A day after sending in the 1040 to the IRS, Your Scribe is pondering how to spend the refund. I assume I'll get about $1,000 back.

Here we go:

$100 for mulch. Is that high? I plan to put newspaper down on areas of weed growth, and cover it with mulch. It seems like that would buy plenty of mulch.

$200 for bushes and plants. In the past I said I wasn't going to try to beautify the property, shown above. "It's a cabin, not a house in the suburbs." But during moments of cabin fever this winter, I read a dozen magazines on how to improve your garden and grounds. I'm a convert! My flowers for the shade have arrived. In coming weeks (maybe months the way the snow is staying) I will buy bushes. (An aside: I hate to go to Wal-Mart but it's so much cheaper).

$100 for a metal bench. Now that I have a well, I must put a bench nearby.

$200 for two twin beds. This is low, but my plan is to rent a truck, and find something free on Craig's List. Yes, this is a big variable. If I drive to Fort Kent to get a couple free beds, that might not be a savings.

$100 for small stones. These help to create a transition from the driveway to the cabin. Probably unnecessary but I have been doing it every year.

$200 for tree work, building a shed for dry wood. I must take down some rotten trees near the cabin. And I want to have a small protected shed in which to put dry firewood. I think I will call Kevin the Well Digger. He did a fine job on the well, and he's cut wood before.

I may even have a little money left over - and that's before the government's Economic Incentive check arrives.

This could be a lively spring season at the old cabin!

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