Why the Monday/Friday syndrome?

We all know the feeling. Wednesday we starting thinking about how close we are to Friday and Friday our spirits soar because we’ve waited all week to have two days off from the workplace. When Sunday rolls around, our spirits start to dip…even though we are still within the weekend parameters our minds are already thinking about Monday and how we do not want to go back to work.

Stress is very real and we all experience it in the work environment and in our mind we think Friday is the answer. What if we treated every day like it was a Friday, and what if we treated Sunday like it was a Friday instead of allowing our thoughts to already be living as if Sunday were Monday.

It has been proven that our thoughts control our actions and our thoughts control our next steps. Why is it so easy for our minds to go to the negative instead of to the positive? It really is as easy as shifting your thought process. An example of this concept would be a “habit” it takes a few days to change a habit. For instance, if every day you go out for coffee, then every day your mind expects to do just that. For two weeks, if you fix your coffee at home and take it with you, you’ll see your mind shift to expecting to make coffee at home. If we take that concept and apply it to the Monday/Friday syndrome, then we will experience the same effect.

Why not give it a try, when Sunday afternoon comes round and you find yourself starting to feel down, start thinking about all the great things you still have time to do. Why not make Sunday afternoon the time you participate in your favorite hobby! Make a craft, play golf, visit family, play piano, read a book, bake some cookies (call me if you do this…LOL) in other words, associate Sunday afternoon with something you love to do, your spirits will soar. Now what are you going to do with Monday morning? Why not fix your favorite breakfast, or pack your favorite lunch or go out for your favorite lunch. Take a few minutes and read something positive and uplifting. If you have a commute, listen to some uplifting music and tell yourself this day is just like any other. Take some of those cookies you baked to work and make everyone’s Monday wonderful!

By now you’ve figured out that it’s all in our heads, so to speak. How you think is how you’ll be, act and feel…why not feel like every day is a gift, unwrap it with excitement and wonderful expectation!

Happy Monday through Sunday!

Well it’s been an early start to some turbulent weather already and it isn’t even spring yet. Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansa anymore! The wind has been whipping up all kinds of trouble. Trees toppling over on houses, patio furniture flying around, the infamous trash cans blowing across the highway and sleepless nights because it sounds like a train coming through the house. There were even reports of tornados in Ohio…some say an early start to a tumultuous spring season.

Being prepared is all part of creating a sense of ease when it comes to this season. Make sure you have plenty of batteries for flashlights, non-flame candles and a radio (if you have a radio) and keep a supply of bottled water and some edible right from the package food. Don’t forget to take your cell phone with you if you are heading to the basement for protection. You never know when you might need to make a 911 call. I would remind those who take daily medication to take some with you when you head to the basement, you might have to be there for longer than you think. Personally, I would keep a supply of food, water and batteries in my basement and in my normal living area. If tornados are on the menu for the day, you can hibernate in the basement and if for any reason you can’t leave your basement, you’ll have supplies. If it’s just going to be your garden variety of thunderstorms, then you can stay above ground and have supplies available in the case the electric goes off. If you’re fortunate enough to have a generator, then you’ll be fine until the skies clear!

Remember to have someone take a look at the trees around your house to make sure they are not a hazard to your property when the storm clouds gather. If your trees come down, recycle the wood into a warm fire and make sure your valuable jewelry is always in a fireproof safe, a fireproof safe is usually heavy enough that the wind will not carry it away!

Chin up everyone, spring is not always about stormy weather. It’s also about beautiful flowers, planting a garden, taking walks in the sunshine, smelling the freshly mowed lawn and listening to peepers in the evening. So be prepared, enjoy the warmer weather and hang on to your hat!

What’s your plan? I once thought I wanted to sell everything and hit the open road, the problem was I couldn’t get my spouse on board. I would talk about all the wonderful travels and adventures we would experience, the places we would see and how we would never have to see snow again! Living in Ohio, that’s a big deal. I would further try to entice him by saying things like, if we don’t like the weather, we can just get in the RV and head to another state. He never seemed very excited about that prospect of becoming gypsies. I was ready, just say the word and let’s go. Then…he became very interested in the idea and suggested we talk about in a much deeper way, so we did. We discussed putting the money back from the sale of our house and having it available for the “just in case” situations and we talked about working part-time because we actually wanted to retire before we could collect Social Security and we talked about our children and grandchildren, our friends, other family members, our church family and lots of deep and important things. My husband said his greatest concern was that we would not feel like we were ever really “home” when we were on the road, and that in selling our house, we wouldn’t have a “home” to come home to. I told him I never worried about that, I explained how life on the road would make us free spirits and that our RV would become our home. We took several walks and had lots of talks about it and then…it happened, he started looking for RVs and I started worrying about missing home and missing our family and what if I missed my house and it was sold and what would we do then. I turned into him! So…we took another walk and I told him that now I was thinking differently about everything. I expressed my concerns and he looked at me and said, “yep, I knew you would start to change your mind if you gave it a little thought”, so now retirement looks differently to me. I guess I won’t become a gypsy with a free spirit, I guess I’ll just be a normal retiree. What does your retirement dream look like? Have you given it any thought? Are you financially prepared to do it the way you want? I hope so, I hope you do something fun and exciting and I hope you don’t let practicality clip your free spirit wings and I hope you never lose your gypsy soul!

