Another Annual Chore

Every fall, as sure as the seasons change, the trees drop their leaves. And every year we need to rake them up.  But it can be fun, with the right help. We were afraid we might miss the pick-up this year because we had been out of town.  And then, just before we got back, it rained.  Hard to rake wet leaves.  But it's also hard to pick up wet leaves so the city took a break mid-way through the pick-up.  That gave us enough time to get out there and get ready.

And this year we had some good helpers, willing helpers.

Especially when we let them use some of the "toys" we were using.

Then again, others were just having a good time playing in the leaves.

We had to get a new leaf blower this year because the old one, which was pretty old, refused to do anything when we got it all plugged in and turned it on.  So we quick ran to the store and got another one.  And the kids where more than happy to help test it.  You know, just to make sure it was working. Yeah.

With the lawn sweeper, the leaf blower, and some rakes, we had it well under control.

One of the things we grabbed while at the store was a pint sized rake.  That one was a hit.

Lots to check out while cleaning up the leaves.  We have an oak tree just to the side of where these boys were standing.  They were checking out acorns, the fun little nuts with the cute little caps.

Pretty soon we had all the leaves in front moved out to the street.

With all the help it didn't take very long to have all the leaves neatly raked into a nice, tidy row along the street.  All ready for the city to come scoop them up.

And none too soon.  The day after we got them all raked out to the street, the city came by and picked them all up.  It's a pretty cool operation they use, a truck with a big vacuum. They don't even have to get out of the truck to do it.  Pretty slick.  And, with that, the annual chore was once again done.