Monday, April 24, 2017

A Gardener Who Can't Garden





I look forward to gardening every year.  It's who I am.  Having  many interests I must say gardening is probably my most enjoyable pastime.  Spring is here in all of her glory and this gardener can't garden.  Boo Hoo.  I do believe I'm going to cry.  Life gets a little tricky as we get older.  Some of it is good and some of it is bad.  Thankfully I have enjoyed good health my whole life.  What happens when you wake up one day and you literally cannot put weight on your leg?  What do you mean you can't walk?  I find myself in a very humbling situation.





"We may think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it's our garden that really  is nurturing us!"   Jenny Uglow




A few weeks ago as we were decluttering a closet I saw a pair of crutches that I had used 21 years ago when I broke my leg.  I told Grayden, why don't we donate them to Amvets?   He, the practical one, said "oh we may need them one day."  I said "hopefully not."  Well, we kept those crutches and now I'm hobbling along on them!

I know I need to see the orthopedic doctor and gave them a call for an appointment. The next available appointment is May 2nd.  They called and said they have a cancellation so I'll be seeing them today.  In the mean time I'm taking it easy, icing my knee, keeping it elevated and longing to be digging in the dirt.




I couldn't even buy some annuals for various pots and planters.  Grayden went with my wanted list and bought the plants.  Thank you, sweetheart.  He then planted the plants for me.  I must say he did a wonderful job. 







"Gardens are not made by singing  "Oh how beautiful, " and sitting in the shade. "
Rudyard Kipling



We have already put several wheel barrow loads of compost on the garden.  I love making and using our Compost.  It's such an easy process and we are rewarded with wonderfully rich amendments for our soil.  Our cleanup of beds is complete and in most areas mulch has been applied.  There is always something for a gardener to do and I enjoy doing it.  Now I must force myself to think in different terms regarding our gardening season. 

Spring descended on us like a fast moving locomotive.  All of our trees and shrubs are fully leafed out.  It's a beautiful time of year.  The only drawback is our world is full of green pollen.  Hopefully our rain will wash a lot of it away and we will all stop sneezing.  I don't recall everything blooming as quickly as it has this year. 





"I think this is what hooks one to gardening: it is the closest one can come to being present at creation."
Phyllis Theroux









I know many of you find joy in gardening.  I will hopefully again soon. I've always been told if all you have to talk about is the weather and your health, you don't have anything interesting to talk about---Well, that's all I have these days. ♥















45 comments:

  1. Oh! Martha Ellen ~ say it isn't so? My heart goes out to you, and I empathise with that feeling, for you know how I go through phases with my arthritic spine. We do not know what we have until it goes wrong.
    Sending healing light and prayers for a speedy recovery and return to normal ~~~Deb xoxo

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    1. Thank you, Deb. I learned that my meniscus is being grated due to arthritis of the knee. I'm starting on an anti-inflammatory with continued rest that hopefully will get better soon. xoxo ♥

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    2. Martha Ellen, my neighbor had the same problem with her meniscus and ended up having arthroscopic surgery on it last year. She is doing fine now and we're even going on one of the Virginia Garden Week tours tomorrow. Hope you are feeling better soon--but don't let feeling better fool you into overusing that knee or you'll have a relapse like my neighbor did.

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    3. Cathy, we were just talking about feeling better and doing more would be harmful. I will heed this advice for sure. Have fun on the tour. I know how wonderful those can be. Maybe the sun will even shine. I hope you will share what you see. ♥

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  2. Martha Ellen, I'm so sorry your leg is bothering you. I hope you get some questions answered today. I love gardening, and I don't have my garden any more, but I hope to have one again someday. Since the rose garden is so close to me, I often go there. Your little planter box looks wonderful. And those look like white hydrangeas? They're so pretty. I love the Jenny Uglow quote, and that's so true. We nurture our gardens, but they give something to us that's even more special. Martha Ellen, your white couch and coffee tables are gorgeous. Your pictures are always heartwarming.

