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, Waterfalls | Tags: Autumn, Autumn Color, Autumn Leaves Falling on Water, Autumn Poem, Autumnal Equinox, Breakfast, Burning Leaves, Colorful Foliage, Fall Color, Family, Family Fun, Family History, Family Pictures, Family time, Family Traditions, Leaves, October, Pancakes, 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
What a beautiful morning! A quick, early walk this morning was perfect! Leaves are really showing color now 🍁 and many are falling in good number… Its about time for a good early Fall clean-up and burn 🔥 It really helps clear the way for later in the season.
Then its back in the house for breakfast 🥞 🍳 No brunch today! Too much to do and see outside on this gorgeous Fall Day! 🍁🍁🍁
Only 1 week from today is Halloween 🎃… Get out and look around before the show is over!
“October is the month for painted leaves. Their rich glow now flashes round the world. As fruits and leaves and the day itself acquire a bright tint just before they fall so the year near its setting. October is its sunset sky; November the later twilight.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunday Reflections, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Art, Art in the Garden, Art Show, Artistic Waterfalls, Carters Nursery, Carters Nursery Pond & Patio, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Family, Family Dinner, Family Fun, Family History, Family Pictures, Family time, Family Traditions, Friends and Family, Friendship, Garden Party, Good Friends, I ❤️ My Art, Old Friends, Party, Pond Party, 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 Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays
Good day to everyone! Just finished a great brunch and sat down to finish my Blog that I started late last night… We finished up our last event of the season last night, and it was a FUN one! A local artist and friend for over 30+ years, Matt Brown came to the nursery last night with a literal truck load of art and paintings and we set up our Nursery as his Gallery of Art 🖼 We called it ’Art in the Garden’ and it was a very unique and a very special evening. We even set up a ’Blacklight Room’ in the Koi Shack to showcase some of Matts unique pieces. I’ll tell the rest of the story with a few pictures of last night.
What a great evening! Matt and I have been friend’s for many years now, Maybe its because we both work with our hands to make unique, artistic creations? Our mediums are very different, but I think his Artwork within the gardens and by my Waterfalls was pretty Awesome! And it brought a bunch of people out to enjoy a night of Art and enjoyment, another win-win!
PS: We are gonna do this again! 💥
“Each of us are flowers in the garden of life we bloom,
We all bring a different light to brighten the daily gloom.
We all posess great potential to inspire our fellow man,
To offer peace and love is a choice we all should plan.
We can each bring joy to a life filled with sadness,
Just through a soft touch or word spoken in gladness.
We can also bring peace to those with a troubled mind,
Bring hope to a broken heart joy from the daily grind.
For every flower has something beautiful to share,
That has special meaning to someone, sometime, somewhere,
But our time is short, just like a season,
As autumn advances with purpose and reason.
We all have these gifts and we must take a chance,
If we spread peace and love it’s the garden we enhance…
Enhance the garden…
Spread the love… The peace will follow…”
~ Cosmic Dreamer
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
Mark C
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Hummingbirds, Koi Ponds, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Autumn, Autumn Color, Autumn Leaves Falling on Water, Autumn Poem, College Football, Fall Gardening, Family, Family time, Family Traditions, Football, Football Time In Tennessee, God Bless, I ❤️ Football, I ❤️ my Family, I Love Football, Indian Summer, Safe Travels, 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, Unseasonably Warm
What a beautiful day! 86 degrees and sunny 🌞 It has apparently lit a fire under me because I just cant sit down… We have been decorating and cooking, Fall cleaning and slowly getting rid of Summer plants that just have to make way for Fall 🍁
Plus, its been a great weekend of Football 🏈 The TN Vols won and Alabama lost! 💥
Homemade fresh vegetable soup and cornbread is for dinner 🍲 Man I love a nice Fall day!
“A day like a day in summer.
Exceptionally still. The long shadows of the maples
nearly mauve on the gravel paths.
And in the evening, warmth. Night like a night in summer.”
~ Louise Gluck
Have a great evening!
