Oct 10, 2010 Fall Part 1

So we must back up a bit...

In the midst of planning for Natalie's surgery last week the leaves were falling FAST......REALLY fast!  One day there weren't many and the next day we were covered...

So many people have asked what they can do to help... and I've felt somewhat limited with ideas...the food/dinners have been a blessing in  many ways...one being that it frees me to do the other responsibilities that are ahead of us ... The girls and I can only eat so much and there are so many folks in this community willing and wanting to pitch in.

So this brings us to the leaves....YIKES...in my opinion Autumn at our Alford address is the most challenging time of the year.  I feel it is worse than our Berkshire winters....in snow you need "paths"

This was my dog Gizmo...a pekingese...who needed paths for his short little legs.

in Autumn you can't just make "paths"...you must move them all or at least most of them!  It's such a big yard and there are SO MANY trees.  Last year we were completely ripped off by a lawn company to do leaf clean up...there were 5 guys and the majority of the time 3 of them were "watching"....naive me thought they were "in training"......until we got the bill...I'm laughing now as I write this but Bob nearly fell off his chair when the guy told him the price.  I was there and witnessed the shock!

Anyway....here we are again!   Fall is here...winter approaching and Bob is NOT doing yard work at this point.  He needs to take care of himself.  So as I looked  outside and saw  the leaves blowing and blowing but they were  NOT blowing away!   Why can't they blow away...across the street to that giant field???  Wishful thinking!

About a week ago I mentioned the thought of having a work party to a  friend and they thought it was a great idea...so I mentioned it to another...again she thought it was an awesome idea!  Then I talked to one of my girl scout moms and she not only thought it was a great idea but said she and her boyfriend would come on their days off and help.    The next day they came....and they WORKED!

Yes this is Matt on the roof blowing off the accumulated needles.

This is Amy....she had this leaf blower on this particular day for 6 hours

My goal for the early part of the week--before leaving for NYC with Natalie---  was to make as many leaf piles as possible before the rain hit so that on the weekend when I had the work parties the piles could be moved.  This way everyone didn't have to listen to the blower ....that loud part would be done and piles could be moved....a great group project.

So by the end of their workday ..while I was making them dinner...it started POURING...

Amy hurried to cover the last couple piles..

You cannot tell by the photo but it is RAINING!

 We had a nice dinner together.  Yet another time these wonderful dinners have helped!

While I was in NYC Matt came with a friend on Friday and did MORE!  WOW!  We were ready for the weekend work parties!  Thank you Matt, Amy and ????  I find it amazing that I don't even know the friends name and he helped us SO MUCH!