Outside

Spent some time yesterday morning out in the yard. The weather has been unusually warm, the sun was shining, and there was a lot to do. We were amazed at all we accomplished. We miss the cottonwood trees (those two very tall ones we had taken out a couple years ago) during the apring and summer when they provide shade and places for birds to nest. We don't miss them at all when it comes to fall and raking the leaves. We have plenty of leaves from the maples, the honeylocusts, the tricolor beech and the hawthorne. We've (I say we, but really the bulk of the work has been done by The Husband) made great headway. As evidenced by the remaining 5 or 6 heavy bags waiting next week's garbage pickup. So, the garden is covered and prepped for winter, most of the fallen leaves have been raked up and disposed of. (For some reason it doesn't look like any of the leaves have fallen from the Hawthorne tree, I don't remember that about that particular tree.) The mums - whose blooms we reveled in for all of ten minutes before they froze - have been trimmed and mulched (pine needles to the rescue), the roses pruned a bit, the outside painting was done and it mostly feels like we're somewhat prepared for the onslaught of winter. ••••• I've decided that those who work with plants / the earth are the most optimistic people in the world. It takes great optimism and faith to spend such effort for something that may or may not reward you with the desired results. Maybe I've a teensy bit of that optimism. ••••• Of course, after all that work, cleaning out the outside stairwell and bagging all the leaves and endless bending over, I could hardly move the rest of the day. I never really feel old until I've moved in unusual ways and then pay the price with my aching back. This morning I stood and ironed for an hour or so and even that was more strain than is pleasant. Planning to feel better after yoga in the morning. ••••• Working today on keeping a smile in my heart.