    Have a lovely week.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Thank you, Sheri. I did learn that I have moderate arthritis in my knee with some torn cartilage.
      I should have labeled the flowers in my post. The white shrub is a snowball viburnum. It is so heavy with blossoms and rain it's almost to the ground now. I hope your evening is going well. ♥

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  3. Oh dear. I'm so sorry to hear about your leg, Martha Ellen. Hopefully, it is nothing a little time and medicine can't heal and you will be able to put your weight on it very soon. Good luck at your appointment today. I hope you hear some uplifting news. Take care, sweet friend. XOXO

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    1. Thank you, Rosinda. I do feel quite relieved that with rest and medicine I should get better soon. You were right that news was better than it could have been. Have a wonderful evening. ♥

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  4. I am so sorry you are suffering Martha Ellen. We had almost the same thing going on here. Thursday morning my hubby woke up and could not put any weight on his leg. Cancer, of course, being a big scare in his life sent us running to the dr. Scans and xrays later there is no recurrence of cancer, his blood work shows nothing so the dr is stumped. The site is swollen but does not feel hot. There is no blood clot or vein trauma. Just the weirdest thing. It is a 'little' better this morning but just one of those weird things. I have said it before and will say it again- Getting older isn't for sissies! xo Diana

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    1. Oh Diana, I hope John's leg is better. Maybe he has arthritis like I do of the knee. I'm on an anti-inflammatory that should help with the swelling. If not, I have an appointment to get a cortisone shot next Thursday. You are so right that getting older is not for sissies! ♥

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  5. Gorgeous flowers, Martha Ellen! I'm so sorry to hear that your knee isn't doing well. Your hubby did a great job with the planting! xo Nellie

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    1. Thank you, Nellie. I love gardening so much, it's been hard not being able to do what I want. Grayden is having to do the lion share of work. I'm so thankful for him. ♥

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  6. Oh dear! I hope that this is as easy a fix as my sore knee was last week. So glad that there was a cancellation so you could get to the dr. I have found that if I do those quick twists and turns, I am going to be in trouble. Now I have to move like the old lady I am. A week ago, I don't think that I could have been outside all day today working in the yard ahead of the rain, but I did and without any troubles. Hoping the very same for you. I do like that Kipling quote. It is so very true. Grayden really did a great job. Very impressive. Loved also seeing your yard and flowers...the Columbines are so lovely.

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    1. I'm sorry we share knee problems, Vee. When I get better, I will be extra careful with my movements. The doctor felt with rest and an anti-inflammatory I should get better. My meniscus is being grated by my arthritic knee. This is my first problem with knee pain. ♥

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    2. That's a good word. Yay! Nothing like being required to take it easy for a while.

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  7. O dear!! hope you are feeling better.. big hug..

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  8. Prayers and love, my friend...
    Hoping you are getting your garden gloves dirty very soon. : )

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  9. Oh I am sorry your in pain like that. I hope you can get whatever is going on fixed up quickly. That was so nice of Grayden to plant the flowers for you. Sometimes we need a little help and that's ok! Take care.

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    1. Liz, I am feeling a little better today. I must be careful and not do anymore harm. Have a nice day. ♥

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  10. Oh dear! I'm so sorry to hear about your knee, Martha Ellen. Sending big hugs and warmest wishes for a speedy, complete recovery, my friend. By catching it early and following doctor's orders, I have a really strong feeling that you will be back in the garden soon! In the meantime, Grayden is doing a wonderful job. What a blessing he is! Isn't it amazing to see so many things in bloom already? You got a wonderful head start in your garden this year, so rest easy, dear one. Much, much love. ♡

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    1. Thank you Dawn for your sweet and encouraging comments. It's quite humbling to have this issue. My doctor thought with rest and an anti-inflammatory I will be better soon. I have been warned I must be careful. You know as a gardener yourself, we use our knees quite a bit. I'm so thankful we had such a great head start in our season. It's such a beautiful time of year. Our rains will continue today and I'm quite happy that they are as we are deficient. I hope you are enjoying time in your garden, dear friend. ♥

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  11. Your garden is just gorgeous and I'm sorry to hear about your foot. Our daughter is getting over a stress fracture, so I know how you must feel. She's been wearing a "boot" and says she's just about done with this! Feel better dear friend, XOXO

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    1. I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's stress fracture, Susan. It's my knee that is the issue here. I have arthritis in the knee and it's grating on my meniscus. Hopefully your daughter and I will be better soon. XOXO ♥

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  12. I read from the comments what your diagnosis is. I'm so glad it's not worse and there is hope for recovery. I am in need of a replacement and it has recently gotten so bad I'd have it tomorrow if I could. My husband usually does the gardening and now he's sitting in a chair directing me. I think we won't have a vegetable garden this year though. Yes getting older does have its challenges (and rewards.)

