Hi, I would like to try the friendly discussion approach. I already spoke with them about a pile of debris, leaves etc, that was piled against one of the posts of our fence and I was afraid it was going to rot it out. I was very friendly and polite but they basically indicated that they are not very interested in yard work, and they would move it although so far they haven't. They also took the opportunity to complain about all the leaves they end up raking that are from neighbors trees, even though they have two trees in their yard. Left me scratching my head. [g] In the past, they have also acted in other ways that haven't really indicated a high degree of awareness and responsibility. They have a pool and I know the zoning laws are for a 6ft fence surrounding the pool, but on our side of the yard, we have a 4ft high post and rail fence, backed with metal wire fencing to keep a dog in we used to have, and they left it at that when they put a pool in. I had small children and had to constantly watch them. I think I should have complained at the time, but I didn't. So some of my resentment from that is under the surface this time around. They also had a Red Setter dog that was totally hyper and every time they let him out in the yard, he would bark his head off. They would come to the door and yell at him and then leave him out there barking before they would bring him in. Sometimes someone would leave him in the yard and go out for hours. He also barked late at night and early in the morning. The dog's barking was a problem for us for I would say a good 8 years and we tolerated it. Mainly because we didn't want to be a complaining neighbor and create conflict, and because we knew they were crazy about their dog and are basically not good at disciplining him. That dog died and they got a new dog, same breed, and he started doing the same thing, and we thought well here we go again. But finally they got a second dog to keep him company and he is much better. A sweet dog, very friendly. They did ask us to move a leaf pile last year, that was within about 10ft of the lot line. It was just bags of leaves breaking down in a wire bin, but they objected to the smell. To me, I like the smell of leaves breaking down, it smells like the forest floor, but obviously everyone doesn't. We did use some of the bags which eliminated half of them but couldn't move the whole bin until this spring. So it has been relocated and won't be near their yard anymore. But there is no other problem past or present that they could perceive as a problem with us as neighbors. No, I wouldn't go on anyone's property to "fix" a problem. I wouldn't think I legally have the right to do that and could be sued. I also wouldn't want to do something to their pool without their knowing about it and it causes a problem for them with their dogs or something. I would also be furious if someone did that to me. Well, I could think of them taking a simple suggestion about putting a mosquito dunk in their pool or barley, but if there is more that they would have to do, I suspect they will let it go. I guess the first step is to talk to them and see what their response is going to be. If that doesn't go well, will there be a point that I should get the board of health involved? I guess I feel we have bent over backwards to be good neighbors and are tired of being so tolerant and reasonable, but we have managed to stay on good terms with all our neighbors in the 20 years we have lived here and don't want that to change. Adam

I will assume that you have an EPDM (soft black rubber) liner. In all cases I think you'll have to empty your pond. Alternatives (easy to difficult): 1) Pull the liner and fill the hole. 2) Fill half the hole with earth (with liner in place) and reuse & put your peat or other bog media in the top half. 3) Cut the liner back a few more inches from where it is being infringed-upon by the irises (this might be on all sides) and get into the irises somehow with equipment, herbicides, or muscle-power so to remove them. Then try a large linear patching job. I have not had reason to patch EPDM but they sell seam tapes and bonding adhesives. This will be tricky, no doubt because I think we're talking about the vertical wall of your pond. 4)And for real work, tear-out and start over. You can have someone with power equipment do this or if you are so inclined you can usually rent hydraulic equipment, even walk-behind types, and do it yourself. Good Luck.

Hi Mike, OK, Im glad I understood its the red one. Something right! Whoo To Mike, buyorsell888, and calamity_j, The kitties are totally stressed out right now, but I think they'll be OK. The one black cat seen in the pix above, had some teeth pulled, but he seemed almost fine the next day. His brother on the other hand - totally freaked out. The anesthesia didn't wear off, he was scared, and probably in pain all night, so I stayed up with him. Ever since, he's been sleeping in kitchen nightly, which is unusual for him. (The outside boys aren't allowed in any further than the kitchen - long story). The girls indoors - well the one with recurring cancer is acting very needy and wanted to be close *all the time* *every minute of the day*. I cant blame her, shes stressed. Shes had a several surgeries and doesnt like the vet much at all As you can imagine. The other girl had to have some tests, but after a few days, we found they all turned out all right. Shes still feeling a bit crabby with us about having been taken to, The Awful Place. (She holds a grudge, as many of you with kitties will probably know what I mean!) Thanks for asking and well wishing. :) Even though the girls are in their senior years now, theyre like my babies and I stop everything when they are ill. Its so hard that they are getting old! As to the pond, our plan is like something out of a slapstick movie, though we are hoping it might work anyway. Were going to hook up the hose, as Mike suggests, and weve got a tarp weve put a slit in and will place the fountain through, then duct tape, so that any runoff from inside the pipes and fountain gets funneled over the tarp and out to the trees not into the somewhat clean pond water. Its about 105-110 degrees out there today and neither of us are looking forward to working on it!

I don't know if people have finished with this thread, since the last post was FEb, but here in Atlanta, we are in a drought and interest is growing in graywater and other measures. We recently visited "The Hike Inn", a backcountry inn, 5 miles from Amicalola State Park, where they have composting everything including toilets. They had water barrels and their solution to protect against mosquitos was fine screens on the top opening. I very much want to install a system for gray water in our house. We live on a spring fed lake, very clean and swimmable. There are no motor boats, just canoes, etc. I don't want any runoff from the graywater to affect the health of the lake. So this is my first question that I am researching. i am interested in learning about a/c water runoff to use in a graywater system as well. It seems like there would be less concerns about bacteria from the a/c system. I understand that graywater s hould be disinfected, but I was concerned about the use of chlorine as a healthy material to use in the yard, particularly near the water. I have mostly woods and a woodland garden that needs less water than sun gardens or grass. Still, I want to keep the tree roots moist with soaker hoses. Also, I do have a flat area on our property where I want to grow grass for a play area for my kids and their friends, so I would like to use either graywater for this or perhaps get some pump system to use the lake water. I have heard that other residents on this lake use a pump to irrigate wtih lake water. I am not sure that graywater can be used for grass anyway, although I am not sure the reason for this.... If anyone has any information related to graywater systems and lake pumps, I would appreciate the feedback.. I am going to contact a plumber (or would I use a landscape/irrigation person), but first I want to do my homework and be up on the topic. Thanks for any assistance. Kayla