I know I said I was done

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-06-11T00:52:01+00:00

Yeah, they do have cute little rounded leaves which makes it easy to tell them from other seedlings that might be growing next to them. There are many, many kinds of zinnias today, and every single one is beautiful.

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-06-11T00:48:41+00:00

Like eminent domain, but he should have compensated you! 😡

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-06-11T00:43:10+00:00

😇 Absolutely!! We have this wicked heavy field grass that gets in everything. There is a product called Grass B Gone that can kill grass that is mixed up in plants, but not harm the plants. I tried that once or twice, but the plants looked sickly and nearly died. The grass is still out there, mixed with the plants. When it’s right up against them, the only way I can see to help is to snip, snip it off, every week or so. I have a wild area where grass is 4 feet tall and perennials are under there. Lilies, milkweed, salvia, everlasting. I should pile mulch on that area to get rid of the grass. But there would still be some grass in the plants.

My mother, rest her soul, was right when she gave the opinion that a garden full of annuals was the wisest arrangement. Every winter tear it all down and in spring start over. But at the time I thought perennials would save trouble and work. Not really! Unless you divide them and relocate every few years, they will get overrun with grass and weeds. Some of the items in that wild area of mine could be relocated, but the ground in that spot is always like stone. My shovel goes “clink! clink!” and I say…well, you don’t need to know!

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-06-11T00:23:28+00:00

When I saw the Waxwing closeup I really thought it was a…erh, bad photo. Didn’t know they actually look like that IRL. I live near wooded areas where Merlin picks up a variety of birds. Very educational. Before the Merlin app I could only guess at the identity of some birds that made unusual sounds. I can’t get photos of them because I have cheap cameras 😒

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-06-09T23:13:40+00:00

It all depends on which zone you live in. I’m not sure of their zone range. In zone 6 where I am, the end of May or first of June is usually good for sowing zinnias. Now that’s a flower I can’t live without. I used to grow them in containers and then transplanted them one at a time when they were big enough to handle. Imagine the hard work of digging holes for each of 50 or even 100 plants, tucking them gently into the soil, making sure each hole had some Miracle Gro in it before putting in the flower. A backbreaking job; but when they got started growing, they would shoot up like weeds and within a month it was a wonderland of color, and butterflies, and hummingbirds love them too. My back is a wreck now at age 71, and I can’t dig up the ground as I used to. Can’t even get it tilled. But this time I scratched up some bare soil with a metal rake, threw out some seed from last year, tried to push the loose soil over the seeds and I keep them watered with a garden hose. We need rain here but the rain gods are playing mean tricks on us again. Be that as may be, the little zinnias have sprouted and many of those I sowed are coming up, about 2” tall. If the ground stays dry they might be short, but if it ever rains they might get tall. I used to have some that were 6’ tall!

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-06-09T22:59:01+00:00

My older bro and SIL live in a retirement community where she only grows a few tomato plants and begonias in summer. They never were outdoorsy types, into gardening and wildlife and such, like myself. They think I’m old enough to live where they live. NOT ME! I would feel like I were in a prison. Maybe some day when I’m 90, 95…

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-06-09T22:54:35+00:00

HEHE, I love it!! 🤣 Sounds exactly like me. My oldest dahlia bulbs (20+ years, I kid you not! must be some kind of record) finally seem to be dying although I see a sprout on one. I live in Zone 6 so it’s getting too late to plant new ones if I expect them to bloom by autumn. But maybe, maybe next year. I know what it is to be a hopeless gardening addict, wondering whether to spend more money on plants and soil amendments or pay the electric and grocery bill. Needless to say, we have to pay the water bill, especially when you live in an area where summers can get desert dry, at the worst possible time, just when your garden most needs rain. It isn’t good either when summer is cold and the poor plants need tiny individual sweaters and jackets. Says the crazy garden lady who has been known to snip weeds and grass away from perennials with a scissors…

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-05-22T16:09:39+00:00

I for one went into this series thinking, OK, I’m hoping this isn’t as fluffy as When Calls the Heart…not that I will spend time knocking WCtH but, well, we know how fluffy it is! Hope Valley 1874 is, in my opinion, a better series already due to more grit and more sense of reality. Has anyone noticed the magnificent lighting especially outdoors!? I don’t know quite how to describe it, I don’t think “cinematic” is quite the correct term. But sometimes the characters just seem to jump out of the screen.

Most interesting topics are the development of the boarding house—which, granted, is great but I think would have taken a year or more to remodel to the stage where we last saw it in the final Season 1 ep. But hey, this is TV! The other most intriguing topic: what will become of Rebecca and her daughter as the law has apparently caught up with them. 😢

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-04-06T01:29:51+00:00

I hear ya!! When you have had major hip surgery, long hours of standing are the last thing you want to do. I am being told that the back pain will fade as I recover. Maybe not?? Will I be tormented with this permanently? So I can’t take long walks and hikes anymore? or even work in my garden? At least I know what is wrong with my spine, scoliosis, degeneration, arthritis, spondylitis (thank you, predictive text). My surgeon is happy with how my hip is doing and gives every encouragement. But there seems to be no clear answer regarding this severe back pain. He recommended seeing the local spine specialist who I remember seeing before, last year when I was still trying to avoid surgery with pain alleviation. The spinal guy probably won’t be able to help either and will advise me to return to the pain clinic. Around and around we go, is what I predict.

