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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Elephant in the Yard

Can you see it raked in the leaves?

The rakers (free job) were due at 3:45 but came at 4:30. The eighth and sixth grader complained, ran, chased, argued, fought and raked little. At 4:45 the eighth grade girl demanded to be taken home because if she did not take her home she would get and F in Science and it would be all her mother's fault. Finally, I asked sweetly how long she had known she had the project. Six weeks....hmmm
 
Then, the sixth grade boy joyfully announced he had made an elephant. The mother argued. I told him to please not mess it up so I could take a picture of it. He was so pleased when I took the picture. After they left, I realized the child thought I would take his picture. I will next time he rakes.
 
My yard has huge lumps of leaves and tiny piles of leaves...sigh. And, six inches of grass for four months  killed some of the grass, lots of the grass.
 
Probably 1/10 of the yard is done!
 
Your turn
 
Can you see the elephant? Do you ever get help that is exhausting and no help in the end? 

15 comments:

  1. You got kids to rake at all? Never happend to me. I had to rake as a kid, as an adult and no help what so ever. Now, out here in the country, I can rake them up and burn them. Love the smell.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coffeypot,
      The mother was here. She did not do much to get them moving. One came and told her she was not raking, like she was their equal. I live right in the city and would like to have something except bare dirt. Burning would be good.

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Come on down. This mother is trying to teach lessons to her children, but they push her around.

      Delete
  3. Nothing in life is free. If you don't believe this, look at the elephant in your yard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I cannot do it myself not can exbf. Otherwise, none of the three would be here. People promise and don't deliver.

      Delete
  4. Love your elephant. And yes, I have experienced the 'help' which isn't.
    Sad that the children seem to have control of that relationship though...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EC,
      The mother is 34 and has six children, the oldest of which is 18.

      I felt like I should praise the elephant, but now I figure my yard will just be full of animals and piles of leaves. sigh

      It was a great elephant!

      Delete
  5. I have a second floor apartment, so I don't have to worry about a yard, but I remember "helping" my grandparents rake leaves when I was younger. They had three big maple trees at that time. Most of that time was spent jumping into the piles of leaves afterward. Maple leaves smell so good in fall!

    I can remember Dad scolding me for messing up the piles and Mom scolding me for playing in leaves with my asthma, but I would still jump in a pile of leaves if I found one.

    ReplyDelete
  6. jessnhalinda,
    I am glad you "helped" your grandparents. I don't think any child can help jumping in and messing up the leaf piles. Oh, yes, I would have not let my child with asthma in the yard when leaves were being raked. I can barely stand being in the yard when anyone is raking. I don't have asthma, but fall makes me ill with all the leaves fluttering down.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can see it. And I can also see the miniscule area that got raked. I think the leaves are high enough to bury the girl under. Just sayin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lotta joy,
      Miniscule is just about right. They raked very little but managed to get 1 foot of leaves in the 10x10 foot hens' pen. I had some thoughts and then just was grateful she was not mine.

      Delete
  8. I like the elephant..... and I applaud your attempt to give work to this family. I don't have any idea how they came to be raking your yard but YEAH for you! Someone (that boy child) blessed you with an elephant!!!!! Isn't it wonderful to have a bit of fantasy dropped into your life?

    I am going to continue my thought in an email.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janet,
      Oh, I loved the elephant and told him not to mess is up so I could take a picture. He was proud. They volunteered to mow my yard four or more months ago.

      Delete
    2. I meant volunteered to rake my yard, even before the leaves had begun to fall.

      Delete

Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.