Halloween. The one holiday that I don't exactly understand, but it seems to be widely celebrated in our culture. I never really participated much as a kid, because we didn't live in a subdivision and our road was off of a busy highway. Walking around in the dark with a mask on near that highway was suicide, so we attended fall festivals and the like in place of trick-or-treating.
As an adult, I like the idea of all my neighbors, many whom I don't know, coming to my door to say hi with all their kiddos. But I also know that others are disturbed and annoyed by it too. So in light of this holiday, here are a few courtesies for homeowners and trick-or-treaters.
Homeowners, if you want kids to come to your door, leave your porch light on and have your candy ready. Introduce yourself if you don't know the person- it helps build community! Be careful driving around the streets, watching for the little ones who are not paying attention to traffic. If you decide that Halloween is not for you, simply turn out your lights in front.
Trick-or-treaters, walk on the right side of the road. It would be even better to have something reflective on your shirt or carry a flashlight. Be respectful to your neighbors who do not wish to participate. And please do not throw any candywrappers on someone else's property.
If you have any other ideas or recommendations to make this a better or safer Halloween for Dunmovin residents, please feel free to share!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Frowny Face
As I looked over my son's papers from preK, I remember that instead of a numeric grade, teachers would just put happy faces or frowny faces on the top of the page. It was a way to say that the level of skill in this area is disappointing and needs improvement. The little face always seemed appropriate because even the youngest child could decipher the meaning with out reading one letter. Soooo, I have discovered a real "frowny face" in our little neighborhood...
Poop. Lots of poop. Everywhere, some more than others. But it is definitely poop. I have personally witnessed people walking their dogs through the neighborhood and allow them to squat and "go" right at the end of another's driveway. To my disappointment, I discovered a giant gift on my lawn last week as I was doing some yardwork. BIG frowny face. I find it hard to believe that any of the wonderful people in our community would find it acceptable to let our young children play in a lawn with poop on it. (which, by the way, poop attracts many kinds of bugs and critters that carry disease-ridden bacteria)
With all that being said- please be respectful of your neighborhood family. Take Fido for walk, but bring along your courteous poop bag so that you can clean off any unwanted "gifts" that may occur on a neighbor's lawn. Don't be surprised if you see a happy face next time you and your dog pass by!
Poop. Lots of poop. Everywhere, some more than others. But it is definitely poop. I have personally witnessed people walking their dogs through the neighborhood and allow them to squat and "go" right at the end of another's driveway. To my disappointment, I discovered a giant gift on my lawn last week as I was doing some yardwork. BIG frowny face. I find it hard to believe that any of the wonderful people in our community would find it acceptable to let our young children play in a lawn with poop on it. (which, by the way, poop attracts many kinds of bugs and critters that carry disease-ridden bacteria)
With all that being said- please be respectful of your neighborhood family. Take Fido for walk, but bring along your courteous poop bag so that you can clean off any unwanted "gifts" that may occur on a neighbor's lawn. Don't be surprised if you see a happy face next time you and your dog pass by!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Follow the yellow brick road
Well, not really yellow bricks...more like vines and thorn bushes. I am referring to the pathway, known as the "cut" that passes between my fence and my 
next door neighbor's fence. When we first moved in, we were a little disturbed by kids just walking through or hanging out in that area and even thought about plugging it up. But I am glad that we didn't! Our plan is to open it up and clear out all the thorns and snakes so that the kids that live behind us in the cul-de-sac can safely pass through to play with the kids on Norman Drive. Some of us parents worry about the speeding that goes on around here and are looking for alternative ways to travel the neighborhood. Sooo, what I'm saying is....if you have a "cut" or footpath that could help connect one part of our neighborhood to another part of our neighborhood, please consider allowing others to use it. I know that many people will comment or even complain about liabilities and older kids doing questionable things in the woods, but I think the good outweighs the bad. I will keep you updated on my progress in recreating the "Cut." For now, here are some pics of what has already taken me 45 minutes to clear this afternoon.
next door neighbor's fence. When we first moved in, we were a little disturbed by kids just walking through or hanging out in that area and even thought about plugging it up. But I am glad that we didn't! Our plan is to open it up and clear out all the thorns and snakes so that the kids that live behind us in the cul-de-sac can safely pass through to play with the kids on Norman Drive. Some of us parents worry about the speeding that goes on around here and are looking for alternative ways to travel the neighborhood. Sooo, what I'm saying is....if you have a "cut" or footpath that could help connect one part of our neighborhood to another part of our neighborhood, please consider allowing others to use it. I know that many people will comment or even complain about liabilities and older kids doing questionable things in the woods, but I think the good outweighs the bad. I will keep you updated on my progress in recreating the "Cut." For now, here are some pics of what has already taken me 45 minutes to clear this afternoon.
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