Jim, I'm so sorry to hear about your back and I totally agree, getting old is NOT for sissies!
I love your pathway, it looks spectacular and it makes my legs, feet,back, hips, arms, shoulders hurt thinking of all of the work, lol
Take care and let me know if you need anything

GREAT job on the project Jim.

Best of luck with the back surgery. FWIW, my wife has had three and is doing fine.

That is so beautiful, Jim! Are you really having back surgery? Was it because of how you injured it or something else. Good grief... and good luck. Take care of yourself, now.

Thanks, Jolana. It's good to see you posting again, and I hope that means that you are feeling better.

Thanks, Richard, and thanks for the encouraging words about your wife's back surgery.

Thank you Trsinc, and yes I am having back surgery. They would have done it today, but you have to be off of Plavix for a week before they will cut on you. I actually injured my back while cementing in the drain where it goes under the back gate. I overextended while lifting a bag of Sackrete into the wheel barrow. I had pain shoot down my left leg, and it's never gone away. Actually have two ruptured disks, but one of them isn't bad enough to operate on yet. Ha! Later, I guess.

It's really a load of my shoulders to have this finished, but not the feeling of accomplishment I would've had if I had done it all myself.
Jim

Jim, you are welcome and I am feeling better, thank you for asking.
Now, take this as a voice of too much experience in overdoing, lol and I am not trying to sound like a know it all

It has taken me a long time to realize that I need help with certain things now OR I don't get to enjoy what I have gotten/had done, lol

Y'all know about a few health things but not about the injuries/surgeries that I have had just to correct what I have done to myself by wanting to do all of the work myself, lol

Jim whether you did all of the work or not the concept and sounds like excellent supervision was all you. That is nothing to shrug off

It is beautiful and you will feel so much better after the surgery and let me know if you need a box of gardening mags for the recovering days, okay?

Oh, and be a good boy during the rehab, that is just as important as the corrective surgery, don't make me come down there, lol

Wow Jim it looks great!!
Such vision you must have to plan and execute such a project. It is gorgeous!!!

Have your surgery and take better care of yourself.

Mel

Jolana, thanks again. If I can just develop as positive an attitude as yours, I'll do OK. Besides, the wife says that she will help me with weeding, deadheading and such. I may make a gardener of her after all.

Thanks Mel, I hope you're enjoying your new garden.
Jim.

I just completed a dry-set sidewalk extension, approx 16 sq ft, that took an entire week b/c I could only invest 90min per day. I was whipped (and really really dirty)!

Looking at your pictures is so inspiring!

~ freshair

I haven't been over to the gallery in a few days, Jim, and look at what I have missed. I could look at photos of your beautiful garden for extended periods of time, and know it must be sheer joy just to walk through them. You have done a spectacular job (no matter who did a lot of the work as it was your baby) in creating a feast for the eyes and heart.
You will be in my thoughts and in my prayers as you go into surgery and then into rehab..... do as Jolana says, and take very good care of yourself. And if I can be of any help from way up here, just let me know.

I think it was Bette Davis who said getting old was not for sissies ..... she was so very wise.

Thanks Freshair, this project was 880 sq. ft.

Thanks, Carrie. I was really looking forward to doing some gardening when this project was complete, and now this will postpone it awhile longer. My wife has been taking an interest in the garden over the last few months, so if I can get her hands dirty, while I rehab, this could be a good thing. Just think what 2 gardeners could accomplice in this little garden.
Jim

It's amazing, what good friendships you can develop, through gardening, with folks you have never even met.

It certainly is, Jim !!! Gardeners are such a unique group that understands the joys and disappointments of all.
I am so blessed to have found so many "web" friends.

Jim,
The pictures are absolutely beautiful. It looks like a wonderful place to sit and recuperate. Our prayers are with you.
J.D.

Thanks J.D. You haven't posted in a while and I was beginning to worry about you.
Jim

I enjoyed looking at the work you did. What a HUGE job that was! I'm sorry to hear your hurt your back, but will be praying for you and your doctors when you have your back surgery. You have created a beautiful place to enjoy during your recovery. Please let us know how your surgery went when you're feeling up to getting back here.

Jim
My work schedule and office location changed so I don't spend as much time on the computer. When I get home I find myself too busy with chores etc to log on and keep up with the "gang".
Take care, ole bud!
J.D.

880 sq ft - omg, i think i just pulled something while i read that!

makes me whince over my decision to wait on the 16 sq ft on the other side of the sidewalk until october - aren't i a wooos

did i miss if you said what kind of surgery you're having?

~ freshair

how did the surgery go?

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and good thoughts. It's been a week now since the back surgery, and I'm doing great. My wife is doing my garden chores, and doing a very good job of it. It's a bit frustrating to just be able to walk around and watch, but that's just the way it is and is going to be for awhile.
Thanks again to you all,
Jim

Good to hear you're able to be up and about. Take care.
J.D.

The path is gorgeous -- as are all your wonderful projects! And thanks for letting us know how you are doing after surgery. Keep us posted. It's wonderful how the body will heal after major surgery and positive thoughts. I'm sure happy with the new knee I got a year ago. And Bob, my mulch guy, is happy not having to do the watering although he was a sweet heart and did the best he could when he had to do it :-)

Great to hear all went well. Behave yourself and don't be tempted to bend over and pull a weed. LOL!

I can't remember if I said this in the emails or not. Two gardeners in the family will be so cool.
The fluffer says take care and to tell you he hasn't fluffed in years, lol
but at least he tried to help, the gophers just destroy and leave, lol
I hope you are still hanging in there and doing what you are supposed to

Thought about you today, Jim, when I passed my firecracker fern ....... are you still improving?

Hi, Carrie! Thanks for asking. I'm much improved, and gardening my way to complete rehabilitation! I can now do most all of the gardening chores, and Pat has turned me loose and gone back to crocheting. She was a big help in the garden, when I couldn't do it.
Jim

Good for you, Pat, we appreciate your letting Jim get back to his love. Good to know you are still improving, and almost better than new.