Search Results for: blog being a good neighbor

Meeting the Neighbor Dogs

I’ve blogged before about my neighbor’s dogs, the ones she lets roam free through the neighborhood. Sometimes I see them in our yard. Yesterday while I was working, I noticed one of them, the tan one, out the window. I went outside to greet it, as I always do whenever I see any of the neighborhood pets. They all, cats and dogs included, run away from me. This dog did the usual, but I thought of something: I called for it to come here. I didn’t think it was a dangerous dog, because our neighbor said he isn’t. He also … Continue reading →

Are You a Good PR Person for Marriage?

As I was writing the blog for Christian families the other week, I thought that the same thing can be applied to marriage. Whether we like it or not others are watching the way we relate to each other. We may think people don’t take any notice but if we think that, we’d be wrong. Others and particularly our own children are watching closely to see how marriage works or how it doesn’t. What do they see? Do they see a marriage that is harmonious where decisions are made together? Do they see a division of chores and labor, so … Continue reading →

Consideration for Neighbors

Wherever we live we are going to have neighbors. Whether we live in a flat or unit, in a town house, a house on a normal sized block or even a property out in the country, there will likely be some neighbors. It makes life far more pleasant if we got along with our neighbors. All it requires often is a bit of consideration for others. We have a neighbor who often starts mowing his lawn and trimming edges in summer at 7am even on weekends. It doesn’t worry us because we are always up anyway. But I’m sure it … Continue reading →

Being a Good Neighbor

Having good neighbors can be a source of great blessing and make living in your home more enjoyable. Having bad neighbors can completely color the experience. What can you do to be a good neighbor? Firstly, you need to establish a relationship with your neighbor. Don’t interrogate them and ask them too many questions, especially personal questions. Being nosy is not conducive to good relationships between neighbors. You want to keep it friendly but without going overboard. You don’t have to become new best friends, always in each other’s houses but a short conversation out the front or over the … Continue reading →

Good Home Smells

Along with the decorating and other care of your home, do you cultivate some good home smells? This can make a difference in many areas, from influencing your mood to embarrassing you when your neighbors come to call. Most of the time, we usually don’t think too much about home smells until, well, our homes smell. This morning after church when we entered our home, we were hit with an awful stinky smell. My husband had left some wet cat food out on the counter for a few hours. Ugh. Quick, get the air freshener! Another time we think about … Continue reading →

The Importance of Boundaries for Good Mental Health (1)

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The term “having good boundaries” is often used when describing psychological situations or relations between two or more individuals. A boundary is like your own personal fence, and if you have a good set of boundaries, you will largely control what you allow people to say and do to you. I say largely, because none of us have absolute control over how other people treat us. If we are in a job where we are treated badly by the boss and we need the money desperately, then we must learn to put up with the bad behavior to pay our … Continue reading →

A Problem with Neighbors

Mary Ann’s blog started me thinking about the importance of neighbors. It’s great to have good neighbors and can make living in a place difficult when they are not. While it’s great to have neighbors who are helpful and supportive, sometimes there can be too much attention. I know someone who had exactly this problem. Her neighbor treated her house almost like it was her own. As soon as the woman, who was a writer, came home from shopping or being out, the neighbor was sat the door. It got to the stage she tried to sneak into the house … Continue reading →

The Power of Neighbors

Do you have a good relationship with your neighbors? Most of us these days don’t even know much about our neighbors, let alone have a close bond with them. If you can forge a friendship with your neighbors though, it will pay off in many ways. This was especially true for us this weekend. We are dealing with a situation at home that is taking a lot of time, and our neighbors have really come through. From baby sitting to helping to clear our driveway, we have greatly benefitted from having them in our lives. Here are some ways that … Continue reading →

Is Your Marriage Being Overrun by Weeds?

Are there weeds in your marriage? Weeds that you really know you should do something about but which are, or have been, allowed to grow and spread? They can look attractive at first, but later turn out to be destructive. In our garden we have what I consider a pretty vine that gets amazing blue flowers. Mick’s attitude to it is very different and with good reason. When I look at the vine all I see it’s the vibrant blue of the flower. The problem is let go the vine takes over and tends to run riot, choking everything else. … Continue reading →

Ask a Pets Blogger: Good Neighbor

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I recently moved into a new condo in the same neighborhood, and my new neighbor is not a fan of big dogs. Of course I have two big dogs! My new neighbor has always been very outspoken about how dangerous large dogs are (he owns a small dog). I’m not sure how to keep the peace here, and I don’t want this guy hassling me. You may have a difficult task on your hands — trying to convert a person who doesn’t like big dogs. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to keep the peace between you and your neighbor … Continue reading →