Filling the Path with Gravel
At this stage I requested help, I needed some additional brawn to spread the 10 yards of 1″ Minus gravel along the 125′ paper trail. Bob generously gave up a week at the gym and helped me. Every night we found pain in muscles that we never knew existed. I found that soaking in the hot tub each evening helped ease the stiffness and pain, that and some red wine. My painting hand began to close down and form itself into the shape of a wheelbarrow grip, and without gentle massage each morning it would not open and work properly. Strange things happen to muscles and joints through the aging process. Oh, the joys of growing old!
But, this project was graced by several weeks of sunny, warm spring weather. It felt good to be working outdoors after a long, dark and very cold winter. Robins greeted us every morning, Bonaparte gulls decorated the tall spruce and kept a noisy vigil, Tree Swallows arrived inspecting the nest boxes, and we watched the ice thaw on the lake. We were immersed and surrounded in the re-birth of spring. I found a sense of peace and rest, my soul rejoyced.
More tomorrow,
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska landscape painter
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:17 am
Ah, Gail, how descriptive. Your photos and the picture you have painted in my imagination have me longing to live surrounded nature rather than in the suburbs!
Oh, I understand about the muscles and aches as we age. I spend too much time on the computer, hard on the eyes and the shoulders and neck. Arthritis in my fingers makes guitar playing more difficult and painful too.
But it is still so good to be alive and live in such beautiful parts of the world as we do – at the two extremes! We had our first real rain (third time it’s rained) and storm for 6 or 7 months. After months of blue skies and sunshine, it’s a shock to the system but the rain is desperately needed and oh-so-good, cleansing and refreshing!
Hugs from Noella in Oz.
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Noella, how much has the drought affected your community? I was shocked to see what was happening in Melbourne.
Yes, we certainly get stiffer as we grow old. But, we keep on keeping on and I believe in the phrase “if you don’t use it you loose it”.
Hugs from Alaska, Gail