I'm very glad you weren't offended, Linda.
Maybe there is some fabric or net that would look better than weaving blinds through the chain-link ... or maybe there is a commercial product that works better than blinds' slats. I've seen chain-link fences that had been made into "privacy" fence with that weaving.
>> I was thinking earlier about knocking on her door to ask her but felt odd about it, like I thought of her as a bad neighbor or her thinking I was being way picky.
I agree - that's a delicate negotiation, and you want to stay on good terms even if you've never spoken yet. And since she is older, I bet she's sensitive about requests that she can't do anymore because of her age. I am, anyway!
It's too big an area for you to volunteer to rake ... if someone loaned you a leaf blower, is the slope or some windy days such that you might be able to wait until all the leaves are down, and the wind is in the right quarter, that you could blow most of them somewhere they won't blow back to your fence?
Or blow them into a compost heap and then share the compost?
IF something like that was possible, you COULD lead up to it with a phone call asking if you can come over to drop off some flowers or vegetables and introduce yourself. I think that older people expect that from neighbors more than the most recent few generations expect it.
If she's welcoming, do it again a time or two before bringing up the subject of leaves in a roundabout way.
If she "knows you" and knows you're not a complaining sort, she might be very grateful for any small things you can help her with ... and then blowing leaves around would hardly be noticed.
Of course, she might turn out to have too many requests if you start down that path ...
