Even Mother Nature is confused. The trees did not turn the vivid golds and reds that we usually see in the fall. Instead, we see more muted oranges, rusts, and browns this year. The trees also are not dropping their leaves at the usual rates. While our cottonwood tree, thankfully, has shed most of its foliage, most of the maple trees in the neighborhood are still fully in bloom. They should be bare by now. Our new little maple in front has not lost a leaf yet, and our Japanese lilac also retains all of its still-green foliage. Strangely, the first major blizzard of the year hit the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Upper Michigan yesterday. Stephanie, in Rochester, MN, said they received their earliest snowfall on record, getting 2" of wet snow.
We had hoped since we are returning late to Florida that we would be able to get all of the fall clean-up finished and not have to pay someone to do a "final raking" of the yard before winter. Since the birch trees in the back are just starting to drop their yellow leaves, we may have to pay yet this year.
In an attempt to get as much to the curb as possible, Rick and I worked all morning doing what we could to clean up the yard. He used the leaf blower while I handled a rake. Once we got all of the leaves to the front curb for pick-up next week, I took the lawn mower with a bagger and cut the whole lawn one last time. I was surprised how long the grass still was in the front. The backyard cutting was good just to pick up the remnants of the leaves that we were not able to capture on our raking spree.
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| Our raking and mowing efforts clearly define the boundaries of our yard. Note, however, the leaves ready to blow back onto our property from the neighbors' yards. |
The result is a beautifully raked and mowed yard that, sadly, will not stay clean for long since our new neighbors to the north do not seem to understand the use of a lawn mower or a rake. If the wind blows in the wrong direction, their mess will be in our yard. Perhaps it is time to build that fence after all...
As we worked this morning, however, I became aware of two things. First, I am getting older, so each year the yard seems to be larger than last year. I can still handle it, but keeping it neat takes more effort than doing so has done in the past.
But that is OK, because the other thing I became aware of was how blessed we are to have a home and a yard in which to work. So many people this year, due to hurricanes or fires, have no homes left. Their yards are either mud pits as a result of flooding or are charred wastelands as the wildfires that consumed their homes also ravaged the yards. At least I have green grass that needs cutting and standing trees that have golden leaves falling to the ground. So I will not complain of the weather or of the work. Instead, I will count my blessings and be thankful for everything I have.
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