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AUGUST 2023
Live and Learn We’re Gearing Up for a New School Year
It’s incredible how quickly your kids grow up. My oldest son, Andrew, is in the middle of his first summer vacation after entering “big kid school.” But before long, he’ll be strapping his backpack on with the other children and heading into second grade. We started Andrew in a Montessori school for his preschool and kindergarten education. Nichole and I liked the idea of easing him into the school environment and allowing him a more relaxed, hands-on approach to the world around him. We even considered home-schooling him. But while there’s a lot you can accomplish in life without the rigors of standardized testing — after all, he’s welcome to join me at the business when he’s old enough — we have no idea what he’ll want to do as an adult. It will be much harder for him to enter a field of his choosing without a well- rounded, solid foundation in various subjects.
probably both ended up startled, but he eventually learned the rules. Now he’s doing well, especially with reading. Give him
a book, and he’ll be relaxed and quiet for the next hour or two. He really gets in the zone. I think he takes after me because I was always hardwired to do well in school and match or exceed my previous grades. Even in college, when I’d want to slack off and play drums with my friends, I’d somehow find myself studying all night to get an A on the test. I attribute part of it to my parents, who always emphasized doing well and were quick to give small rewards for good performance. Gamification works exceptionally well for many kids. As a millennial, I fondly remember the Book-It program. That personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut was a powerful motivator!
We don’t want him to miss out on opportunities someday because we didn’t focus on the right subject areas or gave him too much control over his learning
at a young age. We also value socialization with other kids. So, we moved him to the local public school for first grade.
The reading program through the Monroe County Library does something similar; classes earn points for each book they read, and the team with the most points gets a pizza party. We also do incentive programs with Andrew at home. It started with a sleep success chart, and he took so well to it that he now tells me when it’s his bedtime! He’s determined to earn his daily sticker. He loves the small prizes, and Nichole and I love to see him thrive. I have no idea what new adventures second grade will bring, but I look forward to discovering them together as a family. I hope you, your children, and your grandchildren have a safe and enjoyable start to the school year with just the right number of challenges and surprises.
Did you know we offer 15% off tree trimming services in the winter? Plus, all existing clients receive an additional 5% off! These spots fill up quickly, so book early. Call (812) 345-5694 to schedule your service before this deal is gone!
There was a transition period, and it probably frustrated him at first. You’re not tied to a desk all day in a Montessori classroom, so one day at his new school, Andrew unwittingly got up in the middle of class and walked out! He and his teacher
—Anthony Hilb
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The Proper Way to Mulch Around Trees Avoid the ‘Volcano Method’ Fresh mulch around the base of a tree is the finishing touch that makes many yards look beautiful. But the way many people go about the process isn’t always wise. Appropriately done, mulching around trees can encourage their health and longevity, but an incorrect technique can ultimately do more harm than good.
Although our kids return to school soon, there’s still plenty of time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather with them. While trips to the zoo, park, or
an outdoor sporting event can be fun for everyone involved, not everyone has the means to go regularly.
Thankfully, there are many activities you and your kids
can enjoy from the comfort of your own backyard without having
to spend any additional money.
Here are a few activities to try the next time your kids want to play outside. Run a race. Kids love to run around, and you should use that to your advantage. Devise different race ideas to keep them running until they’re tired and need to rest. You can have them race normally, backward, or crab-walking. You can gather hula hoops and other objects from around the house to set up an obstacle course and see who can finish it the fastest. Break out the water. There are all kinds of different games you can enjoy that involve water. Water guns and water balloons can keep kids entertained for hours if you have them. If not, you can still create an outdoor water park for your children with your hose and a sprinkler. Put them in their bathing suits and allow them to run through the sprinkler or have a good old-fashioned water fight using the hose and buckets of water. All you need is a ball. It’s crazy how much you can do in your backyard with nothing more than a single ball. You can play catch or up the competitiveness with a game of monkey in the middle. If you have chalk and enough players, you can play a game of foursquare. You can even play baseball if you have a bat or a decent-sized stick. One ball gives you countless opportunities for fun. Give some of these activities a try the next time your kids say they’re bored and want to do something exciting outside. They may discover a new favorite way to pass the time.
Mulching around trees has numerous benefits. Organic mulch acts as a slow-release fertilizer. Over time, it breaks down, enriches the soil, and provides necessary nutrients to the tree. Mulch also protects the dirt from the sun’s harsh rays and helps retain moisture. Meanwhile, weeds are less likely to grow where mulch covers the ground. Further, mulch is an excellent insulator against harmful temperatures. Mulch can prevent the soil around your trees from becoming too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Considering the low price point and simple maintenance, the benefits of mulching far outweigh the downsides. But properly mulching is essential. The mulch surrounding your trees should be, at most, 3 inches in height. It’s also crucial that the mulch does not touch the tree trunk. Mulchers should leave an empty ring around the tree’s base so it has room to breathe and doesn’t grow mold or mildew. Unfortunately, many homeowners do the opposite by piling a giant mound of mulch around their trees. It’s called the “volcano method.” Despite its popularity and pleasing appearance, the volcano method only hurts your yard by causing rot around the tree’s base. Piling new mulch on top of old each year also poses a problem. The old mulch compresses, and the tree treats it as part of the soil. The roots begin growing in the above-ground mulch, which is both unhealthy and unattractive. If performing your own mulching is too confusing or time-consuming, the landscape experts at Anthony’s Lawn Care and Landscaping are here to help. We can also help homeowners address the problems that previous years of over-mulching caused. We aim to give you an effortlessly gorgeous landscape, so call us for a free quote today!
