Tri-County Stockdale is Turning Pink

 

     Tri-County Stockdale is turning pink for the month of October in observance of “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”.  Not only is our store turning pink, we are donating 1% of our Pumpkins sales to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  We will be collecting money for this worthy foundation at our store and we also have a button on our website to make it easy to donate.  We chose this particular charity because we were impressed that $0.88 of every dollar donated goes to research or awareness.  We need to cure breast cancer in our lifetimes.  It can be done, with your and my help, together we CAN do this.  Did you know that on average one woman dies every 13 minutes in the United States from Breast Cancer?  This has to stop….so plese give, but not only that, make sure yourself or the women you love in your life has their yearly mammograms…a cure is so much easier if it is detected early.  If you have no insurance, contact 1-888-522-1282 for the Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program through the Illinois Department of Public Health. 

    We are also having a Pumpkin decorating Contest called  ”Paint Your Pumpkin for a Difference”, details can be seen on our website or give us call.

Butterflies Make Me Smile

I was walking through the office a few minutes ago on my way to the warehouse, when out of the window I see a butterfly flitting around the courtyard.  I kind of smile to myself and keep moving.  The orders won’t pull themselves, so these copies need to get to Carmen, our warehouse guy.  Of course while I was out there, I got sidetracked by some stuff and finally made my return trip to my office.  To my surprise, the butterfly was still there.  I stopped.  I watched.  I smiled.  The courtyard was bathed in sun, the planting we have right dab in the center, a little pond, some knock out roses, daylillies and snowball bushes was very colorful.  I could see why the butterfly thought it would be a cool place to hang out.  The wind picked up a bit, but the butterfly still hung out.  Flitting from one flower to the next, doing what butterflies do.  It made me smile, the beauty of it, the tranquility of it, right outside the mayhem of the office.  It made it feel like all was right with the world.  It made me realize that this is the time of the year, when we can forget to take the time to enjoy the fruits of our labors.  I know we are all busy with getting everything set for kids to go back to school, but please don’t forget to enjoy it also.  I asked my son to sit down and chat, of course I got this horrified look and a worried”Why”.  I told him, I was proud of him, I thought his Dad and I had done a good job raising him, and would just like to hear his views on some things.  Of course the conversation wasn’t long, but I did enjoy it.  I made sure I enjoyed the fruits of raising him all these years.  Same thing applies to the courtyard garden.  Granted I haven’t actually done the work this year, I have yelled to get it done though.  I made sure I stopped and enjoyed what that little planting had to offer me.  Beauty, tranquility and a fluttery little butterfly.  I also learned, butterflies make me smile.

Keep on Smiling,

Karen

Where has the Summer Gone?

     I’m sitting at my desk, a little dazed and confused that it is August already.  Not only August, but my youngest is leaving for college in just a few days.  Where has this summer gone?  It seems like it was just yesterday I was gearing up for a great spring and wham!  It is August.  We have had all different sorts of weather, this growing season, from a rainy spring, to almost drought conditions, to high humidity and heat.  These conditions have stressed not only the homeowners, but the lawns as well.  We have a terrible infestation of crabgrass this year, due in most part to the very dry conditions and the cracking of the soil.  This cracking has broken down the pre-emergent barrier.  If you don’t have crabgrass, your lawn has probably had some disease issues this year.  That is probably due to the high humidity and heat.  The occurrences of lawn disease this year is unheard of.   

     Tri-County Stockdale is on the radio on Tuesday Mornings from 9:30 am – 10:00 am on WJOL AM radio. 1340 on the AM dial.   Give us a listen.

     I now realize why I haven’t blogged since March.  I have been interrupted four times while trying to write this.  Maybe I will try writing smaller and more often…Let’s see if that works.

Bye for now,

Karen

Yes, Spring is Here!

