Years ago I knew a farmer's wife, we have sadly lost touch, but some of her words stay. She married a dairy farmer and was quite honest in saying that she didn't know what she was getting into. She soon found out...when they couldn't take a honeymoon and he woke on their first morning together at 4am to start the milking. Full udders don't wait for a honeymoon! This was a concept so foreign to me...
Well, a few weeks ago my back finally gave in...I have had trouble for many years but at the beginning of December I knew the pain was different. By just after Christmas I had lost the ability to bend, would get "stuck" if I tried and could not lift my left leg to go up steps...
The first thing to suffer was my garden and around us lie the signs of neglect. Besides for watering and a bit of weed pulling and harvesting here and there I have done nothing in the garden.
The wind this year seems to be much more persistant than before and this causes all sorts of havoc with the taller plants. Milddew has hit again and robbed us of our pumpkins with the exception of 2.
So things lie around needing attendance, roots are exposed, beds lie bare which should be planted up with the second summer vegetables, tomatoes need staking, seed needs to be sown...but alas, it all has to wait until I am better.
Like all things, there is hope on the horizon. After 3 weeks of intense physio and chiro I have mobility back but I am not pain free. The kids and I hatched a plan over dinner tonight to spend 3 half days in the garden. With a plan of action we should get it all done so I have been promoted to overseer from labourer.So, now I understand what my friend meant all those years ago about not being able to take a honeymoon as a new farmers wife...and I can say, my vegetable garden will not wait for a back to mend.
Aaah...well...enough of a moan...thanks for listening.
14 comments:
Oh, Wendy, I am so sorry to hear about your back. Forced rest is no joke for someone who likes to get things done! I hope the labourers help pull the garden together for you and that you are pain-free and strong again soon.
I messed up my back this past summer, too. Trying to do too much, I guess. On the up side, I met a really nice chiropractor.
Don't worry too much about the garden. It'll be there when you're ready to tackle it again.
So sorry to hear this has happened to you. Back pain "sucks". I can't imagine how frustrated you must be but, as the other posters have said, the garden can wait. Take care of yourself. Time will heal you and then you can heal your garden.
Oh, I hope you are feeling much, much better soon. I have experience with back problems and wouldn't wish them on anyone. I hope you are back to your old self soon!
Wendy - I've had the same problem with wind and mildew. Did a "Sprig" posting and have been advised to spray with a 10% skim milk solution. I have also removed the worst affected leaves - as the spores are spread by wind :-(
Hope your back, and garden, are as right as rain in no time.
Oh Honey, Sorry you are having to deal with this. I know exactly where you are physically. Hope all gets sorted out for you soon. Take care,
Mal
Take care!
Thank you all for your sweet kind comments and confirmation to wait for my back to get better. I do appreciate you all.
Hi Wendy,
I hope your back gets better soon. I just discovered your blog because I'm doing a post on gem squash on mine and your blog came up in my googling. I used one of your images and linked it back to your blog. I hope you don't mind. If you do please let me know and I'll remove it from my blog post.
Thanks Bee
I wish you a speedy recovery. It's amazing what happens in a home, no matter how well organised the family is, when a mom gets ill. Best wishes
Dear Wendy, I'm so sorry to hear about your back! It is never easy to deal with pain! Please take care or yourself, glad you've been promoted to overseer!
PS. Mildew also caused havoc in my pumpkin beds! Big disappointment!
Hi Wendy, sorry to hear about your back pains and I hope you fully recover as the spasms can really take your breath away! I also wanted to say that I also was married to a dairy farmer when I lived in the UK and yes, I was up bright and early EVERY day to milk the cows as they DO NOT take a day off - ever!! Love your blog!
Hi Wendy,
Hope your back gets well soon.
Thank you again, all for your wishes. Next week we are away at a seaside cabin for 6 days where I can just lie and rest and read and bob around in the water. I hope that it will all go towards a stronger back and less pain.
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