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Post by paulf on May 18, 2024 17:50:13 GMT -5
Nope not tomato or pepper or anything else from the garden. First full mowing of the entire yard. No idea how bad of shape this old fat dude was in. Even with a recent 30 lb loss I think I rested as much as mowed when it came time for the push mower portion. Several Gatoraides, about seven change-outs of sweatbands and lots of catch my breaths rests. Finally finished the two acres (1.5 acres using my new riding mower and half acre of trimming and steep hillside). Came inside afterwards, sat in the easy chair and immediately konked out. After waking up and realizing my heart was still beating I had to share my success. Will it get easier next week?
As a side note so not to make another thread: I finally decided what to do with the stand-by tomatoes after the originals look like they will make it. Our garden is surrounded by a white picket fence with an eight foot deer fence, so on the back side up again the fence all the extras have been planted and attached to the fence for support. If they make it fine, if not, better than adding to the compost pile.
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Post by octave1 on May 18, 2024 22:21:31 GMT -5
Will it get easier next week? Well, it all depends on your age. If you, as a self-described "old man", are over 80, what you did is remarkable--but it won't get easier because, as that one man said "The older I get, the better I used to be".
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Post by paulf on May 18, 2024 22:25:32 GMT -5
Only 76. And my kids got me a t-shirt a few years back when inducted into my high school hall of fame: The older I get the faster I was. Same idea.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on May 19, 2024 10:28:13 GMT -5
I sure hope it gets at least a little easier next week, paulf!
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Post by paulf on May 19, 2024 11:04:08 GMT -5
What used to take an hour and a half now stretches into the three hour range.
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Post by september on May 19, 2024 15:22:42 GMT -5
I'm 76 as well, and take a lot of sit down rest stops. Sometimes to catch my breath if it's been heavier work, sometimes to take the pressure off my back. With two knee replacements, I'm a little slower getting up off the ground. I planted three 12'x4' beds of sweet corn this morning, and to reach the middle of the raised bed, I stacked a boat cushion and an outdoor throw cushion to kneel on. My artificial knees can't tolerate hard ground. I can only manage one long work session per day, just about always in the morning. If I come in, I have a hard time going back out and if I eat lunch, I crave a nap! If I manage to make myself work in the afternoon, it's usually just little things that don't amount to much.
Right now, I am spending too much time maintaining my overflow of tomato plants. They are outgrowing their pots and sometimes need watering twice a day. My sister and her friend are making their annual trip up on Wednesday to take away my excess plants. I told her that this is the last year I will be growing extras, I plan to cull tomatoes at first pot up from now on. I have given plants away for many years, but taking care of that volume of seedlings saps my energy and takes away time I should be working in my garden. Added to that, I really don't like having overnight visitors before I have my garden totally planted, my house is a mess, and I have to spend a couple of days washing bedding and cleaning house, making menus etc that delays progress in the garden. I told her that next year, she should plan to come in June, not May, and that if she wants some of my tomato varieties, I can box up and mail her 8 or 10 plants, but no more freebies for friends and family. She lives about a 5 hour drive away and is seven years older than I, so who knows how many years she will even be able to drive up.
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