Author: Lisa -Southern Patches

Hello everyone, my name is Lisa I am a southern girl born and raised in East Tennessee. I love discovering new places and things to do. I have a lot of favorites, shopping, traveling, knitting and photography are all at the top of my list. I am married with my fur babies my only children. This blog is actually named after my beloved basset hound Patches. She passed away a few years ago but will always have a huge part of my heart. Come with me and we will explore some wonderful places and discover some really fun things. Are you ready?

Do The Next Right Thing

Hello friends how are you? Happy Mother’s Day to everyone out there who is a mother or mother figure to loved ones or fur babies. I know I have been rather quiet over here the last couple of weeks. I always want to keep it real here on my blog without invading any of my loved ones privacy. Recently my husband has had to have his blood work repeated several times. It has been a bit scary. We are not sure what, if anything, is going on at this point. He has had some elevated levels that the doctors are being very careful with and keeping a watchful eye on. We are praying that his body works through this and all levels will return to normal very soon. We should know more in the next week or so.

I guess with any extra anxiety I have always been one to draw within myself and not want to do anything. I am trying to fight that by staying busy and optimistic but anxiety does seem to creep in when I least expect it and sometimes in the most unusual ways. I have missed being here and sharing with you my day to day which in many ways is probably the best outlet I could possibly hope to have. A good friend once gave me some wonderful advice. She said when you are worried or anxious and you feel that there is nothing you can do to control your situation, just do the next right thing. It could be anything from taking out the garbage to making a phone call, paying bills, taking a walk or just something that is “right” for you to do at that moment. So with all of that said I will dive in and tell you about my days. Writing this post is my next right thing to do.

It is Blackberry Winter here in East Tennessee. The blackberries are blooming like crazy. That is not to say we will have blackberries anytime soon. This is only the blooming process and the actual yummy blackberries will not be ready for a month or so. As soon as the blackberries start blooming the temperatures drop and reminds us that cooler temps will linger a little longer. This is usually around the second week of May and falls just in time for Mother’s Day. It was 46 degrees F at my house several mornings this past week.

Blackberries are blooming everywhere!!!!

The cool weather hasn’t stopped the yellow coating of pollen blanketing everything. I have never been one to suffer from allergies at this time of year although my poor husband does. But this year I have had a bit of allergy issues. It must be age or something I’m not sure. The lake at our house has had a permanent film of yellow on it for a couple of weeks now.

Last Sunday I finished knitting a pair of socks and immediately started another pair. I got my ball winder out and rolled four balls of yarn. I will probably use two of the balls for socks and one for a scarf and I’m not sure what I will use the other one for.

I visited the Mennonite Farm Market near my house yesterday. They had some beautiful vegetables. And of course they always have those fresh baked cinnamon rolls. I have to buy one every time I go. Yesterday was no exception. The drive to the market is almost as good as the things I find to buy. It is especially beautiful this time of year.

Lots of luscious vegetables and fruit at the market. I wanted everything.
I may have mentioned that the market also has these wonderful, delicious HUGE cinnamon rolls. I always get one when I am there.
A beautiful sunrise Friday morning.

So if you are ever overwhelmed, anxious, scared, nervous etc etc. and don’t know exactly how to manage the next moment just do the next right thing whatever that may be.

And always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

What A Week!!!!

It was back to work today after a long three day weekend. Last week was a bit of a crazy sixty eight day week, well that’s what it seemed like anyway, and I definitely needed the extra time off. I am writing this in a bit of a fog because for some reason this day just kicked my butt. I think a very early night is in order. But first I just wanted to share a bit of last week with you.

We had some really cool mornings. The temperature a couple of mornings was only about 33 degrees F. A light frost covered a lot of areas. I brought my little tomato plant if for a couple of nights.
The days were clear and bright and sunny and just beautiful.

I told you last week that we had some exciting things going on at work. I work at a tourist attraction that happens to be home of America’s Largest Underground Lake. The Lost Sea. Shameless advertising ahead, http://www.thelostsea.com. Check it out if you get a chance. The lake is located 140 below the ground level and covers 4.5 acres. A cavern tour and boat ride is included in the tour. We have four boats that are used throughout the day. Last Monday we got a new boat. The last time new boats were brought into the cave was about thirty years ago. It is not an easy thing to do. We will be getting two now and two at the end of the year. These are large flat bottomed boats that hold about twenty people each.

Each boat weighs approximately two thousand pounds. They are brought in half at a time. The cave is very narrow and steep going down hill to get to the lake. Each boat half had to be taken in on a huge dolly pulled by a motorized Gator utility vehicle and then a tractor pulling against the weight of the boat to help slow the process. It was scary and exciting to be a part of something that doesn’t happen but about every thirty years. Our crew did an amazing job as well as the company that built the boats.

It is rather hard to see but if you look closely you can see the Gator in the front pulling the boat and then the tractor in the back slowing the boat as it went down the steep trails.

With all of the preparations getting the boat delivered and set up and everything I had a couple of really long days.

My Birthday and wedding anniversary was on Wednesday. Mark and I both had to work so we decided to celebrate later in the week. I did have Birthday lunch with the sisters.

I also had lunch with a couple of friends.

I took off an extra day on Friday and got my hair cut. Saturday was rainy and we visited my mother in law at the village.

A fairly lazy weekend which is what I needed after the crazy work week. And just like that it was back to work today.

Did you know that daisies start out with this little pink bud and even the petals are pink? Daisies are my favorite flower.

I hope you have a wonderful week. I will end with just a bit of cuteness.

These two. They fight over the chair and this old afghan I made about twenty five years ago. It looks like they have come to an agreement to share.

Always remember,

Love your day your way!!!!