Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 2023, 2023 Events List, Beach, Beach Life, Beach Therapy, Beautiful Sunset, Carters Nursery, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Family Business, Garden Planning, Garden Tour, Happy 2023, Maintenance Workshop, Photography, photos, Planning, plants, Pond Tour, 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, Sunrises, Sunsets
A new year and I have been busy planning for it! Business plan, events, pond tours, workshops, jobs, early buys, plant orders and more… I haven’t missed a sunrise or sunset in 2023 yet! No it’s not a resolution… But I do really enjoy watching both 🌞🌅 Here’s a little collage of some of 2023’s best from the Beach!
Now is when the real work begins…
“Sunrise looks spectacular in nature; sunrise looks spectacular in the photos; sunrise looks spectacular in our dreams; sunrise looks spectacular in the paintings, because it really is spectacular!”
~ Mehmet Murat Ildan
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Hummingbirds, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Waterfalls | Tags: Art, Doors, Guitar, Love, music, Rain, Rainy Day Song, Rainy Days, Rainy Morning, Relaxing, Riders on the Storm, Scout, Stormy Weather, 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 Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Sunrises, The Smell Of Rain
Man I love a rainy Sunday Morning ❤️ I’ve been out on the porch since about 6am just listening 👂🏻 First to the thunder, then the lightning 🌩 then the storm hit ⛈ I fell back asleep in my papasan chair 😴 I woke back up with a song in my head… Riders on the Storm by the Doors. So I go inside to get my guitar and when I come back, I had to find another seat… My audience was waiting…
We have had a busy week at work! Hosted a birthday party 🎈 Went to an Art Show 🖼 Drove to several out of town locations for design meetings, watered, mowed, mechanic’d, and still didn’t get it all done… and I wouldn’t have it any other way! A busy schedule is a good thing! A blessing 🙏🏻
But today, I’m gonna watch it rain for a while…
“I hear leaves drinking rain;
I hear rich leaves on top
Giving the poor beneath
Drop after drop;
’Tis a sweet noise to hear
These green leaves drinking near.
And when the Sun comes out,
After this Rain shall stop,
A wondrous Light will fill
Each dark, round drop;
I hope the Sun shines bright;
’Twill be a lovely sight.”
~ W.H. Davies
Have a lovely Sunday!
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, 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, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Full Harvest Moon, Full Moon, Harvest Moon, Landscape Lighting, Lighting, Moonlight Pond, Moonlight Pond Party, Moonlight Pond Tour, Moonlight Tour, Moonlighting effects, Nightscaping, Nighttime Pond, Nighttime World, Poem, Poems, Pond Lighting, Saturday Night, Spot lights, Summer Nights, 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, Sunrises, Sunsets, Underwater Lighting, Waterfall at Night
We finally had some much needed rain! My lawn and gardens certainly appreciated it… Looking at the weeks forecast, there is a chance of rain almost daily, but temps are gonna settle into the 80’s for what appears to be a mostly normal August! It’s a very pleasant morning 🌞 Locust in the background, partly sunny and mild. The birds are singing, my oven is preheating, & I’m drinking coffee ☕️ trying to capture a thought 💭
Last night I started getting serious with my Moonlight Pond Tour preparation… Checking lights, adjusting things, trying a few new things out… Please let me know what you think so far 😊
It was HOT last night though! 92 degrees and super humid at 11pm 😯 When we got through Jo and I were both soaked and exhausted 🥱 It’s a good feeling to me 😊
Great end to a great week! It’s been hot, but it’s about to change…
“Seen from above, the canopy of oak and make and pine is pierced by the pond, which looks back at you like some green eye, knowing and ancient. The air above the pond dives into clefts of coolness, then rises up at the warmth of the margins. Down the path, filigrees of blackflies and mosquitos dance in the heat waves given off by men and women and their domestic fires. Joyous bats dart about.”
~ Grace Dane Mazur
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 29th. Anniversary, Best Friend, Best Wife Award, Breakfast, Family time, Free Breakfast!, Friends and Family, Good Times, Happy Anniversary, Love, Love and Meaning, Marriage, Partner, 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, Time, Time flies, Time in a bottle, Time Off, Wonder Woman
Sitting on the porch swing with my girl this Sunday morning 😊 It’s 29 years today… 29 years in the blink of an eye 👁 Time is a funny thing… When we sit together time stands still. When we are apart or waiting on one another to get back, it sometimes drags on… Time is an illusion…
Im fixing breakfast for Jo this morning. She wants fresh tomatoes, biscuits, milk gravy and eggs… Another reason we get along so well 😊 Great minds think alike!
After breakfast, who knows what will happen!
Y’all have a great day!
“Love grows more tremendously full, swift, poignant, as the years multiply.”
~ Zane Grey
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Declaration of Independence, Family, Family Fun, Family time, Family Traditions, Fireworks, Happy Independence Day, I ❤️ This Country, independence day, July 4th., Love Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself, 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, USA
Are you proud to be an American? 🇺🇸
When the anthem plays, do you stand and put your hand on your heart?
Do you feel that pride, do your eyes well up, does the feeling swell in your chest?
Tomorrow is the celebration of Independence Day 🇺🇸 God Bless America 🇺🇸
“The United States is the only country with a known birthday. All the rest began, they know not when, and grew into power, they know not how…. There is no “Republican,” no “Democrat,” on the Fourth of July, — all are Americans.”
