By this time in the growing season, I normally would've had two rounds of them. I am diligent about looking for them, I know the signs and can spot them right away. Every once in a while, I find a tomato with a bite taken out, or the first few leaves missing on a branch, but I can never find the hornworms!
Today, I discovered a new plague. Chipmunks.
Really?? Another plague? I can't stand it!
I have started the winter job, I design and produce t-shirts and sweatshirts for spirit wear for local schools and clubs. I stand on a concrete floor for 7-8 hours a day and it is killing me! I guess I am getting older and I cannot take it as easily as I used to. By the end of the day, my legs are really painful. I did tell my boss about my pains and she bought fatigue mats, and I guess it helped a little today. I have a 2x2 spot that I walk from machine to machine, but I really have to force myself to walk around more. I spent years waiting tables and tending bar, but this standing is different. Much harder than walking around and socializing.
To come home and find the holes in the yard and the little devil so brazen, standing in the middle of the yard, I just want to give up. Throw in the trowel. And the pitchfork.
My legs hurt and my back hurts and now I have chipmunks. Perhaps gardening is not for me? Maybe I should take up knitting? Um, those that know me are rolling around, laughing at this point. My nature is not knitting.
I am going to take some Advil and contemplate this whole mess in bed with my magazines and my dog.
Tomorrow is another day, right? It might hold some pleasant garden surprises!
Here's to hoping!
Oh Sissy, this just sucks! I'm so sorry about that confounded chipmunk. I hope you'll find some [humane] way to get rid of it before it does any more damage. I hope you're feeling better too. Getting older really sucks.
ReplyDeleteYour pals there may be house finches- I'm not 100% positive though. If they are feeding young- you shouldn't see any more of those nasty caterpillars :)
ReplyDeleteAs for you chipmunks, you might have to get Gracie to catch them!
Hope ya feel better!
And that is why I stopped doing any gardening of veggies. Hope you get use to your job soon. Take care.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
I have to say, Sissy, that is one good-looking tomato plant! How nice that you have those insect-eating helpers.
ReplyDeleteI have never noticed chipmunk damage. I do have chipmunks around. Maybe I just have so many plants, that I don't see whatever damage they do. I don't go out looking at the majority of the gardens every day. I guess I better knock on wood because now that I have said that, I will probably start noticing all kinds of damage!
Are you all done now with the garden job? The person who has your job at our Home Depot told me she works straight through until November. I was pretty surprised by that.
I am glad the floor mats are helping. It's sure not fun having sore feet/legs.
You need to have a dog harassing that chipmunk until he decides to leave!
ReplyDelete:D
I had them plagueing my blueberries last year-he got all the fruit. This year it's a robin--SHE got all the fruit. With gardening, it's always something...but I love it so much I keep plodding along. And every once in awhile, I manage to get something edible and it makes it SO WORTH ALL THE TROUBLE.
Don't get discouraged--get even-LOL!!!
Sissy -
ReplyDeleteJust a thought, but my sister-in-law has something she puts in her shoes that have been molded from her feet. She got them about a month ago and says they have worked wonders. Her feet and legs no longer ache when she gets home from work. (Her job also requires she stand in one spot for long periods of time.) She got them from her daughter-in-law who is a chiropractor in Rockford. Let me know if you want more info on it.
Connie (aka Lou)
I've never had a problem with chipmunks.I decided to check it out and googled it. It seems that some people do have problems with them making holes in their yards. I first thought that you might have moles...searching for grubs that develop into J. Beetles, but after reading people's comments..I guess they can be destructive. There are many suggestions on how to get rid of them.
ReplyDeleteHope you get used to your job. It's not good standing on concrete all day.Hope you can get some relief. Balisha
Oh the standing! It's absolutely true that it is brutal compared to a job where there's some walking. I waited tables for years, then worked at Blockbuster for a couple of years before I went into corporate. Waiting tables never a problem, but the standing at Blockbuster for 6-8 hours would have me in absolute tears, and I would only want to go to movies or stay home in my time off, because I would be off my feet. There must be some kind of shoes/inserts now that help.
ReplyDelete