Everybody thinks about autumn with a dreamy appreciation for changing colors, beautiful leaves, crackling fires, and brisk cool air. I think about all of those things, but I also think about the 6 hours it took me to rake up all of the leaves that fell into my yard and created my searing back pain.

This picture doesn't even really capture how big the pile was when I finished. I was beyond exhausted when the afternoon drew to a close, and my lats along with my triceps were huge...maybe it was worth it.