Prepare your home for winter

This weekend we will see some pretty low overnight temperatures. While we have had a pretty mild fall, it looks like the winter will be coming in fast and strong. Now is the time to prepare your home for the really cold winter days. As a homeowner or renter, one of the main things you worry about in the winter is freezing water lines. Frozen lines have the potential to burst and split. The real damage to your home comes when the frozen pipes thaw and water leaks from the cracks and breaks. Often times we are unaware of the issue until it has caused significant damage to the home. 

Here are some pictures of what can happen.

Ways you can prevent this from happening:

1. Know where your shut off valves are located. 
   
2. If you have a crawl space, make sure all vents and openings are closed during the winter and opened again in the spring. If you have an unheated basement, make sure that all openings are sealed. 
   
3. Insulate all exposed water pipes, pipes in unheated basement areas or inside water lines that are near exterior walls. 
   
4. Shut off and drain all outside spigots. If you do not have a shut off for those, you can purchase insulated covers that will protect them. 
   
5. Make sure your heat is set an an appropriate level (especially if you will be away from your home). In the event that the temperatures and wind chill drops below 20 degrees, make sure all cabinets under sinks are open to circulate the warm air onto the pipes. 
   
6. If you are away from your home for an extended period of time over the winter, make sure to shut off the water coming into the home and drain all the pipes to prevent freezing. For seasonal homes, contact a professional plumber to "winterize" your home. They will shut off your water, drain all the water lines and toilets then place anti-freezing agents into the lines. You can contact them when you are ready to inhabit the dwelling again. At this point, they will turn on your water, fill all lines and inspect for any leaks.

Keep the name of your insurance agent handy in case you have a claim. We are always here to answer questions and give you ideas to help you prevent losses.

I hope you have a warm and dry winter!

Barbie Lambert

Manager

Barbie's Apple Pie Recipe

I love having family over for dinner and treating them to some good home cooking! This weekend we had some family over and I made an apple pie. This does not go with our diet, but sometimes you just need some extra goodness. It wasn't too bad for us since after we all had a slice, I gave the rest to my brother-in-law.

I will start by saying, I have not perfected the art of making pie crusts, so I leave it to the professionals (Pillsbury). It saves on time and frustration. I also started with a Betty Crocker classic apple pie recipe and added my own twist.

Ingredients:

1 Pillsbury deep dish pie crust

1 Pillsbury pie roll

8-10 small-medium golden delicious apples (you can use granny smith apples or a mix of both)

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar (not packed)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (you can use to 1/2 tsp, depending on your tastes)

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Peel apples and cut them in thin slices (I cut mine from the outside working in - I don't like to have to core apples). Place the apples in a large mixing bowl. It will seem like a lot more than your crust can hold, but the apples will cook down when you bake the pie. Add the lemon juice, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Mix until apples are evenly coated. Add flour and mix again (the flour helps thicken the juices when the pie bakes). 

Once everything is combined, pour the mixture in to the pie crust (I poke a few holes in the crust so it doesn't bubble up when cooking). Unroll one pie crust and lay over the top of the apples. Fold up the edges of the crust along top rim. Use a sharp knife to place some slits in the top pie crust (this helps the steam vent). I lightly brush the top of the crust with milk and sprinkle sugar and brown sugar on the top.

I usually place some aluminum foil around the edges of the pie crust, making sure to leave the top and vent areas open (this will help the edges from over browning). Place in oven and cook for 40 minutes, then removing foil and baking an additional 10 minutes.

Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

I hope you enjoy as much as we did. Happy baking!

Barbie Lambert

Manager

East Tennessee Mutual Insurance Company

With the fall comes the time change......

This weekend we "fall back" an hour, gaining us an hour of extra sleep. The daylight hours are getting shorter, meaning when most of us are traveling to and from work it will be twilight or dark. The weather is getting cooler and winter will be here soon. Here are some tips to help keep you safe and prepared for your commute!

• Inspect your car's headlights, tail lights, turn signals, etc. and make sure they are all working properly
• Put together a travel bag with necessities in case you happen to get stranded, such as: Flashlight, first aid kit, phone charger, blanket, a couple bottles of water, granola bars, road flares, jumper cables (anything you think will help)
• Have your emergency contacts written down and put in your glove compartment
• Check your tire pressure! As the weather cools, the air in your tires will constrict and will more need more added
• Check the tread on your tires! The better the tread, the more traction you will get to the roads
• Check your anti-freeze levels. If you have not had it serviced in the last couple of years, it would be a good idea to do so
• Make sure your windshield is clean. This will help in the event the sun glares through your windshield

Most importantly, watch out for deer and other animals in the roadways! With the decreased daylight hours, they are out looking for food and shelter at the time we are travelling to and from work. Their food source becomes limited in the fall and winter, so they will seek out new places to eat.

You can always contact us for more tips and ideas on how to keep safe.

Safe travels!

Barbie Lambert

Manager

East Tennessee Mutual Insurance Company

Barbie's big pot of chili recipe

In our house, the fall and winter means it is time for warm and hearty meals. Here is my recipe for some warm and colorful chili. This recipe is pretty mild. If you want to add some heat, you can always add a couple cans of Rotella, chipolte or cayenne pepper. Be forewarned this recipe is made for a HUGE pot of chili!

As with most cooking, I found a recipe for the spices because we have been limiting our salt intake. I found the original spice recipe on wellnessmama.com and tweaked it to adjust to our taste.

