I never thought a picture of items on my windowsill could make me so happy, but this one does. This picture reminds me of the ways my investments – big and small – enhance my daily life.
A number of years ago, my husband and I bought a home way out in the country. We both love Southwest Michigan (in addition to Chicago) and wanted a place we could fix up and share with family and friends for extended periods of time. One of the very first purchases we made for the home was a John Deere Gator as represented by this miniature version on the windowsill. We weren’t sure about this purchase as it felt like a hefty investment within the first few months, but we bit the bullet. We’ve never regretted that decision as the Gator has been so valuable to everything we do at the house – trimming trees, gardening, carrying firewood, and taking rides with everyone who visits.
The tomatoes are a different investment story. For several years, I’ve tried to grow tomato plants in pots around our back deck. In particular, I like to find unusual varieties of smaller tomatoes – yellow, red, chocolate-colored – and various sizes and shapes. And despite being a pretty good gardener in general, I haven’t had so much luck with tomato plants. But this year, when I visited my local greenhouse, the owner suggested I pick up several of these “back door” plants for $3.00 each and of course, they have outperformed anything else I bought for three times that amount.
So, is there a lesson learned here? Maybe. I’m reminded of a quote by Warren Buffet who said “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” And honestly, the value of these items is priceless to me on this hot summer day.