CLEANING THAT GROVE!

       Along the lines of washing storm windows was cleaning the "grove." Just immediately to the north of our home was a grove of trees that was just north of our home and protected it from the severe winter winds. It was primarily mature soft maples. There was another grove further north about 100 hundred yards. It was mostly mature evergreens and maples. 

        The first or primary grove was the one that we raked and cleaned in the fall and sometimes in the spring. To make all this work worthwhile, my mother made sure we made a picnic of it at the conclusion. Making a big bonfire with one of the piles of limbs and twigs, we would roast hot-dogs. That was the best ever and what a treat. We didn't have a charcoal or gas grill back then. Who cared?