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IT’S TIME TO PREPARE

June 1^st was the beginning of hurricane season in our area. The time to prepare is before any word of a storm approaching is heard. Make sure you have a disaster plan in place and emergency supplies on hand. We have the Charlotte County Disaster Guide available at our office or you can find one online at www.Charlotte CountyFL.gov.  Last year was my first hurricane season in FL. I would like to say that I now know how and what to prepare for. But…….. I’m not sure that you can totally prepare. No two storms will be the same. But the basic Things to do stay the same. You need to plan what to do before, during and after the storm. It may be a hurricane, flooding, fire, or tornado. You need to be prepared and know what to do to keep you and your family safe. After an event you may not be able to leave your home for several days. You will need to be self-sustaining for this time – you will need food, water, medicines, and other life sustaining materials. Experts say to prepare 2 -3 weeks of these items. You do not know how long it will take for things to get back to “normal”. If you decide to evacuate the food and water will most likely be needed when you get back.

 Remember if you are a renter your landlord’s insurance won’t pay for your things if they are damaged or stolen. Renters insurance is very affordable, and in the long run, it could save you a lot of money.  For as little as about $16 per month you can have a nice renter’s policy. Many owners are now requiring new tenants to get insurance. These are the coverages that should come with your rental policy.

Personal Property Protection

Theft Protection

Guest Medical Coverage

Liability Coverage

Additional Living Expenses

 Insurance companies reserve the right to stop writing policies in certain areas when a hurricane watch has been issued, which can be several weeks before the storm is set to make landfall. So be sure and plan ahead – just in case.

So, in conclusion. It’s time to prepare!
Don't forget to stop by our office for a copy of the Charlotte Co. Disaster Guide and some information on renters insurance.

SUPER BOWL PARTY #58  

Date & Time:    Feb 11^th 6:30pm

Place: Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium

Half time: Usher

Tickets: Level 100 & 200 $ 9290

                  Level  300 $ 8090

                  Level  400 $ 7379

TEAMS: San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs

Weather:  64/42 Chilly nights

Are you ready for some football? Bring out the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­red and white!!  It’s time to play football. Some fun facts about the Super Bowl. 71,835 fans will attend the Super Bowl. The Lombardi Trophy weighs seven pounds and costs $50,000. Each franchise pays for 150 Super Bowl rings with help from the league ($5M). The Super Bowl is the most-watched sporting event in the world. More than 100 million people worldwide watch the Super Bowl every year. It's also the second largest eating day of the year for Americans. It really doesn’t matter if you like the game or the teams that are playing, this day it is all about football. 

So, why not make some cornbread muffins, plug in a crock pot of chili, sit back, enjoy the game and the food. ENJOY SOME FOOTBALL!  

CORNBREAD MUFFINS

1 ¼ cups AP flour

¾ cup cornmeal

¼ cup sugar

1TBSP baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 lrg. eggs

2 TBSP honey

¾ cup milk

½ cup butter melted

Preheat oven to 350. Line a muffin pan with paper liners or spray with Pam. Whisk eggs, honey and milk together, set aside. Whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the milk mixture and butter. Fill muffin tins ¾ full. Bake 17-20 min. or until the tops are set and golden. Enjoy!

CHILI

2-16oz cans red kidney beans (drained)

2-14oz cans tomatoes

2lbs. ground chuck (browned and drained)

1 green pepper and 1 med. Onion (chopped)

2 garlic cloves (crushed)

3TBSP chili powder

1 tsp each pepper, cumin, and salt

Put all ingredients in the crockpot in order listed. Sitr, cook on low 10 to 12 hrs. (High 5-6 hrs.).

The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries.

By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.

           
On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, & whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village & hamlet churchyard in the land.

Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

Cities and towns across the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Some of the largest parades take place in Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C.

Americans also observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials. Some people wear a red poppy in remembrance of those fallen in war—a tradition that began with a World War I poem.


#VeteranOwnedCompany

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY’S

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY !!

As the weather starts to cool down (just a little) we notice our FPL bill rise. Here are a few ways to help curb the rise in your bill.

Check your window & door seals.

Take shorter, cooler showers.

Adjust the temp. in freezer and ref.- use energy star appliances.

Wash clothes in cold water / clean lint filter in dryer after each load.

Swap light bulbs for LED bulbs.

Watch time of use rates-cost of elect. is higher at peak times.

Change air filters frequently.

Unplug unused items – phantom or standby power can raise your bill.

Pool pumps run 6 hrs. per day in the summer and 4 hrs. per day in the winter.

Use a programmable thermostat and light timers.

Use ceiling fans to your advantage. Summer turn counterclockwise pushes air down creating a cool breeze and clockwise in the cooler months.

These are just a few ideas that might make the beginning of your holiday season a little brighter. Now how about a couple of easy to make recipes.

Seven Layer Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. salted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
• 1 c. sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 c. semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 c. butterscotch chips
• 1 can (14 oz. size) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 c. pecans chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease a 11 x 7 baking pan.
2. Stir together melted butter and graham cracker crumbs. Press into prepared pan.
3. Add the other ingredients in order: coconut, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top. Add the pecans.
4. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Place pan in the refrigerator and serve cold

Hot Toddy

1 ½ ounces of whiskey, rum or brandy.

1 ½ ounces honey or maple syrup

½ cup of steaming hot water

1 lemon wedge

Garnish- 3 cloves and 1 cinnamon stick

Stir together liquor and honey, pour in hot water, add garnish

It’s Time For Spring

It’s time to freshen up the outside of your home! Spring is a great time of year to give the outside of your home a once over to check for all the things that need to be updated from the winter weather. Sometimes all you need is a good pressure washing to make the whole place look brand new. Clean your gutters and your outdoor vents and check all caulking and weather stripping. It’s also time to clean your porch furniture, service your yard equipment and prep your grills for all the upcoming cookouts.

It’s a wonderful time to get out and move so, why not get some yard work done also. This is a great time to pamper your yard, seed bare patches and groom your shrubs and trees. If you are thinking of planting a garden, this is the perfect time to prepare your soil. The weather is warming and the days are getting longer so take advantage of some extra outdoor hours before the HOT weather comes. They say that planting and gardening relieve stress – who doesn’t need help with that. Right?

If you have a pool that has been covered. Now is the time to take the cover off, skim and vacuum your pool and adjust the water level. You will also need to check your chemical levels and adjust as needed. You might also want to see if that itty bitty teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini still fits or guys you try on that speedo!

So, now that we have the outside looking good. I have a few recipes to share that might just make your house the hit of the block.

RASPBERRY LEMON COCKTAIL

1 PINT FRESH RASPBERRIES

2 LEMONS

2 TBSP SUGAR

4 OUNCES VODKA

ICE

16 OUNCES LEMON SPARKLING WATER

Muddle ¾ of the raspberries with the sugar and lemon juice until the berries are crushed. Add the vodka. Add a handful of ice cubes and shake vigorously. Using a strainer, pour about 4 ounces of the mixture into a glass and to with 4 ounces of sparkling water. Garnish with raspberries and lemons.

SPRING SALAD WITH STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Salad

1 Bag Salad Spring Mix

½ fennel bulb – thinly sliced

¼ red onion – thinly sliced

1 pint strawberries sliced

½ cup pecans

2-4 ounces feta cheese

Dressing

1 cup strawberries sliced

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

¼ cup olive oil

1 Tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 Tablespoon shallot - minced

1 clove garlic – minced

2 teaspoons fresh thyme

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Add salad ingredients to a bowl. Put dressing ingredients to a food processor and pulse. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Mix and serve.

Enjoy Spring !!!!