the last of the leaves

One fine day, about 3 weeks ago, I took Mark, Jude and Lydia for a little visit to Kris's house. She is lucky enough to have a big maple tree in her front yard, which produces a wonderful leaf pile! We raked and (they) jumped in it, and re~raked for an hour or so. I love simple fun!! Some of the shots are a little out of focus, but I love the looks of sheer joy  (and sometimes terror ~  on the end of  crack the whip) on their faces!!

 Mark, helping to rake

 Mr. Jude

 Watch out for the prickly pine cones!

 Ready, set... (love Maia's face)

 ...GO!!

 Maia <3

 Jude had a blast! lol

 Marko

 The game of 'lets hold hands and jump into the leaves' aka crack the whip

 LOVE this one!!

Maia kept checking on Baby Lydia

You definitely need ice cream after all that fun!!

Today: I just finished planting 6 trees at "my house" this afternoon. My tenants were away for a week and it was perfect for doing some work on the place. I went to a garden center on Monday, and walked through the 75% off section, and had trouble leaving some there! I've been wanting to plant shade trees around the house for a.very.long.time. and I finally gave in. It's one of those things that you regret not doing sooner, because the trees would have been huge by now, but I'm hoping that I'll get another chance to live there st some point, and enjoy them! I got three field maples for the front of the house, which turn yellow in the fall, three red maples for the back yard, and a serviceberry, which has white blooms, purple berries, and mixed foliage in the fall for the side of the house by the front porch. I can't wait to see them next spring and fall!! I love doing yard work, but after 3 days of planting 6 trees, digging holes, digging up and replanting 2 existing bushes, spreading the extra dirt and trimming bushes, my back and arms are happy to call it a fall, and leave the rest for next year!