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Looking out on those hills makes me proud of one pet project: gardening. In my own backyard,
I've been working to restore the vegetation that is indigenous to the Santa Monica Mountains.
I'm cultivating plants that are hardy, drought tolerant and truly appropriate for this area.
My vision for this garden is to bring it back to what it might have been like without me putting
a hand on it -- as if it had been untouched by humans over the ages.
That means a lot of trees, including five varieties of eucalyptus and some big olive trees. I've also got a whole bunch of oak, including some that have been here even before the area was settled in the mid 1800s. If oak could talk, we'd hear some amazing tales about California history. |
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And then there are the flowers. Poppies, Santa Barbara daisies and lovely ceanothus,
with its dark green leaves and little purple flowers.
My investment in the land has really been an investment in myself. Gardening is incredible exercise. Working my way up and down hills gives me great exercise and is a lot more fun than being inside on a treadmill or stair climber. I'm always raking, which is a workout not unlike the one you get on a rowing machine. Then there is pruning, which gives me an all-over workout.
Like those venerable oaks, I want to have a good foundation that helps me stand strong. With the benefits I get from my regular exercise routine, plus gardening, and extra help from my medication, I feel I'm taking important steps to ensure my bone health. And as I reflect on the year's activities, those are the kinds of things I'll be glad I took the time for.
Until next month,
Look for Sally's next journal entry in December, as well as other periodic
information on managing postmenopausal osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about how to manage your bone health,
including diet, exercise, and treatment options.
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