Lord o' Mercy

[RSKY]

Bought and planted four large trees yesterday. Biggest was a 15'+ pin oak that had a root ball that wouldn't fit in a wash tub. It was just me and my, as my buddies at the local hardware stores call her, Runnin' Buddy. Took three guys to load them at the local "Trade Day'.

I have realized that I am indeed fifty eight years old.

Digging the holes was bad enough but using the post driver to put the metal fence post in the ground to brace them was sheer torture. Each tree took three metal fence posts to hold it straight. Temp got into the fifties but the wind. My gosh the wind. The largest tree was in the ground and my wife was trying to hold it straight while I filled the hole. Wind was blowing so hard she had to brace and pull back with both hands. The trees are a Christmas present for my oldest daughter and her husband. He arrived home from work in time to drive the two last posts in the ground.

Now we gotta go back and plant the five smaller (gratefully) Lelland Cypress that are going to be a privacy barrier/wind break. Their root balls are only the size of five gallon buckets.

Now for what this post is intended. Twenty months ago when I retired, I would not have been capable of digging the four holes and pounding in ten posts in a single day. Instead of being a 'boss' in a factory and walking around telling everybody else what to do I now do it myself. For the entire summer I have worked, and worked hard. I am now at slightly over 230 pounds, down from the mid 250's. We are walking at least a mile every morning. Wife has lost weight and her stamina has improved greatly. We have both had a scare with our sugar levels and have cut out soft drinks and most sweets.

What I'm trying to say if, if you retire, don't stop working. Even if it is around the house, for family or neighbors or older people at your church, stay busy.

You will be healthier and happier.

Just a ramble from RSKY.

 

[Western]

Nice "ramble":laughing: Sounds like you and your "buddy" are on the right track too! All the jobs I've had except Law enforcement have required a fair amount of physical exertion (sp), but I think as we get older, the body reacts slower to "good workouts". It was allot easier for me to maintain my weight up into my low 30's, I'll be 50 On the 2nd and I stay in the 200# range since my late 30's (must be the Blue Bell Ice cream)

OH , been there, done that with the trees!! My "Buddie" and I, planted a couple hundred seedlings, not to hard, but the reward will be nice in a few years.

 

[creekbend]

Thanks for posting.

 

[dmccarty]

Digging the holes was bad enough but using the post driver to put the metal fence post in the ground to brace them was sheer torture. Each tree took three metal fence posts to hold it straight. Temp got into the fifties but the wind. My gosh the wind. The largest tree was in the ground and my wife was trying to hold it straight while I filled the hole. Wind was blowing so hard she had to brace and pull back with both hands. The trees are a Christmas present for my oldest daughter and her husband. He arrived home from work in time to drive the two last posts in the ground.

First of all, I think you need to work on your timing a bit. You needed to start a bit closer to when he got home! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

That wind and cold was BAAAADDDDD here in NC as well. I went outside to bring firewood to the house and it was only 50ish. But that wind. :shocked: My hands were numb by the time I got into the house and I was only outside for 20 minutes or so.

It is always COLD by Halloween and this year will not be an exception. I think we will have to start up the wood stove tonight.

Later,
Dan