There she is-my brand-spanking new Toro lawn mower. We brought her home last Saturday. Once we unloaded her from the trunk, we carefully extracted her from her cardboard home, extended the handles, and quenched her thirst with gasoline and oil. For five days, she has anxiously been awaiting her debut. Today, was her coming out. She started on the first pull, and when I gave the signal, we were off.  She is self-propelled, and has a self-pacing feature, meaning her speed will match the driver’s walking tempo. I am pretty sure that Junior will have no problem directing her around the yard.

Our previous mower was a Lawn Boy, which was a politically correct shade of green. Tara is fire-engine red, a color close to my heart and astrology sign.  (I was born under the fire sign-Leo.)  I think that we will be a good match.

I hate spending money on things I can’t see.  Let me take a moment and explain what I mean by “things I can’t see.” This list would include things like utilities (gas, electric, water), cable TV and frequent trips to restaurants. Now, before you begin thinking that Junior and I live in a cave with no heat, A/C or running water, and we hunt and gather our food as we listen to a transistor radio, let me clarify even more.

We live in a ranch-style home complete with a working furnace and air conditioner, and water does run freely through our pipes. We do occasionally dine out at our favorite haunts, and in the evenings we switch on one of our analog TVs and watch our favorite shows. However, we also practice several conservation habits, which enable us to keep costs down. During the winter months, I keep the thermostat at 67 degrees or below. We sleep in fleece PJ’s in flannel sheeted beds, which helps us to utilize our own body heat when the temps in the house dip to about 61 degrees. In the summer, nearly every room has either an oscillating or ceiling fan to help circulate air and keep the house cooler. We also turn off lights in rooms that are not in use and our fixtures are outfitted with those new compact fluorescent bulbs. We attempt to conserve water by using low-flow shower heads and limiting bathing times. We also only run the dish and clothes washers when the loads are full. These household conservation measures help with two issues. (The old two birds, one stone analogy.) They help us conserve the earth’s precious resources, thus “greening up” our home, and I am able to keep money in my pocket/checkbook/savings account.

Junior and I dine out only once or twice a month. This practice also helps to keep money that I can see and touch in my wallet, and enables me to maintain my “fighting weight.” (This has become increasingly difficult to achieve as my metabolism continues to decrease with the increasing number of candles on my birthday cake. Eating out is a special treat where I can indulge myself for that one meal and then get back on track eating healthfully within my minuscule calorie allotment.) All of this extra cashola enables me to purchase items that I can see, such as new appliances, furniture or knick-knacks for the home, or cute shoes and clothes for my closet.

Oh, and don’t let me forget about that great invention, the television.  I recently mentioned to a male neighbor that we do not have cable or satellite TV. (I refuse to pay to watch the boob tube.) His face looked aghast as he commented to my son, “Not even ESPN?” I am not sure what kind of reaction he might have had if I had shared with him that on more than one occasion, I have considered removing ALL of the TVs from our home. I just may have needed my CPR skills in order to revive him.

I managed to write four posts this past week-my scarcest offering to-date since beginning this blog. The reason behind the gaps in entries is that my son was on Spring Break. (I use the word “spring” loosely here, because it snowed TWICE in the early part of the week! No accumulation, mind you, but it still was snow in APRIL!) My son managed two sleepovers during his time off, and we conquered a couple of local museums, where we brushed up on dinosaurs and fine art. We also squeezed in a few chores here and there, and I worked on Good Friday. (Most people took that day off!)

Tomorrow, it is back to real life-schedules, homework, packed lunches, and over-stuffed backpacks.  Despite the chilly, winter-break-like-temps, it was nice to take a breather and have some down time. And, the good news is the last day of school is a mere sixty days away. Bring on those lazy days of summer, along with some warmer air!

I am hoping to take advantage of the creative juices that have been flowing within me since beginning this blog. I will be swimming in un-chartered waters as I attempt to refinish a piece of furniture. I have never really had the desire (or the patience) to take on a project of this nature, but with time on my hands and a lack of change in my pocket, I figure, what the heck.

This particular rocking chair is a token from my childhood-a comfortable resting place that once accommodated my pint-sized tushy. Once she could no longer safely contain my increasing size and weight, this rocker became a haven for my vast doll collection.  She had been safely stored away in my basement, until recently, when I brought her upstairs and found her a new home near the fireplace. Her current dye-job does not blend well with the decor of the room, so I will attempt to update her look.

This past weekend, I ignored my self-imposed shopping ban and headed to Lowe’s, where, for about twenty bucks, I picked up the products necessary to transform Miss Thing from her current oak wash to ebony. I posted a “before” photo, so you can see her original state. Once the makeover is complete, I will post an “after” glamour shot. That is, IF she turns out well.