How many leaves can 100 year old Maple and Oak trees drop after hard frosts? Enough to keep Dennis and me busy for five hours. I had raked some yesterday. Today Dennis was on board with the Sears riding mower to mulch. We have twenty feet of Hostas under the lilacs that are under said Maple and Oak trees. Those packed leaves needed to be raked out and over the back patio into the path of Dennis and his mower. We got it done. Whatever there may be for leaves that have a thing about hanging onto mom’s limbs, they have our permission to fall at will.

We were dirty so we felt we might as well take care of the Koi. They are now in the horse tank in the car garage with the bubbler going. It is amazing how difficult they are to net. All of the filters and pumps have been washed in Dawn dishwashing liquid and are drying before being stored for the winter. Dennis is now taking it easy in his rocking chair in the patio porch watching the sump pump empty the Koi pond onto the backyard.

I am currently busy screwing up chili. It’s bad enough that 2lbs of 85% ground beef was $8.14, without my hand putting in too much salt. We now have chunks of raw potato floating with the hope of absorbing some of the salt. I have bought packages of chili seasoning to add to ground beef. Within those packages is white rice which is also a good component to soak up salt. We will have some unique chili for supper. I can also tell you that it will be eaten as there is no way this will be thrown out. Dennis is a good sport. In days of old a very strong dose of salt water was given to stave off worms within the frontier children.

There is never a dull moment here on Stauffer Avenue and we wouldn’t want it any other way. When I am very weary I either sleep deeply or I can’t get to sleep. It doesn’t matter as I am hoping for a slow quiet day tomorrow.