Help came in the form of our niece and nephew and their sons, whom I call the grands, and their unbridled energy and good will. The day dawned brisk and partly sunny with just a bit of wind. A good day for raking and watching the boys enjoy what is bound to be the last of Autumn.
The back yard was where efforts were concentrated today, and it all started here.
Scott had fun riding on the mower with Uncle Tom and he was such a big help.
Four or five trips to the front with lots of help in back made this first pile look like a hedgerow and each trip up to the road, everyone made time for some fun in the leaves. What is it about a huge pile of leaves that, no matter what age we are at, we are drawn to shuffle our feet and bury ourselves in the leaves?
When is it that we lose the magic of the seasons; the wonder and joy and pure bliss at fallen leaves, snowflakes, dandelions, and fireflies? Never, I hope. Never.
Oh what fun. Have you ever read the story Tumblers? A grandpa tells his grandson about little people called Tumblers who live among the leaves and love to do summer-salts as the leaves blow around. The boy never quite believes, but there is just enough doubt that he gets the raking done and finds it more interesting than he originally thought. I always liked the little story and love the idea of making work fun.
I don’t know the story Tumblers, Janet, but it sounds like one I should read and will try to find it. Isn’t it fun? That little bit of fantasy in childhood between not believing and maybe, just maybe . . . actually, I’m not sure I’ve outgrown it yet.
Today, I was telling Scott, who reads chapter books now, about your suggestion of the Hoboken Chicken Mystery, which he may look up on his next trip to the library.
We had lots of fun, I passed out in the car on the way home- and again on the couch later. And then found crunched up leaves in some strange places…
Scott brought a few of the sycamore leaves to school today for an impromptu show-and-tell. We don’t see those huge leaves up here in our ‘burb!
We DID pick up the Hoboken Chicken Mystery at the library yesterday. Looks like a good one, but it must wait in the pile for the 2nd “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”. I’m glad to see that author has quite a few books since we are always looking for new series for Scott to plow through.
Glad you got to rest a bit on your ride home, Heather. You earned it. You looked so cute buried in the leaves. Would you believe, the leaves are still falling?
If you think of it, would you bring Hoboken Chicken Mystery on turkey day. I just love it that Scott is reading chapter books and my friend Janet, above, recommended it to me.
What a wonderful way to clear up the leaves, help from family and lots of fun. What a mammoth job!
I hope I never get too old to have fun, to be childlike.
I have been catching up on your posts and enjoyed reading about your close encounter with the paper towels
We really appreciated the offer of help, Marilyn, and having the boys around made it a little less of a chore. Phew!
Ha! “close encounter with the paper towels”. I wish I had thought of that for a title. I hope you mum is continuing to improve.
Penny, its so wonderful to watch someone revel in Autumn, and even better to watch four people do it. Your sense of fun is irrepressable. Such a breath of fresh air for me today
Thank you, Kate. It was fun. Heather and Andrew were a godsend yesterday. Take care.
Now that is one big pile of leaves and oh what fun. It is wonderful to see autumn being enjoyed Penny, and the children loving the fun and helping. I love fallen leaves and you certainly have lots. By the way Penny, I posted my beans growing counter clockwise . I am supposing yours grow clockwise?
It is pretty big, Joan, and we haven’t finished the front yard yet. The kids, both big and small, had fun and worked hard as well.
I saw your post on your beans, Joan, and, oddly enough, all my vines grown counterclockwise as well. I haven’t grown beans in awhile, but, as I recall, they grow the same way as yours. Isn’t that interesting? All my garden growing friends out there in the northern hemisphere, chime in on the which way your pole beans, and sugar snap peas, and whatever else grown.
I am so glad that you got help! At least some family carries their load
These are great pictures! Beautifully captured and it looks like everyone had lots of fun. I love the pictures in the leaves and that one leaf is as big as Jake’s head!
We are too, Katy, and we really appreciated all the help. Doesn’t Heather look cute? That is a sycamore leaf by Jake. They are huge and we try to get them up as they take a long time to decompose. I hope all the cousins can get together for awhile over the holidays.
Yes, that’s a great pictures of Heather being a kid! So fun! I would love for all the cousins to get together over the holidays, for sure!
I do believe that is the largest single leaf I have ever seen!
We have managed to de-leaf the front yard, but the back yard is another story. Perhaps the boys can do that between football games this week.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration!
Our yard is full of these, Molly. We have three mature sycamore trees. They are the last to fall and take forever to decompose, so, we try to get them up.
Sounds like a good activity to do between games and Thanksgiving turkey. Raking leaves goes so much faster with help and we certainly appreciated what came our way.
The same to you and your family, Molly. Happy Thanksgiving.