First off I want to thank all of you who stopped by with words of encouragement, a smile or a warm hug. They did more than all the antibiotics combined to get me back on my feet from the pneumonia. Yep, I am upright and not quite 100% but very close. Thank you so much for caring. It meant so much.
Now to "Spring Hurts". Each year it comes as a surprise to me but maybe this year was a bit more of a shock. I was almost immobile for about a month and trust me, the older you get, the quicker you get out of shape and the longer it takes to get back in.
We have been enjoying great weather and enough rain to make the weeds leap from the ground. I have one of the prettiest weeds around in the form of Henbit.
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It is a rapid growing and spreading plant and with next week scheduled for mostly rain, I figured I needed to get busy. Ready or not, I broke out the mower.
Well kind of. Flat tire in the back--one of the big ones-- so I had to take it off and into town to have the bead replaced. It didn't come off easy and I spent way too long bent over trying to get the smallish tire off. "Is this a lug wrench?"
Finally I got smart and got a stool to sit on but by then my hamstrings were shot--or would be the next day.
The bolts resisted and with my bum shoulder, it took some lefty effort to free the wheel but finally I made it. I also had to remove the battery to take into town also to exchange for a new one. It wouldn't hold a charge.
After I changed the oil, replaced the battery, and tire, off I went to conquer that lovely, innocent Henbit. I really enjoyed the actual mowing as it was a cool yet sunny day and nothing was hurting. Spring pains need a good night's sleep to form.
Now all of this sounds very simple but remember I am old, puny and had been laid up for a month. Those simple actions account for the pains I now enjoy in my legs, back, shoulders and arms.
The next morning I woke up with only my head not hurting. Almost everything south of my head was hollering and begging me to not move.
Usually Spring gets more out of me than one lawn mowing to put me on injured reserved. It is usually a day of serious weeding that brings me down. The good thing is that I know these pains are temporary and am able to smile through the grimaces. It sure feels good to be up and active--even if it hurts a bit.
Do you get Spring pains and do they surprise you each year?
Welcome back, Patti. I'm so glad I don't have to deal with a lawn mower. Sounds like you did well even though it came with temporary pains.
ReplyDeleteJean,
DeleteThe temporary pain is the best part. I always said if I have to hire the yard work done, I will sell and move into town. So far, not yet.
Dealing with the riding lawn mower was the major reason I had for selling my house and moving into a condo. I like to avoid the pain of knowing I have no mechanical aptitude so I sold before the mower was starting to at up as I knew it would inevitably do.
ReplyDeleteOlga,
DeleteLike I told Jean, the day may come when I have to hire the work done and then I too will sell and move. So far so good.
I do get surprised every spring when I start working in the garden. I get enough exercise otherwise that I never expect it, but there you are. I am so glad you are back up and moving again, Patti. And yes, the older we get, the longer it takes for us to recover from down times.
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteHa ha, no matter how good of shape we think we are in, there is a group of muscles that have sat idle during the winter and will let you know when you start gardening.
I haven't noticed any Spring pains, I seem to get myself aching fairly often all year round. I am glad you're up and about now though.
ReplyDeleteI've seen that weed out here in Australia I think, next time I see it I'll take more notice to see if it is the same one.
River,
DeleteHope you have that weed. Besides being attractive, it is high in nutritional value. I won't kill mine just in case hard times come and I have to graze:))
Those are good aches and pains, especially after you were "circling the drain" (Oh you bet I'm stealing that one...I sometimes say 'I heard the planes landing wheels drop')
ReplyDeleteI am impressed with your mechanic skills!
Joeh,
DeleteHa ha, you are welcome to the drain and I will steal the plane landing wheels.
Maintenance is the limit of my mechanic skills. I am quick to call for help otherwise.
Great that younare back to activity. Here we have lawn help as I was ill with cancer and found that getting too close tomdirt made me feel unwell. I just do basic indoor chores and then occupy time with Buddy. I struggle a lot with my eye sight. It annoys me because the rest of me seems in reasonable shape.
DeleteHeidrun,
DeleteI still may get some help for the heavy lawn work but I really do like mowing. It is annoying when most of us feels so good. We just have to work around the bad stuff.
So glad to know you are back on your feet, but sorry that you are in achin' pain already. In time you'll be as strong as ever. You really are quite impressive with the work you do there. Take care and be well, Patti!
ReplyDeleterobin,
DeleteThanks so much for the good thoughts and the encouragement. I can do simple stuff, not so good on mechanical things. Yes it is good to be back and doing.
Dear Patty, oh, with those aches and pains you are having must be so hard just to do simple things--like make breakfast and sit down and rise up and lift the teapot. I so hope that soon you will have recuperated and gained back the energy and the strength you lost.
