The Grand River widens into the millpond at Onondaga, and on a hot afternoon the whole village seems to move at the speed of the water going over. Yards in this bend of the river grow deep and quick in June, so we keep them on a rotation and never let a lot get away from us. Mowing, trimming around the trees and fence posts, edging the walks, blowing the clippings off the drive — a short list, done the same way every visit. Spring and fall we clean the yards out, hauling off the winter's mess in April and the leaf fall in October. Onondaga is a small enough place that people notice a well-kept lot, and we like being the reason for it.