Wind, Leaves and an Altered Book!

We have had very strong winds the last few days...being at the end of the street....we get not only our own leaves from the two trees in the front but all the neighbors leaves also.....I was going to start raking them up but its windy today too!.....there is a large concrete tortoise in there somewhere but all you can see of him is peak of his shell....
we share a small front yard with our next door neighbors......here is what this looks like

The leaves are  heaped up in the gutters also...so we have our work cut out for us as soon as the winds calm down.....the back yard isn't much better...the winds were so blustery, our patio is covered also...some of the neighbors have cut their big trees down as they don't like all the leaves but we love them and would never do that......I always wanted a house with a big tree in the front yard........

I was reading Mamie Janes blog and saw this tutorial for a altered book...as I had an old one, decided to try it...here is the result....not too bad for the first attempt.....if you'd like to try making one...its not difficult....go to Mamie Janes Book Art,,,I think this needs smaller pip berries but these are all I have for now....haven't gotten the Christmas boxes down yet....something I plan to do later today....

Nancy, Huggins Haven is helping a young family who are struggling....they have children who will not be getting a very happy Christmas...she is asking everyone to donate small gifts or cash for them.....please go over to her blog and she gives the details and what you can do to help....so many are struggling this year...and you will know your donations will go directly to this deserving family....