LOL Deep Roots!!! I was thinking along those same lines, only not so extreme. Can you maim them or mute them to prevent further countless complaints? Why is it YOUR job to solve their water problems? Our land slopes down to a common roadway leading to the driveway serving lower neighbors. They kept digging a ditch in MY yard to prevent rutting in their downsloping driveway. I kept filling it in (after the rocks they dug up ruined my mower blades) and finally told them, "your driveway is at the bottom of two slopes. It isn't my problem, you'll have to tackle it on your own property." Soon after they dug a ditch on their land. I do what I can to prevent major runoff but I didn't locate their driveway and shouldn't be responsible for the consequences of their poor choices. The land has been sloped pretty much long before we got here.... You are very nice, but I'm with Deep roots, let them solve the problem and if you want to plant some aggressive water drinking trees uphill from them, that would be an added nicety. You could volunteer to collect any fallen leaves- more compost for you. Good luck. Poochella PS- what is an "aggi?"

My 10 year old SS is also standoffish and shy and keeps to himself. He does this to everyone and has since he was 4 years old. That is his personality and that is your SS personality. As well my ss does have low self esteem issues and he does blow up at times as well. But he blows up at his mother and father. WHne he does run to his room screaming and crying its usually me who has to calm him down. I dont think you did anything wrong and asking your husband. It concerns you but i wouldn't let it bother you so much. THis is your SS personality. What i would do though is watch him closely for outbursts and be prepared. Its obvious he has anger issues towards his own mother. Not you or his father. Is he seeing a councilor after his outburst with his mother? Are you planning ot have children? As for him being more quiet...how about asking him for help in wedding plans. I got my Skids involved with suits, picking colors, picking flowers..chekcing on the internet for me. It turned out to be alot of fun and they felt their opinion counted. And it did cause they were part of my wedding and i wanted to know they'ld be happy with styles and colors they were going to wear. The thank you cards afterwards had all of us. My husband , me , his kids in a photo which i sent to 120 guests. And my SD speech at the wedding made the entire hall be in tears. So you know...there are days i'm angry at her but there will always be ups and downs in any relationship. This will happen with your SS and since you know he's the quiet shy type i wouldn't push him. I didn't push my ss and still dont. You cannto force any relationship and yes the ship has sailed but if he's told your husband to be that he likes you....then dont push anything more. Your husband should just reassure him that he's part of a new family now.

deee - the walk would never be used. The door is used all the time. Just that there is a quicker easier way to get there by our normal walkway that provides a straighter path and allows easy wheelchair/walker access. I guess my original mention of that wasn't clear enough. I don't feel that the $1K+ that a concrete walk or flagstone path (even more expensive) or pavers (super expensive) would cost is money well spent for US at this time. For that curb appeal I can live without, but I still want it to look nice, but absolutely need easy maintenance. We don't have time to maintain gravel, mulch, or compacted granite paths as they all will have weeds within a week where we are at, so I guess I'm looking at options on what to do without to still have it look nice. I got some great ideas here. Just put a landing there with flag stones and let grass grow in between or fill the space in with plants seems to be some common ones and very workable as well. Jan - sure sounds lovely and I wish we had the time to maintain something like it as I would love that too. We will eventually have a gazebo style on the stock pond that is going to be on the side of the house. We just need our little one to be born and grow much older before we dare having the pond that close to the house. There is one the next lot over that has me worried enough. I'm considering checking with the next builder that will be starting a new house in the neighborhood to see if they could get us a concrete walkway for less while doing another house foundation or driveway, but I can't see spending the money unless it is much lower. Wish we had unlimited funds .....

Sounds like you are moving into my old house :) Regarding the tiny bathroom, our current house has very small (and windowless) bathrooms with 8 foot ceilings and one of them was painted a very pretty but dark copper color by the previous homeowner. The color was lovely, but combined with the small size it felt claustrophobic. After a year I painted it a light silvery blue and it was a big improvement. That said, it's not a guest bath, it's in daily use, and the combination of tiny, windowless, and lowish ceilings is a real doozy. If you've only got one or two of those features, the more intense color might be just fine. I think you don't have a lot to lose going with the bold color you like. You can always repaint it if the bold color doesn't work, and because the room is so small, you can do it very inexpensively :) I used Porter paint, which probably cost $27 a gallon, and I have enough paint left to paint the room over again if the light color shows wear and tear from the kids, or to paint some furniture :) Also, in my town, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore has lots of mistint paints from the better paint shops in town--I've bought gallons of Porter and Martin Senour there for $3. At that price, you can repaint the bathroom every week :)