Too Tight

When I load leaves into my yard waste can, I usually pack as full as possible. Which is all well and good when leaves are dry and need coaxing to settle down and allow a full load. However, when leaves are soaked in rain for three days, the soggy things pack themselves. And that should be OK. Sure fine and dandy. I raked wet leaves during the 40 degree afternoon and packed them into yard waste can and the garbage can. But Tuesday night when I put both cans at the curb the temperature dropped below freezing. Well guess what? The leaves cuddled up tight, to escape the chill, I suppose, and bonded with ice crystals. A don't let me go bond. Different trucks pick up garbage and yard waste. The city trucks lifted the cans dutifully and held them high above with the covers flopping merrily. Except for a few, the frozen leaves stayed in the cans. So I had to haul the heavy cans into my back yard and tip them over to hold them over for another day. I hope the leaves will thaw enough so I can put them out again next Wednesday. Good thing I can put that on my schedule. Nothing very pressing for a couple of weeks anyway.
Naomi Sherer