Want to know how I know this?  I don’t have time to blog.  I have all these great ideas, I have completely written blogs in my head as I’m driving to work, driving home and so forth, but getting the time to sit down and actually type them into the computer is another story.  Because of this time problem, you have missed the wonderful story about the bird waking me up two Sundays ago.  Not so impressive or relevent now, but 2 weeks ago it was cutting edge.  Also, you have missed the heart warming story of two foals being born at Ali Boo Farm.  They have a boy and a girl, they are adorable, check out their website to see pictures…www.aliboofarm.com.  So where does this leave this blog?  Well, I have decided that since Spring is our busiest time, My Blogs in Spring will be more like wordy tweets.  Just some facts and interesting tid bits.  You’ll have to tune in later in the year to read my lengthy missives on life in general.  So, news you need to know, the baby chicks have arrived.  They are cute and adorable as always.    Now is the time to fertilize your yard.  Step one is a fertilizer with pre-emergent, which will not allow crabgrass seeds to germinate.  Do not use a pre-emergent if you are seeding.  Come in and ask our staff their recommendations, if you are seeding.

That’s it for now,

Karen

H.O.W.

It’s that time of the year again.  Tri-County Stockdale is having their Horse Owners Workshop on Tuesday March 9, 2010 at 6:30 pm, in our retail store.  Kirk Dailey from Land o’ Lakes/Purina Mills will be here speaking about our nutritional toolbox.  What’s right and what isn’t for your horse.  This is a great opportunity to come and learn more about the care and feeding of your horse, and pastures.  As always we will have door prizes and refreshments.  You can call the store and register, or if there isn’t time to call,  just come on over every one is always welcome.

What can Tri-County do for Me?

     Tri-County Stockdale is all about your yard.  We sell the grass seed, fertilizer, chemicals, lawn ornaments, and everything else you need to make your yard the paradise you have always dreamed of having.  We carry ice melt products to keep the driveway and sidewalks nice and clear in the winter.  We sell wild bird seed, and a full line of Purina animal feeds.

     So, whether your yard is a tiny lot in a subdivision or acre upon acre, we have what you need to keep it looking the way you want.  Not only do we have the products you need, we also have the staff, that can answer all your questions.  Unlike the big box stores, our staff has the time to listen to your problems and to help you come to a solution.  Whether your horse’s coat is not looking so good,  you have a weed infestation in your yard, or the black birds have taken over your backyard feeders, we can help you fix these problems.  Our staff is helpful and friendly, you just need to come on in and see for yourself.

     So, here’s hoping we will see you in the store soon. 

Thanks for reading,

Karen

Hello Blogging, My Name is Tri-County Stockdale

     Today, Tri-County Stockdale will embark on a brave new journey.  One that I hope will bring many new friends and acquaintances to us.  Today, Tri-County Stockdale has entered the world of blogging.  I, Karen Redman, as the general manger of Tri-County Stockdale have pondered this event for a while.  I have wondered if people would really want to hear what Tri-County has to say, if they would think we were rather too into ourselves to the point we were becoming obnoxious.  Then I realized that they weren’t going to be forced to read our blog,  and so,  what the hey we were going to give it a try. 

Well that paragraph really wasn’t anything anybody would care about except a small handful of people, but I think it shows that this will be a very personal blog.  It’s not going to be all fancy, it’s going to be like me, pretty down to earth and strictly to the point.  I, and probably you also, don’t have time for all the social chit chat.  I have a business to run, a family, pets and a life.  So this blog, is going to give you the skinny about what is happening at Tri-County Stockdale Company of Joliet, INC, in Joliet, IL.  I may throw in some chit chat every once in a while, but you’ll just have to come back to see. 

I am in Phoenix, AZ this morning at a Purina Mills Retail Feed Expo, I have learned a lot and am very, let me restate that, I am VERY excited about two new horse feeds coming out in April. Ultium Growth which is for mares and growing horses.  Like always, Purina Mills has put so much research into this feed it will just knock your socks off, I can’t wait until we can bring it to our breeding stables.  The other feed they have introduced is Strategy Healthy Edge, this feed is just what my consumers are looking for in a great feed.  Details to follow in a couple weeks, but I think every one will be as excited as I am about these feeds.   They also have a line of Holistic (what?  really healthy, less allergen laden) dog and cat  food coming in June.  On a whole, the trip has been good, but I miss my husband, my family, the dogs, and yes even my staff.  It is time to go home.

That’s it for now, coming up in our next blogs, I will try to give you a greater idea of what Tri-County Stockdale is and how it can help you if you live in northern Illinois.

Thanks for reading,

Karen