In Honor Of Earth Day

I was out for an early morning walk with my son today. Word is that our spell of incredibly beautiful weather will be taking an intermission soon, so I'm taking advantage of each gorgeous day to walk and soak it in before the rain (& maybe snow!) soak us. This morning I found myself doing something very apropos for Earth Day; I honestly think this was a first for me!

As I wandered up, down, and around the streets of our neighborhood, I was scoping out the giant plastic toys in so many back yards. In particular, I was noticing the giant green turtle sandboxes and plastic houses that toddlers enjoy. No, I'm not planning a midnight heist, but I AM thinking about the garage sales that will be coming up soon. I'm wondering who will be surrendering their giant plastic things this year. I have a toddling 13-month old and a yard without any big plastic things in it. I saw the turtles at WalMart the other day - $28. For a plastic turtle. I don't think so! Today I realized that there are enough plastic turtles in this neighborhood to fill a large pond. I will be on a mission this summer, searching out good used plastic, turtles and otherwise, at low prices. I realized that today was kind of a scouting mission... looking at who has what, before the mad rush of actual sales! Yes, it eventually occurred to me that this is a very strange thing to do.

But then, it dawned on me that today is Earth Day. So really, I was celebrating the spirit of the day in the truest sense by thinking "reduce, reuse, recycle." Right?

And I'm admitting this lunacy to the blogosphere!

Comments

[Tammy]

Having had many of those lovely plastic items in my own yard (including a turtle sandbox!), I wish you luck in your garage sale conquest! I just love garage sales, they're a great way to get cute kid clothes at a decent price too!

SNOW?!!? Eeek! I think it's time you take a vacation to Florida. Hurry, tho, cuz hurricane season starts soon!

[Bluegrass Mama]

No snow here, but our lovely weather came to a grinding halt last night with hail and a tornado warning.

Had a plastic picnic table, slide & playhouse, but my BIL built a lovely wooden sandbox for our son with seats wide enough even for a mom to sit comfortably. That was about 17 years ago, and we still have it!

[Last Girl On Earth]

I so do miss those summer garage sales. We just don't have them here in NYC. I think I'll have to plan a field trip to the suburbs this summer! Hi. Michele sent me and I'm glad she did! Come on over and say hi sometime!

[Marie]

Tammy,
Oh yeah. I'm ready for the kids clothes shopping! Let me in, I'm coming through!!
yes, there's talk of snow in these parts... Sunday - Monday. I think I prefer snow to a hurricane ;-) but it would be great to be at a beach!! (sans hurricane, of course)

BGM,
Whoa! I hope the weather isn't ruining your beautiful flowers!
We had a handmade sandbox when I was a kid too! Those are the BEST!

[Kimberly]

Hi Marie, I'm here from Michele's M&G.

Only a month or so 'til garage sale season here in Seattle, and I'm looking forward to having a big one! We don't have children, but we have lots of things that we hope other people will want to reuse.