Would this be considered rude or thoughful? A neighbour who I don't know very well?

Question

Recently, while I was extremely sick with a bad case of bronchial pneumonia, my neighbour, who I don't know too well, came around and brought a whole bunch of pre cooked meals for my family. She also shopped for me a few times, picked up my daughter from school, etc.
I was so surprised and how thoughful she was, and was thinking of a way to pay her back now that I'm back on my feet.
Anyway, she's mentioned a few times how she can't get her yard in order, flowerbeds, etc, because she's so busy at work. I'm a pretty keen gardener, so I've thought of offering to do some yard work for her, including planting some nice flowers that I could buy for her.
Do you think she would understand the gesture, or would it be considered rude, as if I was offended by her yard or something (which I'm not)?

Answer 1

She would certainly understand the gesture. If she hadn't done those nice things for you then I wouldn't suggest it but I think she would feel like a million dollars to come home and see her gardens in order.

Answer 2

Honestly, I think if you put it to her just the way you have said it here, she would be far from offended ~ she would be delighted!

Let her know you want to make a gift to her for her kindness and neighbourliness, and knowing how little time she has because of work, you'd love to help out in the garden.

Ask her to prepare a list of the 'priority' jobs she wants done, or tell her how you see the job taking place and come to an agreement about the scope of what you will do BEFORE you begin.

She may want a particular job done more than anything else, or she may just want a general tidy up.

Talk it over, and tell her you'd be glad of the chance to undertake a 'thank you project'.

However, try not to do TOO much ~ she may be a little overwhelmed if you do everything and begin feeling her yard has been taken over.

And of course ~ when you are finished at her place, would you like to help out at mine? ;-)

Very best wishes and good luck :-)

Answer 3

You might make the comment that you are feeling so much better that you'd appreciate the outdoors and exercise of working in the garden as some therapy for yourself and to thank her for helping to get you healthy again.

OR, would it be possible to just do a little here and there, and pop some flowers in after the work is nearly done without saying anything? Personally I would love that if someone surprised me that way.

Answer 4

easily, i think of in case you place it to her purely the way you have suggested it right here, she may well be a ways from indignant ~ she may well be overjoyed! enable her understand you have the choose to make a modern to her for her kindness and neighbourliness, and understanding how little time she has because of the fact of artwork, you will like to assist out in the backyard. Ask her to coach a itemizing of the 'precedence' jobs she needs performed, or tell her the way you spot the interest going on and are available to an contract with reference to the scope of what you will do previously you initiate. She might desire a definite interest performed better than something, or she might desire to desire a accepted tidy up. talk it over, and tell her you would be happy of the possibility to undertake a 'thank you project'. in spite of the fact that if, attempt to no longer do too lots ~ she may well be a touch crushed in case you do each little thing and initiate feeling her backyard has been taken over. and of direction ~ once you're finished at her place, might you pick to assist out at mine? ;-) very ultimate desires and reliable success :-)

Answer 5

wow u have a great neighbor i think that would be very thoughtful of you but this is what i would do so she wont get the wrong idea i would buy some flowers to plant and give them to her and say how much you appreciate all she has done for you . than say that u remember her saying she couldn't get her yard in order and u would love to help her plant the flowers

Answer 6

She will not think it is rude if you say it the right way. Say, " I know you said you were wanting to get a lot of things accomplished in your yard! I really appreciated everything you did for me while I was sick that I thought I'd help you with some of that yard stuff, kind of as a thank-you. Would that be alright?".

Answer 7

Oh, that would be lovely! Just tell her you remembered she wanted to work on her yard and you wanted to help because she was SO helpful to you in your time of need.
She'll take it the way you mean it... a gesture of friendship.

Answer 8

That is such a lovely story! I would wait until she mentions her yards and garden and then say "I would love to help you with that." or "Anytime you want some help please let me know." This way you've offered to help but it doesn't sound like you're doing it just to pay back a favor.

Answer 9

Jeez, I can see a fallout occurring here!

Cooking meals, shopping, picking up kids......now gardening & cleaning up etc.....

Wont work. Nope, wont work. You'll see too much of each other & have a major fallout. Then because you live next door to each other it'll be all the worse & you wont want to go outside in case you see each other.

Buy her some flowers as a thankyou. If she gets sick, do the same for her......but no, a big no-no, don't start doing her gardening!

Answer 10

she already helped you out, and it was she that mentioned that she couldn't get her garden in order. have a chat with her and ask her how she would like her yard to look, not how you would like it to look. if she hadn't mentioned it it would be rude, but the words were said. Have fun and I hope you both have fun. it looks like you have a good nieghbor relationship starting.