You cannot see our back yard from the street. Therefore when it’s time to do yard work almost all of our focus goes to the front yard. I do mow the back grass now and then, when it gets really long, but spring and fall clean up usually gets passed over.

Not this year!

The wind tends to swirl around the house, so almost all of the leaves that drop in the back yard end up pushed against the house. For the first time in two years all of the leaves are gone! It’s a miracle! My step son and I did most of it yesterday, and this morning I went out early(ish) and finished it. This soil is seeing sunlight for the first time in 8 seasons. It’s incredible! My step son and I then started tackling raking the rest of the leaves. We’re about 2/3 finished right now. The trick for the remaining third is that there are some huge downed branches blocking the way. I think I can move the biggest one, but it might require the purchase of an axe. We’ll see.

If we don’t finish this today then I will finish it next weekend and then start on cleaning up the front of the house. If nothing else, it’s exercise that will help with the whole weight watchers plan. There’s an upside to everything!