Filed under: water garden, Landscaping & Gardening, Outdoor Lifestyles, Fountains, Sunday Reflections, Nursery, God Bless America, Waterfalls, Love, Family time, music, Food | Tags: Breakfast, Chickens, Coffee, Morning Coffee, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Gardening, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Songs, Sunday with Family, Sundays
Good afternoon šš» I always try to post a Sunday Reflections blog, and they have almost always been in the morning. The morning just got away from me š Coffee āļø Chickens š Breakfast š³ Picking up, cutting back, composting, trash duty, etc. Preparations for the coming seasonā¦ Plus Preparations for the coming week š February is only a few days away and I already have Spring Fever š
Thursday is Groundhog Day, the half-way point of Winter! Then itās a downhill roll into Spring ā¤ļø
Have a great afternoon!
Mark C.
“Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle … a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. Ā And the anticipation nurtures our dream.”
~ Barbara Winkler
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 21st. Birthday, Birthdays, Birthdays Are Special, Dad, Family, Family Pictures, Family time, Family Traditions, Good Times, Happy Birthday, Passage of Time, Proud American, Proud Father, Son, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Time, Time flies, Time in a bottle
2023 is definitely off to a quick start for me. Back to work is an understatementā¦ But certain things slow you down to pay homage and reflect on. Like my son turning 21 this past week ā¤ļø Milestones like this really make you reflect. Saying ātime fliesā just doesnāt tell the story, but in a way it does sum it upā¦ Time is such an illusion. It slips right through our grasp and pours through our fingers, and we can never get it back. We have had a lot of time well spent together! Iāve made a point to spend as much time as possible with my family and with my son over the past 21 years! And the only regrets I can think of are the few things we didnāt get to doā¦ YET! I feel very blessed to have him in my life and I look forward to what the future may bring.
The future looks bright for my little (6ā3ā) 21 year old son. What an impressive man he has become. šš»ā¤ļø
Sunday brunch and coffee are forthcoming āļø š³
āTime is the most valuable thing a man can spendā ~ Theophrastus
Have a great Sunday!
~ Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 2023, 2023 Events List, Beach, Beach Life, Beach Therapy, Beautiful Sunset, Carters Nursery, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Family Business, Garden Planning, Garden Tour, Happy 2023, Maintenance Workshop, Photography, photos, Planning, plants, Pond Tour, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Gardening, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Songs, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Sunrises, Sunsets
A new year and I have been busy planning for it! Business plan, events, pond tours, workshops, jobs, early buys, plant orders and moreā¦ I havenāt missed a sunrise or sunset in 2023 yet! No itās not a resolutionā¦ But I do really enjoy watching both šš Hereās a little collage of some of 2023ās best from the Beach!
Now is when the real work beginsā¦
āSunrise looks spectacular in nature; sunrise looks spectacular in the photos; sunrise looks spectacular in our dreams; sunrise looks spectacular in the paintings, because it really is spectacular!ā
~ Mehmet Murat Ildan
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Sunday Reflections, Waterfalls | Tags: Elvis, Elvis Presley, Happy Birthday, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays
āDo you remember where you were when you heard that Elvis had died? I sure do. I really remember my mother crying and calling her friends. He was truly loved! RIP To the King of rock nā roll!ā
IF you remember where you were, leave a message or a short storyā¦ I would love to hear it šš»
āSome people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do ’em all together, I guess.ā
~ Elvis Presley
PS: AND – Happy Birthday to another cool cat – Zachery Hall š„Have a Great Sunday!
~ Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Waterfalls | Tags: Christmas Countdown, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Magic, Christmas Season, Christmas Spirit, Christmas with Family, Coffee, Family, Family Traditions, Holiday Season, Love, Snow, Snow Day, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Sundays
22 degrees this morning when I went down to the Chicken coopā¦ š„¶ Cold, frosty morning with a beautiful Sunrise š Today marks 1 week till Christmas š So I donāt really mind the cold right now, it adds to the feeling of the season š š¼ But, itās fixing to get even colderā¦ And, maybe snow āļø Did someone say White Christmas? It may just be in the cardsā¦ āļø
As I write this blog, Iām sitting behind the wheel of my truck waiting on Jo to re-emerge from Krogersā¦ Needed supplies for a Christmas party this afternoon š
š¼
As soon as we get back, Breakfast! More coffee āļø then itās back to it! Merry Christmas š
The lakes are covered with ice;
Our trees are full with frost.
It seems as a good nice winter,
but one thing, one thing is lost.
~The Snow-The Snow-The Snow!
The fireplace is a cracklin’,
the moon is full and bright.
The stars are just there twinklin’,
It seems as a perfect night.
But what is there missing?
Maybe the perfect sound?
Nothing but the wind gusts,
blowing the snow around.
The fire goes out;
the babies start cryin’,
The wind picks up;
I start smilin’.
Could it be?
Finally some snow!?
I looked out the window to see a dimming glow.
I drank my hot chocolate,
which warmed my body.
Then, like a lion, I jumped into bed,
and slept.
When the light had shown in,
I sprung out of bed.
So quick, she heard me, my mom said.
I looked outside, and saw no brown.
The ground was bright!
The ground was white!
