Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 1st Sunday of 2020, 1st Sunday of the Year, A New Year, Beautiful Sunrise, Bellini, Brunch, Happy New Year!, I ❤️ Sunrise, New Years Quotes, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises
1st Sunday of the New Year! Beautiful morning with a gorgeous day to follow. I didn’t cook breakfast this morning… I’m being treated to “Sunday Brunch” 🥞 🍳 So I got that going for me 🌞
Pancakes 🥞, Eggs Benedict, Strawberries 🍓 & Mimosa’s. Yes please 😊
”There is always a way and always hope in the next sunrise, and in the next second, and in the next minute.”
~ Ziggy Marley
Here’s to a GREAT Sunday & a GREAT 2020!
Happy New Year!
~ Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Christmas Countdown, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Poem, Christmas Season, Sunday, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family
Good morning and Merry Christmas to all! We are in the final countdown to the big day…
The time is flying by! 3,2,1 Boom 💥
This world is wild as an old wives’ tale,
And strange the plain things are,
The earth is enough and the air is enough
For our wonder and our war;
But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings
And our peace is put in impossible things
Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings
Round an incredible star.
To an open house in the evening
Home shall men come,
To an older place than Eden
And a taller town than Rome.
To the end of the way of the wandering star,
To the things that cannot be and that are,
To the place where God was homeless
And all men are at home.
~ G.K. Chesterton “The House of Christmas”.
Merry Christmas 🎄 🎅🏻
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 12 Days Of Christmas, Christmas Countdown, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Magic, Christmas Music, Christmas Season, Christmas Songs, Christmas Spirit, Christmas with Family, Christmas Zen, Family time, Good Times, Merry Christmas, Quality Time, Sunday, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Time flies, What is Christmas All About
I’ve been drinking coffee since early, thinking about all the family and friends that will be getting together over the next couple weeks. And how Christmas Day is only 10 days away! Wow! It’s just flying by… We are all into the 12 Days of Christmas countdown!
“On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree”
I know you just sang that 😊
Have a Great Sunday & Merry Christmas!
~ Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Birthdays, Breakfast, Family, Family Dinner, Good Friends, I ❤️ my Family, I ❤️ My Friends!, Old Friends, Party, Poems, Sunday, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family
I have had a great birthday weekend! I got up early this morning, had coffee & started breakfast so everyone would wake to a great smell. Payback of sorts 😊 Jo & Jacob both went above & beyond what I expected for my birthday the last couple of days. Lots of friends & family went out of their way to let me know they cared! From Facebook, emails, texts, cards, pies, cakes & calls, I was blown away by the Love and Well Wishes from friends and family. I’m Blessed!
Sunday breakfast with family & friends is one of the high points of the week to me 😊
“We all have a cherished garden we tend –
It is planted with love of family and friends.
The memories and dreams we treasure and share
Are like beautiful roses found blooming there.
The comfort and care on which we depend
Is given with love between family and friends.
The sunshine of laughter and rain of a tear
Only make our love grow with each passing year.
We may all be ourselves with no need to pretend
Because of the love of family and friends;
They notice the rainbows and weather the showers.
They overlook weeds and praise all our flowers.
The most valuable thing is the time that we spend
Tending this garden with family and friends.
When counting our blessings, we know from the start
That family and friends come first in our heart.”
~ Lizzy Pureheart
Thank God for Family & Friends ❤️
– Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Videos, Waterfalls | Tags: Christmas is Coming, Family Dinner, Family Pictures, Happy Holidays, Home For The Holidays, I ❤️ my Family, I ❤️ My Friends!, Old Friends, Party, Podcast, Shopping, Sunday, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Night, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, The Down Town Get Down Podcast
We are officially in the “Christmas Season”! We kicked it off with a HUGE Thanksgiving feast! Followed by a road trip, a shopping trip & another party 😊 I think I’m in the spirit of the season already! 🎅🏻🎄💥
Here are a few pics from the last couple days …
Family and Old Friends are what makes the Holidays special!
We even took part in an Awesome Podcast with some Old Friends!
Awesome podcast with Matt, Motel, Jason & crew!