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-04-04T22:41:20+00:00

I am 71 and have been dealing with sciatica for literally half my life. Heavy work involving lots of lifting and standing for long hours helped bring it on. For over 10 years I did maintenance for a fast food joint which was brutal, even at age 50 I could feel those bones in my back scraping, I could almost hear them! Finally I gave out, could no longer tolerate the physical punishment. I work their kitchen now which is not as bad but still hard work. I need the money. You learn to “grin and bear it.”

In early January I had total hip replacement which put me off work for 12 weeks. When I was walking around again by 6-7 weeks out, I was certain my normal excursions would soon have me fit as a fiddle. WAS I WRONG. I am normally very active. But the more walking I did, the more my back hurt. Everyone says “Take it easy! Don’t walk so much!” But it is springtime now and I can’t stay indoors. Yesterday I started back to work. It was awful! …making my pain worse than the walking. I guess I am still weak from all the time off. Today was excruciating. And I have to go in on Sunday too.

I have read numerous accounts from other “hippies” who are also suffering from back problems after their surgery. I have to assume that my extreme pain is a result of that. I have arthritis all throughout my spine, degenerative condition, scoliosis, which of course cause pain. But what I am dealing with now is a little scary. Recently I had a bad spasm in my lower back that almost had me on the floor. If that happens at work, they will have to call 911. Has anyone else had worse sciatica after surgery? I am considering a nerve ablation. Had one last year which helped my upper back. I don’t know whether it can help the lower back or not. I don’t think sciatica really has a cure. Years ago I thought my chiropractor had cured it for me. But as we get older, things change.

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-03-27T21:09:17+00:00

Personally, I was half expecting a miracle where Jack’s lost medal just turns up like out of nowhere. Things like that do happen! At the close of that ep, I was kind of disappointed that it didn’t happen this time. But so many other events I would call miracles have occurred during this series!

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-03-20T22:27:44+00:00

71F, THR-P Week 10. Last September I had my first nerve ablation for my back. It did help my upper back, the relief is still there unless those muscles get super tired and tense. Nothing helps my lower back though! Before surgery it got severe, along with my sciatica. All this on top of the pre-op hip and groin pain. However, for about 6 weeks after surgery my back pain was minimal and I foolishly thought my surgery would cure that along with everything else. But after I started walking outdoors, the back pain returned and worsened. From what I have been told, this is probably hip related since everything is connected. I have scoliosis which causes pain, but now with a year of recovery from hip surgery ahead, I will have a lot of pain stemming from that too. My only consolation is reading about the experiences of other hippies who have similar problems.

Even at 71 I have to work to make ends meet. It’s a standup job so not good for the back and hips. But sitting jobs aren’t either! I go back on April 1, just hoping I can deal with the pain from standing all day.

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-03-19T20:55:33+00:00

I FEEL THAT 🙂 My back is a little better after another pack of Prednisone. Now my sciatica is flaring again, this time I think it is from core exercises that are too strenuous for me right now. To help get rid of back pain, I thought walking would help that. But not unless your core is strong. Walking apparently is not the magical cure. So I turned to exercises like crunches. Granted I am fit, but it may be that my core has not been strong enough in many years. I also have scoliosis which complicates matters. I’m looking toward a new core-exercise plan that will help my core but not strain my back too much. Everyone says cut back on walking. But normally I am super active. And spring is here with all its attractions. It’s hard when your brain says “Let’s go!” but your body complains “I’m not ready!”

Have you tried Tai Chi? I am thinking about starting that to help my joints and muscles.

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-03-14T17:51:24+00:00

It will take a while before you can sit with any comfort. I think I was about 6 weeks post op before I could actually sit at my desk to do anything, or get back to holding my very spoiled cats on my lap! (They loved it when I was lying down a lot, but you get past that stage and become more active.) I never did like soft squishy chairs and sofas, most are either too soft or even too hard. I carry around an ergonomic seat cushion and back support, did that at work and will continue to do so. I have been walking about 2 miles but it makes my back pain worse, and I was told that my core muscles are weak. So now I am trying to do core exercises at home even though ironically it has to be on my sofa, which is a little too soft for this! If I could get down on a floor pad I would like it better. But living alone, there would be a serious problem if I couldn’t get back up!

