Give Thanks
Give ThanksAs I got ready for work a few weeks ago, early October to be more exact, I saw a report on the local news that encouraged me to go out and start my holiday shopping. Yes, holiday shopping before Columbus Day weekend. I paid little heed to this and went about my normal fall business, raking leaves, carving pumpkins with my grandchildren, and getting in some last rounds of golf. And then last weekend I was inundated by advertisements on TV and in the papers for “Early Black Friday Every Saturday,” “Best Holidays Deals,” and “Buy Now, Pay Later.” I suddenly felt that the purity, joy, and great call to thanks of this holiday season were becoming drowned out by the unusually large and thundering voice of consumerism. So I would like to add my voice to the smaller, less publicized chorus, which does not ask for more. Rather, I would like to give thanks.
After my confrontation with advertisements in the morning, I was able to spend my day with three of my five grandchildren. Like many of you, I am blessed with a growing family; my daughter gave birth to a healthy baby boy, her second son, on October 23rd. We had pizza, played with trains, and enjoyed a bit of an Indian Summer. Hopefully this holiday season all five of my grandchildren will come together and we can take a photo of the whole brood in coordinating outfits, thanks to Grammy! Perhaps there will be a game of football in the yard, some cold-weather fishing, jumping into leaf piles, and watching some football while we eat leftovers and the rest of the pie.
These moments with my family are simple pleasures, but ones for which I am profoundly grateful. As I watched those adds asking me to celebrate the season by dashing about for “Deep Discounts,” I smiled and thought of how I celebrate each time I think of my family. I am thankful that we have had one another to lean on through this year of economic turmoil, health scares, and often unnerving uncertainty. And it is not only my family, but also the many people I work with, my friends, and my clients, whom I have thought of and given thanks for throughout the year.
We are all one large family, and I hope that I and all those at Strickler Insurance may be here for you throughout your celebrations and challenges alike, not only during this season of giving, but also throughout the year. I thank you for entrusting us with this privilege and wish you all the best this holiday season.
September/October Client Of The Month
For outstanding work telling others about our agency, for the month of September & October we honored Frank Tomecek Jr. & Valerie Hoffman as our Referral Client of the Month! Frank & Valerie received a $50 Dinner Gift Certificate. Thanks for your referral business!
of the Month! Frank & Valerie received a $50 Dinner Gift Certificate. Thanks for your referral business!
Tips From Your #1 Protection Team
Holiday Safe Cooking Tips: What You Need To Know.
It might seem like common sense, but in the heat of the kitchen and the holiday crunch it’s easy to forget simple safe food handling steps. This holiday season keep these guidelines on your refrigerator or posted where you can see them while you are cooking.
Always wash your hands before you begin AND in between handling meat, poultry or fish and then handling vegetables.
Avoid cross contamination by using different cutting boards for meat, poultry, fish and vegetables.
Keep meats on the bottom rack of your refrigerator so if the juices accidentally leak they won’t land on unprotected food. Remember to keep thawing meat on a plate too.
Check the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer with an appliance thermometer. The refrigerator should be at 40 °F or below and the freezer at 0 °F or below.
Preparing the Perfect Turkey
Every chef and cook has their own special secret for preparing the perfect turkey, but just in case you’re basting your first turkey or looking for something different here are some ideas for this holiday season:
Safety first! Always cook your turkey to an internal temperature of 165° At this temperature bacteria that could cause food poisoning are killed.
Preheat your oven to 425°and start to roast your turkey for 45 minutes then lower the temperature to 375°.
Don’t stuff your bird. Stuffing the turkey can cause uneven heating and the stuffing may not cook properly. Instead, use an oven-proof dish and some of the juices from the turkey to add moisture and bake your stuffing.
Deer Season
Fall is the season to be on the lookout for deer while driving an automobile. So far this year we have had quite a number of auto accidents involving deer. The following are some suggestions to consider at this time of year:
- Be aware of unusual movement on either side of the road.
- At night use high beams when possible.
- If you see one, it’s likely that there are more close by.
- Always be more cautious on a backroad and wooded areas. Drive at slower speeds. Especially if you happen to actually see one on or near the road.
- If you happen to hit a deer, call the game commission to remove the deer for you.
- Buckle up, always.
- Do not swerve to avoid hitting the deer. When swerving to miss a deer in the road, you could have a head-on collision with another vehicle. You could hit a stationary object like a light pole, electrical pole, or bridge guard rail. You could also go off the road and flip your car.
These are just a few common-sense tips people can use to avoid hitting a deer with their vehicles. One other thing I didn’t mention in the above is you should always be aware of your surroundings when deer mating season is happening in the area you live
