Thursday, November 09, 2006


Lessons from Leaves

This is our first fall in our new home with the lovely backyard containing 15 oak trees, one cherry? tree, a huge and accursed cactus patch and one dead rose bush. This is the first part in the backyard adventure series. I've been raking leaves and more leaves. This is what I've learned:

1. Fifteen oak trees drop a LOT of leaves.

2. Fifteen oak trees are capable of re-leafing the yard as quickly as one can rake.

3. The amazingly perfectionistic previous owners, "The Briggs" (intoned with as much awe as possible) kept the yard impeccable, thus raising the expectations of our neighbors.
4. The massive compost pile is not, as previously believed, their grocery scraps from the last 8 years. Rather it is their leaf collection.

5. Dachshunds like to relieve themselves on newly raked piles of leaves. When all urine is expended, they will 'mock mark' all the other piles.
6. #5 makes the casual scraping off leaves with your bare hand a risky endeavour.
7. It also provokes worrisome thoughts when your toddler throws her body into the pile.
8. Fifteen oak trees drop one trillion, three hundred thousand and two acorns.
9. Ambidextrous raking is recommended for avoiding calluses/blisters.
10. I'm a wimp!

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