Our yard is a sea of yellows, oranges, reds, and browns - leaves in various sizes and textures falling in tandem. So it has been for the past month. As much as I rue layers of leaves on the ground attempting to kill the little bit of grass we have, I am grateful to them as well. Almost every day, if it is not pouring down rain, I get outside for some time to rake or leaf-blow the leaves into piles. It is calming work, the neat organizing of these colorful little (and big) gifts that will be carted to the compost pile for future use.
Each leaf is a reminder of the shade our trees provide us during the summer months, of the oxygen they provide us daily, of the ecosystem they support in our yard.
It is also quite a lot of work! My shoulders, arms and back all ache. I rake and gather and move these leaf piles when I would rather do other things. But, it keeps my body fit. It connects me with our land. It gives us some control over our landscape. Most of all, it gives me quiet time to myself that I need to recharge.