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ROOT OUT Landscaping Problems STUMP GRINDING RESTORES YOUR LAWN’S APPEARANCE
Tree removal always leaves something behind. Cutting a tree trunk flush with the ground is impossible, so a stump will continue to poke above the surface. Stump grinding can correct the problem and leave a level lawn ready for new landscape design.
the bottom. They can also be an attractive nuisance for pests or a tripping hazard.
A homeowner can rent a stump grinder to perform the work themselves, but we must strongly recommend against it. First, mostly smaller stump grinders are available for rental, and it would be very challenging to tackle a larger stump with one. But more importantly, the risk of injury for an amateur using a stump grinder is relatively high. Stump grinders are heavy, powerful equipment; they use sharp implements and create flying debris. Only someone with the proper training should operate one. Anthony’s Tree Removal regularly undertakes stump grinding as part of a larger project or as a stand-alone service. We’ll gladly provide you with a quote and explain everything you need to know. If you have an unsightly tree or stump ruining your landscape, call us today!
Fortunately, stump grinding is a relatively inexpensive and straightforward part of tree removal. Stump grinding does not technically remove the stump, as roots will continue to decompose below ground. But a properly ground stump will sit 6–8 inches below the ground and leave a hole ready to be filled with wood chips or new soil. There are several types of stump grinders, but all perform the same function: The rotating blade of the grinder breaks up the trunk into thousands of small wood chips. Stump grinding is sometimes impossible, like when the stump is located too close to hardscapes or is in a difficult-to-reach area. It’s also best to eradicate the root system if you plan to pave over the site where the tree once stood. In these cases, a pro can help devise an alternate solution.
Many people consider the reasons to remove a stump obvious — they don’t like the appearance. But others worry it could
be a waste of time and money. While leaving a stump will usually produce a continuous eyesore, there are more than aesthetic reasons to consider. Leftover stumps can cause maintenance problems as suckering (new branches) grow along
CHECK IT OUT! We also offer junk hauling!
Sweet Potato Jalapeño Poppers Inspired by ForksOverKnives.com
INGREDIENTS
•
1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into large pieces 1/4 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
• • •
1/2 tsp ground turmeric Salt and pepper, to taste
• • •
7 fresh jalapeños, halved lengthwise and seeded
1/4 cup nutritional yeast 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large saucepan, place sweet potato chunks in a steamer basket. Add water just below steamer basket and boil. Steam for around 10 minutes. Remove sweet potatoes, and let cool in a bowl before mashing. 3. In a small saucepan, whisk together milk, yeast, vinegar, and turmeric. Boil, then cook for 1 minute or until thickened. 4. In a blender, combine milk mixture and mashed sweet potatoes until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Spoon sweet potato mixture into jalapeño halves. Place on baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
Call For More Information
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What’s Inside?
1 Anthony’s Son Prepares for 2nd Grade 2 Excitement and Fun Await in Your Backyard Should You Mulch Around Trees? 3 Why Stump Grinding Requires a Pro Sweet Potato Jalapeño Poppers 4 Bad Odor, Be Gone! Smell Ya Later! 5 Hacks to Get Rid of Pesky Odors
Work magic in your dishwasher with vinegar. Dishwashers do a lot of dirty work, and it’s possible for food particles, bacteria, and even mold to build up, leaving behind a funky smell. To remove the musty scent, cycle your dishwasher with 2 cups of white vinegar, a natural antibacterial solution, instead of detergent. Start up a simmer pot. To get fresh, enticing scents flowing through your house, boil a pot of water on the stove and add some of your favorite seasonal herbs, spices, and fruits. As the concoction simmers, your home will smell amazing. For a seasonal summer mix, try thyme and citrus! Soak it up. Did you know baking soda is famous for absorbing odors? All you have to do is pop open a container of baking soda or pour some into a mason jar and leave it in your car, room, refrigerator, shoes, or gym bag. You can even sprinkle some on your carpet and vacuum! The funky smells should disappear!
Do you ever catch a suspicious whiff when walking into your home or bathroom? Does your car have a funky, stale smell? Does the dog bed smell like a wet dog? Instead of relying on plug-in air fresheners and Lysol to cover up or alter foul odors, here are some great ways to freshen your home or car and banish nasty smells without lighting a candle! Let the fresh air in!
While it may seem very obvious, we often forget this simple tactic! Opening up the windows lets the stale air out and allows fresh air to circulate throughout your home. When trying to eliminate odors, this should always be your first step! Refresh your refrigerator with vanilla cotton balls. If your refrigerator stinks from a combination of different food smells or if something has spoiled, find the source of the stench and clean it up first. Then, dip a cotton ball in vanilla extract and place it on a small dish in the back of the fridge to give the space a fresh vanilla scent.
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