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OCTOBER 2023
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WHY DINNER TIME IS SACRED IN OUR HOME
Every day after work, my family does the same thing. As many of you know from previous newsletters, I’m a man who thrives in a routine and the structure it provides. I think children are the same way. That’s why I come downstairs from my office every day to find my wife cooking dinner. I’ll be honest, cooking isn’t exactly my thing, but for my wife, her time in the kitchen is how she unwinds. Often, she’ll put some jazz on and hum along as she goes to work. At this point in the routine, my job is to keep the kids occupied. So Gavin, Ella, Juliet, and I keep busy until dinner is ready. Once it is, we all sit down together. We say a prayer, slow our roll, and use the next hour or so to rehash our days, plan for the future, and connect. This is our routine. Eating together is something my family has almost always done, even when I was a kid. My parents, siblings, and I would gather around the table and just talk. As a kid, it not only gave me a predictable schedule (which I loved) but also a space to connect with my siblings and parents. If something was bothering one of us, we’d talk about it. If we were excited about something, we’d talk about that, too. I’ve carried this routine into my life now, with my own wife and children, and I think there’s something to be said about the power of breaking bread and sharing a meal. Somehow, it can instill a sense of calm and safety, which is important for everyone — especially children. It provides a space for my kids to talk about their feelings, share the good or bad things that happened to them during the day, or simply thank God for the gifts we’ve received recently. It brings us all closer together.
The same is true for adults, though, and my wife and I try to plan dinners with our friends from church whenever we can. Without the distractions of phones, work, or anything else, we can take much-needed time to bond with people we care about. Or, perhaps a better way to say it is to take the time to be a part of someone else’s life. When it comes to my family’s nightly routine, we also try to make a conscious effort to be present with each other. Some nights the kids don’t have much to report and instead drill me on my day. I tell them about the meetings I had, the projects I worked on, and everything in between before turning the conversation back to them. Gavin and Juliet are happy to talk about, well, anything really, but Ella is like me and more reluctant to talk about herself. But regardless of what she chooses to share, the important thing is she knows our dinner routine is a safe space to lean on when she needs it — just like we all do. So, if your family doesn’t eat together already, I encourage you to try it whenever possible. Keep the TV off, your electronics away, and just talk with each other, even if you have to come to the table with some conversation- starting questions prepared beforehand. While you probably won’t remember every dinner you share with the ones you love, the feeling of security, connection, and calm it brings is impossible to forget.
Robert Burns
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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL
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WHEN EVENING TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 70
Having a beautiful firepit in your yard is a trademark in many luxury homes, especially during the cooler months in Florida. An ideal firepit is compatible with your lifestyle, whomever you share it with, and whatever you want your landscape to look like. Creating a dazzling fire on a fall or winter night can complete any mood, whether you’re eager to make s’mores-filled memories with your kids or about to pop open a bottle of wine with your partner. (You can even do both simultaneously, although you’ll have to tell us your recommended wine pairing!)
If you’re interested in a firepit for your home, here are just a couple of aesthetic styles we can install for you.
Classic Brick Firepit When it comes to designing a custom, classic brick firepit for you, the options are endless. We can build it in a circle, square, or any shape you like! You can’t really go wrong with this impressive build. Not only are brick firepits inviting to light and sit beside, but they can also be designed as a statement feature in nearly any yard. Bricks are available in many colors to complement your landscape.
It’s Your Cue to Gather ‘Round the Firepit and Unwind!
ELLA STARTS HORSEBACK RIDING CHICKS DIG IT
Hello newsletter friends! It’s Ella, and I have some exciting news to share: I’ve started horseback riding! You may know me as an artist, which I am, but I love animals, too. I started taking lessons at a local barn, which is where the horse I ride lives. I ride the same horse every time, and her name is Fairy Tale; she’s the best!
learning how to canter, so I’m not allowed to jump yet — but someday I will!
Cantering is a way a horse can run, where three feet come off the ground at once. In order to jump over obstacles like those fence-looking things, I have to make sure Fairy Tale and I can run in a canter for a long time, which is really hard! Once I master galloping and cantering, though, I’ll start to jump!
