Once every 33 years Ramadan, the Christian Holy Week and Passover fall in the same month. If the stars can do it, how wonderful if we, mankind, could let that be our inspiration to live in peace with each other. And yet we fight, there is bloodshed in many corners of the world.
War is the vilest thing in the world.
Men come together to kill each other,
they slaughter and maim tens of thousands
and then they say prayers of thanksgiving
for having slaughtered so many people.
How does God* look down and listen to them?
Leo Tolstoy, 1828-1910
War And Peace, 1869
(*The God of your choice - my words)
The Japanese cherry tree is in bloom; if ever there was a sign of renewed hope it is that. I have been working on pots and tubs in the garden. Taking out compacted and overgrown herbaceous perennials, freeing them from thick mats of weeds, split them, then replacing the soil, adding fertiliser and water retentive material like vermiculite, perlite or garden compost. Only hardy perennials have gone back into the pots, anything tender will have to wait until mid May. Rarely, if ever, do I manage to wait that long; I usually start half way through April, hoping for the best; I have lost many a choice specimen due to my impatience.
I've been rather foolish, twice, in fact. I did some push ups (against a large chest of drawers, not the floor) and forgot to warm up first, another sign of my pig headed impatience. Naturally, I injured my shoulder. It's been hurting for weeks now. Wrestling with large pots and tubs and their contents hasn't helped either. Today my shoulder is even more painful and I am having serious words with myself about resting up. If only I listened. Tomorrow my son is coming for two nights and he will take me to my favourite plant nursery which means choosing plants rather than dealing with them.
Although I haven't needed it myself lately, I've heard good things about Voltaren cream or gel for aches like yours. I do hope it gets better soon! Happy Easter and good luck with that shoulder. :-)
ReplyDeleteNothing like aches to make us appreciate our usual mobile pain-free state! Somehow it always clears up and we happily get back to normal physically. Don't tell anyone but I took a rather heavy fall myself a week ago. Flat down to the dirty ground. Healing up now, but yes, living in these bodies is humbling as we age. How delightful to hear that you will go to the nursery with your son. I am wishing you all the contentment that spring can bring. Best wishes and Aloha my friend
ReplyDelete"You're closer to God (whater/whoever your version is) in a garden than anywhere else on earth." Not sure who said it but I love it. Every Spring we see life resurrected in nature. Happy Spring to you Friko.
ReplyDeleteThat was me...
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter! I find much joy in wildflowers where there is no tending only enjoying:)
ReplyDeleteConstantly applying ice to a painful shoulder, reduces, even stops the pain.
ReplyDeleteI think it was Cicero who said that if you have a garden and a library you have everything you need. I agree.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the garden (and I plead guilty to be unable to be moderate there).
And a big yes to your opening paragraphs.
Glad you will get to see your son. I hope you find some good plants. Happy Spring! 😊
ReplyDeleteI trip to the garden shop was once upon a time one of my life's greatest pleasures.
ReplyDeleteWar is indeed the vilest thing in the world, and there is so much of it in this sad world. What a dichotomy between the beauty of a garden and the horror of war. Enjoy choosing plants with your son.
ReplyDeleteHappy Spring days to you!
Nice to know your son comes visiting. Enjoy the choosing of plants!
ReplyDeleteI spotted the first yellow blossoms on a rapeseed field on Saturday from the train on my way to O.K. It was such a joyful surprise I nearly cried. Silly, I know.
Wisdom doesn't always come with age and we carry on regardless when we know we shouldn't.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is coming to life and rewarding you for all your years of hard work as well as for your recent endeavours.
Let's hope the sun comes along to cheer, too.
Happy Easter; happy plant buying; and happy resting up - there's no better or quicker cure that actually works.
ReplyDeleteA visit from your son and to the nursery should brighten up your week. Have fun and pace yourself with that heavy work.
ReplyDeleteah, but after the choosing comes the dealing. humans are pretty horrible creatures. what other species kills its own wholesale.
ReplyDeleteFriko, be careful with that shoulder. A dear friend thought she hurt her shoulder (or that it was Arthritis and just took pain pills for it for 2 weeks). Then when it didn't get better, found out it was dislocated and since it had been out of the socket for so long wouldn't go back in. Now she's faced with either a pin (to try to keep it in) or a shoulder replacement... or loose the use of her arm. Probably not your problem, but just be careful. On a happier note: Hope you had a Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have some ice you can put on that shoulder (says the woman with two rotator cuff tears and a bicep tear). Yes, physical therapy has helped but I have to watch it. Treat it kindly. That said -- wow! You've been a busy woman. And the photo is terrific. Those are fabulous blooms! (Let your son do the heavy lifting!)
ReplyDeleteI am in a hurry to put flowers in pots but am waiting two more weeks. I couldn't do a push up to save my life. Shoulder injury no fun. I had a frozen shoulder. That was painful and required therapy. Hope yours heals soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Friko - I do hope you had one or two dry days recently ... I rather hoped the weather had changed, but no - we're back to soggy gales. Sunday I was over in Alfriston which was lovely ... and thankfully it was reasonable weather - I got soaked yesterday! Today likely the same ... as long as I can make it up the hill to the hotel I need to be at later on - 'the blows' are making their presence felt. It is slightly warmer. Good luck with the planting and I hope you found some interesting and tempting plants to purchase. With thoughts re the shoulder ... it's excellent to read your posts. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteAre you still doing gymnastics? Of course, the joints can no longer tolerate difficult exercises. Take care of yourself, the second shoulder and knees. These joints are very susceptible to cartilage aging. I had a hip problem last summer. I walked with difficulty. Now I try not to expose it. Get better, let your shoulder rest from work. Happy shopping at the nursery.
ReplyDeleteBy now, you've been to the plant shop and back. I suspect (maybe even hope!) you came home with more than you intended, and that the color is cheering. We're into full spring, and there seems no way to keep up with the unfolding. The phrase 'embarassment of riches' comes to mind. I hope that shoulder's doing better, too. Me? I'm keeping an eye on a dog bite, which was a new experience. It seems to be healing well, and the dog (which had all its shots, and was on leash at the time!) is only required to endure a five day 'home quarantine.' No doggie park for that one just now!
ReplyDeletethecontemplativecat here. Hard lesson to learn---warming up occurs to me after the fact. Husband sighs when I say I want to go to look at some plants.
ReplyDeleteI hope your shoulder heals quickly, especially with your upcoming visit to the garden center. I always manage to find plants I did not know I need. Garden centers are such happy places for us gardeners.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you need some ice and rest for that shoulder. Enjoy your visit with your son.
ReplyDeleteI hope your shoulder injury didn't limit your enjoyment of the trip to the nursery with your son. Common sense and patience are sometimes in short supply when something needs doing and there is no-one else to do it. Do what you can for as long as you can I say. Trouble is I sometimes lack judgement when it comes to my capabilities.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I went anonymous again.
ReplyDelete