Do it yourself

My heart dropped when I read about your dog. It sounds like maybe your neighbors are no longer there? I hope.

The idiots next door son got himself a white pit bull while he was moved out. Then moved back in, with dog. Dog was sitting unleashed on lawn with father doing yard work, a couple months ago. I come out with my dog on a leash to load him into the car. Neighbor dog trots into my yard, no warning growl or anything, and attacks my dog in the face. Good thing my dog was a pound puppy, he fought back. I got them pried apart, and the damned pit bull came at his face again. Mine fought back.i got them apart again, the father finally got there, smacked his dog in the face (gee, wonder where the dog learned it) and apologized.

No incidents since, but it really pissed me off that their dog would go on another dogs yard and start a fight. And that they have an aggressive pet that they allow off the leash. Makes neighboring them very difficult.

Quote: beachbumbabs

No incidents since, but it really pissed me off that their dog would go on another dogs yard and start a fight. .

I would have called the cops. You can't
have an attack dog just wandering
around attacking the neighborhood
pets, it's against the law.

My dog was spotted by a pit bull and
broke away from his leash. I saw him
coming and snatched my dog up and
turned my back. They say if you can
do this, your dog will almost disappear
to the attacking dog, he will see you
and not the dog anymore. It worked,
the pit bull bounced off my back and
jumped up and down a couple times
and took off. Scared the living crap
out of me, I was shaking for an hour.

Radio host Michael Savage is a big
dog lover. He had one of his small
dogs killed right in front of him in
NYC. Got his neck broken by a rott.
It was years and years ago and Savage
says he still hasn't gotten over the
emotional damage it caused.

The guilt would be crushing. Your dog
depends you to keep him safe. Like
today. I have to go to a certain store
and I'm leaving my dog home.
It's Saturday and I'm always worried
about somebody breaking into my car
and stealing him in certain neighborhoods.
On weekends, where this store is has
more than it's share of bad apples. Better
safe than sorry.

Quote: beachbumbabs

It sounds like maybe your neighbors are no longer there? I hope.

These people are the epitome of white trash. I informed the police who came out to hear my complaint. I explained to the police [and this is ten miles from town with a shared driveway, 1/2 mile long] that the "folks" have 20-30 friends visit, for 5 minutes each, for about 3 weeks, and then mysteriously no visitors [the supply runs out] until a new supply becomes available. Then the cycle repeats. The troopers informed me "we need more proof than what you have provided" to look into it further. I ask the cop, "what am I supposed to do, try to buy some dope"? How is that going to work out, for me exactly? Their "friends" already steal anything that isn't nailed down within a twenty mile perimeter.

I filmed their dogs attacking a cow moose for 15 minutes and had fish and game sit in my house and watch the video. At the end, the F&G guy says to me, "are you prepared to do "the right thing" and accept the ramifications"? I shake my head in dis-belief. The guy is basically asking, if I am willing to shoot the dogs and deal with the consequence, even after I produce the video. At the time in AK, these guys starting pay is about 85K per year, and I have to do the deed, and suffer for it? IMO, the law protects the crazy's, from the sane.

My nephew married a delightful girl and we met up for a family breakfast. Just so happens her mother is with her, who happens to be a state legislator. She was incredulous, and asked me to repeat what had happened. For some reason the traffic slowed way way down ?

Kind of a "Do it Yourself". I was googling, "Is there still free land?"

Quote:

You may be thinking that it is impossible to get free land in today’s world; however, there are many opportunities that offer exactly that. Before you believe that this is too good to be true, remember that it is not entirely free. The most common way is many places offer incentives so that their community will grow. This means you may have to move to a small town; you may have to build a house on the property, or you may have to contribute to the community in some way. However, compared to the every growing property prices, this is a great deal, as you will be acquiring the land for free of charge.

Moving to a place where free land is offered may not be for everyone. First off, most of the sites that offer free land are in smll communities that need growth. There may not be much going on in these communities, and you will need to be comfortable living in such an environment. You will most likely be living in a place without a gas station or other conveniences. However, this also means you will not need to pay property or state income taxes, and you will most likely be in the middle of nature.

The U.S federal government used to offer such incentives, however, they no longer offer free land anymore. Now only some states offer such programs, including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. Each local program will have a range of different requirements that you will need to research to make sure that you qualify.

http://homesteadandprepper.com/modern-homesteading-4-places-where-land-is-free/2/

Quote: rxwine

Kind of a "Do it Yourself". I was googling, "Is there still free land?"

It exists. Want to live in the worst parts of the worst cities? Usually that is what these modern Homestead Acts are.

When I was doing mortgage mods I would sometimes run across them. The first mortgage holder drops to second lien position, but that is OK with Fannie and Freddie. The mortgage goes for improvements. Or the land is not totally free but part free. Same idea as the late 1800s, artificially populate an area.

There are other ways:
Communes, co-ops, etc.
That mining act that still required minerals in recoverable quantities....NOT commercially viable recoverable quantities. Mica (sand) is a mineral.
Buying land abutting a national park or recreation area: but NOT to extend only to straighten the boundaries.. You buy forty acres you sign a non development easement for 30 of them, the money is appropriated by the Regional Ranger, not Washington.
Buy along the ICW and let the Corps of Engineers dredge the channel and dump the mud onto your frontage thus creating by accretion private lands.

Note: As usual, Fleastiff knows not whereof he speaketh.

Anyone ever built a free-standing deck?

Getting something really nice attached to the house is kind of cost and I don't want to mess with a building permit process. What I am thinking is about 8x12 to 8x16, at most 20" off the ground. Not even really put footings in, just get those metal "feet" that have a point you sink. Not for anything heavy, just a grill, picnic table, and some chairs. Make the backyard look more finished and get it closer to the English Garden I am attempting. Staging area on the table for some plants I want to grow for flea markets and other various outdoor projects and experiments.

I know enough basic construction that I can figure out most of that. More looking for what you ran into and what to avoid.

Quote: AZDuffman

Anyone ever built a free-standing deck?

Build a gazebo instead.

Quote: Evenbob

Build a gazebo instead.

Not going to look right right against the house.

My only suggestion is to visit Home Depot and look at their library and their schedule of classes.