A week ago, my darned back went out. I’m not sure why but think it may have happened when I carried a hose and sprinkler from the Wolf Garden to the Main Garden on the ATV. I couldn’t collapse the tripod sprinkler so was carrying it, spread out, on the back. When I got on, I had to swing my right leg very high to clear the sprinkler. Soon after, I had a sharp pain in my lower back. Oh oh! Then we had company, who had come to see our Seed Treasures seed gardens. And I stood up and walked a great deal, from garden to garden. For days, my back really hurt. Of course, my back has been bad for years. When I was 17, a horse fell over backward on me, breaking my hips and lower vertebrae. Then, about 8 years ago, Will and I both fell off our storage barn’s roof. Both of us ended up with the same compressed vertebrae. No wonder my back acts up sometimes!

These were the Norland apples I turned into wonderful, canned apple slices.

Well, life goes on. My friend, Heather, came over and picked our first apples from the Norland tree. I gave her half and kept half. I’ve got lots of apple jelly, juice, and applesauce canned up but needed some more sliced apples for pies and other baked goods. The apples were small, but I hooked up my apple peeler, hoping to make quick work of the job. Well, it worked. Kind of. Unfortunately, the peeler took too thick a peel and I was wasting plenty of apples. So, I took my vegetable peeler and paring knife onto the front porch, mixed up some salt water to protect the apple slices from discoloring, then set about hand peeling and slicing the remaining basket of apples. It really didn’t take too long. I ended up with four quarts and one pint of apple slices when they were all canned up.

I love my apple peeler, but with these small apples, it took too thick a peel, wasting apples.

As getting on and off the four-wheeler has been so hard on my bad knees, swinging my leg over the back and seat, we’ve been looking for an electric golf cart for several years now. On Saturday, my oldest son, Bill, texted me an advertisement on Facebook Marketplace for one, only two hours from us, for a very reasonable price. I called the folks and asked about the cart. It had new batteries and ran well. It did have some scratches and dings but also had a newly recovered seat, and a box on the back that would be very handy for hauling garden stuff. Yesterday, Will and I drove down to pick it up. It was a non-eventful trip, except for the construction on the Blatnick Bridge over the St. Louis River, between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Holy cow, there were no detour signs at all! We ended up “touring” Duluth as we struggled to get over to another bridge, farther south. After getting that straightened out, the trip was smooth. The folks were really nice, and we drove home with my new wheels! I was on and off the ATV, probably thirty times a day and I’m sure that wasn’t great on my now-bad back. I mean, get on, drive to the Wolf Pasture, get off, open the gate, get on, drive through, get off, close gate, get on, drive to the Wolf Garden, get off, open the gates, get on, drive through. Then I repeat it after picking some tomatoes to bring home to save the seeds from them. Whew! With the golf cart, I can do the same but not have to throw my leg over the back and seat. Just step up a low step, sit down and it’s done. Much better! And no gas involved. It’s quiet and can be charged with our solar panels. Two big plusses!

I’m so blessed to have a new set of pain-free wheels!

Today, just standing still, I got a sharp jab of pain in my lower back again. Hopefully, after lying flat for an hour and taking a couple of Tylenol, it will straighten out. I’ve got tomatoes ripening very quickly. So, I need to start getting more seeded out. We’ve got a garden club coming out for a tour on Thursday. I sure hope the back cooperates! — Jackie

47 COMMENTS

  1. Jackie how do your apples look so great? Ours are full of insect damage. Do you spray insecticides on apples? Our bartlett pears and peaches seem to be ok with out spray.
    Thanks
    Mike in Iowa

    • I wait to pick my squash until a freeze is forecast or after a light frost. You want the stems corky and the skin on the squash tough so when you press your thumbnail against it, it doesn’t pierce the skin. As Hopi Pale Greys are a land race squash (this means a variety that has been grown in an area for generations by folks who relied on it for food and didn’t care about shapes or colors), you’ll sometimes get different shapes and even different colors, ranging from yellow to pink or spotted. This doesn’t mean the squash seed has been crossed but is just expressing its historical variance. We do, however, only save seeds from the typical blue-gray colored squash to try to avoid folks from misunderstanding and figuring we sold them crossbred seed.

  3. Jackie, I was amazed at all of the offers of advice for back pain and arthritis. Good info friends!
    I have one to add, only because it has been a life saver – turmeric – I take it daily now, and if I over do anything, a full dose of 1500mg. No more naproxin for me!

