Tom panicked when he saw the title of this post saying to me “Oh, great, how are you ripping me on the blog now? Not fair! I’ve just learned over the years there are certain chores that only I tackle. No one else is going to do them in my family of five. So if I don’t do them, they don’t get done. And to be just, there are certain jobs that Tom does that I won’t touch with a ten foot pole. (Cat litter box…putting gas in the car….lifting heavy ceramic pots…dealing with worms…not I). But the division of labor has allowed us to have such a splendid garden and to continue to plow away at the yard, although our neighbors probably beg to differ! It makes me wonder what your November garden chore list looks like because this is what we’ve been up to. Want to compare notes? What are “your” outdoor jobs this time of year? Here’s the thing that baffles me most about chores and gender.
The chore that I can’t wait to do is the one that Tom either intensely dislikes or avoids like the plague. Vice versa holds true as well.
Case in point?….I actually find doing the laundry an invigorating experience. There’s serious satisfaction in waking up at 7 a.m., popping in a large load, putting it in the dryer and by the time the kids are on the bus, I’m ready to fold! Same with bed making. Nothing perks me up like peeking into my room to see the bed made to perfection. Sloppy bed? No can do.
There are jobs that don’t bother Tom one way or the other. As long as the laundry fairy does her magic and his clothes are back in the drawer when he needs them, he’s not going to fuss.
The recycling is a different matter. I’m certain Tom has had murderous thoughts about me due to my poor habit of dumping all the recycling out the garage door and letting him deal with it. But he is so happy when it’s time to recycle the water bottles for cash. I’d never do that task, like ever. They can sit in the garage till kingdom come.
His and her division of labor….seasonal style!
Some chores I relish somewhat because they give me satisfaction to see completed like the laundry and the making of the beds.
But I am thrilled that other chores are seasonal so only have to get done once or even a couple of times of year. It spices up life a bit and makes you more appreciative when you don’t have to do that task for up to a whole year again. Yay!
His list…
- Plant the rest of the garlic
- Burn the rest of the weeds in the garden with torch
- Bring in the solar lights and garden decor that doesn’t stay out all winter
- Haul remaining pumpkins to back yard for the deer to eat
- Put away tomato cages for next year
- Haul heavy ceramic pots in the garage
- Deal with hammock, find a storage spot for it so the mice don’t chomp at it
- Blow out water from drip irrigation
- Clean chimney so we can burn wood
- Hang turkey decor and turkey lighting (this totally should be me but whatever) and take down when appropriate to store
- Blow out hoses
- Get on roof to clean chimney
- Mow the lawn and weedwack the yard for the last time this year
- Chuck pallets that never got used in DIY projects (someone will pick them up for sure!)
- Put away trampoline before inclement weather destroys it
- Blow leaves and compost
- Add a compost layer to the raised beds
- Stack wood outside and in the garage on the wood rack.
- Clean cars inside and out before the snow comes. Make sure windows are clean for increased safety.
- Recycle all bottles
Her list…
- Harvest the very last of the crops
- Dry herbs
- Decide what annuals to attempt to overwinter and which ones the frost can have its way with
- Bring in gourds from front porch and decide which ones will be used as table centerpiece and in home decor (okay, that sounded pretty lame.)
- Sweep front porch and driveway. Put away all clutter that has collected on front porch like tools, shoes, garden gloves and trowels. Store small garden away until next year
- Bring in potted plants like all the hibiscus plants and those lemon trees and finally those houseplants which got to enjoy the great outdoors for a bit.
- Pick apples and pears off trees for pies and applesauce
- Yard cleanup, twigs, branches, leaves….
- Decide which pumpkins will be used in Thanksgiving decor and which rotted
- Store seeds in a dark, dry place
- Sort kids clothes putting the seasonal spring and summer clothes away and finding fall and winter clothing.
- Put away garden boots, flip flops and other seasonal apparel until next year and find those dang winter boots in storage!
- Cut up the 10 mammoth squash I bought at a roadside stand
- Pull the last of the prickly weeds from perennial beds
- Plant bulbs
- Inspect for curb appeal – what’s making our house look like the messy people on the block and what can I proactively do to change that today? Especially before the snow flies…
The family list…
There are a few chores that aren’t designated to one person or the other and we just try to tackle as a family including:
- Roast pumpkin seeds
- The washing of the windows, especially the outside to make viewing easier. Clean windows make me happy and content.
- Decide what items should go to the Salvation Army and actually drop them off
- Clean up dog poop by scooping into double black-bagged garage bag (My 5-year-olds hawks eyes can always spot those poopsicles….kind of like an Easter egg hunt for her!)
- Sweep garage. Get rid of plastic toys no longer getting used. Organize. Organize. Organize.
The list no one did at the date of this post….oops!
- Make tomato sauce out of the excess tomatoes (we didn’t have any)
- Fix our curb appeal by the side of the garage
- Plant last summer/fall crops like lettuce & peas
- Add a raised bed for just herbs
- Sweep all the wood bark and chips so bunnies and rats don’t nest in them
- Do one last round of weeding around the perimeter of the yard
- Make applesauce (the apples were too wormy)
- Mow the lawn one last time
I really like to get my lawn and flower beds cleaned up for winter but I really hate raking out around the wood pile. I’m afraid of critters that come running or slithering out.
Unfortunately, everything you have on all your lists, are my jobs at home. I run all the equipment, get on the roof to clean gutters, etc. I’ve had to learn to do everything myself.
The towels shown in the Turkish Towel Company post look so soft!
I am remembering the sensual feel of the change of the seasons more than ever. The Turkish towel would be extra fine off of a towel warmer like the fancy hotels have.
