Category: On The Stump
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Craftsman Wanted
Our home needs a new roof. Badly. For a couple of years. A month ago my wife, Karyn, started the process of hiring a roofer. Karyn asked me who to call. I mentioned a large roofing company and an acquaintance who started his career in roofing and now works in all aspects of carpentry. Karyn asked…
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Simplify
Today I updated the website. I’ve gone to a basic theme after a beautiful multimedia theme with all kinds of color and stylistic tweaks. That website was something to behold. It took me days to put together. Why step backwards? Party, I think, because I’m getting older. As we age we seek to simplify. Not because…
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Thoughts on a Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial
Today I completed a survey about a Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial . As a landscape designer I want to share my thoughts to aid in discussion. I vision an outdoor memorial at a park in town that is not the sole purpose of the park. The memorial should be a place you visit when you…
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 2013
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my friends, clients and YouTube viewers. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. By John Holden
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Tips for a Low Stress and Peaceful Life
I wrote the list a while ago. I hope you’ll take a moment to read it and add your own tips in the comments below. Live in the moment. We are on a continuum. It’s not yes or no, up or down, good or bad. Every day varies. Nobody is perfect and that’s ok. Exercise. …
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Lessons Our Pets Teach Us
The kitty on the left is Spice. Spice is the mother of Sugar on right. All Spice wanted was a warm lap. The day we went to the shelter to choose our kitties Spice was shy. When I rubbed her chin she leaned into it and I knew she was the kitty for me. Sugar…
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What Arsenio Hall Taught Me
In the early 90’s The Arsenio Hall Show was on TV. It was a carbon copy of every late show since Johnny Carson except Arsenio sat on an arm chair, not behind a desk, while interviewing his guests. Part of Arsenio’s audience, called the “Dog Pound” was given a funny title every night such as “People who are experiencing déjà…
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What’s Your Dream?
This week I was pondering what makes me happy. How do I find joy? Many of the things that make me happy as an adult were the same things that made me happy when I was a kid. Some of the things on my “Happy List” are: A good conversation Splitting wood My children smiling…
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You Can Talk About it or You Can Keep It To Yourself
I went to a meeting last night for parents of Sandy Hook School children. The leader of the discussion had a great insight on poor behavior. When he was a child he would start arguments when something bothered him. When he did, his mom very calmly said, “You can talk about it or you can keep it to yourself. …