    Best of luck with the rest of the garden season, won’t be long and we can huddle indoors to keep warm and relax a little.

    • I agree with the turmeric! I had bad trouble with diverticulitis to the point of almost scheduling surgery for removal of a section of my colon. On the advice of a nurse friend, I started eating Noosa yogurt and taking turmeric. Where I was having a severe attack every couple of weeks, I haven’t had an attack in over five years now. No diet change, either. I’m a real fan!!

  5. Sorry your back has been such a pain. That’s the absolute worst. I have a bulging disc between L3 and L4. Always a pain.

    Where were you to get the golf cart? Iron River maybe? That’s just my neck of the woods!

  6. Sorry that you have a touchy back and your garden is ripening all its produce at the same time. Sounds like you are doing all you can to get better. Next move would be to go see a chiropractor – sooner than later. I take liquid magnesium and it helps – no more terrible leg cramps. I love your blog Jackie been reading it for a long time. When did you start blogging?
    I think I have been reading your blog for years and years. Always look forward to it. Hope you get better very soon.

    • My back is much better today!! I also take magnesium, which helps my leg cramps too. I started blogging in 2007, when I didn’t even know what the word “blog” meant. My my…..

  7. Congratulations on your new wheels! That is absolutely perfect and wonderful! Hope your back is feeling better very soon!

  8. I sure hope your back is doing better. That electric golf cart would be a huge blessing! The worst thing about back problems us most of us can’t just stop working and rest, especially this time of year. My just turned 3 year old grandson managed to break his leg and is in a long leg cast. I am the official babysitter now and am so thankful I get to be the one to care for him, but my back certainly complains! Tylenol and ibuprofen are my friend. My daughter works long hours, so getting to my garden is kind of hit or miss now. It will be fine however it works out. Prayers for a blessed week.

    • + OK, this sounds a little odd, but I’m odd: what can I say? : ) When we had little kidlets and I HAD to get to the garden, the kidlet was put in the wheelbarrow so they could go with me and watch, but not get in the way or in the dirt. If you have 1. a cooperative grandchild, and/or 2. a big wagon or 3. garden cart, that works, too. Good luck!

    • One thing I’ve learned is you do what you can do. I always try to think of a solution for the immediate problem. But if there doesn’t appear that there is one, I just go with what I can do.

    • Apparently a lot of us “young at heart” folks overuse certain muscles and don’t use others enough. “Bob and Brad”, two young at heart, physical therapists on You Tube seem to specialize in helping us with low intensity exercises to help “what ails us”. They show things to do while sitting or standing to help hips, necks, knees, backs, etc. of those of us with the aches of maturity. Hope this helps.

  9. Our soil is depleted of magnesium and we aren’t getting enough magnesium in our diet. Once you take magnesium and thats triple magnesium 2 tablets before bed your body feels so much better and you can work on your hobby farm. I am so thankful to have my magnesium in my life. I had terrible sciatica and knee pain and a shoulder. I have much to do here and our kids grew up! My fatherinlaw was real ill and when he got out of the hospital 10 years ago at Thanksgiving he shook the bottle of magnesium in my face and he said this is the answer to our prayers! I will never forget But didn’t do anything about it till 9 mos ago.

    • Magnesium is my friend. Without taking it, I get horrible leg cramps that last way too long! I’ve been on it for years and it really helps.

  10. Early this morning I gleaned what might be Gravenstein apples from a wild tree in the area. Two spotted fawns were also competing for the grounded apples and there was plenty for all. Eastern Washington has wild apple trees aplenty. Sometimes it seems to be such waste of perfectly good fruit lying around! I canned up 13 pints of applesauce to use for baking recipes, in lieu of processed sugar. The muffins are smelling up the house as I write.
    It is sometimes a hunt but one doesn’t need an apple tree in the yard when there are many fruit trees willing to share with deer and people.

    • Very true. (But I still love having my very own apple trees!) I, too, have gleaned a ton of fruit from “wild” trees or unused trees (with permission). It feels so good!

  11. Dear Jackie,
    I sure hope the back gets better. I have known several knee replacement folks that had back trouble afterwards. It seems when the knee is straightened, everything has to realign (or not) So go slow and take it easy. It may not actually be your back but some realigning of the body and spine. The fact that you have had a horse fall on you does not help either. Putting you on my prayer list

  12. P.S. I go to the chiropractor
    Every other week. Standing
    Appointment. Have Stuff to Do
    Horses, cattle and yard work

      • I have three sons and two granddaughters who are chiropractors. I love chiropractors. Unfortunately, they all live Very far from Mom and Grandma. But I still go to a chiropractor.

