Fall cleanup

Every year right about this time, Rose Barracks has a fall cleanup requirement for all on post housing and non housing area.  Normally, I'd hand John a rake and send him off into the ankle deep foliage that has made its residence in our backyard and have him do our "fall cleanup."  Which, if you haven't guessed by now - essentially means you have to rake up all the leaves in your yard and tidy it all up for the winter.

So...seeing as how instead of leaves - John has been enduring bad weather and sand storms - Bella and I ventured out into the backyard today and took it by a vengeance.  Now note the sharp corners?  I only have to rake what is essentially MY yard.  The rest is considered common area...and so thats what I did to be in compliance with Fall Cleanup orders.

Did you know that if you aren't in compliance they can choose to kick you out of post housing?  Well, I procrastinated until the last minute...but I did smile to see how many of my neighbors were right out there with me raking up theleaves from their yard...on the last day of fall cleanup.  ha ha ha. 

I wish I'd taken a before photo...but I didn't.  Instead once I realized that I'd wished I'd taken a before photo I decided to show you the far back part of our common area...this is what my lawn used to look like...

Bella was a great helper...  I'd rake up the big pile and she'd pick up a few leaves to put in the bag...

Then she'd dump them all out and run off with the bag...

Or she'd forget the bag completely and just wallow in my piles of leaves...

 I think she may actually be growling at me in the above photo...

Regardles...we got it all done.  AND I went the extra mile today and cleared all the patio furniture and will be tarping it tomorrow to protect it just in time for winter.

I had to laugh, however, when I surveyed the final product.  Think Sesame Street and sing along with me now....  One of these neighbors is not like the others.  One of these neighbors just isn't the same...One of these neighbors is not like the others...  Come on now...can you play our game?  Can you play our game...

Yup....you rake your OWN yard.  Actually - they are getting ready to move and if she doesn't do it in the next few days I'll get out there and rake them for her.  Plus all those leaves in the far back common area I will take on as well.  I'm looking at it as my good deed for a year.  That deserves at least a little something from Santa Claus this year wouldn't you say?  hee hee hee...