So, today my goal was to get into that pond and clean out all the sludge and algae, and start the summer ahead of the enemy! I purchased algae eaters, stepped into the pond, and began the job. It was pleasant to stand bent over in the cool water, scooping up wet leaves and algae and throwing them on the lawn - yeah, I'm a little weird that way. But it's soothing to make environments conducive to healthier life. So I bent and scooped, bent and scooped, then lifted pots out and scrubbed the sides to get off some algae so the products would not have to work so hard. Half way through the job, as I placed a pot back into the water, it happened - TWANG! "AAAAAAAAAH!" My back went. There I hunched, thigh deep in the pond, and I couldn't move. "Teresa! Teresa!" She had been at the window not too long ago. Soon after I received a not too enthusiastic reply from the house, "Yeah?" I croaked, "I can't move. My back went." Out she ran to rescue her poor mother. It would have been comical to watch, had it not been so painful. My 90 pound, 5'1" daughter had to practically drag me out of the pond as I climbed up her body. Once out and somewhat straight, I could stand while she ran to the attic to get Daddy's crutches - made for someone over six feet tall! I'm 5'5". What a joke. She shifted the crutches, then pulled my shoulders forward, shifted and pulled, shifted and pulled, and that way we made it to the house and a couch. Then she ran out and got some comfrey leaves, put some olive oil in a pan and heated the leaves to make a hot comfrey-oil compress for my back.
Those who know me know I can't do nothing. Fifteen minutes on my stomach doing nothing and I was going crazy. So I had the girls bring me some paperwork, and little by little over the next couple hours I was able to move, make my way to the desk, and do some work. So here I am, sitting inside on a beautiful day, pond half cleaned, gardens needing weeding, and oh my achin' back. Well, I guess Angela's going to be doing most of the gardening this summer for our business. I'll have to give her a bigger cut!