That feeling of bugs crawling all over you…. It really doesn’t go away until the snow hits the ground… does it. So far this season I have flicked one tick off my leg, and another off the nape of my neck. Which I might add was insanely creepy. Thank goodness for headlamps. And for The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird who isn’t squeamish about bugs.
It does make me wonder though, can you get head lice from gardening in your backyard? Because if you can, I’ll probably catch it this summer. The creepy crawlies, they’re out to get me.
{the soon to be pumpkin patch}
The backyard, looks like I’ve done nothing to it. If I was still in the PNW, this is what April would look like in my future field of dreams.
Maybe it’s a sign of getting older, but this year, like the last 3, have seemed to whiz on by. I can’t believe it’s almost the middle of June. I mean it looks like June, it feels like June, and the calendar says it’s June, but really? It’s June already?
{the soon to be raspberry patch}
The days are longer and while I am working on some sort of project every.waking.hour {even when I’m in the car!} I still can’t get everything I need to get done in the allotted time.
{the soon to be sunflower patch}
And I don’t even have kids to chase around anymore. They’re all big, and doing their own things now. It’s so weird. I’m 46…. and I don’t FEEL 46. Except for when I finally sit down at the end of the day.
Instead of popping a few Advil when I’m sore like I did when I was 30, these days I swallow a couple of my “old lady” pills and hope for the best.
Am I really slowing down? Is this what middle age looks like?
It rained like crazy yesterday morning. Lucky me, I didn’t have to water the pots.
Miss Lemon and company. * I spy an empty birds nest.
Our first strawberry harvest is just a week away.
And my favorite peonies are in bloom. Wednesday. Let’s do this. Aching bones and all. 😉
~Mavis
Shari Harniss says
Ahhhhh, getting older- isn’t it wonderful? Just think of all you have attained. Knowledge, patience, wisdom, keener sense of humor, bigger ‘heart’, new skills, appreciation for obscure and often forgotten things.
I’m 57. I, too, have old lady meds (thankfully!!). Gray hair? Oh yeah. Tired in the middle of the day? Yup.
But, I would not want to be any younger than I am right now. I love this me so much more than the younger me. I’m not nearly as dumb as I used to be, and want to get a whole lot smarter before I go!
Embrace the old. So many people would have loved the chance.
Julie T says
Amen! I’m 61 with 4 granddaughters (20 months to 7) to keep up with most every day. I have too much garden, too much lawn, and a farm to help keep up. So my “old lady” pains are front and center….sciatic and hips! But I wouldn’t have it any other way or wish to go back and be any younger. My grey strands are a reminder of how far I’ve come….Lord willing, many more will have time to come in. Embrace each life change that comes Mavis! Yes, slowing down happens and naps are necessary some days. I hate it because there is still just 24 hours in the day, but the to-do list just becomes a suggested list. Enjoy your day!
Mavis Butterfield says
“Suggested list” I am totally stealing that!
Wendy Clark says
Love your peonies! They are my most favorite flower.
Tracey says
I need those old lady pills! (45 in a few weeks). And hey- you found your polka dot glasses! 🙂
My kids are not grown… yet … but time sure is flying by. Hubster and I are both still at the 9-5 grind and will be for a while – if your middle age is gardening, learning, exploring (and maybe too much bbq because of an enthusiastic HH)… I’d say that’s a pretty sweet deal.
Mavis says
Yes! I found them in the bathroom next to the cabinet…. with the old lady pills. Ha!
Holly says
Slowing down?? You do more in one day than some people do in a month!! Thank you for your inspiring posts, I especially enjoy the weekly goals update.
Christy says
Creepy crawlies = shower as soon as I’m done garden work and bug spray (although I use it sparingly).
Not enough hours in the day, I blame it on trying to do too much or not asking for help with the bigger projects.
Martine says
Be glad it feels like June where you are. Here in Scotland I know it’s June only because my calendar says so. Its wet, cold and windy here. My poor vegetables are on a growing strike, they are too cold 🙁 We need some sunshine and we need it soon or I think I’ll lose all my veg as well as the will to live!! Glad to see you found the glasses. x
Jamie says
I felt fine when I woke up here in he beautiful PNW, but now, after reading your post……. I’m itching all over!
Jennifer G says
Aging – time moves faster and you get slower. I recommend getting magnesium lotion and putting it on the joints that ache, it helps. Check it out on Amazon.
Lolly says
I was about to say magnesium, too!! I just take the supplements. Helps sooooo much with arthritis, and with achiness, and with restless legs at night! If you’re extra achy, an epsom salt bath (magnesium) will help tremendously! I’ve never tried the lotion, but given how epsom salt baths and a mag supplement have helped….I am guessing it works well, too!
Maria Zannini says
re: these days I swallow a couple of my “old lady” pills and hope for the best.
LOL! Makes me wish I were 46 again. Enjoy it. That said, we’re in our sixties and still moving dirt, cutting brush, felling trees, and building stuff. It hurts more, but we still get it done.
You’re doing fine.
Lana says
Oh you are so young! Just wait! Before you know it you really will be old!
This is our go to because it really heals the tissue and bones.
https://smile.amazon.com/Complete-Tissue-Formula-Dr-Christopher/dp/B000TUZQK0/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3AEIF70OMZ49K&keywords=christophers+complete+tissue+and+bone&qid=1560349316&s=gateway&sprefix=christophers%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-3
and this–https://smile.amazon.com/Christophers-Formula-Complete-Tissue-Ointment/dp/B000FVDY2A/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3AEIF70OMZ49K&keywords=christophers+complete+tissue+and+bone&qid=1560349402&s=gateway&sprefix=christophers%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-4
We would not be without them. We do not have any OTC meds in our house. They are scary when you research them and we want to keep going for many more years.