I love planting stuff in the fall o that will bloom the next year.
I HATE raking leaves! One good thing about this house I bought – it has no trees!!
I run a gardening group at 10,200 ft. It is quite a challenge. We work very hard trying to raise vegetables up here. I don’t clean out my beds in the fall. The dead and some live lie under the snow providing nourishment for my worms and other critters. I hate to see the summer come to an end. I hate putting away all of the lawn furniture and bracing for the winter. Thank you for this wonderful blog post.
I may be a weirdo for this, but I like raking the leaves
Time to do so many things. I think I like putting the garden to bed the best and planning for next year. I do not care to pick up super heavy things anymore, .
I love planting Spring bulbs but have to do it quickly here in the South since the cold weather doesn’t last very long…
Oh I always loved taking care of my yard and garden. It became harder as I got older and there was no one to do the heavy lifting anymore. I think that gender roles or ingrained in us older people but at times as you age you have to do it all anyway so learn now. I would sure like some of those Turkish towels I know they are exquisite.
I love mowing in the fall. The smell is amazing, but I don’t care for putting away all the summer pretties. It seems so bare.
I love them.. such a great gift!
I like the fall colors but don’t like the cooler temps
My division of labor for fall chores, because I’m alone, includes my five amazing, and more than willing to help, grandchildren!! P.S. The towels would be a welcome addition to my home.
My husband takes care of everything outside. I do most of the inside stuff. He works hard outside during non-Winter time and gets to rest during the winter. I do work year round but it is not hard work and I appreciate all the outside stuff he does that I don’t have to touch.
SO many things to get done before the brutal cold of winter!
Thank you for sharing.
I love to go hiking at this time of the year. Love the colors of nature in fall
We moved into a brand new house in Jan, have spent all summer getting thing done, patios poured, landscaping done and my flower garden is ready for fall planting. We won’t miss the leaves to be raked this year as no large trees in the area, we have planted a few, so fall cleanup is very minimal this year.
I like pruning and getting the garden ready for the Winter. I do not enjoy raking leaves. I only like to see them gone.
It’s easy here, I do most of the inside work and my husband does most of the outside work.
My husband does all the outside work and I take care of the house.
Hmmm, maybe you’re blocked. Shoot me the address and I can manually unblock you!! Sorry about this!!!
I like the change of seasons. I have been busy raking leaves and winterizing the house and garden.
I actually love to work outside. I’ve started getting the flower beds ready for winter and have planted a few things I still had in pots so they won’t freeze. My husband buys the groceries, pays the bills and runs errands and I’m happy with that.
I love being outside in the Fall I love working outside and I love taking long walks just to enjoy the Fall scenery!! 🍂🍁🍂
Planning my fall garden and getting it ready is one of my favorite parts of Fall.
Favorite is decorating for fall holidays, and the one I dread is putting away all my plants that can’t overwinter outside.
I don’t mind raking, picking up dog poop is a regular job with dogs. We are in transition so don’t have my own home right now.
Its harder for me to do all the fall activities I am use to doing and it made no difference in my relationship what chores had to be done we both just did what we had to so we could work together to get them all done.
Can wait to try these!
We usually work together to get stuff put away but I need to finish some weeding that got away from me quick before it snows
cleaning out gutters all around the house is one thing!
I dont do yard work lol
I love those Turkish towels
IF the leaves have fallen, November is about cleaning out gutters, sometimes cleaning out the garage if its been a hot summer. In the south, it stays warm longer now and I hate working outside in hot weather. I don’t do a lot of flower bed work until spring!
I’m a big gardener, so I focus on (and really enjoy) planting colorful annuals to perk up the Spring garden, prune and clear out existing pots for new Spring growth, planting bulbs, fertilizing, bug spraying, etc. My husband does the bigger outside chores like general bush pruning, raking, digging holes for new plants, pressure washing cement walkways & driveway every couple of years, and general outdoor maintenance. This separation of chores works well for us most of the time!
My children are grown. I would approach it differently by listing each chore on a piece of paper and have the kids draw out of a hat.
Always loved fall. the cooler temps and the colors
I dread bringing in all my plants and LOVE Fall Festivals and Foods! 🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁
Both my husband and I interchangeably do chores inside and outside. Working outside invigorates me, brings great satisfaction, and provides a form of exercise that’s enjoyable. However, my husband isn’t as avid a fan of outside work as I am. Since we live so far South in Texas, many bushes and plants continue to grow year ’round, needing tending. Currently we’re using a leaf blower to remove Fall leaf litter from our porch, driveway, patio, walkways, planting beds, around fencing and trees as it’s the quickest and easiest way for us. Then, our lawn tractor’s pull behind leaf/acorn/twig/etc. sweeper gathers this material for depositing in the composting pile. Yep, we both use the chipper shredder mulching machine too! I adore compost! My husband is the one who tends the grape vines. He’s also in charge of hanging soot and filling bird feeders. I’ll shortly do the last of our tomatoes. Fortunately, it slows down come the last of the leaves.
I love planning for fall decorating, and dread it when it’s time to put away!
I usually do dishes and laundry and my husband sweeops and mops!!!! It’s all about teamwork
All garden chores used to be 100% me; which I was totally ok with; but I am getting more broken every year, so i have had to give up a lot. My adult daughter was raking leaves for me the other day and commented that she was turning in to her mom. She was actually enjoying raking!
There are just way too many chores. I need to simplify my life as I get older.
I love all the Beautiful colors of Autumn! Pulling weeds is probably one of my least favorite things.
Usually I get all the gardening/harvesting. The kids are supposed to help, but they don’t. My kids have all learned to cook which is nice when I need a day off. My husband does most the repairs around the farm.