JULY 28 - Wheelbarrow Revisited, Flowers'n'Weeds, and Knees

A year makes a difference in some things. I took this photo in the spring, peeking through a fence into somebody's back yard. Seems like they needed a landscaper to put that wheelbarrow into good use then -

and now, it seems they need one even more.

Today was a very quiet, relaxing day. I did a bit of housework, a couple of loads of laundry, spent time with a couple of grandkids, finished reading The Shining, had a dozey kind of almost-nap, and went for a stroll in the evening. I did have better luck than the fellow who strolled this route before me - at least I was still wearing two shoes when I got home.

You can tell some people love their gardens, and their plants. My friendly neighbourhood landscaper, aka my son, tells me this is Lace Cap Hydrangea, and as Lizzie would say, it is 'bootifool.'

 And then there are the things that grow where the wild things are, like in front of this abandoned house. Some people are using the property for a dumping ground, but the seeds are doing a pretty good job of covering the garbage. These are fluffy cottony balls, growing amid thistles and other unwanted beauties.

At the corner of a well-kept yard, a fence keeps these at bay, but all they do is brighten up the sidewalk. Huge Shasta Daisies and Fennel. Steve said he could almost taste the licorice when he looked at this picture.

Some of you probably know I was having massive trouble with my right knee last spring and summer - an MRI showed torn cartilage on both sides, and I was hobbling around painfully with the help of a cane for a few months. The specialist recommended a 'procedure,' which seemed easy peasy lemon squeezy to him (after all, it wasn't his knee.)  I asked him if my knee would get better by itself, and he said, no it wouldn't, and it would probably get worse. The operation had a high success rate - however, there was also a chance  it would make no difference, or heaven forbid, make it worse. I decided to go with the surgery, as I wanted to be more active again, so it was scheduled for September. However, I had to postpone it because we were moving house, and I didn't even want to consider doing that whilst on crutches.

After moving to Surrey, I stopped needing the cane. I started walking/half-running up and down sky train stairs (depending on whether I was coming or going), and I started walking around Surrey, pulling my trusty buggy behind me. Then I started riding Breehy over uphills and downhills, and yes, even occasionally on the level.

No problem - until today. Tonight I have a painful swollen knee. I know I could never play Mother Brown in this routine. All I can say is, if I'm not able to walk or ride anymore, I will definitely have the 'procedure.' At least it will give me something to write about.