Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Love, music, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Baby Jesus, Christmas, Christmas Countdown, Christmas decorations, Christmas Gifts, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Lights, Christmas List, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Music, Christmas Season, Christmas Songs, Christmas Spirit, Christmas Tree, Christmas with Family, Christmas Zen, Family, Family Breakfast, Family Dinner, Family Fun, Family Recipe, Family time, Family Traditions, Friends and Family, God, God Bless, God Bless America, Gods Country, I Love My Family, Jesus, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas Y'all, The Reason For The Season, What is Christmas All About
I’m up early, getting ready for our annual family Christmas Eve Dinner 🥘 In just a few hours we will have about 20 house guests including at least 4 dogs 🐕 🤩 Christmas music, movies, pie 🥧… It’s always nice to spend time with your family ❤️

I hope you have a wonderful day & an even better evening and night! 🎅🏼 And, Here’s to all the good boys and girls out there! Merry Christmas 🎄

A Visit from St. Nicholas
By: Clement Clarke Moore
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
Have a Wonderful Christmas Eve!
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Christmas Gifts, Christmas is Coming, Christmas List, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Music, Christmas Season, Christmas Spirit, Christmas with Family, Christmas Zen, December 21st., Family, Family time, Family Traditions, I ❤️ my Family, Longest Day of the Year, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas From The Family, Merry Christmas Y'all, Short Days, Shortest day of the year, The Longest Night, What is Christmas All About, Winter, Winter Is Coming, Winter Solstice, Winter Temperatures
The nights have gotten longer and longer as the days shrank for the last 6 months… Tonight is the longest night of the year! The ”Longest Night” aka: The Winter Solstice happens NOW!

The Winter solstice is the shortest day of year and the official first day of Winter! Christmas 🎅🏻 is in only 4 days! And Spring will be here before we know it 😊 Things are looking up indeed!
“I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.
‘We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,’
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.”
~ Oliver Herford
Have a Great Day! AND, a Very Merry Christmas! 🎅🏻🎄
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Charlie Brown, Christmas, Christmas Gifts, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Season, Christmas Songs, Christmas Spirit, Christmas with Family, Christmas Zen, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas Y'all, Short Days, Shortest day of the year, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Gardening, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Songs, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, The Longest Night, What is Christmas All About, Winter Is Coming, Winter Solstice
I got up a little late this morning… We were up late watching Christmas movies 🎅🏻 Just a few more days till Christmas 🎄 Only 2 days till the Winter Solstice, which make me happy as well! After Tuesday the days start getting longer again 🙏🏻 Come on Spring! Don’t let me get ahead of myself… The real next stop is Sunday brunch!



So much to do this week! Cooking, shopping, wrapping, cleaning, work work work… Sometimes I have to remind myself to slow down, and focus on what this season is really all about – Who its all about 🙏🏻
This has and always will be one of my favorIte Christmas shows ❤️ Its as relevant and meaningful as the day it was released in 1965.
Have a great day and a VERY Merry Christmas!
“Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don’t quite know how to put our love into words.”
~ Harlan Miller
Peace,
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music | Tags: 2021, Christmas, Christmas 2021, Christmas Countdown, Christmas is Coming, Christmas List, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Music, Christmas Season, Christmas Songs, Christmas Spirit, Christmas Tree, Christmas with Family, Christmas Zen, Family, Family Fun, Family History, Family Pictures, Family time, Family Traditions, Friends and Family, Grateful, I ❤️ Music, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas Y'all, music, What is Christmas All About

Every year I try to refine my ‘Top 10 Christmas songs’ to enjoy for the season. Christmas music is playing as I write this 🎅🏻 I hope you enjoy the music of the season as much as I do…
Top 10 Christmas List for 2021…
1- Hard Candy Christmas – Dolly Parton
2- Tennessee Christmas – Alabama
3- Christmas in Paradise – Mary Gauthier
4- 25th December – Everything but the girl
5- Thankful for Christmas – Hayes Carll
6- Christmas Island – Jimmy Buffett
7- Christmas in Hollis – Run DMC
8- Merry Christmas from the Family – Robert Earl Keen
9- Please Come Home For Christmas – Eagles
10- Jingle Bell Rock – Daryl Hall & John Oates
This list should get you tapping, singing along, smiling and crying!
Merry Christmas y’all!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
Filed under: Boutique, Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Pondless Waterfalls, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Best Local Nursery and Garden Center, Carters Nursery Pond & Patio, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Christmas, Christmas Countdown, Christmas Gifts, Christmas is Coming, Christmas List, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Music, Christmas Pond Package, Christmas Season, Christmas Spirit, Christmas Tree, Christmas with Family, Christmas Zen, Closed for the Holiday, Day Off, Happy Holidays, Holiday, Holiday Pond Package, Holiday Season, Home For The Holidays, Seasonal Hours, Sorry We’re Closed, Sorry We’re Open, Special Hours, Special Night, Time Off, Weekend Off, Yes We’re Open
In the interest of good communication I want to post next weeks Retail Nursery hours. You may not believe this, but next Friday is Christmas Eve 🤩 WOW how time has flown…
We will be CLOSED – Friday December 24th through Tuesday December 28th in observance of the holiday and will re-open for our normal Retail Nursery hours on Wednesday December 29th.

