Karen,

Big Hug!! Sounds like you're on the rollercoaster of life with all of that going on. Hope there's some garden time for you in the midst of all of this!

Ann

Wish I was close enough to help out! With all that going on your're going to need a little garden comfort. Here's hoping you find a break soon,

Vera

I hear ya Karen.
My life is going about the same. But I refuse to let the gardening go, it is like therapy for me. Even when I had 3 day nurses and hospice at home for my dying Dad and solo nights and weekends for me I always found time for gardening of some sorts.
I encourage you to do the same. Just recently I was having a rough time with my kid and bad crowd she wanted to run with. I won't even go into the house problems.
With longer daylight I am determined to continue a large landscaping job. Could only work on it an hour a night. I am finishied planting, ready for mulch, on the area that my bedroom overlooks. For the last 2 mornings I look out and smile. Looks great and I can take on the world!
I am eating this elephant one bite at a time

Karen, I just found a boy in my neighborhood that I am hiring to help as it is too much for me this spring too. I agree that the gardening seems to help keep you sane while you are spending yourself in every direction. I know it isn't always possible, but hope you can find a way. They do sell those hats with lights on the front, if you want to get out there at night? [g] I might have seen something like that at LLBean. Seriously. lol Really sorry about all the chaos in your life right now and I agree with Lizzy...just keep chipping away at it.

pm2

So sorry to hear life has given you a bad turn. I think of my garden as my little sanctuary. It's my space to contemplate about life, get some fresh air, let my doggies run and play, and oh yeah, I might actually grow something! It's far from perfect, but I think it helps me keep my sanity.

Don't give it up completely, I think you'll miss it too much. Do what you can and don't stress about the rest.

Hope for better days ahead,

Becky

sounds like a replay of my 2007 summer - but somewhere in the middle of July I decided that I could do a little ( and some nights it was just alittle). I lost alot of ws'd plants - a little sleep and 10 lbs but I managed 1/2 hour every night just for me. by the end of fall most of the stress was gone, and some issues were permanetly resolved -my garden was not what I had hoped but looked much better than it would have if I had done nothing.

remember this to shall pass....

Thanks, guys. I knew I'd find sympathy here, though not from local friends. None of them are gardeners. And I sure can't expect sympathy from my best friend about my garden when her Mom is dying of terminal cancer. She (best friend) came this afternoon. We had a beer, well, maybe quite a few. Her husband came and joined us for a few. They just left.

There's nothing here for dinner, and all I've had to eat today was cottage cheese and fruit for a late breakfast. Must go find food!

I will make some garden time somehow. Planted out one jug of larkspur before my friend came and gave another entire jug (chis pet type) to a neighbor. It was verbena bonariensis which, due to apparent invasiveness here, I have vowed to never grow again. I told this neighbor that if they thrive in her yard and her seeds implant in my yard, I'll arrive with Round-up and spray it when she's not home.

Thanks for the sympathy. Must go find food !!!

Karen

I hvae been a single parent of three for the last 15 years. Now the kids are older (16,18,22) but they still need me (both boys at Ohio State). I do ONE project per evening - cut down a plant, trim a vine, etc. and it's all I need. Things will get done.

I am only taking 20-22 plants to the swap and only did 48 containers which is 18 more than I thought. ( oh yes, that was 120+ plants to swap and 275+ containers).

Nothing like a delivered pizza to handle dinner.

Your position is challenging, but I would suggest what others suggest and use the gardening in small amounts as therapy. Let your babies give something back to YOU.

Also, your Yvonne's Salvias are popping like crazy here in Columbus. Happy Grandma!

Karen - I hear you and also sympathize with all that you are going through right now.

I agree, though, you NEED to take time for yourself - whatever that is - if gardening is good therapy, then do a little bit here and there - If you don't take care of yourself in that way - you won't be feeling good mentally or physically. Good luck - wish I were closer!

Carrie ):

Thanks, guys.

My husband told me frost is predicted a few night from now. Of course it is. I would expect nothing less.