This blog borrowed from a fellow blogger.

Wouldn’t it be great to be a gardener all year round and better still, to be able to enjoy the things you grow all year long! Creating a “cold frame” growing area is the equivalent of moving your growing season one growing zone to the south. Putting a “cold frame” inside a greenhouse is the equivalent of moving your growing season two growing zones to the south. For exceptionally cold areas, like Ohio where I live, you will want to put hay bales or bags of leaves around your cold frame to help hold in heat. During the months when sunlight is at a minimum, put aluminum foil over the windows to increase the warmth inside. If temperatures are higher than 50 degrees Fahrenheit outside, be sure to lift the top of your “cold frame” slightly so your plants do not become too hot and wilt.

And for the really good news…spinach, kale and arugula, the fantastic super foods, grow very well in a “cold frame” and keep you extra healthy! Your “cold frame” vegetables are not limited to these super foods so start reading up and decide which veggies you want to start growing this winter!

Check out this link for all the details. Have fun, eat healthy…be a cold weather gardener.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/yard-and-garden/8-cold-frame-plans-for-year-round-gardening-zm0z16aszmar

Fall Fertilization: Keeping stress to a minimum.

Trees are very sensitive to their environments. The disruption of an ecosystem—whether caused by man or nature—can greatly stress a tree. In urban environments, poor soil quality, overcrowded tree planters, and competition for water between different plants are the most common stressors to trees. If not treated, such stress can inhibit a tree’s growth or photosynthesis cycle. So, the next time you see a stressed tree, help it out! Keep your soil nutrient-rich and give your trees plenty of space to breath.

Did you know that trees growing in the woods are naturally fertilized? That’s why they are extremely healthy, but trees that are planted in your yard and landscaping need a little help with fertilization. That’s why it’s very important to have a trained and certified professional fertilize your trees in the fall. Proper fertilization and added nutrients help your trees survive the winter and give them a great head start for the spring and summer months. Your trees compete every day with the lawn, shrubs and vegetation to ensure they get enough nutrients to survive. Often times, because most homeowners keep lawn debris cleaned up, your trees do not get the nutrients they need from decomposing leaves and wood. Here’s the good news…the certified Arborists at McCullough’s Tree Service are well qualified to diagnose and treat your trees, ensuring that you have a cool and “leafy” spring and summer.

Planting in the fall – perfect timing!

Are you aware that fall is the perfect time to plant your shade trees for the upcoming spring and summer season? Why you ask, because when cooler weather comes around, trees become somewhat dormant, in other words they go into hibernation...just like bears! When a bear hibernates, its heart rate and respiratory system slow down considerably; it gets very sleepy and requires very little nutrition. Much like a bear, your tree also enters a hibernation state where no growth occurs in the upper branches and attention is given to growing a stronger root system. This stronger root system will better support foliage growth in the spring. 

If planting is on your agenda this fall, McCullough’s Tree Service is ready to make it happen. We’ll help you pick the right tree, the right location and provide you with all the help you need to turn your planting dream into a reality!

Check out these cool blog pages!

http://www.fs.fed.us/blogs/how-trees-help-fight-climate-change-%E2%80%93-all-over-world

https://www.brainripples.com/category/forest/

We are closing in on one of the best times of the year to go hiking. Cooler weather, beautiful and colorful foliage and the sounds of fall critters and insects will melt stress and anxiety away. We all know the health benefits of hiking, but most of the concentration is on the physical aspect, but there are also the emotional aspects of sight, sound and smells. Exercise releases endorphins which makes us feel naturally happier so hiking is very good for our emotional well-being. When you add the wonderful smells and sounds to the natural endorphin release…you’ll experience an amazing transformation. Nature is so beautiful and should be enjoyed as much as possible. Grab your best pair of tennis shoes or hiking boots and your favorite 2-legged or 4-legged friend and hit the trail. Remember to keep it clean, don’t litter, and if you find litter pick it up along the way. No, you didn’t put it there, but you can certainly clean it up. Stay hydrated on your hike, drink plenty of fluids and take a break now and then…breaks are a great time to simply breath in all the great smells or to check out the wildlife scampering around.  I included a link to many hiking trails just a few miles from where you live in Ohio.

