How To Choose The Right Rake For Raking Leaves

My ears were assaulted this morning by the cacophony of half a dozen leaf blowers on my block. At about 75 decibels each, that was a lot of noise. Add to that the sounds of construction from the two McMansions they're building on my block and I've got a massive headache. I understand why landscapers use leaf blowers (to get the job done fast), but I won't be using one today, at least on my front yard.

Choose the right rake for capturing these beauties!

I prefer the elegance, the Zen of raking my leaves. But if you're new to the job, how do you choose the right rake?

Go to Home Depot or Lowes and you'll have your choice from a few types of rakes with the primary difference being that the tines are made of either metal, plastic, or bamboo. Rakes also come in varying widths, but don't think that a wider rake will get the job done faster. Experts say that because the tool produces more friction, it will just tire you out faster. A 24” rake is a good, all-around size for most adults.

The rake you probably need - a 24" plastic model, but read on...

The real difference is in the tines. Bamboo tines are the most light-weight and gentle on plants, especially if you're raking over groundcover or flower beds. Bamboo is also the most fragile, so expect those lovely tines to break easily. Metal tines are the most resilient, often come with tension bars to eliminate bending and breaking and are great on wet leaves, but not as effective if you're moving a lot of leaves. Plastic tines are sturdier than bamboo but, depending on the quality of the plastic, can break as well. These are on my family's “rakes of choice.” They're best when moving large quantities of leaves and have lasted a few seasons. They will, however, hurt plants if you yank at the leaves, so be careful when you're raking to pull and sweep, like a broom.

I think plastic tine rakes are the best overall. 

Also available are skinny shrubbery rakes with long tines which pull leaves out of shrubs without damaging the delicate plants. I've found that buying a plastic kids rake is just as good for doing this as long as you don't, again, yank the leaves.  Obviously, buying your kid a rake also encourages them to help out.  

This pretty red metal rake would be easy to see if you put it down.

One of the most impressive rakes I've seen is one that allows the user to adjust the fan width and handle height. And another has two heads that pivot and open to swallow leaves so you can dump them into your yard cart or bag without bending. Personally, I'm not spending the money for those. 

Make sure, before you start raking, that you warm up. There's a lot of hip, shoulder, and back movement in this chore and if you don't warm up, you'll feel about 90 years old tomorrow. If you're raking to bag leaves, you're best off sticking a tarp or cut-open garbage bag on the ground and raking the leaves onto that before you place them in bags. Our tried-and-true technique for bagging is to use one rake as a dustpan and another as a broom – just sweep the leaves with one onto the other. Don't forget to carry lawn gloves for when you need to clean fallen debris and place it into the bag.

Now that I've written about raking, it's time to go do it. It's a good calorie-burner, a great way to enjoy the diminishing sunlight, and one of the few chores I really enjoy. It's instant gratification – you rake, you see the results immediately. And I like the Zen state it puts me in. There's something peaceful about just raking leaves. Unlike the leaf blower, it doesn't assault the senses and with my landscaper charging $40 extra a week to do it, raking is a money-saver for the family.

Choose the right rake and get out and enjoy your lawn! See you outside!

Get your kids out and raking, too!

 

 

 

As always, thanks for reading! 

Have Your Child Sign A Contract When They Take A Time-Intensive Sport

 

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that my daughter not only takes gymnastics, but competes in meets as well. It's a huge time commitment for not only her, but me as I schlep her to and from the gym. Plus, it ain't cheap. Last year toward the end of the season, she decided on more than one occasion that she “didn't want to go.” Each of those time slots was a big waste of money, not to mention the emotional toil it took on me as I tried to get her to go. Diva's father and I decided that those fits are NOT going to happen this year!

The first thing we did, was review with her the pluses and minuses of gymnastics. I've mentioned the minuses, but the pluses are she thinks it's fun, great exercise, the coaches are loving, the sport demands that she respect her body with good nutrition and she's delighted that she's made some good friends as a result of her involvement with the team.  We asked if she really, deep in her heart, wanted to continue.  She assured us that she did.

Secondly, my husband and I thought about what behaviors we wanted to encourage and discourage. I considered what needed to be done before I even get in the car to take her to the gym. Then, I drew up this contract:

Diva's Contract For Being On The Gymnastics' Team

1. All playdates, whether you've played or not, must be over by (time specified) so that we're not late to practice.
2. All schoolwork must be done before leaving for the gym.
3. Dinner must have been eaten before leaving for the gym.
4. If you miss more 3 practices during the Season, for any other reason than illness as determined by Mom, you will be off the team.
5. If you have any fits/arguments about going, Mom will inform the Coach. YOU can then tell him why you're not there.
6. If you are late, you will still go because you have a commitment to the team and understand that showing up for practice is very important.
7. You must be in bed by (time specified) – no arguments, please.

I understand that taking gymnastics is a privilege, not a right. I agree to the conditions above.

________________________________                                                ________________________

Signed                                                                                                     Date

I presented the contract to Diva and she, on her own, reviewed each point, considering it carefully. She brought up her objections to several and I calmly explained why those points were being included. I told her that that if she did not agree to the contract, I would not pay for her gymnastics for the upcoming month. It was not a threat - it was a fact.  She read the contract meticulously, once more before finally signing it.

The contract now hangs on the refrigerator. The beauty of it is that it clearly states what Diva's commitment is and what happens if she doesn't follow through. Since she has signed it, she can't say later on, “No, I didn't agree to that.”  The proof is on the fridge.  