I hope we all have a wonderful Christmas Season! Today is the 1st. day of December, Christmas will be here in the blink of an eye 👁 Slow down & enjoy 😊
My Christmas wish for you, my friend
Is not a simple one
For I wish you hope and joy and peace
Days filled with warmth and sun
I wish you love and friendship too
Throughout the coming year
Lots of laughter and happiness
To fill your world with cheer
May you count your blessings, one by one
And when totaled by the lot
May you find all you’ve been given
To be more than what you sought
May your journeys be short, your burdens light
May your spirit never grow old
May all your clouds have silver linings
And your rainbows pots of gold
I wish this all and so much more
May all your dreams come true
May you have a Merry Christmas friend
And happy New Year, too
~ Anonymous
Merry Christmas 🎄
~ Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises | Tags: Clean out the refrigerator, Family time, Food, Garbage Detail, Happy Holidays, Happy Thanksgiving, Home For The Holidays, Raccoon, Sunday, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, take out the trash, The Bandit
I always get up early on Sunday morning before everyone else & make coffee and step outside to see about the weather. This morning was no different. Other than the fact I had to clean up after a late night/early morning visitor… Meet ‘The Bandit’…
This fat little joker tore up the garbage last night.
It’s my own fault I guess… We have a bunch of friends and family coming for Thanksgiving this week, so last night we cleaned out the refrigerator and freezer to make room for the HUGE amount of food that will coming in over the next few days. I sat the bags out on the front porch to haul off today… All raccoons 🦝 are sneaky little opportunists! 😊
Im really looking forward to having a big Thanksgiving! I really hope YOU are too.
Thanksgiving
We walk on starry fields of white
And do not see the daisies;
For blessings common in our sight
We rarely offer praises.
We sigh for some supreme delight
To crown our lives with splendor,
And quite ignore our daily store
Of pleasures sweet and tender.
Our cares are bold and push their way
Upon our thought and feeling.
They hang about us all the day,
Our time from pleasure stealing.
So unobtrusive many a joy
We pass by and forget it,
But worry strives to own our lives
And conquers if we let it.
There’s not a day in all the year
But holds some hidden pleasure,
And looking back, joys oft appear
To brim the past’s wide measure.
But blessings are like friends, I hold,
Who love and labor near us.
We ought to raise our notes of praise
While living hearts can hear us.
Full many a blessing wears the guise
Of worry or of trouble.
Farseeing is the soul and wise
Who knows the mask is double.
But he who has the faith and strength
To thank his God for sorrow
Has found a joy without alloy
To gladden every morrow.
We ought to make the moments notes
Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;
The hours and days a silent phrase
Of music we are living.
And so the theme should swell and grow
As weeks and months pass o’er us,
And rise sublime at this good time,
A grand Thanksgiving chorus.
~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Have a great Sunday and a very Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
~ Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets | Tags: Get Outside, Gods Classroom, Just Do It, Late Night, Leonids, Leonids Meteor Shower, Meteor Shower, Meteors, Night Sky, Peak Viewing, Shooting Stars, Simple Things, Sky Watching, Sunday, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Night, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Temple/Tuttle, Things to do in Jackson, Things to do near me, Things to do tonight, Tonight
Did you see any shooting stars last night? Or early this morning? Guess what? We are in the peak of the Leonids Meteor Shower! 💥 Last night & luckily for you – Tonight, is the BEST time to see some! I read a bit about it to find out a few facts…
If your up, tonight is going to be the best night to see a “Shooting Star”! Between midnight and dawn is the best time… Good news, if you tough it out and see one, YOU get to make a wish 💫
The yearly ‘Leonids come from a Comet that orbits the sun every 33 years! The comets name is Temple/Tuttle. It won’t be back around to us until 2031… Pretty cool huh 😎
Leonids Over Us
“The sky is streaked with them
burning hole in black space —
like fireworks, someone says
all friendly in the dark chill
of Newcomb Hollow in November,
friends known only by voices.
We lie on the cold sand and it
embraces us, this beach
where locals never go in summer
and boast of their absence. Now
we lie eyes open to the flowers
of white ice that blaze over us
and seem to imprint directly
on our brains. I feel the earth,
rolling beneath as we face out
into the endlessness we usually
ignore. Past the evanescent
meteors, infinity pulls hard.”
~ Marge Piercy
Have a Great Sunday! And a great Sunday night viewing the Leonids! 💫
Mark C.
