Rake. It’s the first thing you think of when green leaves begin to do their impression of a chameleon. Before a single one has fluttered onto the front yard, you’ve created an aggressive plan of attack (read: you called the lawn service).

When the leaves do fall, you wade through the yard and onto the driveway to begin your day, comforted that you’ll end the day by coming home to see the evidence being carted off in the back of a big orange truck.

But just this once, don’t make that call. Go out to the garage, hand everyone a rake (if you have any left) and make the biggest pile you can. Then just keep wrecking and restoring that patchwork volcano. Mull a gallon of cider, chew on some ginger snaps, and keep rolling around the yard until you remember the smell of burning leaves that once came from everyone’s yard. Maybe even sneak a few leaves into your own chiminea to let the kids in on the secret scent.