Thursday, April 1, 2010

" And So It Begins "

Spring has definitely sprung here in Southern Illinois. It was 82 degrees and sunny. Too warm for me! Yes you heard me right, I like temperatures in the 70's, and that's all I have to say on the subject!
This is the view looking up from my mother's chair in my yard. You can see the maple tree trying her best to fill out.

 I did way too much work the past three days and I'm paying for it now. No pity please. Arthritis is a terrible thing to have but there isn't much we can do other than shots or sitting and not doing a thing. I choose not to sit so it is my pain to bear.

Here is a picture of my "Good" hand, although it has been riddled with arthritis longer than the other...
And now a picture of the "Bad" hand. Notice the knuckles on the two middle fingers....


Yesterday as I was up on the ladder painting the trim around the ceiling, my knee locked up and I sort of got stuck! So I said "Please Lord help me get down off this ladder and I promise I will stay off of it for at least one whole day!".
I made it down with much pain and then I quit! Everything hurts, back,hips,knees,feet and hands. That is all of the places where I have Arthritis!

Sitting still is very difficult for me. So when I woke up this morning I decided to take a ride to Lowe's to see if they had any purple Petunia's yet. I want purple Petunia's for my hanging planters for the front porch. I do different plants every year. This year, purple petunia's!

And so it begins. The time of year when I spend every extra penny I have on flowers, dirt, mulch and seeds. My husband never says a word. And that surprises me every year!



This is my trunk. I bought 12 purple Petunia's and 2 white one's just to mix it up a bit. Then I remembered that I needed dirt and coconut shells for the planters.

Also a package of Sunflower seeds and Pumpkin seeds. I have grown pumpkins twice and had pretty good results. It's all about location,location,location!

So now I have this Forsythia dilemma. I have noticed that some people keep their Forsythia bushes trimmed neatly.....
While others go for the wild look....



These are photos I took while Katie was driving to her friends house today. I actually made her pull over and stop! Jackie would be so proud! Anyway I couldn't decide which way I was going to go with my little Forsythia bush which looks like this....



I know, I know, it does look sort of puny doesn't it? But it's only two years old and I am sure it will get much bigger. 

I asked Katie which way she thought we should let our little bush grow. She said that she liked the......
wild way as do I. Truthfully I don't think she really cared and was just trying to shut me up so that she could get to her friends house quicker! But that's alright as in my heart I really already knew how I wanted the little bush to grow.

And really it already does look pretty wild as I haven't trimmed it....
And now I don't have to. Dilemma settled! As it grows much bigger over the years, it will make my husband happy as there will be less to mow!

Hey now, could it possibly, no it couldn't be.... 

could it ?


maybe that's why he never complains when I plant so many plants. It's less for him to mow!!!

27 comments:

Dee said...

Hi, It is amazing how fast and big that Forsthyia bush will grow. I think it will let you know if it needs to get a trim. As for the pictures of your hands mine look just like yours any time I do any thing. I had to give up my mosaics because of the arthritis.If I work hard one day..I can not do much the next day. Glad you did not have to spend the night on the ladder. :)

Jenny said...

Oh boy....arthritis can be so awful. I'm sorry. And sorry about your scare on the ladder, too!

I like the wild look...but my husband always wants the trimmed looked.

It is usually a battle here.

Those purple petunias are going to be lovely.

Lynilu said...

Your inability to sit still made me chuckle. A few years ago someone said that they wished the was a real chill pill they'd give me a whole bottle of them just to make me slow down and quit making them feel like lazy bums!! They should see me now! I've learned that it will all be there for me tomorrow! I am far more laid back now days. And it is GOOD!

Diana said...

Hi Dee, I have had so many shots in my hands that I have given up. They don't work anymore. They wanted to do surgery on the left one but I just can't bring myself to do it yet! Like you with the mosaics, I've pretty much given up crocheting, just here and there! But we just keep on going!!
I love the Forsythia,always have and I finally bought one!
Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Jenny,
I've seen some really pretty trimmed ones but I just think the wild look is better! Glad your with me on that! BTW, I already have a card ready to mail to Kathy! Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Well Lyn, I've heard "Take a chill pill" more than once from family members. I figure I'll slow down one day soon enough!
Love Di ♥

Maria said...

Hi Diana! I love the WILD one too!
Now for the arthritis... I wonder if that's why my engagement ring is soooo difficult to get passed my knuckles... Hmmmm

I love the purple petunias! And, I wonder what our shops here in upstate, NY have out ... pansies are the first to show up... I love that deep purple color of your petunias...

I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend, Diana ~ God bless you and your family ♥
~Maria

Maria said...

ps. I hope you replenish and recover from all your hard work, Diana~ take care and hope you are able to rest a little.

Diana said...

Hi Maria! I kept seeing all of the pansies all over too, I really didn't think that they would have the Petunia's out yet but they did! Tomatoes too.
I've been resting all day. Busy weekend ahead, my son's going to turn 32 on Easter Sunday! I hope you enjoy your weekend! Love Di ♥

Wanda..... said...

