Thursday, July 21, 2011

Bountiful Blessings

This time yesterday, I was sitting in my chair, feeling like I had a boulder on my lap.  I was weary of making the effort to move, and decided I wouldn't.  I'd just sit here, wishing I didn't have the weight of the world sitting on me.

A little poem started to form, so I went with it.  Not great poetry, but as I wended my way through, and shed a few pity tears, I found that I was able to get up and go about the rest of my day.  I got on the stationary bike, did the other exercises, iced my knee several times, checked out a few blogs, enjoyed a long phone conversation with my oldest daughter, read, and watched "Julie & Julia" with my youngest daughter.  Really, a pretty full day for a person who can't do much except sit around with her knee raised!

Later in the afternoon at physical therapy, Mindy met me with a profuse apology, as between us, we had pushed me a little too hard and I'd had a setback. (I'm back using the walker instead of the cane.)  I appreciated her words, as I had been a wee bit fearful that she would expect me to do some of the weight bearing exercises that had caused me extra stress, but I also assured her it was my going overboard with the new exercises that probably did the worst damage.  I just can't seem to leave well enough alone, as I want to be healed and hiking again, yesterday!

I was actually feeling pretty good, if you didn't count the pain I felt whenever I bent or straightened my knee!

After we returned from PT my husband went out to check the garden.  Over the years, our garden has morphed from two small raised beds into an "L" shape, that takes up most of the backyard, easily a couple hundred square feet, probably more.  He has strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, garlic, onions, carrots, beans, tomatoes and peppers.  Because he loves me, he also plants several varieties of squash and cucumbers, (which he refuses to try) and mini pumpkins (which I always give my students in October). He also is a beekeeper, so we have a few hive boxes on one side of the garden as well.


I haven't been out to look at the garden for nearly four weeks.  To be honest, I'd almost forgotten about it.  The weather has been pretty crummy around here and while we've had strawberries and raspberries for awhile now, and the blueberries are just now getting ripe, I didn't even think about the veggies.

He brought me a perfect little zucchini, just the size I like for stir-fry, and I was so excited!  He said, "There's a patty pan out there too.  Do you want it?"

"Yes!"

In comes a sweet little patty pan, again, just perfect for dinner, and he says, "There's a couple crook neck.  I suppose you want those too?"

"Well, if they're the right size, Yes!"

YUM!  Even though it ended up being a bit longer than I'd like for standing, I gleefully chopped and stir fried my bounty from the garden, and loved every bite. A good friend had brought me a vegetarian lasagna on Monday, so I had a lovely meal and it boosted my spirits considerably.



 This morning, I had a medley of raspberries, strawberries and blueberries with my granola and yogurt. Once again, I reveled in the blessings of having a garden in our little suburbia neighborhood.  

I've been counting my bountiful blessings . . . family, friends, produce in my backyard, and a knee that definitely feels better today than yesterday.  It was thrilling to walk down the hall with minimal pain this morning, and while some exercises still cause me to wince, I finally believe I am truly on the road to recovery.

Wow!  It's good to feel grateful today!

9 comments:

  1. It always amazes me how one little tibit of change can make all the difference. I found a perfect sized summer squash in my garden yesterday too. I am at the raised garden stage of my gardening. I hope one day to have space for a little bitter one. We shall see.

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  2. This sounds so positive! What an uplifting day you've had. I hope you will go from strength to strength from now onwards :)

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  3. May your gratitude at the bounty in your life, and the baby steps of healing bring you even more abundance in the days to come.

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  4. Yes, your bountiful blessings definitely give you a good reason to be thankful. These are the bright spots in life that lift up your spirits. May you receive more blessings in the future.

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  5. My garden got put in late and we just got our first tomato yesterday...my raspberries have finally bore fruit..they aren't that old. I made my first batch of jam the other day and I have enough to get atleast one more before they're gone. I'm grateful for these small blessing too! Hope that knee keeps improving! Sounds like you're doing all the right stuff to make it happen.

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  6. Two steps forward, one step back... it will definitely get you to where you're going, eventually! :-)

    And yes, I have met Jessica! I go to Great Harvest every week, usually on Wednesdays, to get brownies for the hike on Thursday. She's a cutie, and isn't this a small world? I just LOVE the blogosphere!

    Oh, and if it weren't for the Farmers' Market, I wouldn't ever have those lovely veggies you cooked up from your bounty. But of course I do, and I go there every week if I'm not busy doing something else!

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  7. Hi Sandi, sometimes we just have to sit there and catch our breath. I seem to have had a few days like that later. I loved the movie Julie and Julia so I'm sure that helped lift the spirits too. Thanks too for continuing to visit my kangaroo world. So glad you are enjoying it.

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  8. Dee Sandi,
    First, I want to thank you for going to my blog and posting two comments. I'm thrilled to meet you and your blog. I've read several of your postings and look forward to journeying with you during your recovery.

    I had total right knee replacement in April 2010 and all is well now. I hope you can hold on to the belief that "all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be exceedingly well" as Juliana of Norwich said many centuries ago. Oh, also, I really resonate with the title of your blog. Take care of yourself, eat those veggies, and enjoy your own company. Peace.

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  9. Love it! Those gifts that come when we are receptive. Ahhh.

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