        • I’m a fan, too. Luckily, my back is straightening out well. The last time this happened was 33 years ago! I have frequent back pain from old injuries, but I can live with that. I’ve done supplements etc., but they just didn’t do anything for me.

  13. Just really relate to the back pain and doing
    What needs doing and going forward. Was
    Happy to have a niece recommend a new
    To me supplement. Collagen powder. She
    Takes it for bad knee, I ordered some and
    Have been taking it for about 2 months. I
    Take 3 tablespoons powder in cup of Hot
    Tea every morning. ( won’t work in cold)
    And honestly my arthritis is much better
    Had rotator cuff shoulder repair 2 years ago
    And weather change sets it off. Have had
    Lots of storms roll across Kansas last couple
    Weeks and shoulder has been fine. We get
    Our collagen from Trim Healthy Mama website. $22 lbs for bag that lasts about
    Month. Something like having Powdered
    Bone Broth. Natural product that’s really
    Been helpful. Replacement for body not
    Producing enough collagen as we age.
    Just passing along information. Please do
    Your own research and see what you think

    • I know these products work quite well with arthritis. But my back/hips issue has always been a pinched nerve. That usually resolves with time but a chiropractor visit could be down the road. Today it’s a lot better. Thanks for the information.

  14. Jackie! Have you tried Dr. John Christopher’s Bone and Muscle repair formula? Based on that much maligned herb: Comfrey? Takes a while to rebuild but can be done. Up to a point. Just sending this thought on for your information. Good luck. You’re so outstanding! :)

    • Thanks for the info. My knees are way beyond rebuilding; bone on bone. And the back thing has always been a pinched nerve. I’m better today so taking it easy, I’m hoping to continue healing up.

      • I had an appt. last week with, turns out, a doctor’s physical therapist; in lieu of the orthopedist himself. I don’t know why they did that. With x-ray of my knee in hand, she said I need knee replacement, saying it was bone on bone. Thing is, the x-ray explanation said it’s only slightly worse than years ago at last x-ray, and it’s never been close to bone on bone. Anyway, what would you think if a physical therapist, not a full fledged doctor, told you to get a replacement?

  15. Beautiful apples. It’s hard getting older with the infirmities that come from living. I’m finally ambulating without a cane. I’m in the thick of harvest-dried onions, tomatoes (I like your Anker Plums),potatoes and soon cabbage for kraut. I love the peace working alone in the gardens. It beats listening to the news. The golf cart is a great idea. All on renewable energy. Take it easy-HAH-or try. Hope you’re feeling better soon.

    • Better today, but I’m kind of taking it easy for a couple of days, just in case. I’m pretty sure it’s a pinched nerve. Glad to hear you’re getting around without a cane. Doesn’t that feel like you’ve hit a milestone???
      The news is so depressing! The garden is peaceful and uplifting. I love the golf cart!!! Using it already today.

    • Agree about the peace while working the garden, instead of watching news. News is noisy and chaotic. The garden: good time for prayer.

  16. I have a bad back too and find that a WiTouch Pro TENS unit is a great help. You stick it on your back where it hurts and you can control it through an app on your phone. Makes a huge difference in controlling the pain. Not cheap, but available online thru Amazon or Walmart. Worth every penny.

    • Will has one for HIS bad back. If this doesn’t clear up by another day or so, I’ll be using it for sure. Thanks for the information!

  17. The chiropractor is sure a possibility if my back doesn’t straighten up soon. Right now, it’s heat and ice. And taking it a little easy for a couple of days.

  18. wow! back out- still all the apple peeling done, the old fashion way like our grandmas. i too find the apple peeler , no matter how i set it, too much apple removed. however; the good news is it makes a terrific vinegar ! processed in my crocks.

    neat lookin ride!! well worth the Duluth ‘scenic’ tour drive it seems. take care an hopefully with no ATV to straddle your back n knees hold up better.

    (wondered why the time tween blog posts?! back out, apples coming on new wheels to pick up. yep you staying busy! :)
    Mary

  19. Oh Jackie, you are amazing. So happy for you to have something that works better for you! Maybe a chiropractor visit is in order? I know they are expensive but they sure do help if you know a good one!

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