ReplyDeleteAs to spring pain--I have Meziere's disease and when the barometer is bopping around (rising or falling precipitously) in the Spring, I get migraine headaches. But I have good medication and if I nip them in the bud, all is well. Peace.
Dee,
DeleteYou are right, the simple things take a bit of thought but I am much better now. I do feel your pain with migraines. I had them for about 10 years till I out grew them with the onset of menopause. So glad you have meds that work. They can be brutal.
Dear Patti, they can be brutal and what really is "annoying!!!" is that they leave me so tired for the rest of the day and even the next day. But such is life.
DeleteI so hope that you are feeling better. It truly is the little, ordinary actions we take for granted that suddenly loom large as we try to do them. Be gracious to yourself. Peace.
Just a few days off last week and todays exercise last just about left me exhausted. Hopefully I can find my tube of deep heating rub. Fortunately spring looks delayed for another week...:)
ReplyDeleteRay,
DeleteBoy it doesn't take long to lose ground does it? Wish they made a liniment that smelled really good.
Patti, I'm so happy that you're feeling so much better, and I want to add, it's nice meeting you! I came across your lovely blog here by clicking on your name next to your comment in which you left below one of Jimmy's posts.
ReplyDeleteLon,
DeleteWelcome to TNS and thanks so much for your good wishes, comment and for following. I will go check your site now.
How wonderful to see you back Patti! But please don't over do it working in the yard. Yes I get those aches and pains once I start doing yard work again and that depends on the weather so I have not been able to work outside here, yet. I also get the many aches and pains from the seasons changing due to arthritis and that unfortunately has started. I hope you rest up from your early ventures with the lawn mower and yard work! Can you ever find a school kid to help out with those jobs for a price? (I know these days that price can seem awfully high at times!) Take care Patti and post only as you feel like it.
ReplyDeleteBonnie,
DeleteThank you for your concern. I so agree that yard work can really "work" us over. Put off the mowing as long as you can. Sadly, no young men looking for work around here. I will just take it slow. I do have the time.
Wow! I'm impressed! I would not been able to tackle all of that! I'm definitely a weakling. But I can relate with the weeding. We still have snow on the ground, so too early, but every spring I am so excited to go out and get the weeds pulled. Fresh air and all...But the next day I pay the price for sure.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are feeling better! And really, you need to give your self more credit. You changed a tire and removed the battery on your mower! Wow, just wow.
Carole,
DeleteHa ha, that weeding gets us every time doesn't it? Especially since we don't hurt till the next day. Sneaky.
I do feel good that the lawnmower is now in working order. A relief.
Well I'm glad you are on the road to recovery, but sorry to hear you are in pain. Even if it is good pain, if there is such a thing. Now you've made me realise I need to cut our grass soon too.
ReplyDeleteJoey,
DeleteWell I lost your comment for a bit. Somehow I got you and Carole in the wrong place. Thanks for the good thoughts.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJoey,
DeleteSorry about that Joey. Don't know what happened. I do hope your lawnmower is in better shape than mine was.
Oh, yes, I get spring pains. We have worked through much of February and March, getting things cleaned up and pruned and chopped down and weeded and.....on and on. Each job has it's own pain, and each year it takes less time to get pained and longer to recover.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteAs much as you two do, I am surprised that you get sore at all. You are right in how different jobs affect different areas. To bad there isn't a way to tune us up in all areas at once and be done with it:)
Glad to read that you are up and about, but sympathize with the Spring Pains! I don't know what it is about Lawn Mowers, but I think they spend their winter holiday dreaming up evil things that they can to to their luckless owners when spring comes round again. Your mower sounds like it was particularly imaginative, what with a flat tire, bead to replace, dead battery and so on! Hope it behaves from now on in a civilized and helpful manner, and that your pains ease and are replaced by muscle and energy! Pxx
ReplyDeletePeter,
DeleteYou are right. It is sitting around all Winter that gets lawnmowers thinking how to give us grief.
Thanks, pains are almost gone and it is good to feel good. Spring is worth the few pains.
Your post reminded me why I pay to get my lawn mowed. Every Spring I would think, "Oh, crap, lawn mowing time is here." I really hate to mow and my husband only did it occasionally. So, last year I found an excellent lawn man who mows my yard and trims anything I ask him to for a very small fee and I am happy. Painting brings on the pains for me. Been doing a lot of wall and shelf painting lately and my shoulders tell me every day to stop it. But they also tell me I'm alive, so that's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteButtons and Quilts,
DeletePainting and yard work are similar in that the job isn't bad but its the prep work that gets us. And yes I agree, pain is much better than feeling nothing.
