This winter will be my seventh Minnesota winter.

My house will, again, transform from this:

to the very different version of itself:

Notice the leaves in the first picture. You see those? Every leaf shown is on my property and must be properly clumped, mulched, bagged, and transported to the city compost pile. I’m not asking for a medal, but sheesh, I am a bit proud of myself.

Notice, too, the snow in the second picture. As with all of us Minnesotan homeowners, I shovel and fling and snowblow my way into flat surfaces of perceived safety. I even broke down and purchased a snowblower this year. She’s a beaut, Clark.