A foot higher.

Our neighbors on one side have five kids under the age of, oh, 11. Maybe six. They are such a blur of activity, it’s hard to count them.

This summer, dad decided to build a tree swing.

They pretty darn quickly thought the stump steps he fashioned next to our fence were a good spot to stand, turn toward our house, hook their hands over the fence and watch as my dear wife Karen and I are appreciating our backyard. Or doing chores. Living life in the rear room with the door open, even.

I can only ask them to not so many times.

We found a tall privacy screen online and a climbing rose bush at our friendly neighborhood nursery.

A good morning’s work got the screen assembled and plant in the ground.

The screen stands six feet high. The tag says the rose bush will go six feet wide and 10 feet high.

So far, so good. Knock on our wooden fence.