Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi Ponds, Love, music, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: A New Year, Christmas is Over, Christmas Season, Christmas Spirit, Christmas with Family, Closed for the Holiday, Family time, Holiday Season, Home For The Holidays, I Love My Family, I Love My Mother, Love, Love and Meaning, Love Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself, New Years is Coming!, New Years Resolutions, New Years Traditions, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Songs, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Weekend Off
The morning after Christmas has now come and gone… Why does it always feel like Christmas is so far away, then you blink and its gone for another year? Hard to grasp… But we had a good family get together and dinner, saw some beautiful lights and decorations, and tried to remember and stay true to the real meaning of Christmas.
Now we have to take all the decorations down, clean everything up and get ready for a new year… Ready or not, here comes 2022!
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.
~ Howard Thurman
Have a great last evening of Christmas weekend! 🎄🎅🏻❤️🙏🏻
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: 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, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Love, music, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Family, Family time, Family Traditions, Food, Good food, Ham, Happy Thanksgiving, Menu, Pecan Pie, Pecan Trees, 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, Sweet Potato, Sweet Potato Bar, Thanks, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Decorations, Thanksgiving is Coming
It’s Thanksgiving week! 🦃 And Thanksgiving Dinner is at my house! I’ve been thinking about all the work I have to do this week to prepare… Making a list… But, at least the menu is set… I got ham again
I also got the sweet potatoes 🍠 But I’m putting a different spin on it this year … Instead of the regular ”Sweet Potato Casserole” you may expect… I’m Doing a Sweet Potato Bar instead! You get a whole, baked Sweet Potato & you top it yourself! Brown sugar, butter, marsh-mellows, candied pecans, fresh cinnamon, whipped cream, etc!
And I always fix several pecan pies from my MiMi’s recipe…
Everyone else is bringing something as well, can you say Feast! There will be Family and friends and LOTS of good food! I have a LOT to be Thankful for! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I am also very aware of the men and women who serve our country 🇺🇸 and will be unable to return home for the holidays. We owe them a very special Thank you and prayer ❤️🙏🏻
And there are so many around that don’t have as much to be thankful for… Many that even dread the holidays. I know I need to do my part to help others as well…
Well, with all that being said, I better get started…
Have a Thankful week 🙏🏻
“Give me the end of the year an’ its fun
When most of the plannin’ an’ toilin’ is done;
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,
Let me sit down with the ones I love best,
Hear the old voices still ringin’ with song,
See the old faces unblemished by wrong,
See the old table with all of its chairs
An’ I’ll put soul in my Thanksgivin’ prayers.”
~ Edgar A. Guest
Mark C.
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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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.
Carter's Water Garden 