Here we are at the end of October and fall is in the air. When the wind was blowing over everything on my deck last week I realized that it might be time to start gearing up for winter. If the temperatures this summer are anything to go by I have a feeling that we are in for a chilly long winter. Global Warming here we come. I read somewhere that this was the coolest summer in our area on record for something like 20 years. Anyway I digress. In the process of clearing off the deck and taking the table down I realized that a ton of leaves have fallen in the last week. Which also explains why I am finding leaves all over the house. I realized that I would have to get out the trusty rake and actually rake the leaves. I was ready to wage war against the leaves. I am pretty sure that the leaves won. All I did was the pine needles, since that is what we all are allergic to I wanted to get them up and out of the way. The maple leaves have not all fallen yet, so I figured I would wait to do those leaves until they had all fallen. Yesterday Sunday I started. My wonderful husband came out and helped me to rake, as did the kids. Although I am not sure if you can call it helping since all the kids did was spread the needles around rather than rake them into a pile, but they are still learning. By the time we were done yesterday the four of us together had gotten all the needles from the back to the curb, and my husband had collected all the large branches and sticks and put them out by the curb for pick up as well. Not bad for and hour or so of work. So when today rolled around and the kids woke up from their rest I figured how hard can it be to rake up the pine needles in the front yard. There is only one tree and it is in a pretty confined area. Easy right? You would be wrong, as was I. the pine needles kicked my behind. Yes it only took me a half an hour to rake that small area, but by the time I was done I thought I was going to fall over. I was hoping that it might help me to burn some calories before my weigh in tomorrow morning. I did get my heart rate up, and I did work up a good sweat, but it was only a half an hour so I am not too hopeful. The good news is that because I wasn’t in the house when the kids first went out to play they didn’t hover at the back door. Instead they are now playing outside on this beautiful day, giving me the chance to write this. I am also thinking that since it is such a nice day and Jason isn’t going to be home for dinner, I may just take a late walk with the kids this afternoon, and make PB&J for dinner.

Heather