Raking, Chopping, Mulching, Composting: Keep Those leaves Coming

It's time to get started again in the yard and greenhouse. I have been busy with other things since about Halloween. Now my thoughts are turning toward what I need to do to get ready for spring. Every year I have more plans than I can carry through with, but that is good.The most miserable people I have ever known did not have anything they wanted to do. So I am doubly blessed I guess. I tend to get too many irons in the fire this time of year. (That may be a phrase that has lost its meaning to most people alive now.)
There is dead fall from the trees all around the yard. The leaves are still luscious and deep and rattle when I shuffle through them on a dry day. (When have we had one of those?)I bought a mulching mower this past fall to chop leaves with for compost or mulch. I drastically underestimated the volume of leaves. One pass across the backyard filled the bag, so after 3 or 4 dumps and reattachments of the bag, I wandered off to something more fun. But those leaves are still waiting and I do want to chop some more before the spring winds blow them all into the woods and make deep mulch under the shrubs. I've never understood why people are so zealous to rake leaves. Just leave them alone and by spring God will have put them where they need to be. They will be gone from the lawn by spring. This is definitely true for oak leaves, but it may not apply to thin small leaves like pecan. When pecan leaves get wet, they track right into the house and drop in nasty clumps on the floor.
If you have some oak leaves you can shuffle through, I highly recommend it as a way to reorient yourself to the important things in life.