This has to be one of the strangest Winters that we have experienced. We are seeing Facebook memories of snow on the ground, our bodies are twitching with muscle memory of shoveling and cold -- and yet, we are plugging away at Fall clean ups and counting rain days.

Mind you, we are not complaining, it is just a bit confusing to our systems. 

We have our snow client lists complete (and full), our trucks are oil sprayed, the plows repaired, and the shop bay has a mountain of salt at the ready! However, it is nice to be able to sleep through the night and not wake every couple hours to check the forecast and perhaps jump into our snow pants to madly clear a sudden squall.

But time is flying! We cannot believe that the count down to Christmas and Hannukah is on, deadlines for year end are approaching, and... we certainly feel unprepared. With all our concern over the weather and being ready to clear roads, parking lots, driveways and sidewalks, it feels as though we have forgotten about the life outside of work. As we have previously mentioned, Jody himself is very focused on his customers and meeting their needs - he is just lucky to have his wonderful wife Celia to help provide a bit of balance and reminder of his other joys (including their two children). Thanks to Celia, Jody is not as behind on being prepared for the holiday season as he perhaps would be if left to his own devices. Phew. 

Not sure what we can say about the rest of our staff... 

Katie certainly feels unprepared. There is a test for her pesticide license on the horizon and she is still madly trying to get through the second manual - the sand is running out of the hourglass! All the holidays can wait until after this is off the docket.

Donna seems fairly ready, plans have been made with her family members. The schedules for the  kids are known and accounted for. She's got this.

Chris is looking forward to the time with his adorable daughter, and already has plans for spoiling her rotten - he is prepped.

Jeremy is super chill about the whole affair. He knows the routine, knows where he has to be when, has already started prepping for the family shindigs. Surprisingly (sorry Jerm) he seems to be on target.

We know the rest of the team are looking forward to a break from the madness. Time to recoup, recharge, and get ready for the next season. We are grateful to our customers who rely on us to look after their properties - and we know they understand how much energy goes into our services.

So for now... we stand at the ready and wait. See what Winter throws at us next.

How The Leaves Came Down

I'll tell you how the leaves came down.
  The great Tree to his children said,
"You're getting sleepy, Yellow and Brown,
  Yes, very sleepy, little Red;
  It is quite time you went to bed."

"Ah!" begged each silly, pouting leaf,
  "Let us a little longer May;
Dear Father Tree, behold our grief,
  'Tis such a very pleasant day
We do not want to go away."

So, just for one more merry day
  To the great Tree the leaflets clung,
Frolicked and danced and had their way,
  Upon the autumn breezes swung,
  Whispering all their sports among,

"Perhaps the great Tree will forget
  And let us stay until the spring
If we all beg and coax and fret."
  But the great Tree did no such thing;
  He smiled to hear their whispering.

"Come, children all, to bed," he cried;
  And ere the leaves could urge their prayer
He shook his head, and far and wide,
  Fluttering and rustling everywhere,
  Down sped the leaflets through the air.

I saw them; on the ground they lay,
  Golden and red, a huddled swarm,
Waiting till one from far away,
  White bed-clothes heaped upon her arm,
  Should come to wrap them safe and warm.

The great bare Tree looked down and smiled.
  "Good-night, dear little leaves" he said;
And from below each sleepy child
  Replied "Good-night," and murmured,
  "It is so nice to go to bed."

~Susan Coolidge