Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Be My Valentine, Best Wife Award, Family Dinner, Family time, Family Traditions, Love, Valentines Day
Let me start out by saying, Happy Valentines Day! ❤️ Normally, I would be planning a nice breakfast and dinner out for my sweetheart ❤️ But, instead we have a Winter Storm Warning ⛔️ and the snows already started. So, I got up early and went to the store for us and my Mom & Dad & Mother in law… Usually Kroger is a ghost town on Sunday Morning, but not today…
The old joke is to always run to the store at the 1st mention of snow to get bread and milk 🥛… Why? Maybe bread 🥖 pudding? Or French toast? A PB&J sandwich 🥪 always needs bread and a glass of milk. And, DON’T forget the TP 🧻 😃
No matter the weather, it’s still Valentines Day! ❤️ And I’m a blessed man to have a Valentine of my own! So dinners still on, it will be great too! Because I will be the chef 👩🍳
Here’s to all the Lovers out there! ❤️ Happy Valentines Day! ❤️
“A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love.”
~ Max Muller,
Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Brady, Family Fun, Family time, Family Traditions, Football, Garden Chores, I ❤️ Football, Morning Coffee, Pancakes, Sausage, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Super Bowl Monday, Super Bowl Snacks, Super Bowl Sunday
For the first time in years I slept past 8am on Sunday morning. It was good sleep 😴 but… Sleeping in, ain’t what it used to be 😊
Brunch is on!
Today is Super Bowl Sunday! Always a fun day! And a milepost in the seasons for my business! For Carter’s Nursery, Tomorrow is Super Bowl Monday! A day when we start LOTS of seasonal Landscape chores… So I got that goin for me 😊
Question- Who are you pulling for in the big game? For Jo and I, we got Brady’s team – The Buccaneers 🏴☠️ 🏈 The biggest reason, besides the fact that Brady is probably the best ever at his position (Quarterback), is that The night that Jo had our son Jacob, was the very night that Brady made his first mark on the NFL winning a snowy game against The Raiders to move forward into the Super Bowl – His 1st. Super Bowl win! Can you say “Tuck Rule”… 😳. She laid there, in labor, and watched the entire game with me! At times of serious pain, she would ask, what’s going on? What’s the score? How’s Brady doing? A football 🏈 fan was born! And, a beautiful, bouncing baby boy to boot! Boom💥 Yes, that’s 6 B’s in a row! Thank you, thank you very much!
No matter the outcome of today’s game though, we will have fun watching it!
Have a great Sunday! And, Go Bucs!🏈💥
Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Birthdays, Birthdays Are Special, Family, Family Fun, Family History, Family Pet, Family Pictures, Family time, Family Traditions, Friends and Family, Happy Birthday, I ❤️ my Family, I Love My Family
My little baby boy is all grown up 🥲 He’s a man now… I still look at him and see the wild adventurous youngster that wore his Batman getup EVERYWHERE for years 😊 His love for animals is apparent, as is his love for family and friends ❤️ I put together a quick collage of photos that I think captures at least a bit of his essence…
He has been all over the place with his mom and me. Worked on projects, played with tigers, received awards for his stewardship and more. I’m a very proud papa!
Happy Birthday Jacob!
~ Dad
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Family time, Family Traditions, Football, I ❤️ my Family, I Love Football, Playoffs, Spring Flowering Bulbs, Spring is Coming, Spring News, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Gardening, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday on the River, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Songs, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays
Just a couple more weekends of football will take us into February, then we will start to notice the signs… swelling buds, emerging tips of spring foliage & the crappie will be biting in earnest! I don’t know about you, but I’m already ready for Spring!
Shoots are thrusting through the cold earth, ‘Tho the wind is in the north;Look! The snowdrop, crocus, scilla Struggle, bravely, to come forth!
Soon each fragile, gentle, blossom Will appear, to cheer each way,Hearts will gladden at their promise,Of clear, fresh, sunlit, springtime days!
~ Greta M. Sears
Have a great Sunday!
PS: It’s a Beautiful day! 🌞
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Hummingbirds, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: #throwbackthursday, 2020, 2021, Family Traditions, Focus, Good Fortune, Good Times, Looking Back, Throwback Thursday
2021 is off to an interesting start… But today is #Throwbackthursday! Here’s a small collage of highlights from 2020. LOTS of good things happened in 2020 as well as all the crazy stuff!
