because no thrift stores around here ever have any of it. There's an amazing amount of stuff tossed out here and many who make a good living picking it up and recycling or selling it. If this thing had been picked up by someone else, there's no doubt that another perfect gate would have presented itself to me, sporting a big sign with my name on it, as my name is spelled, 'F-R-E-E", LOL. Linda
jeannespines
15 years ago
I've never seen one on the streets here in Iowa! (doesn't look like a barn door, tee hee) Awesome! Wow, that will make some gate! Is the wrought iron fence in the bkgrd where it is going or where it came from? Great save! Jeanne S.
texasfern
15 years ago
Yes! Another score for the gang!
That wouldn't have settled in on the curb around here either!
What great neighbors you have to give you a hand.
Marlene Kindred
15 years ago
Wow! What a great save! It will look great on your fence I bet!
goldenpond
15 years ago
Quite popular here in Florida in fact I would use it to help screen in my front porch if I had them.Quite costly too!
lindasewandsew
Original Author
15 years ago
The fence in the photo is my front yard. We used to have grass and a huge liquidamber tree, who's roots ruined everything in the yard. We took it out, planted California natives and put the fence up. The gate will be beside the garage going into the back yard. Linda
use2bcapecodr
15 years ago
Lucky you!! That's awesome!

~Sandy~
luna_llena_feliz
15 years ago
Hey, F-R-E-E (aka Linda), what you said about scavengers reminded me of something Bob (my BF) used to do by his old house. He said when he wanted something like an appliance or a car part to disappear, he put it by the magic telephone pole in the alley.

My mother was worried once when she had to get rid of her old stove. She didn't know how she would get it to the dump. She didn't realize until I told her that she had a magical vine growing on the back fence near the gate.

Things had a habit of disappearing overnight at both magical locations!

Our thrift stores are pretty picky too. There are certain items they won't take. So I can see where that is a dilemma. It's too bad because they would get some hefty $$ for something like that.
kudzukween
15 years ago
What a DEAL! I saw some at a yard sale for $100 bucks,just the iron part :)
moonlight74
15 years ago
That is so fantastic! Good for you!
luvstocraft
15 years ago
Linda, you are so good at finding just the perfect thing for one of your projects. Those will make a really pretty gate for your side yard and go so well with the wrought iron fence you already have. If I saw those doors, I'd think "wow, those are really pretty, wish I had someplace to use them." LOL

You are one of the best and most creative recyclers ever! Good score. ;o)

Luvs

Look What My Neighbor Threw Out!

Comments (13)

luna_llena_feliz

daisyme

Related Discussions

lindasewandsew
Original Author

jeannespines

texasfern

Marlene Kindred

goldenpond

lindasewandsew
Original Author

use2bcapecodr

luna_llena_feliz

kudzukween

moonlight74

luvstocraft

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Look What My Neighbor Threw Out!

Comments (13)

Related Discussions

lindasewandsewOriginal Author

lindasewandsewOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

lindasewandsew
Original Author

lindasewandsew
Original Author