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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Oh, To Be in Minneapolis, Now that Autumn is Here


It’s not like I didn’t see it coming. 

But still.  I was shocked.

Fall!  Every year, it shows up, oh, around this time.  And we in the intemperate climes are accustomed to it.  From hearty, pioneering stock, we embrace these temperature swings: it gives us something to complain about year-round, gives us a sense of pride regarding a wardrobe that accommodates a 140-degree temperature swing, provides us with a street-side view of the seasonal migratory patterns of the roof-less. 

Every year we watch summer depart, watch the leaves turn and talk about transitions, about phases of life.

About raking.

When I left this morning, the deck was clear.

And now this.


What does one do with third-floor leaves?  What is my third-floor obligation here?  Do I bag them?  Do I hope they blow away?

Do I shovel them over the side and let the first-floor people deal with them?

It’s Tuesday, and this is what I’m dealing with.

And to think:  I saw it coming.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is pretty (but slippery remember...no wing dings off the roof please). I'd be hoping for a strong blast of autumn wind.

Mandy_Fish said...

I'd bag them, but then, I have issues.

Laurel's Quill said...

Third floor leaves! now that's a dilemma. I say box them up and send them off to me since I don't have any Fall leaves to rake (we have redwoods and palm trees).

esbboston said...

If you wait 7,000 years it is likely that no one alive right now wiLL be concerned about those particular leaves. But it is Minnesota, and thats why I went with 7,000 instead of the 5,000 that would be associated with some place like Iowa.

Vicus Scurra said...

Make a sustaining broth with them.

joeh said...

Wiat for the wind.

Pearl said...

Right now, I am torn between mailing them to "lucky" commenters -- ha ha -- and making a sustaining broth with them.

:-)

This is why I come here, people. For the intellectual discourse.

fmcgmccllc said...

What a lovely balcony.

Silliyak said...

More info needed. Do you have compostable garbage pick up? Is there wind predicted in the near future? Rain?

If there is wind soon, don't quite get around to bagging the leaves.

Rain?, bag (if you have pick up) NOW

Bag when you can if you have time otherwise. Next is the question, strong expensive bags so you can drop them off the deck, or cheap ones that have to be carried down.

And ditto on the deck loveliness

TexWisGirl said...

raking the balcony would be different. :)

Anonymous said...

They belong to no one until they're on the ground. You just sweep 'em off the deck.

vanilla said...

I believe you wrote your own answer and italicized it!

Shelly said...

I would be inclined to get a bit of a running start and slide headfirst through them. But then, I'm from a clime where we don't get many falling leaves.

esbboston said...

You are more likely to get a staining broth.

Unknown said...

I say sweep them off! (When the downstairs neighbors aren't home, of course.)

Anonymous said...

Over the side--no question!!

Anonymous said...

Let mother nature take care of them? No, that's wrong...but look, if it's cold out I don't want to be out in it. I'd rather hire someone to rake them. Then again, that's why I have teenagers.

Notes From ABroad said...

I think you should push them off in the night and blame it on the wind if anyone should ask.

But they won't ask. Who asks ??

Buttons Thoughts said...

I must say you have very smart yet a little sneaky followers:) B

Joanne Noragon said...

Wait for the wind for a long time. Then sweep. I'd go for the narrow end; less blowback onto floor two. That's all I can advise.

Joanne Noragon said...

PS--your digs may not be the garrett than I envisioned. A relief.

Twisted Scottish Bastard said...

Wait until midnight, then shovel them over the side.

stephen Hayes said...

No doubt you're a better person than me, but I'd sweep them over the side.

Indigo Roth said...

It's hardly surprising. You're closer to the source of the leaves.

Sausage said...

The bloody horror...
Actually I am a bit jealous,since I have had to apply gold bond powder to the delicates once again for the second time today.
Cheers, Sausage.

Douglas said...

I am thinking "tree diapers"...

But that is the old 22-20 hindsight kicking in.

Craver Vii said...

They're easier to sweep up when they're dry, but I do love the sounds they make. Plus, they're more interesting than looking at the same floor pattern all the time... until they get wet. Then, they're treacherous.

River said...

Sweep them onto the lower level, then offer to sweep their deck for five dollars. Bag the lot and sell the bags to composters/mulchers in your area.

Elephant's Child said...

River nailed it. Though I might ask for ten dollars and be prepared to negotiate. A bit.

Unknown said...

In my experience, it's always good to WAIT until ALL the leaves have fallen and then deal with them just once. I've never had the layering dilemma though. That's a good one. Do you know your neighbours? Do they know you? Will you miss out on Christmas Parties and goodies if you mess up????
Rosemary

Gigi said...

That IS an interesting question.....one that could keep me up all night. My first inclination is to sweep them off and let whomever is below deal with it - I mean that's where they were MEANT to land had someone not put a deck in the way in the first place......

SOL's view said...

Third floor leaves! You could send them over here, since the novelty of dealing with "fall" would be completely new to me.

Then again, this could be the perfect opportunity to let the inner child run free to kick them. ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE WHILE YOU LISTEN TO THE NOISE! And the rustling! And the sliding! And the ... oh. Sorry. Did that go over to your balcony?

Yeah. Total SEP. :)

jenny_o said...

Well, technically, you might have seen IT coming (fall), but you didn't see THAT coming (dealing with leaves despite being on the third floor).

I'd bag them, but that's because I have a debilitating need to have people not hate me :)

Whatever you do, don't let them get wet on that painted deck - very treacherous!

Ms Sparrow said...

I wouldn't make any rash decisions. There are a lot of leaves still hovering above you waiting for a clean deck to leap onto!

Geo. said...

It's possible the first-floor people don't know about these trees. Do they go all the way to the ground?

Lin said...

Sweep them up and it's okay if a few blow overboard. :)

HermanTurnip said...

What else, make a leaf pie. Perhaps a leaf loaf? Label it "Nuvo Cuisine". Write an award-winning series of "Cooking With Leaves" books. Become world famous. Get your own show on The Food Network. Make a grip of money with your new-found fame. With the proceeds hire a gardener who specializes in third-floor balcony leaves and never have to worry about 'em again.

Linda O'Connell said...

One sweeping blow and they are down below.

Raymond Alexander Kukkee said...

Pearl, get out the old shop vac, put it on 'blow' and give'er, a puff here, a puff there, and those beautiful leaves will be out of there, blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind.....
Do NOT look over the balcony after you do it...just in case those below are looking UP. ":)

Ms Scarlet said...

Just make sure they have all fallen before you make a sweeping statement.
Sx

deeps said...

in fact it s just great to know fall has happened this year too in time....
in this part of the world clime-time table is changing drastically

Tempo said...

Give the wind a little help in the night... But me, I'd sweep them up.

Dawn@Lighten Up! said...

Rake. 2 margaritas. Big pile.
and then . . .
David Lee Roth say . . .
"Might as well
JUMP!
Go ahead and jump!"
(into the leaves, anyway. Not off the balcony. I need my Pearlie writings!)

Tom G. said...

The forecast calls for high winds the next 24 hours. So if you are just patient, the problem will take care of itself and the people on the 1st floor won't be able to blame you for it.

BECKY said...

Let them be gone with the wind!

Rose L said...

You could always use a blower...I actually saw someone doing that once. I think he thought if he blew the leaves off his 3rd floor balcony the groundskeeper could take care of it. And here all this time I pictured you in a 1 story house!