Now get your shoes on and get out there and experience the great outdoors!

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/ohio/hikes-under-5-miles-oh/

It’s that time in the summer months when we are picking great vegetables from our gardens or visiting the local farmer’s markets to enjoy someone else’s fruits of labor! When you crunch into fresh cucumbers or slice into that rich red tomato, you know all your hard work was worth it! Planting a garden and reaping the harvest is a lot like owning a business.

If you’re a business owner, then you know there’s a lot of hard work that goes in to making a business a huge success. You invest time, money and sometimes sweat equity to get things going and get your name out there. The payoff comes when you have happy clients or customers and you know that you are providing a service or product they can’t do without! Maybe you’re the jeweler selling that one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, or the tree business that removes a tree that fell during a storm, or a capable waste removal and recycling business that handles all the details of keeping your company in compliance with the EPA. Whatever you do, put your whole heart into it and be a great success.

Reaping the harvest can be very rewarding, whether it’s smiling faces around your dinner table enjoying the summer bounty or happy and satisfied customers reaping the bounty of your hard work, there is great satisfaction in working hard and making others happy! Make sure you’re a fruitful person and that your fruit is the highest quality!

Borrowed from a fellow blogger.

This Sunday, June 19^th, is Father’s Day. Did you or do you have an amazing father? Maybe it was a step-father, a God-father or a great mentor that filled the shoes of “Dad” in your life. It really doesn’t matter the title, it’s the dedication, love, and support that is important.

It doesn’t matter how old you are or how old your father is, time spent together is desired by both of you. Be sure this Father’s Day that you sit down and share a memory or two with your Dad.

Gifts can sometimes be hard to select each year, but no Dad, young or older would turn down a handmade birdhouse or bird feeder. How about a subscription for his favorite magazine or a gift certificate to his favorite place to eat? For the younger kids…there’s always something you can do that doesn’t cost anything, here’s a few good ideas, wash his car, make him a great snack, make a card, write a story about his childhood (if you don’t have all the facts, make up something really funny) or clean the garage.

Dad’s come in many forms. If someone wonderful touched your life in a very special way…honor him this Sunday in a way he’ll never forget!

There are some very interesting facts about trees that you probably don’t know. I decided to find a few short stories and share them with you. Click the link at the bottom of the article to learn more. Enjoy!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            THE WOOD THAT FIGHTS FIRE

As gold-crazed settlers flocked to the Bay Area in the 19th century, they needed lumber to build their homes and mines. And what better way to get a lot of wood at once than toppling an enormous redwood? Little did they know the wood had a greater legacy in store.

In April 1906, San Francisco awoke to a major earthquake. As if the rocking buildings weren’t bad enough, residents were soon battling massive fires that threatened to consume the city. But the city didn’t go up in smoke for one reason: redwoods.

Though the fire spread for three days, a curious thing happened when it hit a building made from the mighty tree. While not totally fireproof, the redwood’s low resin content and porous grain allow it to take on moisture, which makes it far more flame-resistant than woods like pine. As one reporter noted, “In all principal directions, the fire was finally stopped in the very midst of frame redwood buildings.

”http://mentalfloss.com/article/50274/16-amazing-stories-about-trees

Remember, it’s not what you gather while on your life journey, but who walks the journey with you that counts the most.

We are born to achieve!  We learn to sit up, crawl, walk, talk and so much more. We are told to excel in school, sports, at work and at play. We accumulate credits, degrees, trophies, ribbons and promotions…all depicting our successes in life.  We drive a nice car, live in a great house, eat at the best places and sport the latest trends in fashion, all symbols of the life we’ve created. Life can be great, it is meant to be lived with great joy…but it’s not the things accumulated that matter in life; it’s who walks this life with you. God places many individuals in our path, one becomes our life companion with whom our family grows, and others become lifelong friends, church family, work family and acquaintances. Our family becomes the greatest extension of our lives. Who is willing to hold your hand when pain and grief grip your life, who rejoices with you in the times of great happiness? This journey is made richer by the ones who God has given us to walk it with. Be thankful today for the friends who will linger with you in the valley and who will climb the mountains with you. Hang on to the ones who, at the top of the mountain, remind you to rejoice and give thanks…for those are the ones who will remind you to do the same in the valleys.

Life’s a journey, walk it with God and family. No one is an island.