Ebony's Pearls

I'm putting in 2 wading pool garden beds for edible flowers and veggies.

Last year, it took me 2 trips from the car to haul the pools and soil and plants to the back yard.

This year, it took 8 trips with a dolly to haul 2 pools, soil,and plants just to the lawn beside the driveway. I couldn't carry the 50 - 60 pound bags of soil and compost any distance at all because my knees would not support the weight.

Remember last fall when I put up those sections of the stockade fence with the help of some dogs? Won't happen this year, not even a single panel. There's no way I can carry the panel, the 80 pound bag of cement mix, or the 50 pound bag of gravel. I can dig shallow post holes, but not ones deep enough for a solid fence. That means the rest of my stockade fence will go unfinished until my knees heal,which probably won't be this year. That sucks because my neighbor is letting her fence fall apart.

I never realized how much of my strength and ability to get things done relied upon my sturdy legs and knees.

I've always taken good care of them because I make them work so hard. That only makes sense to me.

I think, if my knees given way slowly from age (or abuse of them), I would have made gradual accommodations. Having lost the use of my knees so suddenly, I am constantly confronted with things I did effortlessly and now can't do at all. Figuring out how to get things done is time-consuming and a venture in frustration because what I expect to work doesn't work as I expected and I have to try other ways.

Since I don't expect these injuries to be permanent ones, I am only trying temporary fixes. That may lie at the root of my frustrations. If I just gave in and made permanent accommodations, it might be easier.

Still, I have the empty wading pools awaiting my attention in the front yard, along with many bags of soil and compost and mulch and plants.

My knees are rested up (I think) and so I must drill the holes,line them with weed cloth, and fill them with the soil mixes. Then top with more weed cloth, dig in the plants, and top with mulch.

Last year,this only took an hour. I wonder how long it will take me sans knees to do this year?