It's so good to read of how others are dealing with the repetitive stress and health issues. I recently learned I have 2 disc problems in my neck and degenerative arthritis in my lower spine as well as the known tendonitis and worn out hand and shoulder issues I was aware of. So now at least I understand the pain. I am having to relearn how to do things, many of which were adaptions from before having my knees replaced 4 years ago. Fortunately my husband, who used to be traveling more much of the year, just retired. He doesn't particularly like yard work but he will help me out with the heavy things. I wish he got some joy from the garden itself. He does like bragging about my garden to his friends :-) I Am 65 and intend to die gardening at 95 so it is devastating to have to sit back and watch the weeds grow! I've been through the whole range of feelings about whether I should give up part of my garden that brings me so much joy. 3 days ago I got cortisone injections in my neck and now I can move around the house without pain. That is encouraging. I get the injections in my lower back in about 10 more days. But I know now that I have to do my work in much smaller increments and as Karl and Reg say, there are just some things you learn not to do. My biggest issue right now is invasive weeds in my rose beds...Buttercup and Bishops Weed (I think), and a few others. I get it cleaned out then hurt myself and can't get back to it until it is all grown up weeds again. Also, last years strange winter killed off all my weaker roses. I have ordered replacements from Palatine so there will be a lot of prep needed this winter...if only we could figure out how to get the beds cleaned out. I am thinking a good weeding with HUbby doing the digging while I pull out the roots form the loosened soil, them a deep mulching with straw. I won't use chemicals because I run an organic flower business. I am hoping for some "On site" teaching from my physical therapist, with my husband involved if we can find some decent weather to do this. I would so love to hear more of the tricks you other aging gardeners have come up with! I have tried a little garden scoot thing but it doesn't help with the bending over to weed or plant.I don't have a problem with pruning as long as I use the sharp tools and hubby will haul away the prunings. He is also good at hauling loads of compost for me. He helps me plant the roses when they come. He is totally uninterested in them. He only does it because he loves me. I have about 130 roses in several different areas. None of them are doing as well as they could. This year hubby was traveling much of the time and I was unable to get them even fertilized with all the crappy weather, then so much to do at once.

Hi Red! I love the colors in your skirt. It's beautiful. Great embroidery too. I really like the blackwork (is that the right term?) Looks like you're enjoying your embroidery machine. doris

As a matter of fact, Maryann, I did wake up during the night thinking about this. I thought, oh gosh, what if I never get back on? I post at the MH, but it's so slow. I will admit I was beginning to feel a little desperate. It's still showing me that page about security being insecure, but I click on that option about opening this website up anyway. It does say that it's not recommended. It's screwy. I thought maybe it was the server, but my sister has the same one and she hasn't had any trouble. She posts on the Garden Party. So, I will admit, it kinda scared me!! It's such a habit, and I'm such a creature of habit that it was AWFUL.

Schoolhouse - We didn't want another piece of equipment to store and maintain, so we didn't get a leaf shredder. We just use our lawnmower. We take the bags of leaves or barrels of leaves and spread them on the lawn on a sunny day, let them dry out and just mow over them. It does a good job of chopping them enough for our purposes. and then you are just emptying the mower bag where you want the chopped leaves. I always have slip on shoes from LLBean in the garden. Very comfortable for me. My DH can't wear them, he needs better support of a sneaker. He buys a new pair for good and then the old pair becomes the gardening shoe until they are in awful shape and get thrown out. [g]. It's hard to work in the garden if you are not comfortable. We're going to get the leaves done today too. Tons of them on the ground out there. The mower is gong to get a workout. [g] You know Dee, I think you have it right. I don't usually wait to put them down, I skip that step only because I don't find it easy to package them up and store them. But I have had issues with moles/voles sometimes and not waiting does not help with that problem.