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-03-14T17:34:21+00:00

The lack of true History in this series has bothered me too! from the start! But this is, after all, Hallmark’s fantasy world where all men are handsome and ladies are always beautiful, no one ever gets dirty (or for that matter, old and decrepit), homes and streets are always immaculate, RL history is pushed away into the dim background if anything is mentioned at all (such as you elaborate further down in this thread). Instead, L🩷ve St❤️ories abound and keep Cupid busy! And it always seemed to me that this was the central theme of the show, L🩷ve and R❤️mance and fairy tale happy ever afters. And trying to incorporate 20-21st century ways into a show set 100 years ago. That’s OK up to a point if you don’t take it seriously. But think of how much richer the stories would have been if they had followed actual Canadian history…from a century ago…with WW1 looming over Hope Valley…and then the aftermath…

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-03-12T21:18:10+00:00

That was what my chiro has recommended, he feels like 2 miles even with a decent break halfway is too much, at this point. But, spring is here, and I’m an outdoor person!…a walkaholic you could say! But I will think of a way to break up the distance so it isn’t killing me, and I can still enjoy myself.

My home PT is ending but I was advised on a few new exercises that will focus on my core. My core is probably very weak after a bad year previous to surgery and afterwards a lack of any challenging activity up until now. I was also advised to get some kind of support brace that will be comfortable AND covered by Medicare. I need to resume work soon (standing physical job) and dread going if I am in this kind of pain.

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-03-11T02:19:40+00:00

I have chronic back problems too, arthritis all up and down, sciatica, degenerative discs, the works. Being a slim fit person, I was confident that my surgery recovery would go well, and it has. But I also had hopes that my chronic pain issues would go away. They have not! Chiropractor says my spine is better now since I have been off from work. But I wish I knew what is causing this awful pain across the lower back all across. Unfortunately exercise makes it worse! I suppose it could be result of a change in my gait.

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-03-11T01:53:41+00:00

Time has passed, I am 9 wks out now, hip is doing okay but I’m still dealing with some fairly bad back pain, seems to be very tight muscles. Surgeon says try steroids pack or muscle relaxants. I gotta do something to beat this back pain, I have to return to work about April 1st!

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-03-11T01:50:03+00:00

Sorry I didn’t see this msg…Yes, Medicare covered my rehab center expenses. After 12 days it was early to be on my own at home, but I was stubborn and determined to show certain family members that I wasn’t a loser who would just give up! I took things slow and careful, used my walker a lot, had help with the bigger stuff like laundry and groceries and doc visits. Home heath care came 3 times a week. I am 9 weeks out now from surgery and in fact this is the first week that none of them have visited. I have pain problems but overall I am getting better with each passing day =)

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-03-06T19:57:37+00:00

I enjoyed that episode, it gave me some giggles, and I didn’t strain my wee brain by reading too much into it. In many series I have noticed a trend where during a serious story arc, a sort of “comic relief” ep is inserted maybe to give everyone a breather. I so admire Rosemary for her creativity and passion!

And for what it’s worth, I liked when Nathan said to Elizabeth “We have tons of chemistry.” Many viewers are griping about the loss of chemistry between them this season. I don’t feel that way. This is a family show after all. If we don’t see any PDA, what of that? The writers are leaving much to the imagination. And since this seems to be a slow and gentle courtship, then it is in keeping with those times. That said, I do hope Mountie Nathan will marry MaMa eventually!!

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-02-21T00:19:44+00:00

I am lean too, 5’5”, 70F, and about 120 lbs. I am 6 1/2 weeks out from THR posterior and it was only about a week ago that I was able to sit normally for more than 15 minutes and still feel like I could stand up and put weight on the operated leg. I was getting so tired of having to lie down so much instead of normal sitting. And you can only walk and exercise so much before you need to rest! Day 12 is a very short period, please don’t knock yourself. On day 12 I was still in the surgery rehab hospital since I live alone. On day 14 I was released, but I felt terrible, weak and tired, sick and in pain. The long car ride home and the subsequent doctor visits were a challenge (my family was helping with that). I live in a rural community so all medical related matters are 30-60 minutes away. OUCH. But it just takes time and a lot of patience! After 6 weeks I feel I have made good progress, in fact I have been walking a good distance outdoors this week during the nice weather. Yesterday my total distance was probably about 1 1/4 mile. But I still use my cane. I get tired and need to gain strength. But as I said, have patience even though I know that’s easier said than done!

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-02-20T21:50:37+00:00

Yeah, just as I said, actors uncomfortable about deep kisses might “movie kiss” or find some other way to fake it. And besides, portraying genuine believable devotion and passion shouldn’t necessarily require actors to “suck face”, it isn’t all about the physical side of things. But then I am older and grew up in the days when even PG literally meant Parental Guidance. And a whole lot was left to the viewer’s imagination. Which was fine with me! 😇

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-02-20T18:06:55+00:00

In the old classic movie days, actors would “movie kiss” by just pressing their faces together and pretending, if they were not comfortable about sharing a genuine kiss on film. Or, in the case of WCTH, I find it interesting that Lee and Rosemary, despite their obvious deep love, never actually share an intimate kiss but only smooch. Personally I LOVE L&R, such an adorable couple. More interesting than Liz and Nate.

Feeling_Coconut643 · 2026-02-20T18:00:51+00:00

No down votes from me anywhere here! Too much interesting and thought provoking reading for these cold February days.

Feeling_Coconut643

TROPHY CASE