Don’t Be Fooled: Michigan’s Gorgeous Fall Colors Are a Trap

There is a brief moment every year when I admire Michigan's fall colors. Then I remember that those beautiful leaves are headed directly for my lawn, gutters, and every corner of my property that a rake can't reach.

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I always tell myself this will be the year that I stay ahead of them. I'll rake every weekend, bag everything promptly, and keep the yard looking respectable. That plan survives until the first windy Tuesday, when my neighbor's tree donates its entire wardrobe to my property. The most insulting part is that I don’t even have any trees in my yard!

Fall Home Maintenance Brings More Unwelcome Tidings

a rat sitting on a piece of wood

Michigan's leaves are only the opening act. The gutters need cleaning, the patio furniture needs storing, the hoses need disconnecting, and half the garage needs rearranging so the snowblower can move up front.

Then comes the thermostat standoff. I refuse to turn on the furnace because I am financially responsible. Instead, I wear a hoodie indoors and insist that 59 degrees builds character. My family calls it something else.

Fall also means checking for tiny openings before Michigan's mice and bugs discover our home has heat, snacks, and no background checks.

Michigan Winter Is Already Smirking

a bunch of leaves that are laying on the ground

While everyone else is enjoying cider and pumpkins, I'm wondering whether the snowblower starts and where I put the ice scraper.

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Fall in Michigan is beautiful. It is also winter preparation dressed in flannel, holding a pumpkin-spice latte and laughing while I rake the same yard for the fifth time.