Whiter than the whitest of rice,
Whiter than the cotton like clouds of the sky.
Maybe, just maybe, winter would be pretty nice!
~ Jocelyn Larrabee
Have a great Sunday! šāļøš
š¼
~ Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Waterfalls | Tags: Christmas is Coming, Christmas Magic, Christmas Season, Christmas Spirit, Family, Family Pictures, Family time, Family Traditions, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Sundays
Merry Christmas š I have found myself becoming more and more in the Spirit of the season this year! We have been decorating around the place on a daily basisā¦ Add to that all the food and partyās and plans being made, This year has felt more āChristmasyā than normal š
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We still have LOTS to do before the big family get together, but Iām good with that! Itās 2 weeks until Christmas Day! š® Wow rightā¦ Be ready!
Christmas is Coming! š
š¼
“Christmas gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the important things around us.ā
~ David Cameron
Have a great day!
~ Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Waterfalls | Tags: Christmas Countdown, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Season, Christmas Spirit, Christmas Tree, Happy Holidays, Holiday Season, Seasonal changes, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Sundays
I have been blessed with overall good health, so when I do get sick š· itās awfulā¦ Iām finally getting over a case of the Flu with a Bronchitis kickerā¦ Believe me when I tell you, it sucks! Cough, weakness, exhaustion, etcā¦ But, thank the lord, Iām finally feeling better!
We are officially in December! Iāve been getting my strength back by tooling around the house a little trying to help get ready for the next big holiday š
š¼
Our Christmas tree š is up & quite a bit of decorating has been done as well. Iām actually starting to get that feeling of Christmas šš»
Weāve got Lots to do before years end! My biggest challenge is to keep a work/life balance through the holidays so I get to enjoy the season with my family too š
In any case, Christmas is coming! Be ready š
š¼
āMay you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love.ā
~ Ada V. Hendricks
~ Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Love, music, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Family, Family time, Family Traditions, Friends and Family, God Bless, Grateful, Gratitude, Happy Thanksgiving, Love, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Sunsets, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Decorations, Thanksgiving is Coming, The Presence of God, Time, Time flies, Time in a bottle, Time Off
Time is so funnyā¦ Sometimes it drags on & other times it goes by so fast that you miss things. I say it all the time, but it seems like this year has gone by quicker than any year before šØ Turn around and boom š„ itās Thanksgiving! We are hosting our family dinner here in a few days, so we have been busy straitening up, decorating and basically getting ready š¦
After all these years of living and working and doing, the one thing I have figured out is, you have to be grateful for your blessings šš» (Ps: Iām still working on it š)
With my hectic schedule itās easy to push on and take things for granted just to get through this day and to the nextā¦ But you miss so many things in that process, the most important things. God, family, friends, rest, health & happiness can be glossed over and left in your wakeā¦ Maybe itās like the spirit that comes over you at Christmas š
š¼ you want everyday to feel like that. āļø Thanksgiving can be the same. Iām going to try to let my Gratitude exceed my expectations everyday and see what happens ā¤ļø
āGratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.ā
~ William Arthur Ward
Happy Thanksgiving š¦ to Everyone!
~ Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Breakfast, Coffee, Coffee Mug, cold morning, Cold Weather, Family Breakfast, Ice, Itās Cold!, Morning Coffee, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Sundays
Cold frosty morning š„¶ Had to break ice from the troughs for the 1st time this seasonā¦ The leaves are still coming down, but most have already fallen. Thanksgiving is coming quick. Coffee āļø and breakfast š³ await.
We are looking at a little cold snap for the next week, dress accordingly!
āOn a cold November morning Frost wrapped the world in an ashy hue Sucking the heart from silence As an optimistic sun gazed through Naked branches of oak and maple
Peeking through the limbs of gray Lighting the indigo skies with grace Dancing, flowing, praising In waves of enchantment, such riches Radiating warmth and awaking The crackle of leaves, stunned By the bitter air, the chilling stare Of freezing sparkles on thoughts Met by the luster of dawnā
~ Regina McIntosh
Enjoy this cold November day ā¤ļø
~ Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections | Tags: Australian Shepherd, Biscuits, Biscuits and Gravy, Chicken, chicken Coop, Chickens, Coffee, Coffee Mug, Dark Winter, Daylight Savings Time, Fall Back, Feeding Birds, Feeding Time, Free Range Chickens, Hen House, Instagram, Morning Coffee, Pets, Sunday, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Time flies
Itās always easy to āFall backā! My personal clock didnāt change thoughā¦ I was wide awake shortly after 4am this morning. My iPhone had already updated, so I changed all the clocks ā°, reset the oven and microwave clocksā¦ Straitened up, made coffee, made biscuits and waited for the sunrise.
Shortly after breakfast, I let the chickens š out to free range a bit, then came back to drink some coffee āļø
In the short time that I was in the house a couple of things happened. My sons Australian Shepherd got out of the fence and not only scattered my flock of chickens that were outside, she went into the hen house & ran ALL of my chickens out and scattered them to the wind šØ
You know what comes nextā¦ Trying to locate and round up chickens isnāt easy, in fact Iām still in the processā¦ Yāall have a wonderful Sunday afternoon š
“I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Mark C.
Carter's Water Garden 