I know it is officially autumn when the Japanese maple tree begins to change color. It has. The leaves dance in the breeze in colors ranging from russet red to bronze to a pale Granny Smith green. Fortunately, this tree holds on to its leaves a long time after they've changed color, so Hubby and I can enjoy them and savor their beauty.
With the cooler daytime temps, I've been able to go back out into the garden to do involved hardscape installation that I can't do in the summer heat. However, I do have to keep telling myself the old adage, "Slow and steady wins the race" and that it's perfectly okay to do things at a slower pace than what my creative imagination and my ambitious brain would like.
Last Saturday, Hubby and I went to our local landscaping yard and handpicked over 1500 lbs of beautiful moss-rock boulders of various smallish sizes. Actually, I picked and Hubby lifted. I wasn't able to help because of a minor fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue flare-up. He loaded each rock onto a palette. Then the landscaping yard guy came and picked it up with a forklift, drove it to the scale and then to our truck where employee unloaded the palette into our truck and Hubby was able to finally get a break. The poor little pickup was riding pretty low on the way home, but it handled the rocks like the champ it is.
My flare-up has been keeping me from moving forward with installing the rocks as the border for a future pea gravel and flagstone path down the side yard, so the truck it still sitting the driveway (very low) full of rocks.
I keep repeating to myself, "Slow and steady wins the race... Slow and steady wins the race."
Because I haven't pushed my body (as I often do) I'm feeling this flare-up wane already. And if I don't jump the gun and let it completely subside, I'll feel just fine to start hauling rocks around in a couple of days. Then I can line the path in preparation for a pea gravel to be put in so flagstone can be set in it.
I just have to remind myself, "Slow and steady wins the race... Slow and steady wins the race." You know, now that I think about it, I feel a little like Dory on Finding Nemo.
I'm glad you're putting your health ahead of the duties you feel pulling you in the garden. That's very wise.
ReplyDeleteBe well,
Carolynn
I know just how you feel...my ambitious imagination always outruns my body's ability to keep up, even a little. We're embarking on another reno in our home, this time our living room. New paint, new trim boards and new flooring! I'll pick the paint up this Friday and we will begin, again. *sigh* And then yesterday, Harley stepped on my pinky toe and I'm limping along at a snail's pace. We will prevail, you and I...albeit at a much slower pace. :)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear you haven't been feeling your best. I know how hard it is when you have a vision to get something done and want to do it right away, but your body is just unable to. I'll have to remember "Slow and steady wins the race". Thank you! xoxo Jen
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