I Ache

 The past few days the weather has been very mild, high in the mid teens. So I've been getting out in the garden a bit, trying to tidy up things, put away stuff that has been left outside since we moved in.

Easy enough to do but I didn't realize how much bending and squatting I would be doing.  I wasn't out there for long, maybe half an hour each day, with breaks but this morning I woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a ton of bricks! I'm not sure what bit hurts more, by shoulder feels pinched, my back and hips just ache and my legs think that this is the end!! 

I know I'm out of shape, but I didn't think I was this bad!

I also know what my problem is, inconsistency! I'll start something but then give up because something has happened. For example last year I started to do some chair exercises. I was doing great, not really enjoying it but able to do them at least 4 times a week. Then I got shingles, which took a month to fully recover from, followed by Covid, another month with no energy! After that I never got back into doing the exercises, it was always tomorrow or next week. But as the year went on we got more and more busy with the move and I got more and more stressed with everything exercise became the last thing on my mind!

So I'm thinking about starting some exercises again. I've been watching a lot of videos about exercises for back problems. Basic stretches to help the pain in my neck. I've been doing them two or three times a day, which has helped a bit. I need to find something that will give me a good work out without killing me. I also want to start walking before it gets too hot to go outside!  Plus there is still a lot of work to be done in the house and garden.

I have a few projects that I want to start as well. One is building a catio, a cage for the cats attached to  the house. I thought about buying one but they are very expensive. Looking around the storage rooms I have found these massive meatal racks, that could be used as a frame for the cage. So I'm looking for ideas for that.

Also I finally pasteurized the first lot of honey.

First lot of honey

I have to buy a funnel to put it into a smaller bottle! This is about a quarter of the honeycomb!

Next is to figure out how to make marmalade from these Japanese oranges that my student gave me. They are too sour to eat as is.

I thought I would have a lot of time to read and write once we moved here as I'm not teaching so much but I seem to be busier than ever. But it's good for me, no time for self pity parties!!