The Raking Machine Strikes Again

One week ago, the tree beside my driveway was splendorous with leaves aglow bright yellow and orange with the last of the greens grasping on to their memories. 

It was a time of raking and rolling around with glee, in shirt sleeves none-the-less!

Well, those beautiful leaves have left their happy perches on the trees to nestle down in my yard. Trick or Treating last night was done with winter coats to keep the chilly temperatures from curtailing the fun. My eldest asked me this morning what the season was now, as Halloween and October were done. While I advised her that it was still Autumn, I wasn't so sure in looking out the window. 

Jack Frost had come to play, leaving helicopters grounded and the burning bush frozen in a shell pond. 

My proud dahlias bowed their heads, acquiescing that their time here was done. The faint purple of her petals destined to drop with the weight of the seasons change.

and everywhere I looked this morning evidence abounded. Here on the sedum,

there on the chives.

The seasons had changed overnight.

Ice crystals were a dead giveaway

on now last year's beautiful dahlia heads.

Even the straggling toad lily was struck down;

for shame...Ah

Ah, but I raked this morning; twelve bags I raked! I raked till I ran out of leaf bags, desperate to feel the chilly sun on my cheeks. I even filled the composter with a load and another load was stuffed into a garbage can  at the curb with the other leaf bags. In my heart, I know that the Fall days are indeed numbered and that one morning I just might wake up to a world of white, more solid than the frost coating my windshield this morning. Last week it whispered, but this week the threat seems infinitely real. I am afraid that snow angels are in my near future. My raking today brought the total up to 25 bags of leaves this year. Broke last year's record! If I can get out to buy a few more bags, I suspect that I will be able to smash that record though, as my neighbours are always good to share their leaves via the wind. 

So the bulbs have been dug up and the lawn mower's battery put to bed. Garden trinkets were put away a fews weeks ago. The hoses have yet to be drained and rolled away, but that should happen later this week. So many tasks before I retreat back into the cozy house to hibernate. I am wishing for a little more sunshine, but almost ready. Almost ready...

Craft Day

And after raking all those leaves

a few were brought inside...

stuck to a great big roll of mac tac

(or contact paper as some may know it better as)

and sealed up

for posterity to commemorate the beauty of Autumn

For visitors

and us

to keep that sunshine in our hearts

for the rainy days ahead

(like today)

dahlia flower
spreads her blossoms to the wind
captured by a girl

The first tender day

As their car drove out of sight, I looked around me at the glorious day that was. Sunshine filtered through the sparse crabapple and I decided it was time. Yes, with the sun's relative warmth upon my face, I released a smile to the world. Today would be the first tender day to rake the leaves of Autumn. 

I gathered up rakes, gardening gloves and the many yard waste bags we would need to begin the task at hand. Don't get me started on the bags though, as paper may be environmentally friendly, but just add a little rainfall or two and those bags shred like there's no tomorrow. I mean really, don't they know that it rains every other day in the Fall? Maybe not in your part of the world, but in Southern Ontario it seems to have rained pretty regular the last few weeks. How is a paper bag supposed to survive that? Hrumph; I digress...

So the lawn got raked

and the pile it grew

until all that could be seen

was two little heads poking through

I couldn't resist

their playful ways

So I dove right in

to the leaf pile fray

Attacked by the littlest one

I resisted not a wit

as who can resist that smile?

  pfft- not even a little bit

but friends don't you worry

that this caused me to frown

 as you can clearly see
I did not fail and drown

and in case you think you missed it,

but still wanted to help out

bring along your rakes and gloves, 

for there's still more to throw about!

 

Changing of the Seasons

The wind has won against the leaves on my tears. Oops, what a wierd slight of hand. I am going to leave it in, despite the homage I was going to pay to trees. It looks so stark with my the yellow swathes gone from the sky outside my window. I really enjoyed being bathed in a vibrant burnt yellow world. The fall sunshine brought incredible contrast with reds and yellows competing in trees  and a backdrop of crisp blue to fill my colour palette. I was in heaven in a rainbow. I soaked it in and pulled power from the sky.

The leaves are gone though. The last straggling few hold on tight to barren branches belying the coming of a wintery world. Oh, sunshine you are so precious as our glowing orb retreats from us. Retreat back into warm burrows as chill gusts take our breath away. Winter has not yet begun, but I can feel it in my bones. As we pull on crazy costumes, I shall tuck mini-mittens on mini-fingers. Goodbye Summer, goodbye Fall. Welcome hibernation to sit by the fire and sip at a glass of shiraz with me. Tuck in my new books, under my toasty throw and say goodnight.

Good morning

The day has dawned gray. The ground is wet suggesting it rained at some point in the pre-dawn. The girls are scheduled to go on a field trip this morning to go apple picking. It was cancelled last week due to rain. Hard to tell if it will happen today or not. I can think of running around I could do if it does get cancelled. Funny that I have some hope for rain. The lawn is extremely yellow calling, nay fairly screaming to get out and rake. Time is precious this week though. Anon, time for school.

UPDATE: Wellthe trip was cancelled, although it was actually quite pleasant. Guess what! I even got out and raked some leaves!Ha, six bags of them. Plus the bags I raked last week brings the total up to 11 sitting on the curb. Next week is yard waste week and with us going away, I wanted to make a bit of a dent in the front yard. I have to admit, it was much prettier before I raked though. A good meditation.

Autumn images

I gaze out my wondow at a beautiful golden yellow world. The leaves are resplendant in their fall coats. Never mind the carpet on the grass. Also beautiful, but reminding me that I have work to do. On the list and near the top; RAKE LEAVES. Next week the weather is slated to get cooler, therefore I should be out there attacking them while the weather is marginally warmer. I sit inside though and admire. I met Murray for coffee this morning. Returned home to scarf a quick lunch and make a couple calls. There are more calls to return, but a visit from a friend curtailed other activities. I am all about being in the present and letting go of what is less important. Face time is important. I cherish it. Therefore the leaves decorate our corner for a little while longer. The angel wings I felt on my back yesterday are there for a reason. I think I got them for my dedication to people. They help me to fly and elevate myself from the large vat of pain that dangles beneath me. What does that mean? Only my sub-concious knows and I have not given it voice today.

Pretty leaves. Yellow world.