The whole team at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio wants to wish you all a Warm and Merry Christmas 🙏🏻
God Bless,
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
YouTube pg. –
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dPkQiE04jcr385SOL0gkw
Facebook pg. – https://www.facebook.com/mark.carter.775
Pinterest pg. – https://www.pinterest.com/cartersnursery
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Bill Way, Christmas, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Music, Christmas Season, Christmas Spirit, Christmas with Family, Christmas Zen, Family time, Garden Chores, Leaf Stripper, Shortest day of the year, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Gardening, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Sundays, The Longest Night, Winter Solstice
What a day! it started early and is just now slowing down… I spent some time working in my gardens today. Beautiful, mild, late Fall day❤️ So nice out. That is changing now with the approaching cold front. Powerful storms, wind and rain coming. This will be the last of the ”Leaf Strippers” as Bill Way used to call em’. We are now really entering into a Winter look, bare trees will be awaiting Spring… Heres a few last pics of my Landscape color to enjoy…




We are only 16 days from the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. From now until that day, our daylight time shortens by 1 1/2 minutes each day 😳 BUT, after the 21st., the days start to grow longer again! That is when we are officially on the road to Spring! 👏🏻 Bring it says I!
So, lets enjoy our short Christmas season we have left, and be ready for an early Spring! 💥
“From December to March, there are for many of us three gardens –
the garden outdoors,
the garden of pots and bowls in the house,
and the garden of the mind’s eye.”
~ Katherine S. White
Have a great evening!
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi Ponds, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: #throwbackthursday, Baby Jesus, Bellingrath Gardens, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Lights, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Music, Christmas Season, Christmas Spirit, Christmas Zen, Color Changing Lights, Jesus, Landscape Lighting, Manger, The Nativity, The Reason For The Season, Throwback, Throwback Thursday, vatican, What is Christmas All About
Good Morning!!🌞 This beautiful picture popped up as a Facebook memory this morning from many years ago. Its probably my favorite Nativity scene ever! It was timed perfectly with the season, so I thought i would pass it along… If you are going to be down around Mobile Alabama for Christmas, this lighting display is worth going to visit! Its HUGE! And so beautiful!

I hope your all ready to look at some Christmas lights this month, I know we are 😊
Have a great #Throwbackthursday!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
YouTube pg. –
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dPkQiE04jcr385SOL0gkw
Facebook pg. – https://www.facebook.com/mark.carter.775
Pinterest pg. – https://www.pinterest.com/cartersnursery
Filed under: Boutique, Carter Rockwell, Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Koi Ponds, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pondless Waterfalls, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Carter Country Boutique & Gifts, Cartercountry, Christmas, Christmas Countdown, Christmas decorations, Christmas Gifts, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Lights, Christmas List, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Music, Christmas Pond Package, Christmas Season, Christmas Songs, Christmas Spirit, Christmas Tree, Christmas with Family, Christmas Zen, Count Your Blessings, Countdown, December, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas Y'all, What is Christmas All About
Good morning! And welcome to December🎅🏻 The year has gone by so fast that it almost surprised me 😳 But here we are, last month of 2021 and Christmas is coming!

So much happens during December. Family dinners, Christmas parties, several family Birthdays and work really intensifies trying to finish the year… But, keeping in the spirit of the season is so important!
Christmas 🎄 is Coming!
Have a great day!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
Filed under: Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Videos, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Christmas Zen, Focus, Gentle Sounds, Keep Calm, Meditation, Moment of Zen, Monday Morning Moment of Zen, Soothing Sounds, Sound of the Season, Sound Therapy, Waterfalls, Zen, Zen Creek, Zen Feeling, Zen Fire, Zen state of mind, Zen Stream, Zen Video, Zen Waterfall
Good Morning! 🌞 The weekend was Awesome! But, it’s Monday morning and before I can saddle up for another week, I need to get my mind right. A calm, focused mind is a powerful thing. Sitting by my waterfall for a few minutes always does the trick… I’m able to clear my mind and focus, I get that feeling of Zen
I hope you enjoyed this little clip. A Waterfall is a little bit of magic 🪄 A bit of Zen.
Have a great Monday!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
YouTube pg. –
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dPkQiE04jcr385SOL0gkw
Facebook pg. – https://www.facebook.com/mark.carter.775
Pinterest pg. – https://www.pinterest.com/cartersnursery/
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Christmas, Christmas decorations, Christmas Eve, Christmas Gifts, Christmas List, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Music, Christmas Season, Christmas Songs, Christmas Spirit, Christmas Tree, Christmas with Family, Christmas Zen, Elvis, Elvis Presley, Jesus, Merry Christmas Y'all, Redneck Santa, Santa Claus, Stay Cool, What is Christmas All About
All of our childhood dreams and fantasies hinge on this day and night 🌝 Santa flying through the sky in a magical sleigh 🛷 delivering toys and gifts to all the good kids… Was Santa a big part of your life as a child? He was ‘IT’ for me… Santa with Elvis a very close second 😊 (I’m being serious baby)…

So, here’s to all the good boys and girls out there 🥂 Were making a comeback 🎅🏻

A Visit from St. Nicholas
By: Clement Clarke Moore
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
Have a Wonderful Christmas Eve!
Mark C.