Mark C
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Brunch, Family, Family time, Family Traditions, Gentle Sounds, Hiking, Rainbow, Rainy Morning, River Life, Sound of Rain, Sound Therapy, 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 Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Sunset, Sunsets, Tin Roof
Well, I actually slept late this morning 😴 Late night movie marathon + Rain on a tin roof made it possible 😊 For the record, I actually woke up at my normal time! (with only a few hours of sleep…) But that rain coming down on the tin roof we were sleeping under, simply lulled me back to sleep 💤 Cut to brunch 🧇 🍳 Now we are going for an extended walk 🥾 So Im gonna post a few pics from the last couple days as my reflections…
Theres more weekend to enjoy, so Im off!
“Waking up to the sound of rain on a tin roof,
Music to my ears.
Darkness still lurks as I open my ears and hear this sound.
Music softly playing,
Describes this day.
The rain pours down softly,
The sky is all grey”
~ Jeri Martindale
Enjoy your Sunday!
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Hummingbirds, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Carter Country, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Charity Pond Tour, Fall Pond Tour, Full Harvest Moon, Full Moon, Fund raiser, God, God Bless, God Bless America, Harvest Moon, humane society, Jackson Animal Care Center, Jackson Tennessee, Koi, Koi Ponds, Magical, Moonlight Pond Tour, Moonlight Tour, Moonlighting effects, Night Sky, Nightscaping, Nighttime Pond, Nighttime World, Pets, Pond Lighting, Pond Tour, Pond Tour Tickets, Pondless Waterfall, Saturday Night, Streams, 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, Tiki, Underwater Lighting, Water Garden Tour, Waterfall at Night, Waterfalls
The morning after is real… 🤫 I was the only one up in the whole house most of the morning… I don’t know what it is, but i cant “sleep in”. I’m just drawn up and then outside in the morning 🌞 But truth be told, I am pretty worn out too… Last night we hosted our annual Moonlight Pond Tour for the 17th time. And it was such a beautiful night!
We didn’t get through talking with folks, closing up and blowing out all the Tiki Torches and candles till around 12:30 last night, which is pretty late for an old Pond Guy and Gal 😊 But then when we got inside the house, were wide awake… so we had coffee and cake… ☕️🍰 Whew, great day and what a great night! but then… The Morning After 😒 I may need a nap 🥱
Thank You! to everyone who came out to support the cause! And a BIG ’Thank You’ to the homeowners who hosted the tour! ❤️ Its an honor and a privilege to be surrounded by such Awesome and caring people 🙏🏻
Enjoy your day!
“Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning …”
~ William Wordsworth
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Be Prepared, Details, Early Morning, Enjoy The Morning, Fall Morning, Family time, Good Morning, Moonlight Pond Tour, Morning Coffee, Morning Zen, Pictures, Quiet Morning, 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, The Devils in the Details
What a beautiful morning 🌞 Sunday morning is the start of the new week, and quite the week is ahead… This week leads us to Saturday evening and our annual Moonlight Pond Tour 🌝 There is always so much to do! Ive been sipping coffee thinking about it and scribbling down a rough list as things come to me… Last minute kind of stuff, you know how it works, a ”few little details”… This = a week of Hard Work!
Last evenings perfect sunset was followed by a rising, waxing moon 🌙 So beautiful! This months Full Moon is the Harvest Moon 🌝 which means, the Moonlight Pond Tour is coming!
If you have ever made big plans with great intentions of success, you know what it means to have a ”few details” to take care of… “All we lack is finishing up”… ie; Gotta get to work!
Y’all have a great Sunday! See ya’ Saturday evening 😊
“Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.”
~ Peter Drucker
Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Hummingbirds, Lake and Pond, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Beautiful Sunset, Boat, Closed for the Holiday, Coffee, Colorful Sky, Day Off, Family, Family Dinner, Family Fun, Family Pictures, Family time, Family Traditions, Food, God, God Bless, God Bless America, Gods Country, Happy Labor Day, I Love My Family, Jet Ski, Labor Day, Labor Day Weekend, Morning Coffee, Old Sayings, Pontoon Boat, River, River Life, Rivers, 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 Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Sunrises, Sunsets, Tennessee River, Waverunner, Weekend Off
Late nights slow down an early morning 😊 but this morning was perfect! A slow easy rain 🌧 was falling until around 8:30 and now it’s clear and cool. Perfect for the last big dust up of Summer ⛅️ Every year we talk about doing something different for Labor Day Weekend , but we always end up at the river 🚤
“Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.”
