Developing a Grateful Attitude at Holiday Time
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with it marks the beginning of another major holiday season. Turkey Day melds into Black Friday sales, holiday rush, parties, and a hoopla of wonderful activities. But the holiday season is also rife with stress and anxiety, which can lead to depression and other nasty side effects. What can you do to ward off these unpleasant events? Develop an attitude of gratitude. That's right. According to Linda Osterlund Ph.D., LMFT, president of the Colorado Counseling Association and associate dean and associate professor at Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, things like shorter days, colder[...]
Saving the Sights & Smells of Autumn
With the cold weather upon us, you may think that its time to be inside for the next few months. But now is a great season to take a walk out with the kids, the dog, or just on your own. Enjoy the colors and scents of autumn, and then bring them home with you. Bring them home? Yes. A walk, even in your back yard at this time of year can bring you a treasure trove of natural beauty that you can use to make your own potpourri. This ancient craft originated with the Pharaohs. The French coined[...]
It’s a Fall Wrap Up
With the first frosts behind us, and the holiday season fast approaching, November offers one last set of golden days in which to clean up the back yard and make ready for the winter months ahead. Recently, we spoke to experts in the Outdoor Living experience to help target some great clean up and winter preparation projects you may want to tackle while the weather is still reasonably warm. Adam Guilford, client services representative from DeckTec had these pieces of advice for taking good care of your deck: After putting your furniture away, this is a good time to[...]
Birds Out The Back Door
The sign on the store shelf read: "Warning! Watching television gives emotional distress—Watch birds instead." What a great idea for people of all ages. And you can watch birds right out your back door. The hobby is easy, low-cost, and ever-changing. And simply by sitting on your deck for a while, you can enjoy Outdoor Living at its finest. "You don't have to know birds, to enjoy watching them," said Scott Menough, co-owner of Lakewood's Wild Birds Unlimited, himself an enthusiast for over twenty-five years. Here in Colorado, birding is especially rewarding as we sit in the midst of[...]
What’s the Occasion?
“I can’t believe our little girl is getting married,” Donna said to her husband, Tom. “It seems like just yesterday, she was out here in this yard playing tea party with her friends.” Tom sighed. “Yes, and she wants to have the memory of a lifetime in this very spot. I never imagined that we’d be hosting a wedding in our own back yard. We’ll have to call DeckTec to do some remodeling on the deck they built for us 15 years ago. We’ll have to adjust the stairs a little over here, and add some lighting…” he began pointing[...]