Is it guaranteed to eliminate any tantrums?  No, but it gives me an out if she does resist on any of the points made. There will be no yelling or manipulating, on my part, to get her to go. As in the real world, if the contract is broken, the privilege will be pulled. 

 

All “Pooled Out” Kids? Tough! Momma Gotta Swim!

Me...NOT!!!  What a lie!

So it's only been three weeks since school let out and my kids are already complaining that they're all “pooled out” and are sick of going to our town pools. Granted, they go at least once a week with their camp, however, there are two extraordinary pools in our fair city and we've only been there, as a family five times (I've been counting).

After many years of chasing one kid or another away from the deep end, they're finally at that enviable stage where they can go off on their own, within the confines of the limited pool grounds, and I can sit back and relax. They find friends or, if desperate enough, will actually play TOGETHER (something they do NOT do at home). I chat with people I only see during the Summer, read, write, and try to con myself to get my butt in the water and swim laps.

Convincing myself is the excruciating part. Once I'm in the water, I swim 12 laps. Okay, it's at a snail's pace, but at least I do it. The water is cool, the smell of chlorine refreshing and there's something delightful about kicking around, like a child, enjoying the pleasure of moving my legs through the water. I look around at the kids, splashing and having fun, and I am at peace. Again, once I'm actually IN the pool.

Sadly, I have deterred myself from swimming a few times for flimsy reasons. “I don't have enough time,” “the lap pool is too busy,” and “the kids will never be able to find me,” are some of the stupid excuses I've used. And I always regret not swimming. I've even given the kids passes on going because they're too “pooled out.”

Well, not today! Their dad is home and he's in a GO-GO-GO mood. While I usually loathe those moods, I'm taking advantage of it while the day is fairly young and we're hauling complaining, child tushies to the pool. I WILL get my rumpus in the water and I WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME.

Sometimes parents have to do what's right for themselves and the opinions of their children be damned. Today is one of those days! Suck it up, kids. Momma gotta swim! 

This looks more like me..except with a bathing suit top on...and without the hairy chest.

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Thank you for reading!   Please come back again.  I want to tell you about my - seriously - life-changing vacuum.  And NO, it's not a compensated post.  Wait until you hear about this thing!  

3 Fantastic Product Reviews (Some Of THE BEST PRESENTS We Received For Christmas)

(Please Note: The website Bloggy Moms lists writing prompts with challenges for bloggers to write about various subjects. The prompts are interesting and fun, so I've accepted the January Blog Dare and will periodically be responding to them, though not today. My Product Reviews & Tips will always appear first so that you can read those first in case you'd rather not peruse further.)

Christmas yielded some incredibly amusing and useful presents this year and I feel compelled to share my three favorite items with you. They're not in any particular order because all are being used heavily thus far. The items are: 

A Re-Usable Travel Coffee Mug – I drink a lot of coffee and tea in the Winter and was always using those Styrofoam “To-Go” cups so I could bring hot beverages in the car. (BTW, I recently realized that those cups are really sippy cups for adults. It was yet another DUH moment in my life...) Styrofoam cups aren't good for the environment and they can be a little pricey, even if you buy them at Costco. A few weeks ago, I noticed the cup below in my local grocery store, bought it for myself, and have been using it daily ever since. It's ceramic, so it's easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and the rubber top (not pictured) doesn't get grungy like some others do. I think it cost about $6 and has been worth every penny!

 


Spot-It – This game was about $7 on Amazon and I ordered it after reading the glowing reviews listed on the website. Still, I was a bit nervous when Diva opened it because she hadn't asked for it and sometimes what other people think of something falls flat with your kid. Fortunately, this did not. Spot-It is a card game for players ages 7 and up and can be played with two to eight players. The cards contain different symbols   ( hearts, a hand, an apple, etc.) and there is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any two cards in the game. Your job is to match a symbol on your card with the symbol on another card. Sounds simple, right? Well it is, but the symbols are different sizes which makes them less obvious; for this reason, you can be staring at your card for a good 30 seconds without realizing that the matching picture is right there in your hand! Spot-It is a game of observation which is oodles of fun.  We played the game with Nana on Christmas and even brought it on a recent trip. It's one of the few games that Teen and Diva will actually play together. I'll be buying several to give out as party presents this year.

WiiFit Plus – I asked for this for Christmas since I'm getting a bit bored with my current exercise equipment.  The kids and I have been playing the various games every day since. It comes with the WiiFit board and features different activities to help with balance, strength, etc. I'm not thrilled with the massive, round avatar it gave me based on my weight and because of that, I tend to give her the finger every time I see her, but most of the games themselves are a blast. Some can be played by all family members and we're informally competing in different games to see who can upset the others (I unexpectedly blew past Diva this morning when we participated in some hula-hoop activity – yeah me!). The first few times I played, I had to ask the Teen to help me set the system up, but finally got the knack of it.  WiiFit Plus also monitors your weight but you can set up a password so no one can see it when they play (THANK GOD!). One of the activities I'm really loving is the one where you can “go for a run.” The graphics distract me from the tedium of running and I set up my little trampoline (not included) in the den and pretend I'm running on the Wii course; it would be nice to be able to choose the “venue” where I'm running, but I can live with what it's showing me. This may be the most useful gift I've ever received. Thanks, Hubby!
 

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I so appreciate your visit! Please feel free to comment and be sure to check back in in a day or so when I'll share indoor activities you can do with your kids this Winter. We had a foot of snow in this area of the country last night and since I'm now snowed in with the young'uns, I'm brainstorming ways to keep Diva amused. I'll let you know how I fared...IF I do.....