(This post was originally published on this website in April, 2007)
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No woman should ever be party to the following conversation with her true love …
Her: “Happy Six Month anniversary, sweetie…What did you do this morning?”
Him: “I am so tired. I spent all morning with my hoe!”
Her: “WHAT?!!?”
Him: “Yea, I am just worn out!”
—
This was us 48 months ago. Forty-eight months and that hoe is still in the picture!
At least she was this week.
Peppe decided that Thursday morning was the perfect day to work in the giardino. To me, a garden is a cute little nest of fruit and veggies or a bed of colorful flowers … Yea, not so much the case around here.
We have a B-I-G yard, full of orange, mandarin, and lemon trees, cherry trees, grape vines, a few quasi-dead blooms, and lots of TALL weeds! In a word? Tragico!
I met Peppe downstairs and was immediately handed “the little hoe.”
I was, it seems, too much woman for her, since after two or three smacks in the dirt, she broke. “Never fear,” I am told, “Nino (mio suocero) is great at working with broken hoes. He’ll have her working again in a minute!”
And, he did.
A few hours pass … yes, you read that right … a few HOURS pass, and we are still in the garden. I’m hacking away at some random weeds when Peppe puts his hoe down and says
“Cherrye, sometimes it’s better without your hoe – you gotta use your hands!”
He says this, you see, without cracking a smile, as I am standing there all nasty-minded in the blinding Calabrese sun. I smile to myself, but continue to beat the ground with my hoe. I don’t want to get my hands dirty!
We finally finish and I spend much of Thursday afternoon in a pain-filled stupor. I express my anguish to my mother later that evening, only to have her say …
“Well, Cherrye, you just aren’t used to ‘hoe’ing’ around. I, for one, am glad to hear it!”
And, boy is she right! Two days later I am still stiff! (No pun intended…really!)
I am pretty sure I have bruised my palms, I can’t turn my neck all the way to the right, and Peppe hurt me tonight, when he HUGGED me!
He, on the other hand, isn’t sore at all. Should I be concerned about his “hoe’ing?”
***
In related news, today, December 30 is Peppe’s (cough)th birthday!
Auguri, tesoro … and please after all of these years … no. more. hoes. Deal?
Funny post! You and Peppe really used those hoes, huh? HahHa
wow – i have learned a whole other dimension to you today. hehehe funny! doesnt it suck that you can think youre in good shape, going to the gym, etc and then you do some yardwork and you feel like your 70! lol
get to hoe-ing! you know what they say – practice makes perfect =)
Garden gloves– two important words.
OTH, while boning veal, no one would dare to challenge you to all that backbending work.
Oh, all this talk of hoes and boning…what happened to the innocent blog I’ve come to know and love?!
I went through the same initiation last Spring, and believe me, I haven’t gotten used to it. Gardening I can handle, but when you need a sickle, it’s a bit much for me (at least my muscles say so the next day); perhaps you missed my recent post in which P now basically cleans the “giardino” while I read and take photos? I’m just sayin’….
Yea, well, I was actually a little worried about offending, but the conversations REALLY did go like that. Especially the first time so many years ago. I think maybe all the times the other day, Peppe was being silly!
JDoe – We got after it! I am finally feeling a little better today!
Stacy – lol!! I was thinking the same thing about going to the gym. I mean – WHY do I do that if it doesn’t make me in better shape??
Judith – Maybe I should take up cooking! It can’t be as physical!
Michelle – Nice idea! I’ll tell Peppe you suggested it! đŸ˜‰
Funny. Peppe and his hoe đŸ™‚ There are so many language laughs to be had.
Toooo funny!
What a good laugh!
Oh the things that get said and how funny they are I am a hoe’er too and trust me I still get sore:)
Glad ya’ll can appreciate the humor!
Tante Auguri, Peppe!
Grazie!
Ooh yes. Men with hoes are a very good thing. Well, at least in the countryside.
I am ready for my marito to come inside lookin’ worn out and being able to say, ciao amore …how’d go with the hoe today? We ready to spread the seeds yet?
I can’t hang with the hoe without my back giving out and my calves aching. Those days are over. I leave it to the younger country girls.
It’s down to him.
Ha ha ha ha ha
.-= diana baur´s last blog ..Jessica and Rob’s Wedding =-.
This post was really funny for me!!! I like italy and all his culture.
Thank you.