Category: On The Stump

  • Fortune Cookie Fortunes – My Favorites

    Fortune Cookie Fortunes – My Favorites

    My favorite fortune cookie fortunes: Confidence begets confidence. If you have no critics you’ll likely have no success. Enjoy yourself while you can. The secret to good friends is no secret to you. No one can force you to change direction or abandon your principles. I’m ordering Chinese food for dinner to research fortune cookie…

  • 5,000,000 YouTube Views

    5,000,000 YouTube Views

    Yesterday my YouTube Channel, CTSCAPER, passed 5,000,000 views and 10,000 subscribers.  It’s taken four years to get here. When I filmed my first video on May 10th, 2011 I had no idea where I’d end up. I remember the nervous energy I felt in front of the camera.  It’s the same energy most people experience when public speaking. …

  • Craftsman Wanted

    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…

  • Simplify

    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…

  • Thoughts on a Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial

    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…

  • Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 2013

    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

  • Tips for a Low Stress and Peaceful Life

    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. …

  • Lessons Our Pets Teach Us

    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…

  • 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…