Friday, June 6, 2014

Plum Cottage Happenings

 

Good Friday morning Folks ~ Well it’s Friday morning here EST.

Thank you all for your kind comments on my last post, they mean a lot and help me more than words can express.

A week ago last Wednesday morning I bent over to lift a heavy flower pot, and uh oh, I felt something pull in my lower back again. I went about my day and wasn’t too bad. Later in the afternoon, one of my widow friends brought over her neighbor who does house painting, to look at my little ‘Plum Cottage’ to give me an estimate, which is a good price and she told me he does very good work, so when it cools down again this is the plan to get Plum Cottage freshened up with paint. This was a project DH and I were going to do, but alas, weren’t able to. I will be helping, by painting the grooves, after he sands and caulks, and he will roll the rest.

Anyway, the next morning, I could hardly get out of bed for the pain, bending was excruciating. I used a clay pack after it had been in the freezer, took some acetaminophen which didn’t seem to do much at all, took some herbs for muscle spasms and that were anti-inflammatory, massage essential oils into the area and just tried to relax. I couldn’t work, so missed out on three days last week and didn’t go to church on Sunday morning.  By Sunday afternoon though I could feel a lessening in tightness and pain, yippee. Monday I felt better, Tues. I did a couple of errands, Wed. I raked and bagged one bag’s worth to be picked up today.  I am feeling so much better and that is GREAT. It’s no fun crying, being frustrated, hobbling around very slowly and missing my dear husband. But, here I am able to get around again so I went out to take some photos of flowers.

Alamanda ~  I love the star in the center.  It was a pleasant surprise.

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Angelonia and begonias

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Bougainvilla

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Brugmansias ~ 3 different kinds of pinks grown from cuttings from a fellow FL gardener who lives in the middle of the state.  I just paid the postage.

This first photo is the day I got them, 14 May.

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Here they are this morning.  I repotted them yesterday and they each had a healthy root system. Yippee!

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Moonflowers, grown from seed.

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Thryallis.  I want to take cuttings from this to root. It is in a pot right now. It has a lovely scent too.

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In the ‘secret garden’

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Front patio as seen from inside where I sit to blog, write emails, or craft.

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This is taken outside looking southeast. The Lady is hidden by the salvia.

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Miniature roses as seen from inside too. (My windows need washing.)

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Here are close ups.  I just love the colors and it has a slight, sweet scent.

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This is ‘Granada’ on the wane, still pretty though.

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Unknown

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Another unknown

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Kathleen.

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I got a surprise in the mail last week from a dear relative. A check telling me it was a little something and to do with it what I saw fit. So, yesterday I ordered my new bread machine. It will come to my local Walmart and will be available for pick up next Monday. I am so excited. I will think of this dear one every time I use it.  I’ll post pictures after I get it and use it and hope it lasts me 14 years like this last one did.

Rain keeps being predicted here, but so far we’ve received ‘zilcho’. I keep hand watering and using the sprinkler on flower beds to keep things alive.

That’s it for now. Thanks again for all of your encouraging words. May you all be blessed.

FlowerLady

33 comments:

lil red hen said...

Oh I'm so glad you're feeling better! I know the pain of back problems! I absolutely love your flower gardens; you seem to have one of everything, just what I wish for. ;)

Sunray Gardens said...

It all looks lovely. The Brug's are really cool starting from what you had. Glad your back is on the mend. Have a nice weekend.
Cher Sunray Gardens

Balisha said...

There's nothing to compare to a back ache. If your back aches...you ache all over. It was good for you to rest.
Your place looks so pretty with all your flowers neatly tended.
What color will your house be painted?
Take it easy....and have a restful weekend.
Balisha

Anonymous said...

Oh boy . . . how I can relate to the back issue. Mine is still not 100%. I feel like I'm one heavy lift away from bed rest again. Very frustrating.

The afternoon rains keep missing me here in Lakeland and we are very, very dry at eli's place. Hopefully Saturday brings a little precipitation.

Beautiful pictures of your roses. Mine are blooming again, but I have lots of yellow leaves. Someone told me I'm not watering them enough and that you can't overwater roses . . . is that true in your experience? I'm growing mine in pots.

Have a wonderful weekend, FlowerLady. Careful with the back - don't overdo it.

Hugs,

eli

Nancy J said...

A pain free back and mobility is true bliss, so glad and really happy that you are well on the mend. Beautiful flowers, that moon flower with furls is super, lovely for a card. Take care, Hugs, Jean.

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

So glad you're on the mend! I've found that the older I get the longer it takes me to get over these types of things.

Beautiful photos! I love the miniature roses and the moon flower.

L. D. said...

Tylenol never touches my pain. Advil seems to work best even for tooth ache. Your flowers are looking so wonderful. The new starts from the cuttings really are doing good.

shirley said...

I can definitely relate to yourlower back pain . I gained almost instant relief with Bowen Therapy. I am fortunate to have access to a wonderful Bowen Therapist..
Glad you are feeling so much better. That was a kind thought from your relative.

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Oh dear Lorraine, when one does the old back in the constant pain makes everything else more magnified and worse.
So pleased you've come good so quickly really.
I can't imagine a more beautiful floral display than you shared here. Utterly gorgeous. Wishing some rain your way and we will expect some tantalising and delicious photos soon!
x

KathyB. said...

Your brugmansia is growing so quickly, and all your photos you are definitely a lady with green thumbs ! I love especially that it is obvious your gardens are planted, tended, and enjoyed with love.