Susan says
Maybe you could go to some library or historical society and ask how the indians and settlers dealt with the ticks and other bugs and the humidity. I’m not up on my history, but if Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, and there was a war of 1812, and independence day was 1776, I figure there must have been farmer’s wives out in the country growing crops and dealing with all these things.
p.s.
and with them having 13 kids or so, they must have gotten no sleep at all with nightly tick checks.
Karin says
No, you can’t get head lice from outside. They only live on human heads and have to be transmitted directly (close contact or sharing hats, etc…) from someone who has it. FYI chickens can get lice but those are a different type than human head lice so you can’t catch lice from your chickens either. At least that’s one bug you don’t have to worry about 🙂
June says
You were talking about birds gone and empty nests. By chance yesterday our exterminator came by and he saw the dozens of sparrow nests under our carport. He said do you want them here and I said no. He said bird lice can fall from the nests and if you get them you cannot get rid of them, you will drive yourself crazy bc you can’t see them. He said take toy rubber snakes and put them by the nests. The birds will leave and they will see them next time and won’t build there for fear the snake will eat their eggs. Just wondering if the nest in your trees are low? That’s my 2 cents worth.
Mel says
I hear you about the bugs. I found a tick crawling on my pillow right after I had showered, vacuumed, and changed the sheets. I was not even in bed at the time, so I do not know how it got there, but I’m seriously considering sleeping in bug spray.
We also have swarms of aphids taking over our tomatoes. We’ve never even seen them before, and we’re about to lose an entire bed to them. The is, of course, the one year I decide to plant fewer tomatoes, so it’s really devastating.
Ann says
Buy ladybugs at your garden center and release them in problem areas to devour aphids.
Mel says
Thanks, we’re considering that. I read online that you’re not supposed to do that because the ladybugs aren’t native and might harm native populations. But, I don’t know how much risk there is of that, and I don’t know what else to do, so it may come to that. Shorter varieties like Romas seem hardest hit, maybe because they can’t grow tall enough to outrun the damage.
Midwest Beth says
I don’t know how you do it Mavis. I am in awe with what you all have accomplished! I have a small yard (just 20 minutes to mow!) and this year have been moving plants around digging holes, ripping up decorative grass and put in one raised gardening bed this weekend. I now can’t lift my left arm up, just from that little bit of work this weekend. I’m 53 and definitely feeling it. I love to work with plants and in the yard but achy bones make me think twice for sure.
Marcia says
Ticks, ugh….I don’t even want to visit my family in the Northeast anymore.
and head lice…my kids AREN’T grown, we had TWO ROUNDS of it last fall (I had it for the first time in my life at 48, whee!) We check our kids every week now.
E in Upstate NY says
When I turned 60, I figured based upon family history, I had at best 20 years of active life left. Now that I’m going to be 69 this summer, I’ve revised that number to 15 active years from 70! The past 4+ years were very difficult due to my hubby being very ill. Now that I’m a widow, I’m discovering life again! And the future is grand! However, I get tired very easily. Had blood work done and learned that I’m “severely anemic.” No wonder after 2 hours, I’m beat! Sounds like iron pills will be in my life for a while.
And yes, my blond hair turned while [not grey] and my joints and muscles ache. Have lost 35+ pounds, with a goal of 20 more! Off BP meds due to weight loss. Yea!
Tonya says
Good job on the weight loss and glad life is so grand! As we each count our blessings, we are reminded what a beautiful world God made for us
You are inspiring Mavis!
Mary says
Green Mountain Tick spray – get some! And it’s all natural. Works great here in the Northeast kingdom of Vermont
Linda says
I hate bugs! Every time you talk about ticks, I itch. Gross!!!
Let’s take inventory. You don’t have a maid or a housekeeper, which means you keep the house clean. You are maintaining a good relationship with your husband (despite all the BBQ 🙂 and manage date days on a regular basis.You have several gardens that you clear the ground for, plant , weed, and harvest. You have a roadside stand where you sell the harvest that you don’t can or make into jelly. You regularly hook rugs, make flowers, make ornaments and pottery, dye wool and design patterns and kits that you sell in an Etsy shop that has gone from a tiny business to a going concern. You write a blog, and take pictures of everything to entertain hundreds (thousands?) of people like me who feel positively in awe of the energy you must have in order to do all the above. I’ve always been the kind of person to whom people said, “I just don’t know how you get everything done!” and believe me, I don’t know how you can keep this up. Forgive me, but Thank God you are tired and have achy bones! I know now that you are human. Love you, Mavis!
Laurie Lasala-Tuttle says
Love this, and I totally agree!!
Jude De Witt says
Can’t help with the ticks, but rinse your hair with a mild salt solution to keep the lice at bay. I have read that those who regularly swim in the ocean don’t get lice. My daughter never got them after I started her on that simple remedy.
Pat says
I have an aunt who is about to be 95. She has survived cancer twice in the last few years and got a colostomy last year. She uses a walker when she goes out but not at home. She complained to me a few days ago that when home health nurses come to check on her that every time she gets up they are shoving that walker at her. She said that she doesn’t know how they expect her to get any work done and use that walker. That will be you!