Our newish neighbors who were renting-to-own the house next door skipped out of town suddenly and left the owner with a messy house and yard, and a half-finished shed in the back. Plus they bounced the last two month's rent, billed him for "improvements" they made, and didn't give notice even though their lease runs through april. gosh!

I'm still a bit in shock. I mean, these where people who I considered nice and considerate. they had two cute little daughters, came over in the fall to give me flowers, played guitar on our front porch in the summer, lent us their powertools and advice when building our chicken coop, and were pleasant to be around. they said they were staying for the long-haul, with plans to dig out a basement, repave the driveway, down some trees (they even had an arborist come out). they redid the kitchen, and who knows what else on the inside.

and suddenly....gone. they must have moved out last weekend when we were out of town. i just figured they were on vacation.