The Ultimate "Tool Time" Power Tool

Today, I took on the leaves. This is the first year it's ever really been an issue. In years past, we've recognized that a leaf blower would have been nice - and indeed, we did purchase one this year. However, due to the best autumn I've ever experienced in terms of brilliant leaves - which means they all stayed on the trees looking gorgeous up until now...well, our lawn was not green, but rather an orangy-yellow.

So, I had John put together the "Man-tool" last night, and went to town with an extra long extension cord this afternoon. The leaves were already wet because of the recent storms that have come through, but even so, this thing made them fly. I can't imagine what would have been the case with dry leaves. As a result, trying to urge these leaves into a pile without sending more going in the wrong direction was a bit of challenge for me. Honestly, at one point, while I was trying to get them all maneuvered next the curb of our street (next week the city of Eugene will pick them up), I was honestly concerned that someone would be watching me from their front window with a video camera, ready to make $10,000 at my expense on America's Funniest Home Videos. At least, by the time I moved on to the backyard, I knew no one was watching me - and was able to send all the leaves into the narrow fenced in area that we grow our pumpkins in. I figure a thick layer of decaying leaves might be just the thing that soil needs to create record-breaking jack-o-lanterns next year.

I can see how this chore could be difficult for a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder. There's always one leaf that flies the wrong direction - and an attempt to corral it, will undoubtedly send more leaves askew as well. Fortunately, this is not an area where I'm a perfectionist, even so, it took me a couple of hours to finish. That is, until the next storm comes, and sends the rest of the leaves to the ground...