Leaf blower

Years ago, when I first heard of leaf blowers, I thought they were a bit silly. Then I actually saw one in use, and thought they were noisy and silly. I thought they were for lazy old guys who didn't want to rake.

Well.

Now that I'm old myself (I've always been lazy, and have never liked to rake), it is time for my own leaf blower. The rock that now covers half of our back yard was just the last nail in the coffin -- just try to rake a few cubic yards of elm leaves off of pea rock, and you'll head for Ace Hardware just like I did.

So off I went, clutching a tattered old Consumer Reports buyer's guide. I couldn't find this year's guide, but how much can leaf blowers have changed in three years, anyway? I came back with this unit. Now, imagine me grunting like Tim Allen: 12 amp motor, quick-shift between blower & vacuum, 424 cubic feet/minute airflow.

And it's not all that noisy.