two: the one where they pee in the alley.

we have a small patio out back: bricks laid unevenly inside a concrete wall, a gate that doesn't quite shut properly, and a creepy fake owl on the fence of our neighbor's garden.
we absolutely love it.


in the early spring days here at 1302, we sat outside at night, savoring the sudden change of temperature and our ability to feel our apendages again after a frigid winter. we bought some chairs and a little table (another story to come about those purchases) and, in lieu of a fire pit, a big ol' tray of candles. it was all just about heavenly until we heard a strange noise on the other side of our concrete wall: a trickle of liquid. where was it coming from? was someone washing their dog down the alley? had a fire hydrant opened up? was it starting to rain?

"is someone peeing in our alley?"

as the days got warmer, the heat pushed the scent through our gate, confirming that indeed, our alley was a prime outhouse in the neighborhood.

we're still in the process of testing a number of experiments to determine what will most effectively deter the alley-pee-ers. so far we've tried yelling, "hey, are you really peeing in the alley? we live here you know!" that didn't seem to do much. so tonight, rachel and i sat on the back (cooling down after our intense yoga workout) singing "the sound of music" and "somewhere over the rainbow" at the top of our lungs. if that doesn't cause the pee-ers to turn right around... well, we have no hope.

suggestions?

-rachel h.