I'm smiling because every spring when it is time to mow, we go through the same ordeal. Either a tire is flat, or the batery is dead, or like this year- we had to buy a new starter. I won't get to mow for a while because of my new sciatic pain...but as soon as that is better I will be out there. I am glad you are better. Been thinking about you.
ReplyDeleteTerri,
DeleteIsn't that the truth? Wouldn't it be nice to just once to go out, turn the key and drive off to mow? Oh well.
Sure hope your sciatic pain quits giving you grief soon. That hurts.
I think we might have Henbit down here too. Not sure since I don't have a yard anymore. I sure do miss it even though I gripped about all of the yard work. The good thing about yard work is you get to see the rewards of your work for weeks, sometimes even months, afterwards. Hope you continue to improve. It is such a drag getting old. Hahaha. I know. Better than the alternative.
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
DeleteI too really enjoy yard work. Nothing looks better than a freshly mowed lawn. Beats the heck out of cleaning a clean house.
No wonder "Spring hurts" ... you are supposed to recover SLOWLY after a bout of pneumonia like you had !!
ReplyDeleteGinnie,
DeleteIt sure seem like I have crawled along at a snail's pace waiting for strength to come back but it finally has. Honest, I did behave and take it slowly but boy did I soften up with all the down time.
Patti, I didn’t know you were sick. I’ve been a terrible blogging friend lately. I’m so sorry to hear you have been under the weather. Now that spring has sprung, I see you also have that spring in your step. Be careful. Don’t over do.
ReplyDeleteYes, I hurt every spring. I notice the decorative grasses need cutting back. Well it is nearly April, and that job should have been done in February. That means that my bum right arm will be sore, and I will be complaining about my shoulder, and most likely will hurt for weeks.
This getting old business really isn’t for sissies.
Sally,
DeleteOoh, I feel your pain with the bum arm. I have one of those-shoulder and arm- that makes me say bad words on occasion. If you find relief- let me know and I'll do the same.
It is so good to see that you are back into action sweet Patti. Oh, I know very well about those spring hurts. My sister and I say they are good signs and well earned. They let us know that some of those parts have been unused for some time but thankfully you and we are active and will have them whipped back into action with no pain very soon. Hugs to you and nose kisses for the fur babes from me and mine. BTW you did amazing getting the mower all fixed up and the mowing done after the winter and being so ill for so long. Good job!!!!
ReplyDeleteMaggie,
DeleteThanks, I was just glad to get moving again. The only good thing about Spring pains is that they usually are brief. Let us both keep moving.
Look at that, you have stirred everyone up. It used to do that to me when I had a yard and cared.
ReplyDeleteMage,
DeleteSounds like you have ditched the habit. I may eventually but for now, I'll deal with the pains.
I had not idea I was so far behind on my blog reading and commenting. Hope all is well for you now.
ReplyDeleteAnnie,
DeleteActually, now everything is splendid. Sure feels good to feel good.
I'm so sorry you have been ill for so long. Doing all the work you wrote about here --- I'm not sure, was it a good idea? Please don't overdo it.
ReplyDeleteInger,
DeleteHa ha, that was taking it easy. Normally that would have been an easy job. I am back on top now.
Did or have you tried a hot tub. I find that the heat helps my agony. :)
ReplyDeleteMage.
DeleteI don't have a regular hot tub but my evening bath does the trick. Water hot enough to turn shrimp pink and a bit of Epson Salt are a nightly ritual that helps.
I have one word for you: Arnica! You must get some for when you overextend yourself. Glad you've recuperated. Enjoy your spring!
ReplyDeleteI am a Minnesota native. You know - that place where it snows about eleven months of the year. Well, unfortunately lawns and weeds sprout in about two days after the temp gets above freezing. We had almost one acre of lawn that was mostly bumpy and ridge pocked. Our last spring living there my husband had knee surgery and I was stuck with the mess. I tried to find some enterprising teen interested in making an honest buck and asked the boy across the street. Actually his dad asked me if we had any need to hire his kid and I fell for it. This uninspired child lasted two weeks and then came limping over to say his "old football injury" would make it impossible to continue in my employ. That said, he dashed home before I could reply. That is when I learned about batteries, flat tires, and that special "admixture" of oil and gas that needs a chemistry major to concoct to keep the motor humming. Next year we were relocated to Phoenix, Arizona and told our house builder we wanted xeriscape - aka no lawn - just rock. And let me tell ya - IT ROCKS!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you're hurting but glad you're back. Yay! When we moved to Hawaii I was sorry there was almost no lawn with this house because the previously owner had put concrete and gravel down. Now, I'm rather glad we don't have to deal with it but enjoy my neighbors' green yard.
ReplyDelete