I Leaf-ed

My writer friend, GBB, told me last week that I could mow my leaves with the mulching mower and cut them into tiny pieces that can stay on the lawn so I didn't have to rake. (I hate raking almost more than I hate vacuuming.) But I thought what the heck and tried it today. It worked! It was partly sunny and kinda windy but the leaves stayed put, well most of them did, and I mowed up and down like usual and almost all of the leaves are now itty bitty pieces mixed in with the grass. Score! This area was solid leaves and look at it now! There are still a couple small drifts of leaves against the house that I'll have to move with the leaf blower but I can manage that. I'm just waiting for a day when it isn't too windy.

While I was out there catching my breath after a couple rounds of mowing I saw that the milkweed pods had split and spilled out their seeds. Some of the fluff was hanging on so I took its picture. Did you know they used to stuff things with milkweed fluff? I wonder who got the job of collecting it.

The watercolor today is called Yellow Rocket or Winter Cress. This is not one of my better efforts. I seem to be surging in writing and slumping in watercolor which is okay. I'd rather surge in both but if I have to choose one I choose writing.

Speaking of which I hit 81,976 words this afternoon. Hooray! I'm over 80k. Now I can relax and figure out where I need to add to the story without worrying if I'd find enough words. I tried to take a picture but the numbers were so small they were just a blur.

I added a few more rounds to the Alpaca Waffle Hat. This yarn is so soft that the pattern isn't as crisp as it shows in the pattern photo but I love the softness. I even like the green. It's better than blue.

I made a gratitude journal page for the first time since Sunday. Why don't I make them? I don't know. But I was grateful for the sunshine and the lawnmower starting (finally!) so I could mulch the leaves. I was especially grateful for making over 81k words and tucked the watercolor at the bottom to fill in the space.

I'm sure my neighbors are relieved that I went out and dealt with the leaves that were covering the side yard. The neighbor on that side is diligent about keeping up with clearing away her leaves and here I am being all lazy waiting until most, if not all, of the leaves are down before I deal with them. I can't help it, I'm just not a yard person.

--Barbara