Before I ride Fairy Tale, I first prepare the saddle and put it on her so she knows I’m about to hop on. There’s
I won’t lie — jumping is a little scary, but I know Fairy Tale will help me feel more confident. She’s the only horse I’ve ridden, except when we went to Colorado. My mom, Gavin, and I went on a horseback riding adventure, where we each rode a horse
actually a lot of work that goes into riding a horse, and you have to make sure everything is just right so you’re safe. That’s why when I first
with a tour guide up through the mountains, which was really, really cool. But even though that horse was nice, it wasn’t Fairy Tale, who sometimes
started to ride Fairy Tale, my teacher would guide us around by a long rope. But now, I can ride her all by myself!
feels like my friend more than just a horse.
Fairy Tale is a show-jumping horse, which means she knows how to jump over some really high things! Usually, a bunch of poles are placed into something that looks like a fence, and I think that’s called a vertical jump. I’m only 7 and just
I’m getting better every day, and I can’t wait to jump and maybe even start competing with Fairy Tale, too. I’m not sure if I want to do that yet, but if I do ever decide to, I won’t want to do it with anyone else but her!
2 LANDSCAPE - HARDSCAPE - IRRIGATION - OUTDOOR LIGHTING
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OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST! We would like to thank you for all your help in making our home and landscaping look top-notch and truly standout. Your planning and attention to detail are superb and made the experience very pleasurable. We were especially impressed with your post installation inspection that included some ‘tweaks’ to make the plantings looks that much better and verified that our sprinkler coverage was sufficient for the newly installed residential landscape. Your service was very much appreciated and is a breath of fresh air in today’s world where most have forgotten about the details and good-old customer service. Thank you again and we look forward to using you and your company for our next project.” – Jason & Ana S.
Stone-Lined In-Ground Firepit The most rustic type of all, stone-lined in- ground pits work beautifully in backyards where you want a more natural presence in the scenery. It’s a humble but lovely firepit for every occasion, especially if you crave a campsite escape right at home. This is perfect for homeowners who want cooking and camping experiences right in their backyards.
You might also consider a cast iron, stainless
steel, and/or pre-built firepit ready to be incorporated into your surroundings. Those are great, too! At BLG Environmental, we’re happy to work with you to ensure you have the perfect space for your firepit. Just let us know your outdoor aspirations and dreams, and we’ll make them a reality!
Robert Burns
HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS? “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” MATTHEW 5:8 “Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.” EXODUS 23:25 “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.” LEVITICUS 26:3–4
EASY OUT
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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL
BLGENVIRONMENTAL.COM
BLGENVIRONMENTAL.COM 407.702.7905
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
P.O. BOX 521090 ● LONGWOOD, FL 32752
Schedule a Free Design Consultation with Robert Burns
WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL
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My Family’s Recipe for Love: The Power of Sharing Dinner Together Transform Chilly Evenings With a Custom Firepit! Chicks Dig It: Ella Starts Horseback Riding!
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The Good News Hear From Our Clients Take a Break!
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Use Your Garden’s Fall Bounty for Home Decor!
TRANSFORM YOUR FALL HARVEST INTO STUNNING INDOOR DECORATIONS!
If you have a backyard garden, you may find yourself looking for new ways to use all the crops you’ve grown. After all, there are only so many pumpkins you can carve, seeds you can roast, or squash you can spaghetti. So, instead of looking up “squash recipes” for the hundredth time this week, consider these indoor decor tips that utilize your garden’s bountiful harvest! A Centerpiece Fall fruits and vegetables make great centerpiece arrangements because they have both seasonal colors and unique textures. Consider arranging a few squash or pumpkins in a bowl or basket and topping them with a bouquet of festive flowers. You can also mix herbs like basil, parsley, thyme, or rosemary into the bouquet for fragrance and a fuller appearance. Play with the different shapes and sizes of your gourds. Have them lean against each other or stack them for variation and depth in your display. A Natural Wreath Fresh herbs, flowers, or leaves from your fall harvest are perfect for an autumn wreath. All you need is a wreath form, which you can buy from your local craft store or online, and some floral U-pins. Use large leaves as a base (pumpkin leaves are great), then layer on smaller seasonal herbs such as sage, rosemary, or oregano. Finally, attach some
flowers to it! Squash or pumpkin blossoms work beautifully, but you can use any seasonal flower you have growing. An Autumnal Herb Swag A “door swag” is a traditional holiday decoration, and it’s an easy way to add some color to your door without creating an entire wreath. To make a swag, grab a few bundles of your favorite herbs, secure the stems with a rubber band, wrap them with twine, and tie them off, leaving a few inches of twine on both sides. Then, tie those ends together to form a loop and hang the swag on your door!
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LANDSCAPE - HARDSCAPE - IRRIGATION - OUTDOOR LIGHTING
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