-Nadja-'s Journal, 19 May 24

You’ve done a wonderful job. It looks great. 

ThnQ Val_Lily...that garden is only 3 years old and is a work in progress. One of these years,(fingers crossed) it will be a full Ontario Native plant meadow.  

Well I guess your body is getting conditioned to the gardening and good thing!! Seems your yard is just massive and completely transformed into this greenery and floral paradise. Pace yourself though Nadja. That’s a lot of care the entire season to keep up! Just curious, do you sit when you are working on an area and if so, what do you sit on? When I garden I squat down and I’ve never been so sore in my upper front legs as I am this year and I still want to work on the back area but don’t want to go through this again. I can’t kneel because of arthritis in the knees. 🤦🏼‍♀️ fine pair,,, the Mummy and The Hunchback of Notre Dame!! 😅 If you have any suggestions I’m all ears!  

Mona....There is nothing graceful or ladylike in the way I garden!! LoL I start off with my spade skimming about 2" underneath the weeds and then I bend over and start gently tugging on the weed roots to loosen them from the clumps of dirt that they've managed to encase. That position is a back killer....within 5 minutes I've got my butt on the ground, unceremoniously just plopping myself down to get closer to the tiniest weeds that might otherwise escape my vision! I then do the butt walk/shimmy along the ground dragging my garbage pail, spade and garden claw as I go! Whole body workout for sure!!! I might crush a few plants along the way but they're all perennials and they can handle a good butt crushing! LoL and Lord help me when it's time to get up, especially if I haven't stopped for a break! My butt and/or my legs are usually asleep so I'm flopping like a fish out of water trying to heave myself up with the aid of my spade! You've got the visual on that scenario and are now giggling to yourself aren't you??!! 🤣 and....I'm cursing myself a blue streak for having stayed down so long. That's where I miss not smoking, as I would have stopped a half dozen times for a smoke. One of these days, I'll think smart and put my drinks in a little caddy to pull along with me as I go!! OOOH!! and I always dab a bit of Vicks Vap-o-Rub behind my ears and on my neck and shoulders - mosquitos either hate the scent or they can't detect your carbon dioxide through the menthol vapours...either way - it works 100% for me!! 

Nadja, you are so entertaining. Your narrations crack me up and you seem to know just when to put in your little plugs to make it even funnier. As far as gardening, however you go about it, you make it work. I just woke up muscles I haven’t used in a long time. Just able to move more normal now. Have to work on the back yard next but don’t have a plan yet. Can’t wait to see your yard in bloom. 🌷🌸🌺