I am glad to read you're feeling better and able to get a little done. Take it easy though, no relapses are needed !

Gary said...

Good morning from a not so sunny Bournemouth Lorraine,
You take care of that back, and don't rush into things too quickly, as they take a while to heal properly. I always enjoy your tours of what is happening in your garden. There is always something new to see. Have a good (and restful) weekend.

gld said...

I sympathize with the back pain. I had a strange incident of similar pain and could think of no reason for it. It lasted only one day, thankfully.

I can't believe all this rain happening everywhere and you aren't getting any! We have predictions of rain for the next 7 days. We don't get a lot, sometimes just a shower, but sometimes more. Everyone loves it but the hay guys.

Have a wonderful weekend and good luck with the house painting.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi There, Gorgeous photos of your beautiful yard. You really do have a green thumb.. Love your roses and some look similar to ours.. Isn't it amazing how some roses look as pretty or prettier as they age... Love 'em...

Have a wonderful day.
Hugs,
Betsy

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Try and take it easy so your back will heal. Seems rest is the best and you are probably like me as this is difficult to do - sit still.
Rain almost daily on my cottage
and I envy your roses as I
cannot grow them in my surroundings. Too damp and then hopefully the beatles do not come this year and devour everything.
Your flowers all look so beautiful
I am sure they know you love them :) Take care and heal...

Maryann said...

Your garden is so lovely, I think I could sit there all day. I know how hard it is to take it slow when your back has been acting up but honestly, it's the only way it will have time to heal....ask me how I know...I give advice better than I take it :-) Hope you continue on the mend

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

So glad you are doing better. Be careful with those heavy things.

Leslie Kimel said...

I'm so glad you're feeling better. Your miniature roses are so sweet!

Kit said...

Glad you are feeling better. I had a problem with that myself and used my heating pad like crazy. Oooo, that felt good and helped a lot. Keep healing! Love the photos. My roses just started blooming. Yay! Love, Kit

Darcie said...

Oh' sorry to read about your back. It's always hard to be hurt, and at the same time feel so alone, but I am glad things are looking up, my friend.

Also, how wonderful a gift you were given. I can smell the bread now. :-)

Julie said...

Somehow I had missed the post about your being hurt! I am so sorry! Glad you are feeling better finally! What a rough week you had! Glad you found someone to do the painting! Sounds like you best take it a lot easier on some of this outside stuff. Goodness. I wish we would get a bit more rain, myself. It keeps threatening, and then never does! So maddening!!! I wanted to ask you a question about Allamanda. Does it come in pink and yellow? I have a Mandavilla...it is pink. Are they close relatives? My friend has a yellow bloom like these, and wondered if it is Allamanda or Mandavilla. Almost sounds like a play on the word doesn't it??? LOL. I hate trying to ID things.

tina said...

Please be careful as you surely need your health. Take it easy for a while as back problems can be most tough. So glad you are feeling better tho!

M.K. said...

Oh, do be CAREFUL with your back! It's so easy to compromise it, and then it becomes damaged again and again. Easy does it :) You sound like my dear mother who adored her yard and all yard work, and she strained herself over and over trying to lift things that were TOO heavy. But the blooms are so lovely, esp. the mini. roses. Glad for your new bread machine. There's nothing like the smell of fresh bread ... except perhaps the smell of a sweet rose.

Skeeter said...

I am happy to hear you are doing better. Be careful moving those heavy pots! Your gardens are looking ever so beautiful....

Joy Junktion said...

You sure to have beautiful flower gardens. Happy to hear your back is feeling better! Blessings, Cindy

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

I love your roses, Loraine, especially the unknown, the second from the bottom. Please, be careful with those heavy pots!

Debra Howard said...

Girl you need to get a dolly to help you move those flower pots although it doesn't help with the lifting it does help with the moving. hope your back gets better soon. Your garden is lovely. Oh how I enjoy the eyecandy right now. Hoping our drought ends so I can rehab my garden...I am listening to the pitter patter of rain so maybe...

Rebecca said...

SO happy you're over your pain! And what beautiful photos (as usual). I do like your secret garden - the front patio....How wonderful to have such an inspiring spot to blog, emails, etc.

Dorothy said...

Good to hear you're feeling better.
Those roses are simply stunning. We have the last of our roses just hanging on, here in Australia. Goodbye roses, until summer arrives. :)

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Glad your back is feeling better! Such a beautiful garden! Have fun with your bread machine!

Eggs In My Pocket said...

What beautiful blooms you have. Your garden is just breath taking! Glad that you feel much better!

Becky said...

OH DEAR! I hope your back is feeling a bit better. It really is tough to deal with our bodies giving us such tough lesson's on our own aging. My tendons in my right leg have been speaking nasty to me lately and I don't like it at all. LOVE your gorgeous flowers as always.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

hopefully, you're feeling better. that tub looks like it needs some soft quilting type padding and it'd be ready for a nap! haha lovely flowers and know what you mean about missing your husband. I've been having a mentally stressed time lately, simply missing Dave and feeling so alone. yes, I do know God is here but it's not the same as someone with skin on, is it?

Ferree Bowman Hardy said...

I'm so sorry your back was hurt! But so glad to hear it healed up a lot quicker than mine did. Good for you to take care of it the right way. Physical pain seems to make the pain of grief a little sharper but blessings on you for taking it right to the Lord. <3