The next-door, summering-in-a-converted-schoolhouse neighbors stopped over yesterday, asking if we might have a plat book or an abstract for our land.  They’re an older couple who bought the schoolhouse when it was offered up for bid.  The schoolhouse has been a part of the neighborhood for 80 years, and although it hasn’t been in use as a school since the 50’s, it was a community building right up until the couple bought it.  Kids played on the old, steel swings in the yard and the former homeowner of our house fixed the old handpump in the yard so that it would pump fresh water.

Like I said, it was a community property…everyone had access and no one really cared what happened with it as long as nothing was destroyed for the rest of us.  As a result, neither T or I were terribly cognizant of where exactly their property lines were.  We know where ours are, but just figured that the bushes and trees the couple was clearing out behind the schoolhouse was on their land.  

They would know where there land was, right?  

Apparently not.

When the couple explained that the right-behind-our-house neighbors were up for the weekend and had walked over and told them to quit cutting their trees, I was surprised.  I can see being a little unclear on a property line–by a few feet or so, but not like this.  This is a lot.

I didn’t have an abstract, but I’m pretty handy with a computer, so I gassed the iMac up and checked out the county’s tax and property database.  It turns out that the old couple was wrong by at least 30 feet.

Thank God, because they were gunning for some big, healthy pine trees that shield two old semi trailers, an old camper and various sheds and piled things from our view.  I’m thinking someone likes the feel of a chainsaw in his hands.

Still, several smaller trees are gone, so this afternoon I pointed Safari to Paint Creek Nursery’s website and did a little browsing.  I think tomorrow morning I’ll order 20 Norway spruce trees for a windbreak.  A few minutes ago I ordered two replacement American plums from Cold Stream Farm for a few 2-year-old plums that died over the winter.  To wrap up the evening’s spending spree, I finally ordered seed from Jung’s for the garden I’ll try to put in, in a few weeks.  

I might as well try to replace a little of what they decided to cut in my own way and in my own yard.  It’s just too bad it’ll take another 80 years for them to reach the glory of a few of those lost. 

Tags: land, nursery, property, spring, trees, yard