Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Hummingbirds, Lake and Pond, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 28th. Anniversary, Beautiful Sunset, Best Friend, Best Mom, Best Wife Award, Blessed, Blessings, Buck Moon, Count Your Blessings, Dancing In The Moonlight, Full Moon, God Bless, God Bless America, I ❤️ Summer, Love, Love and Meaning, Marriage, Moondance, mosquitoes, Summer Nights, Summer Time, Summertime, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, 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
I’ve been up since early… Drinking coffee and thinking 🤔 Reflecting. Yesterday was a fun, long, laidback day. My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary in grand fashion… At the river 😊 Floating, fishing, photography – Fun. The only thing I can complain about is we ran out of hours in the day, and the mosquitoes were out in force last night🦟
We want to thank everyone who called, messaged and texted to wish us a Happy Anniversary! ❤️ It was a fun, laid back, perfect day.
“Mosquito is out,
it’s the end of the day;
she’s humming and hunting
her evening away.
Who knows why such hunger
arrives on such wings
at sundown? I guess
it’s the nature of things.”
~ N. M. Boedecker
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: Birdsong, Declaration of Independence, Fire and Water, Fireworks, God, God Bless, God Bless America, Gods Country, Happy Independence Day, independence day, July 4th., July 4th. 1776, July 4th. Weekend, Marina, Ragged Old Flag, Stars and Stripes Forever, Sunday, Sunday Brunch, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday on the River, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Songs, Sunday with Family, Sundays, The Presence of God
Happy Independence Day! Happy Birthday America! 🇺🇸 I am proud to be an American! And, I am Thankful for all the hard work and sacrifice that has been made by so many down through the years to keep us safe and FREE! There is not another country like ours in the world! & I still believe that the American people remain willing to give all to keep it 🇺🇸
“Freedom’s natal day is here.
Fire the guns and shout for freedom,
See the flag above unfurled!
Hail the stars and stripes forever,
Dearest flag in all the world.”
~Florence A. Jones
Stay safe out there! Happy July 4th.! 💥🇺🇸
GOD BLESS AMERICA! 🇺🇸
Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets | Tags: Beautiful Sunset, Colorful Sunset, Enjoy a Sunset, I ❤️ Sunsets, Opacarophile, Perfect Sunset, River, River Life, Rivers, Sunday on the River, Sunday Sunrises, Sunset, Sunsets, Tennessee River
“A lover of sunsets is called an ‘opacarophile’. To understand its roots, the word opacarophile can be broken down into two parts: ‘opacare’ which is Latin for dusk or sunset, and ‘phile’ which is Greek for love.“
It stormed HARD this evening! We figured the day was over and forget about a sunset… BUT, all of a sudden, the rain stopped, the clouds parted and some of the last rays of sunshine for the day came bursting through the windows. So we grabbed our cameras and ran down to the boat before the light was gone. Needless to say,’the water was like glass and the sky was surreal. This was the last picture I took for the day.
Yes, I’m an Opacarophile! And I attend regular meetings 😊
Have a great night!!
Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Boat, Frogs, Jet Ski, lily pad, Mother Nature, Nature, Nature Photo's, River, River Life, Rivers, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, 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, Tennessee River, Water Lilies
Here we are in Full summer season just a week from the 4th of July, I’m sitting on a jet ski watching a frog 🐸 on a lily pad in the river. I think this is right where I’m supposed to be 😊 I feel breakfast 🍳 calling…
Patience
“breezeless summer day –
motionless on lily pad
frog waits for victim
~ Pandita Sanchez
It’s a beautiful day! Enjoy 😊
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, Videos, Waterfalls | Tags: Beautiful Sunset, Colorful Sunset, Moment of Zen, Monday, Monday Morning, Monday Morning Moment of Zen, Monday’s, Morning Zen, Place of Zen, River Life, Rivers, Sunday on the River, Sunset, Sunsets, Tennessee River, Time flies, Time Lapse Video, Zen, Zen Creek, Zen Feeling, Zen state of mind, Zen Stream, Zen Video, Zen Waterfall
Shuck them sheets and hit the streets, it’s Monday morning! Why does the weekend go by so fast? Maybe because we look forward to it? What if we looked forward to Monday 😊
Here’s a quick video (literally)… A time lapse of yesterday’s sunset. I filmed it for several minutes, but it only takes seconds to watch the sun disappear… There’s a little bit of Zen in that setting sun ⛅️
Enjoy your day!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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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, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: #neverforget, American Hero’s, God, God Bless, God Bless America, Gods Country, Hero, Hero’s, Memorial Day, Memorial Weekend, Memories, Memory s, Never Forget, Remember, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday on the River, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, USA
Last night was Cold 🥶 42 degrees with a brisk northerly wind 🌬 It sure didn’t feel like the official entry to Summer… But, this morning, the brilliant Sunrise helped mediate that feeling. Tomorrow is Memorial Day, a day to honor and remember all the men and women who gave all for this country. Maybe this unusual cold is a reminder of that? We were all huddled by the fire 🔥 last night. How many soldiers huddled by fires, dreaming of home, family and cool Summer nights that never returned… I can stand a cool night by a fire just fine when I think about that… God Bless America 🇺🇸
“Somewhere out there today,
In a land far, far away,
A soldier rides patrol,
Knowing not what may unfold.
He keeps watch as he rides
Over dangerous countryside.
Roadside bomb could be hit.
Scary, but this soldier doesn’t quit.
Think about Mom and Dad,
About the good times had,
State-side, how long here?
Back to watching, a little fear.
This was a good day
To think and to pray.
Strange that prayer is so right
When there could be a fire fight.
Wheel back into base.
Tomorrow, another ride to face.
Convoys done for the day.
Looks like rain’s on its way.
Nerve wracking job but boring too,
But that’s what soldiers do.
So many over here, none alike,
Who have gladly joined this fight.
Freedom has a high cost.
Lives given, the ultimate loss.
That cost they willingly give
So freedom can continue to live.
So, we remember today
All those who went away-
And gave their lives that we
Might live here and stay free.
God Bless America!”
~ Dr. Bill McDonald
Happy Memorial Day 🇺🇸
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Videos, Waterfalls | Tags: bird call, Birds, Call of the wild, Fish Hawk, Moment of Zen, Monday Morning Moment of Zen, Morning Zen, Mother Nature, Nature, nesting birds, Osprey, Osprey Call, River, River Life, Rivers, Sunday on the River, Tennessee River, Zen, Zen Creek, Zen Feeling, Zen state of mind, Zen Video, Zen Waterfall
I love nature! Rivers, streams, lakes, flora & Fauna… That’s why today I thought I would share the call of this nesting mother Osprey (fish hawk). She’s on her nest, feeding her brood. We just happened to be taking some pictures from the boat and saw her on the nest. There is nothing more “Zen Like” to me than a true moment of nature.
It’s Monday! We are leading up to Memorial Day and I Love Ospreys 🦅 I hope you enjoyed this little moment of Zen. Have a great week 😊
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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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.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Family time, Family Traditions, Get Outside, Get Ready, Getting It Done, Spring Gardening, Spring is Here!, Spring News, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, 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, Time, Time flies, Time in a bottle, Time to Plant
Spring is my favorite season for many reasons. It’s also my busiest season for many of the same reasons. Coming out of Winter, everyone emerges from their hibernation and blossoms 🌺 The phone starts ringing, and I’m out designing Waterfalls and Landscapes 6 and maybe even 7 days a week… And, I love ❤️ it!
But, right about mid May every year, I look up and realize that Spring is running away… Keeping the work/life balance is tough sometimes 😊 Even on a Sunday Morning.
IF you haven’t, get out there now and grab some Spring before we transition to Summer… It’s right around the corner 🌞
“By the time one is eighty, it is said, there is no longer a tug of war in the garden with the May flowers hauling like mad against the claims of the other months. All is at last in balance and all is serene. The gardener is usually dead, of course.”
~ Henry Mitchell
Mark C.
