Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
NOV 2024
Thanksgiving is about more than tasty food, great football, and fun traditions — it’s a much-needed break to spend time with your loved ones, reset, and really focus on gratitude. I’ve always enjoyed everything about this holiday, from the turkey at home to Pies for the Guys, our annual pie giveaway for our employees. Sharing meaningful meals and creating lasting memories is essential to life, yet in the hustle of our daily routines, we often forget to pause and fully embrace these moments. During this special holiday, we all get a free pass to reflect on the little things we appreciate and celebrate what we are grateful for. Thanksgiving celebrations are cozy at our house. My wife leads the cooking, and I help out where I can. We spend most of our time together as a family, watching snippets of the football game and experiencing quality time. I always like to do something special in the front yard, so every year, I add giant, inflatable turkeys to the lawn. Our son, Andrew, and the whole neighborhood get a kick out of them. What Thanksgiving Means to Us MORE THAN A MEAL
We are giving away 10 free meals at Farm restaurant this November. Email us at anthonyshomeservices@gmail.com for your chance to be entered into our drawing.
pie for their holiday meal. So, we’ll be sharing some gift cards for their Thanksgiving shopping list this year, along with their tasty treats.
We like to give back to our staff and also want to support the many families in this country who can’t afford a beautiful Thanksgiving meal for their table this year. Anthony’s Lawn Care makes an annual donation to Feeding America because we believe everyone deserves to enjoy this special meal; no family should go hungry. If your family or business would like to join us with a contribution, visit FeedingAmerica.org .
In my family, we strive to be thankful every day, not just on this special holiday once a year. But we view Thanksgiving as an important and cherished time to emphasize how much we appreciate what we have and the people in our lives. At dinner, we will all take a turn talking about what we are thankful for. My Thanksgiving gratitude list this year is a long one, as always. Of course, I’m so thankful to get time off to spend with my loved ones. My family and friends add so much richness and joy to my life; it’s impossible to
I’m also thankful for the community businesses that make Bloomington a fantastic place to live, work, and play. One of my favorite restaurants in town is Farm, an excellent local restaurant that spotlights fresh ingredients. In keeping with the theme of giving back, we want to do something special for you this year. We are donating 10 free meals at Farm to our clients. All you have to do is email us at anthonyshomeservices@gmail.com to be entered into our drawing.
imagine any holiday or memory without them. I’m also grateful to our clients for trusting in us and giving us the opportunity to grow Anthony’s Lawn Care throughout the Bloomington community. Our team contributes so much to Anthony’s Lawn Care’s success, so I’m forever grateful to my staff for their support and dedication to not just me but also the longevity of this business and our client’s happiness. Every year, we do something special for the crew to show our appreciation. Last year, we started Pies for the Guys, where everyone goes home with a free
Thanksgiving is an incredible reminder of how important it is to be thankful and give back throughout the entire year. As you gather with your loved ones to share meals, support, love, gratitude, and football games, enjoy the chance to push pause and express gratitude. From my family and all of us here at Anthony’s Lawn Care, we wish you a happy Thanksgiving full of great memories.
—Anthony Hilb
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We have a great Thanksgiving at FARMbloomington Restaurant. But if you want to do it yourself, here are a few tips to cook the perfect turkey at home. FROM CHEF DANIEL ORR, FARMBLOOMINGTON RESTAURANT Thanksgiving Turkey Tips
They say the grass is greener on the other side, but is it real or artificial? There are many things to consider when deciding between natural grass and synthetic turf. While real grass has a lush look and fresh feel, it requires care and attention to keep it looking its best. Artificial turf gives you set-it-and-forget-it ease, but you might miss that authentic touch if you love the smell of freshly mowed blades. COST Artificial turf has a higher upfront cost for installation than sod for natural grasses but will save you money in the long run. Synthetic lawns don’t require water, fertilizers, sprinkler systems, or lawnmowers, so you will spend less on them over the years. If you opt for natural grass, it will be significantly less expensive to start, but you’ll have fees related to its care as long as you have your yard. CARE When you envision your dream lawn, you’re probably imagining natural grass, which has an eye-catching, full look. But natural grass is alive, and it needs food, water, regular mowing, and pest treatment. You will likely need to mow your lawn every week to keep it neat, and if you want it to remain healthy, you might need to install a sprinkler system. Synthetic grass, on the other hand, is popular because it is low maintenance in comparison. Though you won’t need to water it, you will have to occasionally hose it down or vacuum it to keep it from getting dirty. ENVIRONMENT Natural grass can purify the air around you by trapping dust and dirt, capturing carbon dioxide, and producing oxygen. While it can be beneficial for the environment, it also requires quite a bit of water to maintain. Fake grass will help you preserve precious water, but its material can get hot in the summer heat, so you may still have to hose it down at some point. Both options have pros and cons, so when you choose between natural and artificial turf, consider your priorities. Do you want the natural beauty and feel of real grass or the convenience and consistency of turf? THE TURF VS. GRASS SHOWDOWN Lush Lawn or Low Maintenance?
CHOOSE THE RIGHT TURKEY Buy a bird that will provide 1 1/2
pounds per person. This gives you plenty of turkey, with enough for leftover sandwiches.
FRESH OR FROZEN? Depending on size, turkeys can take 2–3 days or more to thaw in the refrigerator. I like to remove the bird from the plastic wrap to thaw it quicker. Cover the bird lightly with plastic wrap and plan on 24 hours for every 5 pounds.
WET OR DRY BRINE? Dry brining involves mixing kosher salt and your favorite seasonings, such as sage, garlic, pepper, and chilies. A wet marinade is done by mixing enough water to cover the bird in a large vessel and adding enough salt so it tastes like seawater. Add your other seasonings, like sugar, herbs, bourbon or white wine, garlic, and bay leaves. Both require at least 24–48 hours.
