Lead up the Garden Path

I’m back, but first of all I would like to thank you all for your concern, lovely messages and good wishes. I have had a super rest after my shoulder op, it has been wonderful doing nothing for a change, being waited on, having all my meals cooked for me and catching up on all my reading of gardening books, magazines, yes, seed catalogues and your blogs!

Beautiful floral arrangement from the ladies at church.

The shoulder is coming along nicely, I’m able to do more each day, the exercises are certainly working. I went yesterday to have the dressing removed, such tiny holes for keyhole surgery, its amazing what they can do these days. Finally I can have a proper shower and remove all the felt tip pen marks that the surgeon had put all over my shoulder, he had fun while I was asleep!

Lovely autumn colours from a super son and dil.

My cataract operation which was supposed to take place today has had to be postponed due to an infection which has suddenly flared up, couldn’t believe it when I saw my eye first thing this morning! Turned up at the hospital as requested but wasn’t surprised when the surgeon wanted to delay the op.

Elegant and sophisticated roses from our beautiful daughter and family.

I will wait just a few more days, then I think I will be able to start cutting back and tidying in the garden, just a bit at a time, as long as I don’t try to stretch too far! Beautiful autumn tints have arrived in Devon at last, the Acers are now putting on a wonderful display, they are so reliable, so must do a post about them.

As most of you know, I sent off for lots of  lovely plants recently, which then arrived very promptly. A few days ago I got a phone call from the hospital in Exmouth saying that they had a cancellation on October 25th, would I like to come for my shoulder op that day! Yes, fine, but oh dear so much to do first. The last of the plants must go in, Christmas cake to be made as well as Christmas puddings. Finish preparing and freezing the apples picked from the garden, finish cooking and freezing cakes to be sold in aid of charity on Bonfire Night (Nov 5th) in Ottery St. Mary, Devon. ( you may see it sometimes on the news because of the Flaming Tar Barrels being run through the town on the backs of men, women and children!). Go shopping for a new dressing gown, mine isn’t fit to be seen by the general public ! Get up to date with the housework, goodness knows how long it will be before it will get done again,  I think that’s it, everything was just about done in time, thanks to lots of help from the under-gardener!

This is where I fell last February, in between the box balls.  Why couldn’t I have landed on one of the box balls instead of the paving,  I wouldn’t have done so much damage to my shoulder muscles if I had,  maybe subconsciously I was trying to avoid squashing my precious plants!

This is me now, sling will have to stay in place for a few days, not too sure how I will cope with blogging, yes, I wrote this before I went in. Will try to keep in touch with you but I may be missing for a bit, depends how I get on using my left hand and with physiotherapy exercises.  In the meantime I will also have a cataract operation on November 6th, so soon, I hope,  I should be a new woman!! Even if I can’t leave any comments for a while, I know I will enjoy reading all your posts over the next few weeks, keeping me in touch with the gardening world out there!