Mrs. Velo and I (with a little help from son) got the whole yard raked this weekend. Not one of those easy, just raking leaves rakings but a deep, take that thatch out raking. I was finishing up and started loading up bags to take to the yard waste site when I saw neighbor who had aerated his lawn the day before. I joked with him that I had hoped the lawn fairy would have aerated mine the night before. He asked me if I wanted to borrow it. I said I would as soon as I got back from the yard waste site.
When I got back he had it hitched up to his lawn tractor and ready to go. I just had to take it over to my place, crank it down off the wheels, fill the water bottle weights and get started. I'm pretty sure it had never been done in the 20 years we have been there. He wouldn't take any money to help pay the rental, but I did tell him to let me know when he plans to take down the 2 ash trees and 3 apples he wants to take this summer so I can help him.
I am a bit sore today, but thankful that Mrs. Velo did about a third of the raking. It makes such a difference to have a helping hand on a tedious project like that.