Mowing Leaves

Before I moved to Alabama I hadn't really put much thought into yard maintenance as a homeowner. I never thought that we would actually have a good 5 months or so every year that we wouldn't have to worry about mowing the grass...go figure...grass doesn't usually grow in the winter. I think that Jeff is suffering yard mowing withdrawal because he has resorted to chopping up the leaves in the yard with the lawnmower. It's not just him - I see other people in my neighborhood doing this. What?!? I think it's a southern thing.