You are funny Di, after dealing with the pain from painting...what do you do...go buy flowers and potting mix and create another job for yourself. Well, at least it's another beautification project. Everything is going to look good this summer!
I am sorry about the arthritis...I have a touch of it sometimes, my thumbs are OK now, but they started acting up a little this winter.
Happy Birthday to Frank!
Have a good Easter, Diana.

Oh...I prefer the wild looking Forsythia! ♥...Wanda

Linda said...

82 degrees, I'd be in heaven. It was freezing here today. I haven't been able to get warm all day.

I'm sorry to hear about your arthritis. It can be so debilitating. My SIL suffered from arthritis as well and her fingers would get so swollen. Glad you don't let it hold you back though. You sound like a go getter!

I can't wait to see your hanging planters!

Have a wonderful, blessed Easter!

jules said...

I would gladly trade our 70s for your 80s! It is supposed to go back to the 50s for the next 5 or 6 days. Yuck!

I do the same thing...spend every extra penny on flowers in the spring. I love them!

Diana said...

Hi Linda,
Although I did spend many years in Ca. growing up I am a Chicago girl at heart. So I do like the cooler weather. If it stayed 72 degrees all year I'd be in heaven!
Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Yeah Wanda, I know. This is how I work. I am supposed to be resting but secretly I am doing other things. Only my husband knows my secret and now I guess you and everyone else does too! Don't you love the Forsythia? Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Jules, I would gladly take your 70's for my 80's! I love Wisconsin. I was about a week away from buying property there when I met my husband. Love changed my plans very quickly! That's another story!
Love Di ♥

Eileen said...

Di, I left you a really long comment yesterday, but I don't see it here, I've been having this trouble all over blogland lately. I saw my comment showed up at Bernie's and at Jackie's so I thought my problem was solved, but I guess not.

Anyway, here it is in a nutshell:
Let the forsythia grow wild! Natural is better!
Don't overdo it with the painting/gardening/cleaning!
Don't paint that beautiful treasure of a chair with the perfect chippy paint that was your Mom's. I LOVE IT!
And I love you!
Your friend, E

Diana said...

Hi Eileen,I've been thinking of painting the chair and table to match the deck. Not the same color but something that matches better. Mom probably wanted it painted but never got around to it. But you know I have such a long list of things to do that I'm not going to worry if it gets done or not this year! BTW, I had trouble leaving comments yesterday myself, a few times!
Love Di ♥

Gail said...

HI DIANA

oh my your hands looks like they hurt a lot. :-( OUCH!!


Our forsythia gros wild - really wild and full all along the woods edge. We will be garden in about 2 weeks and 'set up' for outside fun :-)

Have a glorious weekend-
Love you
Gail
peace.....

Diana said...

Hi Gail,
I figure if I let the forsythia go wild it will take up one whole side of the front yard eventually! I think we will have to trim it some as that section isn't very big!
Love Di ♥

Rebecca said...

If they were MY forsythias, they'd stay wild....and I'm happy you have found your purple petunias. I have long since given up on PERSONAL purple petunias. I'll just enjoy yours and anyone elses who happen to be better at them than I!

Now, re. the arthritis....you have my sympathy. I can't imagine how you feel after a day of painting or any of the other manual labor that you thrive on! I've been walking around so gingerly after my fall, so it's not hard to imagine a little of how you might feel ALL the time.

Happy for the warm temperatures...would love to freeze these days to pull out in the winter (and in the heat of the summer, too)!

Diana said...

Hi Rebecca,
Sometimes I do good with the Petunias and sometimes not! I am hoping that they will do well this time. I really have my heart set on them.
I went to the doctor today, I have to have more blood work done in July. They are going to test for RA this time since I've never been tested for it and the arthritis is so bad. So we shall see. I hope you have a wonderful weekend Rebecca!
Love Di ♥

Anvilcloud said...

My hands (as well as other parts) aren't so good either. And I try to fiddle. Silly me.

Diana said...

Oh I love the fiddle AC! We can't quit doing things we love. I just work through the pain!
Love Di ♥

Barb said...

I can picture you sitting on the blue chair - I think your Mom would like that you're using it. Your poor swollen knuckles! Ouch! Take a pic of your petunia planters when they're planted. I love forsythia - and I like it wild. Jake's a very smart guy!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Perfect punch line at the end of this post!!! You are so extraordinarily witty, dear Di...and obviously a gifted gardener!! You have a green thumb...that's absolutely obvious!! I'm awfully sorry about the arthritis...hope that your pain subsides soon!! Have a wonderful Easter weekend!! Love, Janine XO

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Dearest Di!! Happy Easter!!! Love you! Janine XO

Lena said...

I love sun and high temperatures... I have this thing for summer dresses :)

You just made me think of how much I will miss having a garden... I still haven't bought one single plant for this flat... I think I may do that today...

Have a great weekend, Di!

Much love,