My problems are far from devastating. Life was bleak a few years ago with my illness, but it's better than it used to be. Most people in the world have much more serious issues to handle. For me, this is just aggravation and disappointment for my garden dreams.

I know I will make a little garden time happen somehow- I even managed to get out and see things in my "sick year" when my husband almost had to carry me out there. Mostly, he did what he could and took pictues and brought them to show me while I was confined to bed. (Yes, he even had to lift me from bed, carry me to the bathroom, and sit me on the toilet).

So all in all, things aren't so bad. Just --- crap!

Karen

My prayers are with you Karen, I'm sorry about your BFF's mom. Are you hiring someone to redo the bathroom or is it a do-it-yourself project(just redid ours-pink-with a Monet print,the boys hate it!)
Now is your chance to make it?Fresh?Funky?Serene?Cottage?

Just remember some days your the bug and some days your the windshield...

When things here are crazy I have to prioritize, mine is watering(sandy soil)I was given some ferns two summers ago that spent most of the summer in the kiddie pool before I could get time to plant them!!LOL!!
My mom gave me some good advise, it went something like this-a man had to move some stuff but all he had was a donkey-at the end of the day when he wasn't finished he was told "there's only so much you can do with one ass" I try to remember that when I feel overwelmed.
-B

Karen:
I've been through some really tough times in the last 8 years and I've learnt to stay quite calm and say - This too will pass. Today I had a terrible headache and I went out to the garden, did a little weeding, and soon the headache was gone. Use the healing powers of your garden -it takes just a little while. You have to take care of you, so you can take care of all the problems. Good luck.
R.

Karen, my heart goes out to you. In the middle of the big move, here, I have to force myself to eat properly - hard if you don't have an appetite, but be sure you get enough nourishment to keep your body going properly. A few brews from time to time won't kill us, but it's not a good meal plan for the long term. Sleep, too, is an issue - a good mantra helps me sometimes, and my aches & pains friends swear by an Advil or two.

It really is poor when your heart is into gardening and circumstances make it impossible or nearly so. You will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

Kim

Dear Karen,
just want to add my good wishes to you for the strength you need.
Also, sometimes to me, when life is stressful, reducing the stress any way I can is necessary, and sometimes that means (for me) cutting back on gardening. So if you feel you need to do that...well, take whatever measures you can to reduce the stress.

Let us know how things are going.
I'm thinking of you.

ellen

Eating properly? What's that? lol, I had a coffee and piece of leftover pizza, yet these last 10lbs WILL NOT COME OFF!!!

Hi Karen!
Im sorry to hear all that, its awful to feel so overwhelmed with problems. We'll all send you some e-huggies!

With that in mind, I wouldnt put pergo anywhere again, its was a total disaster in the condo. Pergo+Water=ruined floor.

D

Hugs & prayers for you, Karen.
Bobbie

Bless your heart and hang in there. You shared warm sentiments and words of encouragement with me last December, when I was exhausted from pregnancy and devastated by the ice storm. I'm sending all your good energy back to you twofold, with newborn energy to boot.

Do remember to eat, and get your rest.

Seedmama

Aw, Karen, I have a little idea of what you're going through because my mom is 92...same set up. If the jugs and jugs and jugs are stressing you, then take out 3 or 4 plants from each one and toss the rest. If your garden is barren-looking, and your May shapes up better than your April, you can always toss out some Zinnia & Orange Cosmos seeds. They will germinate and bloom in no time.

I hope your May is much, much better!

Lime

Oh Karen, things will get better!

I had exactly that same 'oh damned, the garden's not going to be done and I have all those ws plants now' feeling a few weeks ago when I sprained my shoulder really badly. So I've had to do things in baby steps, but I'm still moving forward.

So, enjoy your time with your friend, look forward to a new bathroom and flooring and do what you can in the garden to calm and restore you.

Remember, when one part of the glass loooks half empty --- the other side is half full!

I'll be thinking of you.

Laura