MASSAGE WITH OIL OR BUTTER AND A DRY RUB BEFORE COOKING
If you have wet- brined your bird, remove it from the liquid and dry it well with a
towel. Then, make a mixture of oil or butter and spices and generously apply it to the entire bird.
EVENLY COOKED TURKEY Start your turkey breast-side down for the first three-quarters of the cooking time to allow the dark meat (thighs and legs) to cook faster. Flip the turkey over for the final one-fourth of the cooking time to make the breast golden brown and crisp the skin. Include
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DECK THE HALLS — AND YOUR YARD
PREPPING YOUR PROPERTY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
As you plan the festive meals and family celebrations of this holiday season, remember to spruce up your yard before your holiday guests arrive. A tidy, well-maintained property is an excellent
under your roof or flooding parts of your home. You should clean your gutters at least once a year to remove dead leaves, dirt, and other refuse. Wear waterproof gloves as you may be handling damp and dirty material. CLEAR LEAVES AND DEBRIS. Cleaning up any leaves or debris gathered in your yard is also important. Walk around your property to pick up dead branches, twigs, and other debris. You can use a rake to collect harder-to-reach items. By tidying up, you can protect your lawn from getting smothered and ensure dead leaves don’t trap in bacteria. Remove dead annuals and vegetables that won’t survive the winter. CONTROL WEEDS. In the fall, weeds will try to soak up all the nutrients they can in preparation for the winter. It’s the perfect time to stop them in their tracks. Start by hand-pulling weaker weeds, and then you can decide if you need to use weed control products. During this time of year, weeds may be easier to spot as your lawn loses a little of its vibrancy. Let Anthony’s Lawn Care do the heavy lifting for you this holiday season so you can focus on entertaining your loved ones. Our complete property maintenance services cover everything from cleaning gutters to properly trimming shrubs. Contact us today to get your lawn ready for this festive time of year!
setting for your favorite seasonal gatherings and can ensure everyone stays safe as they celebrate.
From cleaning out your gutters to removing leaves and debris, our complete property maintenance service can help get your yard looking
its best so you can focus on enjoying quality time with your family. Let’s dig into three tips to get your yard holiday-ready! CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS. Your gutters are an essential tool to protect your home and roof from water damage and structural issues. If debris builds up over time, it can clog them, rendering them useless. Clogged gutters can lead to water and snow seeping
CHECK IT OUT! We also offer junk hauling!
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vegetables and liquid in the pan while the breast is down so the skin doesn’t stick to the pan. At FARM, we cut the breasts and legs apart and cook them separately to ensure both parts cook perfectly. LET THE TURKEY REST Don’t pull the turkey out of the oven and start carving it immediately! All your juices will run out, leaving it dry. Wait at least 30 minutes before carving, and for larger birds, extend this resting period to 45 minutes or more. While it is resting, cover it with an aluminum foil “tent.” LEFTOVERS At FARM, we serve creative leftovers the following day to guests going to the Downtown Tree Lighting at the Courthouse Square! We make turkey stock from the bones for a turkey and wild rice soup. We make the classic Louisville open-faced sandwich, “The Hot Brown,” and use potatoes and gravy for Turkey Manhattans. Refrying the wings turns them into giant “Texas Chicken Wings!” You could also make Turkey and Dumplings or Turkey Tetrazzini with pasta and gravy. —Chef D
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
812-345-5694 AnthonysLawnCare.com AnthonysTreeRemoval.com
PO Box 5427 · Bloomington, IN 47407 What’s Inside? 1 Gratitude, Giving Back, and Giant Turkeys 2 Pro Tips for a Perfect Bird
How to Choose the Perfect Lawn for Your Home 3 Seasonal Yard Prep Made Easy 4 A Big Wintertime Playground
The Unique Allure of Big Bend National Park
Most national parks are full of visitors from spring through fall. Big Bend National Park turns that schedule upside down.
the Rio Grande River and visit the shops and restaurants of a rural Mexican village, Boquillas del Carmen. Families also enjoy stargazing at the Sotol Vista
The ideal time to visit this southwest Texas wonderland of wild river canyons and stunning mountain vistas is from October through May — the offseason for most national parks. But summertime temperatures in Big Bend soar to 105 degrees F or more, too hot for safe vacationing, while wintertime is mild and usually sunny. Many tourists and vacationers have recently discovered the park, driving visitation 16% higher since 2018 to more than 511,000 people annually. Big Bend offers a diversity of sights and terrain. Elevations soar from about 1,800 feet along the Rio Grande River to almost 8,000 feet in the Chisos Mountains. Boating and rafting trips along the Rio Grande, which Congress designated as a free-flowing Wild & Scenic River, take visitors through the spectacular Santa Elena Canyon limestone cliffs. Options range from a leisurely float lasting less than a day to a seven- day wilderness adventure down the Lower Canyons. Big Bend is also a birder’s paradise, with 450 species sighted there on various occasions.
Overlook, scrambling over the boulders on the Upper Burro Mesa, and trekking the Grapevine Hills trails to see Balanced Rock, a giant boulder seemingly teetering in midair between two smaller boulders. Kids can also see dinosaur remains at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit or explore the ruins of a mercury-mining ghost town, Terlingua. Five visitor centers are usually open through the winter. Construction of a new visitor lodge and water system will begin in late 2024, likely causing some disruptions. However, Big Bend has four developed campgrounds and many backcountry camping opportunities. Most campsites are filled six months in advance, so reserve a spot early for your winter camping adventure.
The park also offers an abundance of family-friendly activities. A legal Port of Entry enables visitors who bring their passports to cross
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