"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Saturday, December 1, 2018

I feel like Edith Macefield,


 the story about the 84-Year-Old Lady Who Refused a Million Dollars and Forced a Shopping Mall to Build Around Her House

This is what our graveled drive looked like a few days ago. It has looked 
like this since 1980.  We never have had to drive through mud. 
Even on rainy days, we can walk and never get our shoes muddy.

This is how it looks NOW, after our phone company came to prepare
for fiber optic lines to be laid.
One section is thick, heavy caked mud.........

For weeks, we have been called and visited by our phone/internet
company..........telling us how wonderful and better these
new lines are going to be.  (For 16 years we have had the worse
phone line and mediocre internet with this company,
but we have stuck with them. )


The only thing they avoided  telling us is how they would 
damage a good portion of our drive.  Even worse,
they refuse to see it as damaged and refuse to fix it,
telling us that it just needs time to heal.  
I growled and screeched and let them know how frustrated angry 
I am.........doesn't matter.......
they really do not care. 
 Instead of replacing the gravel, they want to just come 
and scrape the whole area all over again........
We, in frustration, told them to keep the machines off.
I could possibly go to an attorney.......but the time 
and my lack of trust in these situations will just be
dragged out.  If anything, I can just warn others........
stand out and over the work crews like a junkyard dog and
stop their damage.!
So, this is in the front of our home............

and...........as you may remember a couple of years ago
this meadow was damaged by our electric company 
on the side of our home.......however, 
they stepped up, accepted the responsibility of their damage
and repaired and paid for damages.

on the other side of our property........an oil rig
is being prepared to threaten our water supply and
peace of mind.
It makes me angry and sad that we have worked a good portion 
of our lives and we have our home "paid" for.
Now we have to be threatened constantly with
technology and progress.....
and 
thoughtless, uncaring people
but, in all of this, I refuse to let them rob me of my joy.


December is here along with it's chilly days.  The wind blew
so hard yesterday that everything now has a thick layer of dust.
And it is a time of  joy filled days, with
Christmas music (which I love) .......
Tasty treats and fond memories.

Sara Coleridge says it best............
Chill December brings the sleet,
Blazing fire, and Christmas treat.
Sara Coleridge (1802–1852), "The Garden Year"

Do you have your tree up and decorated?  
Do you have a favorite Christmas memory?
I would love to hear!


16 comments:

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

Well that's just plain rotten, how they've ruined your property. Do they not understand that a properly sloped gravel driveway is NOT the same as a packed down dirt plain? Oh, but hey, you'll have great reception and speed now! So sorry you have to go through this. No tree up yet, but did start baking! (gingerbread cookies) -Jenn

Sally said...

Well, that stinks to high heaven! I'm beginning to think that such as this (and other things) is becoming indicative of our daily lives. So sad. :(

No tree up yet. The kids were here last night and you would have thought I was the worse human being ever "MeMaw WHERE is your tree?" I guess they told me.

xoxo

Terra said...

How stressful and unpleasant for you; I hope they change their minds and restore your drive to its original state. That photo of the red Christmas ornament just glows with cheer, have a great Christmas holiday. No Christmas tree up as of this moment, but soon.

Prims By The Water said...

That is HORRIBLE! What a mess. So sorry for you. My fa memory is getting to pick our tree from the tree farm each year...my dad cutting it down and setting it up. Then my mom would put the lights and breakable ornaments on and us kids got to put the rest on. All awhile my dad played Christmas music on the hi fi (stereo) Janice

happyone said...

What a mess they left you with. Can't believe they won't fix it. That is criminal.

lil red hen said...

A couple of years back we were asked if a cell tower could be put on some of our property. I flatly refused! No little payment each year would be worth having a fenced area in the pasture and trucks going in and out the gate.

No tree here either. The farmer doesn't get too excited about decorating, I don't like fake trees, or putting up a tree by myself.

Granny Marigold said...

I am so sorry for the stress and mess that has happened and that the company won't fix it.
Yes, our trees are up and decorated. The grands put up the nativity creches today.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

I am so sorry that you are having to deal with these stresses.

My little tree is up and my Nativity and heavenly host are set up also.

Happy December ~ FlowerLady

Karen said...

That is so sad, Kathleen, I can certainly see how it would be depressing!

peggy said...

I have little fake trees all over that I use at my craft shows. Now that the shows are over I will put something on them. Haven't had a big tree in many years. It is good you have the before and after pictures, they should do the right thing by you.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

This kind of situation makes me so angry. Usually utilities etc are pretty responsible and put the land back to as close as it can be. However, cable companies are "Corporations" and sometimes won't go any father than they have to, knowing that we are pretty much helpless to legally fight for it to be fixed. Try going to your Congressman. At least that's worth a try.
xx, Carol

Debra said...

I'm so sorry about your beautiful landscape and how it has changed so much...I do hope something will be done-I agree with Carol-please call your congressman-they are there for situations like this-and it's worth a try.
I don't have any decorations up yet-as I've been very busy making gifts. Our son and his wife won't be visiting for the holiday, so it will be low key for my husband and I-but it's still a wonderful time, and I plan to decorate!
One sweet memory I have-I was about 3 years old. My Daddy threw snowballs on the roof over my bedroom, and later asked if I heard Santa's reindeer! We also put cookies and milk out for Santa, and when they were gone in the morning, I knew for sure that Santa had been there. These memories are very precious to me, because my Daddy is in heaven.

Tanza Erlambang - Every Day Issues said...

I pray that they restore your drive to its original state as a Christmas gift.

Have a great day

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

You have every right to be angered by this careless destruction of your property, Kathleen. and while it can be frustrating and time-consuming I hope that you will complain and complain and maybe get some remedial action taken by that useless phone company. You should definitely not let this incident, as horrible as it is, rob you of the joy of the holiday season...it's not worth it.

Connie said...

Oh no! Kathleen, I am so sorry that your property has once again been destroyed by the machines of "progress." I hope that they will change their mind and do the necessary work to repair your driveway and front yard. I do hope you are able to find the joy in Christmas in spite of the damage that has been done there. We don't have our tree up yet, but we have been listening to Christmas music. I'm looking forward to seeing our sons and daughter-in-law in a couple of weeks for the holiday.

The Wykeham Observer said...

They don't realize that if you take heavy equipment and roll over everything, the water can't drain through the packed layer they create. i hope you get some kind of satisfaction from them. I would definitely make a request for at least a cash settlement. Phil