Oh, My Aching Back

It is probably a good thing that we did not bale more hay last night.

I can barely move from all the hay we hauled Monday and Tuesday.

It wasn't even a lot of bales, but they were larger and way heavier.

I could barely squat to milk the cow this morning. The low back is pretty much shot. Sometimes I think I am so healthy and strong I can do anything to which I set my mind. The boys were complaining about how heavy the bales were this go around and I guess maybe I showed off a bit.

"Come on, boys! Surely if your 40 something year old MOTHER can throw these bales you strong young men can handle it!"

Well, the boys are moving around just find today.

The mother is taking ibuprofen, arnica, green tea, naps, whatever she can get ahold of.

As I rested after chores this morning the girls brought me a mason jar filled with boiling water, wrapped in a towel. Patrick went outside and gathered goodies to make me a potion. Calendula, willow bark, red clover and rose hips boiled together to make a tea. Even though I never take honey in my tea he recommended I try it with at least a teaspoon. I did. It was pretty good and I think it really did help ease the spasms. Maybe he better make me another pot.

I was relieved that the kids were big enough to take care of themselves. I groaned and moaned and did homeschool preparations. The kids picked more mint to dehydrate for winter teas. They made fruit leather out of some jam that never jammed. Patrick planted onions and turnips and mulched the broccoli with some hay. Kids folded clothes and played board games.

We all wore sweaters because it is cool and damp today. If it were a day in October we would have a fire going to take off the chill. Not yet.

Epson salt baths, more ibuprofen, some more arnica. A walk. Exercises. Stretches.

I do not feel strong and powerful right at the moment. I feel whupped.

Pride goes before a fall. Or is that an aching back?

PS The broiler chickens in the moveable chicken tractor are doing well. They get fresh grass every day and do not have to compete with the ducks, geese, guineas and other chickens for their food. They have grown much larger on much less food. We put the turkeys in the tractor with them. They seem to be thriving. Hope they get nice and fat by the holidays.

PPS Every time I walk past the barn the perfume of the fresh hay grabs my attention. It is a lovely smell.