It's been a while since I've been in this space. We've had the unexpected with a sick baby who had to have multiple trips to the University of Tennessee animal hospital over the course of the past few months. Turns out that she has a rare condition, one they've never come across in their books until now. We are so grateful that it was treatable and that the treatment seems to have worked. Hoping we had our last trip last week and that we are able to manage her issues completely locally now and are squared away with a future plan for any additional issues.
In the meantime, spring finally showed up! I'm back to documenting things again. On our last trip with our baby, we headed over to Baxter Gardens in the Knoxville area and spent over an hour touring a gorgeous, private garden that is open to the public once a year in the month of April. Below is a picture of just one area of this spectacular acreage. As you can see, we had a gorgeous, crisp (in the upper 40s), sunny day. I'm so glad we went! It was peaceful and calming, and it was the place where I received the news via phone call that our baby was not going to need surgery for her condition after all! You can imagine how that endeared the place to me, I'm sure.
Meanwhile, at home, our own azalea bushes have finally begun popping out! We have one area outside one of our bedroom windows where there are several azalea bushes in varying colors of pink. I've done that one purpose. It's on the side of the house with the first light of the day. Those pink variations glow like nobody's business on a sunny morning. So glad I had the foresight to go with the pink color scheme. It's just fantastic! The first picture shows the dark pink azaleas, the second picture shows the light pink azaleas.
Finally, allow me to share our mountain view. I never get tired of it, and pictures do it very little justice. It doesn't help that I'm no photographer, but at least it gives you an idea of my daily visual blessing. It just never grows old. When you see this in person, the mountains appear much closer. Not sure why in pictures they seem so far away, but I can guarantee you it's most likely my lack photography skills.
We have been warm these last couple of days and have spent a lot of time outside. It feels so good, and I'm thrilled to finally start complaining about being too warm instead of complaining about being too cold, ha ha. Soon, the tomato sandwiches with Duke's mayo will be a staple of our environment, and the garden will get fully planted on Mother's Day weekend in two weeks. Hard to believe that it has rolled around already. Time really does fly.
I know that a lot of people are struggling on many levels right now. Things are still somewhat topsy-turvy, but I think part of that is because we are kept stirred up with so much information. The bombardment of news is ridiculous. What a mess we became when 24-hour news arrived on the scene. It's not healthy. Turn off the news, go do something different. Stop letting them get you stirred up, stop listening to the sensationalism.
If you are living your life to the best of your ability, taking care of the acre of life that God gave you, picking and fighting the right battles rather than just lumping and dumping yourself in with everything, then you will find a much sweeter balance. Constant outrage will kill you sooner than later. It truly harms no one but yourself, and the people raged against often just sit back and enjoy that show while you exhaust yourself.
I learned long ago to stick to my beliefs, vote how God guides me, and not rise to the constant baits set before me. I simply walk away, and it is so freeing. It doesn't allow anyone to impose their opinions and beliefs on me, or to try to persuade my already-decided mind. In addition, turning off all of those ridiculous news channels helps their ratings drop and will, perhaps, one day, force most of them to close up shop. Not likely, but I can at least do my part to try to make that happen. Always, always, always think for yourself.
The sun will be up soon, and I plan to enjoy every minute of today. Full sun, 83 for the high, low humidity - what a doozy of a day! Heading to the local library book sale later with my sweet love, and we may just have to do the old Sonic summer drink. I know summer isn't for four more weeks, but I think it's okay to enjoy an Ocean Water a little bit early!
Love to you on this gorgeous day in upper Northeast Tennessee! Time for a Bojangles biscuit with honey and vegan bacon to start out the day. I truly hope your day and your weather are beautiful!
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