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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Running Behind and a Sore Back

Posting (and blog reading) has been off this week because  we’ve returned from our 2-week New England road trip and are dealing with house and yard chores, and Grenville’s (very) sore back – OUCH!

Who knew weeds would overrun the garden and everywhereIMG_6636 else in just 14 days – maybe the hot and humid weather was to blame?. The cucumbers grew to the size of child-sized baseball bats as did the yellow squash. We have more eggplant than expected, so we’ll be trying lots of eggplant recipes and freezing some we like. The peppers and tomatoes are thriving too. My afternoon’s project today was a batch or homemade tomato sauce.

Elizabeth0802 (4)The trip to RI to meet our first granddaughter and see her older brother and their parents was wonderful. We also lots of fun activities: a trip on the Essex Steam Train in CT, touring Amtrak's 40th anniversary exhibit in RI, and boarding the US Coast Guard Barque, Eagle, training ship when it was docked in New Bedford, MA and open to the public. 

RI was our destination, but not the only stop. Before getting to New England, we visited Beatrice's mom in NJ. During our RI stay, we visited relatives in CT. Our homeward drive included a weekend stopover in Lancaster, PA to visit more family, including a trip to the Lancaster Science Factory (more on this place in another post).

The weather cooperated with warm sunny days, which although hot to New England folks, were quite tolerable to us. The week we left, daytime temps were in the high 90s with heat indices in the 100s. It was 103° when we headed out with a Jeep full of our stuff and veggies to share with relatives. Days of 85-88° were appreciated, especially when we returned to 90°+ temps here.

Grenville has been nursing a pulled back muscle after he twisted it just by getting out of a chair during our last days in RI. A CVS pharmacist there recommended a walk-in clinic, and $95 later, we had  a diagnosis, a prescription for meds, and advice to use heat wraps. All was going well and a full day’s rest in our PA motel helped a lot. By the time we headed home on Monday, Grenville’s back (and mood) were much improved.

That soon ended – a couple hours of picking veggies and pulling weeds and he was wincing again. So, it was another day of heat wraps, meds, and resting on Wed. Unfortunately, medical care in this area leaves much to be desired. Tomorrow, Grenville has an appointment with a chiropractor and hopefully will get some relief

11 comments:

DeniseinVA said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip, the highlight being meeting your first grandchild. Doesn't get any better than that. Hope Grenville's back gets better fast.

john bain said...

I know how you feel Grenville. My sympathies.

Lois Evensen said...

So sorry about the backache, Grenville. I know all about it and it is no fun at all.

Your trip sure sounded like fun, though. :) I look forward to hearing and seeing more about it.

(GBS) NewsFromTheHill said...

Oh I can identify with the back trouble. When your back hurts, everything just seems to hurt. Tell Grenville that I threw mine out one time by sneezing!!! So embarassing!

Cicero Sings said...

Sore backs are no fun! I can only garden so long so take it easy out there! The weeds are thriving here too - the garden only so-so.

Elaine said...

Glad you're back home safely, but sorry to hear about Grenville's back. I find the best way to deal with that is to allow the weeds to peacefully coexist with what I've planted in my garden. While the garden grows extremely fast in our long summer days the weeds do even better. The one thing I know for sure is it won't be long and the garden will be put to bed under a peaceful blanket of snow. Then I don't have to deal with any yardwork for six months. There's always an upside.

Anvilcloud said...

Oh, we know about back problems around here. Yes we do. Muscle spasms are very painful and uncomfortable when they flare up.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

We've all been there with back problems, I think. The baby is worth it's weight in gold!...:)JP

Montanagirl said...

Here's hoping Grenville's back is better soon. My back "has gone out" several times in the last 20 years...and it's horrible. I was reduced to using my Dad's walker the last time. I couldn't get up, lay down, sit up, get off the pot once on it...the whole horrible 9 yards. I have a herniated disk. I have to be very careful.

Anonymous said...

Your trip sounds as it has been great, except for that sour back then.

We have it a bit chillier over here right now, it was only 42F here this morning so now I´ve started a fire in the stove because I guess we´ll have a rather cold night once again.

Have a great day!
Christer.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Thanke Everyone for your comments and concern about Grenville's back aches. UPDATE - today he went to a chiropractor and after some adjustments (and more to come) G is feeling better and has some specific guidelines for exercises and stretching.

Hi Denise, actually Elizabeth is our 2nd grandchild, but 1st granddaughter and grandson Bobby's sister.

Thanks John (Don't Unjplug)

Lois, more trip posts coming.

Grace, seems lots of folks have thrown their back out by just sneezing or coughing as the chiropractor told us today.

Eileen (Cicero) and Elaine, I agree totally that when it comes to a choice between injury or weeding...weeds can win out anytime!

AC, they certainly are painful.

Hi JP (Quiet Corner ) we all rather fond of the new baby - she's already a charmer.

OUCH, Mona! a herniated disk is really something to be "babied"

Christer, wasn't is just summer time and now you are lighting fires in the stove already.