Pavin' Paradise

Get out of the way, the neighbor guy is paving everything in sight! If he disliked mowing the lawn so much, he could have put in some native grasses and let them naturalize. But no! In less than a week, half of the front lawn has disappeared in the wake of the expanding driveway and an approximately, I haven't actually measured, one hundred square foot slab that has replaced the front steps. In the back, a ballroom-sized patio has sprouted with a smaller sub-patio area that will feature a fireplace. Much of this work was accomplished over the weekend while his wife was conveniently away. I couldn't help but partially overhear while he was giving her the guided tour upon her return, pointing out this and that, and exclaiming how so extremely awesome and cool the yard will be upon completion. She was frowning ever so slightly and didn't seem convinced. I do hope some of this peevish pavement will be improved upon with landscaping, maybe a flower pot or two, and some tasteful outdoorsy furniture. I'm thinking, though, that the best part will be when the privacy fence goes in. If the neighbor guy is cutting his lawn mowing time in half, he may be inclined to relax out back with a beer and without a shirt. And that, boys and girls, is why they call it a privacy fence. Yours truly shall retain the right to enjoy her own backyard without viewing a parking lot without stripes. In this case, a good fence will indeed make us better neighbors.