Throwback Thursday is on! Enjoy your day. This one won’t come again…
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 2021, Do your best, Family time, Family Traditions, Feel Better, Happy New Year!, I Love ❤️ My Job!, I Love My Family, I Love Waterfalls, I Work Hard For My Koi, Love, Love and Meaning, Love Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself, Love Your Pets, New Years Resolutions, 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 Songs, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays
All the holidays have gone by and tomorrow we go back to work and do it all over again… Many with a list of resolutions that will change their lives… Workout, save, loose weight, build, change, etc. and they work a little at it, but also, they wait for the ‘magic’ of the new year to happen. I’ve been sipping coffee thinking 🤔 about this for a little while this morning.
I guess this thought is really about me and my struggles… But I hope it rings true to others as well. To have continued success and to grow, I Must keep showing up and doing great work! Which also means I MUST keep believing in and caring about and Loving what I do!
THAT is my 2021 Resolution! And the only one I need to focus on.
Happy New Year! 💥❤️🙏🏻
‘You’re waiting for something magical to happen in the New Year so that your dreams will come true! But the greatest and the most real magic is working and striving hard to achieve the goal!’
~ Mehmet Murat Ildan
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets | Tags: 2021, A New Year, Cabbage, Cornbread, Family Traditions, Happy New Year!, Hog Jowl, New Years Dinner, New Years is Coming!, New Years Quotes, New Years Resolutions, New Years Traditions, The Open Road, Traditional, Traditional Meal, Turnip Greens
An open road ahead…
Happy New Year!
Here’s to a Great 2021 😊
“You can get excited about the future. The past won’t mind.”
~ Hillary DePiano
Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: 2020, 2021, Black Eyed Peas, Bye bye, Cabbage, Cornbread, Family, Family Dinner, Family Traditions, Field Peas, Food, For Auld Lang Syne, Great Food, Happy New Year!, Hello, Hog Jowl, New Years Dinner, New Years is Coming!, New Years Resolutions, New Years Traditions, Traditional Meal, Turnip Greens
Here we are, the last day of 2020! The crossroads of a new year! Hopefully, a better one! New Years Eve is always a strange and special day. You look back AND you look ahead… 👀
I’m ready to leave 2020 in my rear view mirror!
I’m looking forward to a new year! A coming Spring! And hopefully, a return to a more normal world! Have Fun tonight!
Here’s to ringing in 2021!
“Should auld acquaintance be Forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be Forgot and days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”
~ Robert Burns
Happy New Year 💥 🎊🍾
Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 2021, Dog pile, Dogs, Family Fun, Family Traditions, Good Times, I ❤️ Dogs, I ❤️ my Family, Love Your Pets, Lucky Dogs, New Years is Coming!, Sunday, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Songs, Sunday with Family, Sundays
We stayed up LATE last night, binge watching movies and eating Christmas goodies… I normally don’t sit up real late, so it was different & fun 🤩 Until this morning…
It’s been a Great Christmas season! But I think I’m ready for 2021… Now, for a shower 🚿
“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering ‘it will be happier.’”
~ Alfred Lord Tennyson
Have a great Sunday!
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 2020, 2021, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Songs, Christmas Spirit, Christmas with Family, Family, Family Dinner, Family Pictures, Family Traditions, Fun From Home, Hindsight is 2020, Hindsight’s 2020, I Love Animals, I Love Cats, I Love Dogs, I Love My Family, Love, Love and Meaning, Love Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself, Love Your Pets, Merry Christmas From The Family, New Years is Coming!, Presents for Pets, What is Christmas All About, You are missed
We had such a relaxing, pleasant Christmas Day! We watched movies with our parents, opened a few presents, ate Lunch with mom & dad & then, took a YUGE nap 😴
I think the pets had more fun than anyone! They all received a present 🎁 of their own and literally tore them up by supper 🎅🏻😂
Even the kitty came by for Christmas 🎄 She’s really an outdoor cat 🐈 and only comes in when she wants too. Usually, she only asks to come in on special occasions when there’s more than usual activity, or if it’s really cold. Even then, she hides around the edges or up high somewhere 😊
I am so thankful for the blessing of Christmas!
Now, Christmas is behind us and it’s on to the New Year! In less than a week, it’s gonna be 2021! 😳 They say ‘Hindsight is 2020’ …. I think we are all ready to put 2020 in the rear view mirror 🪞
I hope you enjoy the rest of your Christmas weekend! 🙏🏻❤️🎄
Mark Carter
