“I love the smell of new power tools in the morning. They smell like…. victory!”

When I twittered that the other day, it made me stop and think, "why?" Not why I twittered that, why I love the smell of new power tools.

Inspiration comes in many forms. Music, art, nature and people are our standard answers for, “What inspires you?” but are you ever in need of inspiration to get you motivated? Then go to your local nursery and check out the garden tool section.

There is nothing like standing in front of all those new garden tools, fondling each one, pretending that you’re actually in your garden with this magnificent tool, and working the magic that it had surely brought. I know it sounds weird, but you have to test-drive them somehow, eh? (And no, I haven’t been kicked out of a nursery for doing that either – for other reasons, but not that one.)

And there’s nothing like a brand-spanking-new weeder to get you out in the garden when the weather is not great, too.

It’s funny to note that when you do bring the shiny, new tool home. You think twice about using it. Well, it’s so shiny and new! I don’t want to scratch it, or get it dirty! Then it’s used… but that’s the point, right? And then it stays new for maybe another minute or two, or you look at it while having lunch.

I know I’m not alone in this one either. I caught my husband doing the same the other day.

Steve found a great pair of Fiskars scissors at the garden show last month - so great that he bought two pairs, one for each of us. But that quickly changed when I found out that he was keeping his pair nice and clean and sharp – and was using my pair for everything else. After a brief negotiation period, we worked out acompromise.

But there, right there, is my proof and my validation.

Reach Janit at info@TwoGreenThumbs.com or 206-352-0494.