~ Ralph Marston
Have a Happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Alarm, Beep, Boat, Fun, Good food, Happy Anniversary, I Love My Family, Leak, Love, Pontoon Boat, River, River Life, Rivers, Roof Leak, Rude Awakening, Smoke Alarm, 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, Sunrises, Sunsets, Tennessee River
Beep, Beep, 🚨 Beep, Beep 🚨 🔥ALARM!!! Fire 🔥 ALARM!!! That was my wake up call this morning! Everyone in the house had the same rude awakening! 😓 Every alarm in the house was going off simultaneously 🚨 The dogs were freaking out 🐕 🐩 🐶 WOW! I immediately checked for smoke upstairs & Down, put the dogs out and checked outside – Pouring Rain 🌧 NO Smoke 💨 Then I tried to turn off all the alarms 🚨 No joy!
So I finally figured out that one of my smoke alarms was dripping water 💧 😳 That was the problem.
So we started chasing it down and found it, directly above the smoke alarm 🚨 I mean exactly above it!
Other than this early morning wake up call 😳 The week has been great! I celebrated my 28th Anniversary with my wife and took a few days off. Long story short… I’m a Blessed and Happy Feller’! Here’s a few pics from my week –
“It is a glorious privilege to live, to know, to act, to listen, to behold, to love. To look up at the blue summer sky; to see the sun sink slowly beyond the line of the horizon; to watch the worlds come twinkling into view, first one by one, and the myriads that no man can count, and lo! the universe is white with them; and you and I are here.”
~ Marco Morrow
Have a blessed day!
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: At the still point, I ❤️ Sunrise, Moment of Zen, Pray, Prayer Garden, Prayer in the Garden, Quiet Morning, Quiet Time, Relax, Relaxing, Stillness, 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 Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls, Zen, Zen Feeling, Zen state of mind
In this fast moving world, we are all looking for that stillness… I sometimes refer to it as a Moment of Zen. Many times I find it in waterfalls or the setting sun. Or on a quiet Sunday morning of solitude.
“At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshness; Neither from nor towards; at the still point, There the dance is, But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity, Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards, Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.”
~T.S. Eliot
Have a great Day!
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 1st Day of Summer, Beautiful Sunset, Birdsong, Boat, I ❤️ Summer, Kentucky Lake, Memorial Day, Memorial Weekend, Pontoon Boat, River, Summer Gardening, Summer is Coming, Summer Nights, Summer Pond Tips, Summer Rain, Summer Time, Summertime, 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, Sunrises, Sunsets
Next weekend is Memorial Day weekend… 😳 Yes, it’s almost Summer! I’m not fussing now, I Love Summer!… But, Spring went by so fast 💨 I’m gonna try to slow it down a little and enjoy at least a little bit of Summer.
Summer “Unofficially” begins next weekend!
Are you ready?
“Morning’s soft air, touching everything with such care,
Caresses a young face in a quiet, secluded place.
Smile planted strong, heart beating on.
Only one thing is on her mind, and that is summertime.
A joy reckless and wild,
that’s been in the heart of every child,
now set within her,
for there is no cure.
Her spirit set free, soars higher than the trees.
The books that weighed her down,
now thrown on the ground.
The rivers cleansed from winter,
are now heated for splendor.
The happiness of knowing
no bedtimes are set,
and no schedules to be met.
The sun now beating within her veins
washes away all her pains.
Then without a sound,
the sun starts to sink down.
so she heads inside,
satisfied,
until the next time.
But her spirit is just too wild and decides to wait a while,
so it stays outside and watches the sun,
waiting for what is to come.
The birds fall asleep, the peepers start to peep,
and slowly the sunbeams caressing the mountains,
turn them into splendorous fountains.”
~ Abbey Silent (A Time Of Freedom).
Mark C.