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    1. Dotsie, I'm so sorry about your knee. I remember you already had one knee replaced. I hope you will be able to get the other knee replacement soon! Take care, my friend. ♥

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  13. I love to have plants coming up, I love looking at them everyday to see if anything new is coming up....but to say I really love gardening would be a stretch. I used to really love it. Used to love the feel of the dirt in my hands but that was before my first grandson was born. I used to love to pull weeds and plant but my daughter worked nights and I kept my grandson during the day. Living on a creek and having lots of BLOOD SUCKERS around it was hard to take my grandson out for me to enjoy the garden, I hated spraying him with chemicals so I could play in the dirt. Trying to get back to it but then there is the Fibro that makes gardening hard. Sorry to hear you are having issues getting around and maybe your garden will not be over grown when you can get back to it.

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    1. Pam, I guess we all have issues that can keep us from doing what we enjoy. Gardening is one of my greatest joys and hopefully I will get to it again soon. Have a wonderful day. ♥

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  14. Oh, Martha Ellen, I am so sad for you, knowing how much joy gardening brings to you! I pray that you recovery quickly and thoroughly, so that you can soon return to your happy place! (Grayden is doing a fine job, but I know you'd rather be working together.)

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl. I am feeling better today and that makes me more hopeful for a full recovery. I have to be careful not too get too anxious and do too much. ♥

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  15. I am so very sorry to hear this, Martha Ellen. It's frustrating to see all that needs to be done or that you want to do and not be able to do it. I'm still not able to garden after two hip replacements on the same hip only 2 1/2 years apart. I'm wondering what you found out from the orthopedic doctor. Is there a knee replacement in your future? At least it sounds like you have a wonderful and loving husband who will do those things for you that you cannot do at the moment. So do I, and it's really a blessing, although I want to be doing these things myself, as I know you do. Hopefully you will be able to, soon. And aren't you glad you kept those crutches!

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    1. Judy, the doctor found I have arthritis in my left knee that is grating into my meniscus. I'm on an anti-inflammatory and I can feel a difference this morning. I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband that always jumps in when I need him, but you are right, there are things I want to do myself! Hopefully I will not need knee replacement. I'm so sorry you have had so many issues with your hip. Hopefully it is all resolved now! ♥

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  16. I am so sorry to hear about your health issue. We do need our legs in good condition to get around. I hope you get the relief you deserve soon. Your gardens are lovely. They do bring us great joy. One day at a time. xo

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    1. Thank you, Linda. I love gazing at your lovely gardens. Hopefully I will soon be back in mine. ♥

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  17. I'm sorry to hear about your leg troubles, Martha Ellen. I read what your problem was in your answer to another commenter. I've torn almost all my meniscuses and I have some knee stiffness/arthritis so I know how that hurts. When it flare up I take a NSAID like Aleve or Advil. Moving is the best thing for arthritis so I try to walk every day. Bending on my knees to garden is hard so my husband usually helps doing that--we are fortunate to have good husbands! Your garden flowers look lovely. We may get snow this week so no planting going ion here. I wait till the third week of May to plant as frost danger is usually over by then.

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    1. Pat, I am sorry to hear we share similar maladies. The doctor told me during this time I should ice/heat my knee along with the anti-inflammatory. As it has felt better I am still walking around with my crutches in the yard for stability. The unstable places put the most stress on my knee.
      You begin to garden about the same time as my daughter in New England. You have a lot to look forward to with Spring coming---it's such a pretty time of the year. ♥

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  18. Oh, Martha, I just hate it when these odd, annoying aches and pains and annoyances pop up! Hope you got it sorted out and are on the mend. Your garden is lovely, and I really like the brick wall/planter.

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  19. Dear Mattha Ellen,
    I am really sorry to hear you have arthritis in your knee. My daughter has it in both her knees, so I know how painful it can be. I hope you are up and about soon.
    Thank you so much for your visit last week, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.
    blessings,
    Penny

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    1. Penny, thank you for your kind words. I am feeling much better. I'm so sorry to hear that about your daughter. This is the first issue I've had with my knees and it's been an eye opening experience. I need to really be more careful about how I step these days. I hope you are having a nice week. ♥

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  20. I hope you are on the mend by now. It's frustrating when we can't do the things we want to do. I'm not much of a gardener any more. My husband likes to work in our flower beds so I'm glad of that. He just planted a few more Knock out roses...they do real well here in the heat. Take care of yourself and pace yourself! Hugs!

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    1. Diana, it's amazing how much better I feel! I am so thankful. I have a couple knockout roses that are doing quite well, considering I have mostly shade in my yard. My husband is a great helper in the garden, but I doubt he would be out there without me. ♥

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  21. I enjoyed seeing your garden photographs.
    I did not enjoy reading that you are having problems with your knee, and I hope the anti-inflammatory's will help with the swelling.
    Rest and take care, thinking of you.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks, Jan, thankfully I am much better. Have a wonderful week. ♥

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