~James Gillespie Blaine
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Beautiful Day, bird call, Birds, Birds and ponds, Breakfast, Coffee, Coffee Mug, Feeding Birds, Flowers, Fresh Lemonade, Get Outside, Homemade Lemonade, Lemon Trees, Lemonade, Love, Morning Coffee, nesting birds, Pottery, Potting Containers, Spring, Spring Gardening, Spring is Here!, Spring Planting, 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, Sunrises, watering, Watering Plants
All I can say is ”What a beautiful morning”! I think every bird in the world is singing the song of Spring! Ive been up and out since early… Coffee ☕️ ✔️ Breakfast ✔️ Watering ✔️ … We have moved pottery a bit and potted some things up as well. Its mid-morning break time, so I thought I would write this little blog and fix some homemade Lemonade 🍋 Nothing tastes as good as a fresh glass of sweet lemonade on a spring morning.
I just Love Spring!
“It’s lemonade in a cardboard cup between the legs of a freshly tanned, sunglass wearing, brown eyed girl. It’s a white Jeep, blaring Enrique loud.
It’s the sweat beneath the dark curls. It’s the country song that brings tears to your eyes. It’s the lessons learned, the mistakes made. It’s the future ahead, bright and beautiful. It’s the laughter, memories. It’s the good things in life.
It’s Spring.
~ Alixis Russell
I’ll see y’all in the house about dark:30…
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Waterfalls | Tags: Coffee, Coffee Mug, cool, Eggs, Family, Family Fun, Family time, Frost Warning, grits, Here’s to Spring!, Homegrown Tomatoes, If You Don’t Like The Weather, Morning Coffee, Pancakes, Saturday in the Garden, Sliced Tomato’s, Spring, Spring Gardening, Spring is Coming, Spring is Here!, Spring Planting, 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, Sunrises, Tennessee Weather, Tomato varieties, Tomatoes
I had to put my jacket on this morning when I walked outside with my 1st cup of coffee 🥶 It was a little chilly… BUT, it’s supposed to get up to 78 degrees this afternoon 🌞 Great news! A little more great news, we have ‘probably’ gotten passed our last frost! Can you say Spring Planting Time!
I’m heading back inside to make another pot of coffee and fix some breakfast… Then its on!
My advice is to get out and enjoy this beautiful day! 🌞
“The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You’re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
a cloud come over the sunlit arch,
And wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March.”
~ Robert Frost
Have a great Sunday!
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Waterfalls | Tags: Daylight Savings Time, Early Spring, Flowers, Hanging Baskets, Homegrown Tomatoes, I ❤️Tomatoes, Life is Good, Longer Days, Plant a Flower, Snowy waterfall, Spring, Spring Forward, Spring is Almost Here!, Spring is Coming, Spring is Here!, Spring Planting, 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, Sunrises, Time, Tomatoes
Were you early to church this morning? Or, were you more like me and actually set your clocks ahead like we were supposed to, only to have to drag your butt out of bed 🛏 Springing forward ain’t easy!
As I watch the snow melt this morning, Spring is in the air! And in a week, it will be official 😊 I am so ready for longer evenings, flowers, boating season and homegrown tomato’s 🍅.
“In spring when maple buds are red,
We turn the clock an hour ahead;
Which means, each April that arrives,
We lose an hour out of our lives.
Who cares? When autumn birds in flocks
Fly southward, back we turn the clocks,
And so regain a lovely thing
That missing hour we lost in spring.”
~ Phyllis McGinley
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Daffodils, Flowers, Late Winter, Magnolia X soulangeana, SaucerMagnolia, Spring, Spring Gardening, Spring is Coming, Spring Pond Maintenance, 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, Trees
Crazy weather… It was supposed to have rained all day, but it didn’t rain a drop 💧So in essence we got a free day! 😊 So nice and so warm, it turned out to be a wonderful Spring day! Walking around the Landscape, so much is blooming 🌼 Daffodils, Magnolias, Forsythia and the Maples, birch and willow are coming out like gangbusters – don’t forget the Privet 🤧 can you say Pollen…
Did I mention crazy weather? Rain tonight. Freezing temps tomorrow night, followed by more rain and a chance of snow by weeks end… “If you don’t like the weather”…
Have a wonderful evening! 1 week from today we will have a much longer evening 😊
“Come with me into the woods. Where spring is advancing, as it does, no matter what, not being singular or particular, but one of the forever gifts, and certainly visible.”
~ Mary Oliver
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Leaves Falling on Water, Beautiful Day, Beautiful Sunset, Colorful Foliage, Fall Beauty, Fall Color, Fall Gardening, Family time, Family Traditions, I Love My Family, Indian Summer, Kentucky Lake, Lake, Love, Private Areas, 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, Sunrises, Sunsets, Tennessee River
This has been a beautiful Fall day… It started with a cold heavy fog 🌫 needing a long sleeved shirt and coat & ended with a light sunburn in short sleeves 👕 A wonderful Autumn Day 🍁
So Beautiful ❤️
It looks like a beautiful week ahead. I hope you can get out and enjoy this little “Indian Summer” we are about to experience this week. Sunny 😎 with highs in the mid and upper 70’s.
“There’s a crispness in the air that greets the morning sun, a feeling of anticipation, a new day has begun.
Harvest days are ending, winter is drawing near, yet in between is surely the most special time of year.
They call it Indian Summer, and it seems to fit the bill, for it’s as if the Lord took a feathered brush and painted all the hills.
Now as I sit contented, atop of one of these, a book in hand to pass the time, the sound of a gentle breeze,
I can almost imagine an Indian child upon this mountaintop, looking down at the land of her forefathers, lost within her thoughts
For in every persons lifetime some heartache may occur, but on these hills in quiet solitude, God helps us to endure.
So I say that the eyes are a window, beauty is found within the soul, and upon the hills of Autumn, that are strewn with red and gold.”
~ Julie L. O’Connor
Have a good night 🌙
Mark C.
Carter's Water Garden 