When fall first arrives, it brings great delight. The leaves change colors and descend, brightening up the yard and driveway with colors from nature, as though an artist’s brush has painted the landscape. People travel from all over to the hot fall spots (we called these tourists “leaf peepers,” when I lived in New England.
(By the way, I am adamant that New England has the absolutely best display of fall leaf color. It is the combination of warm fall days and crisp cool nights that does it.)
Back in my single days in Connecticut, I really looked forward to raking the colorful leaves that snapped and crunched underfoot. Clearing an area to reveal the still-green grass was an accomplishment. The air was cool but not too cold, and the exercise was warranted. At least I felt this way while raking the front and side yards. Although I admit that he task and the leaves lost their color by the time I was halfway done.
The delight in the changing of the season soon wears off when you realize that someone (usually you) has to pick up all of those leaves, or at least move them out of the way. And while we now have a wooded property that doesn’t require much raking, there is a patch of lawn, as well as a long driveway to contend with each fall.
Things have been made more complicated in the last few days. Rainy weather has made tons of leaves drop, with the added bonus of soaking them thoroughly, making leaf removal a real chore. They can’t be blown away with a leaf blower, and the rake or the broom only catches so much of the soggy mess.
I tried to run out and get as many leaves up before the rains came, but this was futile. The electric leaf blower was hidden in a secret spot under the porch by my husband, and the stormy weather just brought more leaves anyway.
I still love the fall and the leaves when I am inside sipping my tea and making crafts with my kids out of foam maple leaves and foam orange pumpkins, but I also hate the task that awaits me out there in the real leaf world.
Check back for a future post when I make myself feel better by listing all of the ways that the fall leaves can be useful.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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