Today I feel like I’m eighty years old. Yesterday, I realized that if the 100 tulip bulbs that were beginning to sprout in my garage were going to get planted, I needed to do it. So Middle Daughter picked up this nifty bulb-planting thing from Wal-mart for $2.97, and I lost all my excuses. I planted my two long boxes, and my barrel and then looked at the bag that looked almost undiminished by my efforts. “Full sun” said the instructions. “6” deep, 6″ apart.” (It also said that in my zone they should be planted in October, but that wasn’t possible, and they were beginning to grow in that mesh bag, so I thought I had better get them into the ground.)
I looked out at the long, long row where the grapes that we planted two years ago are bravely trying to get big, and looked at the long, ungraped spaces between each plant. This, I decided would be a great place to plant my tulips. So I went out there with my nifty bulb-planting thing and began to plant my bulbs. I have this bum knee that will not bend very much, so it was a bit unhandy to put the oomph behind the nb-pt that was needed to get through the crab grass and the cold ground. Part of the time, I was bent over, working from a distance. But that didn’t work so well, so part of the time, I knelt down, and part of the time I just sat down on the ground and did the best I could. I thought that I was pretty determined, and if I just tried hard enough, I could do it, so I kept at it though maybe five or seven bulbs, and then there was something that came into the line of vision. Certain Man, on his way to the chicken house saw me over there, sitting on the ground and trying valiantly to plant the bulbs. He came across the yard and looked on with amusement.
“What do you think you are doing?” He asked.
“I’m planting these bulbs,” I said, quite unnecessarily, “If they are going to get planted in time, I need to do it today. Do you think you could help me? My hands just aren’t strong enough to do this with any great advantage.”
He took the nb-pt and went to work. He was soon on a roll, punching the holes, I would throw in the bulb, and together, we would replace the plug and then go on to the next one. Suddenly he said, “I need to go check chickens. I’m supposed to be a part of a conference call at 6:00, and that doesn’t give me much time.” And away he went, with the bag still about half full, and a long, long row ahead of me. I decided that I would keep plugging (excuse the pun) away. It was getting colder, and the row seemed to be getting longer.
And then I thought about a gift I had that was given to me for such a time as this. It was called Youngest Daughter. She was languishing in the house, unoccupied by labor. So, the gift that had been given was asked very sweetly if she would please help, and she cheerfully said that she would be glad to. So she arrayed herself in shoes and sweat pants and came out to the long, long row.
There is something about her strength and her youth that makes me feel even older, but she grabbed the nb-pt with a vigor that outdid even Certain Man, and while her old Mama rolled about on the ground, putting in the bulbs, she punched holes with a vengeance, and before we quite knew what was happening, all the bulbs were planted.
“Whew! That was a job well done!” I said. And Youngest Daughter and I went into the house to clean up. This morning, there is a strange pain in my left hip that wasn’t there before. The bum knee belongs to the right leg, so when there is walking to do, especially after sitting in church for a spell, I feel like I have to take a few steps before either leg catches up! This does not make for smooth, feminine movement, I tell you! And it is the reason that I feel eighty years old today. It is truly the fault of those 100 tulip bulbs.
But now, Eldest Daughter and Beloved Son in Law are here to play a game of Shang-hai. One advantage of being elderly is that the younger generation ought to give you a break when it comes time to count points.
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Delaware Grammy 
LOLOL Hurray for Youngest Daughters! LOLOLOL I’m sorry you are having aches and pains long before your time. I consider you a spring chicken! =D
Wait a minute, SuzyQ–aren’t you the one that was here when the dinosaurs roamed the earth? And I am older than you! Spring chicken??? I think not. (Maybe an old stewing hen. . .)
Did you get any breaks on scoring in your “Shang-hai” game? Sometimes I also feel like an “old stewing hen” lol. Glad you got your bulbs planted. I’ll be interested in knowing if they bloom for you this spring? My flower garden at one time was large and beautiful and included in garden tours. Then Southern Iowa began this dry spell and our well water didn’t allow for both watering my flowers & meeting the needs of the house. There are many sad things in this world and I know somethings are trivial in the scope of things. Nevertheless I loved my flower garden.It was with great saddness that I’d sit on my garden bench and see things wither and die. Now we have Rural Water piped to our place and our well water is plentiful. But I’ve not revived my gardening like it had been. Within every neglected or abandoned garden there is a story.
Oh for the blessings of unoccupied youngest daughters who are at home when you need them! We have a lot of Cannas around our place, and those need to be dug every year and hauled to the basement. Fortunately my husband thrives on doing it, or alas, we would no longer have a beautiful canna privacy fence around our place! I do hope all your aches and pains go away soon!
Where did 100 tulip bulbs come from in the first place? That part feel through a gaping hole in the story. Were they a gift from someone special? Or, did you do that to yourself in a weak moment? Thank the good Lord for R’s helping hands! I do feel badly about your unfeminine gait, but deed, you do make me laugh with your descriptive writing! Hope you feel better this morning … like maybe only 65.
How about FELL through? I really do need to proof better!!!!!!
LOL I Know I am quite a bit younger then you but I’ve done the same kind of things to myself. Sometimes I forget I am not a teenager and get out side and really overdo it and then the next day or two or three I feel like and old stewing hen myself!!
You didn’t need any breaks when it came time to count the points, you did better than me :(Thanks for a good evening, ’twas fun ;)~Christina
Yes, Christi-girl, it is pretty nasty to finish fifth out of five, but I didn’t beat, either. We will need to teach Youngest Daughter some manners. It isn’t nice to beat everyone both games when everyone else is older than you. Is that allowed???
From one old biddy to another: ;D We always enjoy having the drummer boy who sat at your table yesterday join us on the worship team! He is just like a breath of fresh air that blows through from time to time. He’s quite talented in a number of areas, not the least of which is being able to tell us what the weather is at his altitude! LOL
I never win at games. but i still enjoy the fun. I’m with Ethel, why would anyone have 100 flower bulbs??? I’m sure it will be beautiful in the spring. ~ nancy
You have quite a way with words. I enjoyed your story of the tulips. It makes me want to buy some to plant. I never have before but I love the way they look in Spring. Do you dig them up and replant them each year?
Be careful, Buckeyegirlie. Overzealousness is one reason I have back problems today.
Regarding the monkey bread….Leslie (Donkey owner) and I decided grooming a donkey and baking on the same day was a little disgusting since the donkey grooming came first!!!!!!!!! We will have Olivia down just for baking and playing next time. Leslie took my girls to her marvelous place where they malled and brushed anything that had hair, as well as the donkey. ( Leslie advised me to use a lint roller on the girls clothes before I washed them.) The girls did have a rather peculiar mix of animal smells on their clothes. Smart to delay the baking.
Now we know where your tulips on your site came from! WOW! And how wonderful that your have family that is so willing to come to your “rescue”!
Kisses to you Aunt Mary!
wish I could’ve been there to help 🙂