Lynnette + ZTR Mower = DANGEROUS!

Welcome to Wednesday's Walk Down Memory Lane! I hope you'll join me and my Wednesday Walk "chums" - if you'd like to know how to participate, just click on the button above. It's EASY! This is a fun opportunity to document some of the things you don't want to forget and share those memorable times with others so we can enjoy them too.

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Today Kyle called home and asked if Jared would mind mowing more of the yard (he had done the front yard yesterday). I said, "Yeah, I'm sure he wouldn't mind, but I think I'll ask him to teach me because I've been wanting to learn how to drive that mower." He said, "Oh, you'll love it. It's fun to drive."

So Jared told me how to back the mower out of the barn (not a good first thing to do on the mower), but I managed it. He instructed me how to move the handles to get it to go the direction and the speed I wanted it to go. I thought it would be a breeze...I was wrong!

I began to ride around with the blade up until I could get the hang of it. Jared said, "So, you think you got it?" With an I'm not so sure look on my face I said, "Keep everybody in the house."

I lowered the blade and ventured out into the yard. I honestly felt completely out of control and began to laugh hysterically at myself. I stopped the movement of the mower momentarily to look around and make sure nobody was watching - yet I felt pretty dorky laughing like a crazy woman with no one watching.



I managed to run into the clothes line pole. Run over the kids Blackberry phone that was left in the yard (don't freak out it was just Kyle's old broken phone). I murdered a frog. I ran over a metal baseball bat and a golf ball but I don't blame myself for those because I simply couldn't see them - it was the boys fault! Oh, and you know that feeling you get when you just accidentally ruined something? Well, that's exactly the way I felt everytime I heard a crunch.

Speaking of the corral - oh wait, I wasn't speaking of the corral yet. Well, that's where I should have started. The rest of the yard was like an obstacle course with all the bikes, shovels, toys, pieces of wood, etc. The corral was just smooth sailing. I got to go fast and there was nothing in my way. The only problem with that was that I went so fast I jiggled like crazy. I felt every ounce of fat on my body and when it's jiggling like that, well...let's just say I didn't feel exactly beautiful. I think I need to wear a sports bra when I mow that.

I couldn't believe how dirty I got. Dirt was flying everywhere! My back was completely wet from sweat. Not exactly the experience I expected. I thought I was going to go out with a cup of tea and place it in the cup holder (Yeah right! The person that designed that did NOT test it in our yard). I was going to get a suntan and some healthy vitamin D... and then just resume my day. Uh, no. I came in sunburned, sweaty, dirty and flat worn out from the stress of it all. (And by the way, my arms and shoulders are actually sore from holding so tightly to the mower handles. Am I a wimp or what?!)

*Pictures courtesy of my daughter Abigail. She couldn't figure out why I wanted pictures of myself on the mower...she didn't realize that I was formulating a blog in my head through the whole experience! ha!

I think I'll leave the mowing to the men! I'll just continue taking naps outside and capturing precious pictures of my sweet children. So much less stress!

Yes, have a (nother) laugh on me!

Don't ask me. I thought it was funny too! That's why I took a picture. :)