Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[TOMTE]

4 degrees out. It'll probably drop another degree or two before daylight.

Well lookie here... It's gone up to 5.

I don't wanna get up... I wanna stay wrapped like a burrito in bed and hibernate.

But in an hour I'll have to brave the windchill and let my girls out of the coop

 

[Folly's place]

2F this morning, must get out there to collect eggs before they freeze.
Then, load up idiot dog for vet visit. She has decided, aged nine, to have intestinal blockages; TWO surgeries last year, one additional vomiting episode that didn't require surgery, and started vomiting yesterday, and not fine this morning.
Another fun experience for her, and for all of us. It's why we have pets, right?!?
Mary

 

[TOMTE]

2F this morning, must get out there to collect eggs before they freeze.
Then, load up idiot dog for vet visit. She has decided, aged nine, to have intestinal blockages; TWO surgeries last year, one additional vomiting episode that didn't require surgery, and started vomiting yesterday, and not fine this morning.
Another fun experience for her, and for all of us. It's why we have pets, right?!?
Mary

Oh no, good luck with your pup Health scares are... scary! And expensive. But we take the good with the bad. Pets are family so we gotta be there for them too

 

[Sally PB]

So far, the chickens are taking the cold in stride! I am amazed and very pleased!

 

[saysfaa]

More home owner association woes.

The house we currently like best as far as location, price, floor plan, build quality, etc. is in an association that allows pets... sort of but kinda not really.

"No animals, livestock or poultry of any kind shall be raised, bred or kept in any Townhome Property except that up to one (1) dog, up to two (2) cats or other household pets may be kept provided they are not kept, bred or maintained for any commercial purpose and do not exceed fifteen (15) pounds.
Any such pet causing or creating a nuisance or unreasonable disturbance shall be permanently removed from the Townhome Property upon thirty (30) days' written notice from the Association. Pets shall be leashed at all times and may not be tethered outside or left unattended when outside any Townhome Property, and no pet shall be permitted to defecate on any Parcel....Additional rules and regulations pertaining to maintenance of dogs and cats shall be prescribed by the Association, including the removal of any pet creating a nuisance."



We don't have any pets anymore but dd has a dog that is pretty much perfect except she can't be left in a kennel. So dd brings her when she comes. And I want my closest friend to bring her dog too. Both dd and my friend live far away so they spend a couple of days at a time when they come.

And the principle of it. Sheesh.

Besides, they will probably think my truck is "dipalitated." She runs great but she has spent 23 years on roads that get salted in the winter. "Dilapidated" vehicles are on the list of things that are "strictly prohibited."

The driveway is long enough, though. That is something. The garage is not deep enough to park her in it. I'm not sure that would matter, the bylaws also state at least some requirements for the inside of the house ...
"Each Townhome Owner shall maintain in good condition his
or her Townhome, at the expense of said Owners, including, but not limited to, interior painting, wall-papering, window washing, cleaning, paneling, floor covering..
The Association reserves the right to enter upon any Townhome to correct or eliminate nuisances or
violations of any or all of the foregoing,..."

 

[Sally PB]

The HOA restrictions would be a hard no for me. This is just for a few years.... right....?

 

[1muttsfan]

That is why I will never - NEVER live in an HOA. My money, my property, my way.

 

[saysfaa]

.. This is just for a few years.... right....?

That is what I thought when I encouraged dh to decide whether to take this job based on which job he would rather do. Rather than where we would rather live.

Unfortunately, in the many hours in the car to Christmas where the kids live, we discovered we had different definitions of a few key terms.

I knew we had a fundamental difference in what retirement will look like.

He wants to retire in a nice house in a retirement-friendly state. "Nice house" could allow gardens and chickens if we are picking anywhere in the state and have time to look.

I want to be near our kids and grandkids (if we ever have any) and be out of the city.

I thought we were agreeing to one more nonretirement period. He thought we were agreeing to overlap the last non retirement period and the first retirement period.

 

[Chickin Fairy]

I'm so sorry for what you guys are going through. It's tough when things don't look the same between you two and stuff gets miscommunicated. Sit down and chat it out, figure out all the details and what your most important items are and what your least important. It works best for us when we have no distractions (of which there are many here lol).

That's way too many rules for me. And the note about the dedication of animals on any parcel... Does that mean a dog can't poo in your own yard? Something will come along that will be perfect for you both. What areas of the state are you looking in?

 

[saysfaa]

Yes. That means your dog can't poop in your own yard. At least, it is what it says. There is a definition of "parcel" in the definitions section. I assume that is one of the reasons for the 15 pd size limit - small enough to use an inside box or something.

You don't really have a yard. It looks like you do because there is grass. And there are plants against your foundation but you have no say in what plants are used.

It even spells out that your driveway is not yours; although it is reserved for your use only.