Spring Yard Cleaning

I remember growing up and working in the yard with my father. We would rake all the leaves in the yard into a huge pile by the street. You could sense fall in the air by the smell of the freshly fallen leaves and the cool air. My dad would take out the lighter from his pocket and light the pile of leaves on fire. No need for a permit! Not sure if there was one required, but even if there was my dad wouldn't bother. The fire would burn really hot for most of the afternoon into the evening. Sometime a car would drive by sending the flaming leaves down the street chasing after the car. We would sometimes burn into the night. Unlike today, you need a permit and fires have to be out by 4 pm like in my town. I recalled these memories after spending this weekend burning the piles of trees and branches we have begun to cut down in our yard. There is about 7 years worth of yard work that hasn't been done. We are on a mission to get it done this year. We have burned 5 huge piles of brush. Burning over the weekend reminded me of my dad and the times we worked in the yard together. I did get a permit and the fire was out by 4 pm as required. OK it was 5 pm.