1/2 cup + 3 Tbs Chili powder

1/4 cup Garlic Powder

3 Tbs onion powder

1/2 cup Oregano

2 Tbs Paprika

1/4 cup Cumin

1 Tbs Thyme

1 Tbs Salt

2 tsp Chipolte chili podwer

1/2 Tbs Salt

3-4 lbs lean ground beef (ours came from a local farmer that raised the cow for us)

2 medium onions, chopped

1 green pepper

1 red pepper

1 orange pepper

2- 15.5 oz can  Bush's Low sodium Dark Kidney beans (mostly drained)

1- 15.5 oz can Bush's Light Kidney Beans (mostly drained)

1- 15.5 oz can Bush's Low sodium Cannellini (White Kidney) beans (mostly drained)

4- 15.5 oz can Hunts No Salt added Petite Diced Tomato

2- 8 oz Hunts No Salt added Tomato Sauce

1- 12 oz can Hunts Fancy Tomato Paste

1 can Rottella

2- 15.5 oz can Sweet Corn (drained)

Spice mixture- In a mixing bowl mix all spices, set aside.

In a large pot (I used a cast-iron) brown ground beef and onion. Adding in cut peppers toward end. Add in about 1/2 of the spice mixture, continue to finish cooking beef (this will help bring the flavor into the meat). Add in cans of diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato sauce, Rotella and corn. Add remaining spice mixture. Let that simmer for about 1/2 an hour to an hour, making sure to stir often as it has a tendency to stick and possibly burn. Then add the tomato paste. I like to leave the chili on low and let it continue to cook for several hours (this will help all the flavors marry and enhance the chili).

Serve and enjoy! 

Have fun with this dish, play around with different flavors and veggies. I love to take a recipe and either try to make it healthier or make it to satisfy our tastes more.

Happy cooking! I will be posting more of my favorite dishes throughout the fall and winter.

Barbie Lambert

Manager

East Tennessee Mutual Insurance Company

It's going to be a cold weekend!

The weather reports are indicating that it is going to be a cold weekend with close to freezing overnight lows. As the cold weather comes, we all want to stay as warm as possible! So, here are some tips to keep you safe as we transition our homes to fall and winter heating.

Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. Make sure to test your smoke detectors to ensure they are working properly. Most will start beeping when the batteries are going bad (mine did this weekend), but it is better to go ahead and replace them in the spring and winter.

Replace the Air-filter to your HVAC unit. I try to change mine out every month, but sometimes I forget. It is very important to have a new one in place before switching from your cooling to the heating as dust and dirt from the filters will be sucked into the unit and could catch fire on the heating elements. It is also a good idea to call your local HVAC carrier to come and do a quick check of your HVAC unit to ensure that it is running properly and ready for heating your home.

Many people may not be ready to turn on their heat just yet and may choose to use space heaters. Make sure they are plugged into an outlet that can support the wattage of the heater. Make sure that the heaters are not on carpeted flooring and are at least 2 feet away from walls and 3 feet away from drapery or furniture.

Wood stoves and fire places can be a lovely way to heat your home. Make sure that the wood stove has been installed properly and has protective flooring underneath and protective wall covering around the stove. Make sure that fire places have been cleaned out of any ash and soot. Most importantly make sure that the flue has been cleaned out! If there is any old debris in the flue it could catch fire. If you have a propane gas fire place, I recommend having a professional come out to inspect the gas lines going to the fire place and that the flue is clear.

Fall is the time to enjoy family, friends and the fall harvest. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, the wonderful food and a warm home. Stay safe and warm!

Barbie Lambert

Manager

Fun Events for this Weekend

Friday: October 9th

Allison Gap Community Jam

Friday nights at 6pm at the Allison Gap Community Center in Allison Gap, VA 

Free 

Call (276) 496-7590 for more information

Scarecrows on Main
Stroll down Main Street in Mountain City and see all of the fun and spooky scarecrows that groups have created. The “People’s Choice” voting is still going on until Friday, October 9th at 5pm, and people are encouraged to visit Mountain City Antiques to cast their ballot for their favorite scarecrow exhibit. “Scarecrows on Main” exhibits create a visual feast in the downtown area while entertaining locals and tourists alike throughout the entire month of October.

The 2015 Battle of Blountville Civil War Reenactment

Fri, October 9, 11:30am – Sun, October 11, 12:30pm at scenic Old Hawley Farm, located at 1173 Hawley Road, Blountville, TN

Step back in time with re-enactors at this award-winning event as they perform continuous living history demonstrations including infantry, mounted cavalry, artillery drills and full-scale reenactments of the Battle of Blountville! The main battles will take place at 2 PM on Saturday and Sunday, and skirmishes at other times during the day. Period Civil War music will be on hand throughout the weekend. School Days activities will take place on Friday, along with a Ladies Tea and Civil War Bonfire on Saturday. This year's event will include a special Memorial Tribute to Joe Adkins (1957-2014) at 11:30 AM. The weekend event is hosted by the Battle of Blountville Civil War Military Park and Reenactment Committee in conjunction with the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism. For more information, please call the office at (423) 323-4660 or Bob Dotson at (423) 276-2362. For other upcoming events, please visit historicsullivan.com. 

Top Gun Showdown

Oct 9-11 at Muddy Creek Raceway

It is one of the premier amateur motocross events in the country.

Saturday: October 10th

Patriot 5k

In Gate City, VA, USA 

Run the standard 5K or try the Rucksack Rush Challenge and run the 5K with a 30-pound backpack! Non-runners will also enjoy coming out to participate in the 1.5 Mile Walk! When: Saturday October 10, 2015 Where: National Guard Armory, Gate City, VA (Next to Gate City H.S.) Proceeds will be donated to local National Guard Family Readiness Groups Presented By: The Boone Brigade Military Officer Association Register online at www.werunevents.com Like us on Facebook or email at boonebrigade@gmail.com Rucksacks not provided, bring your own!

National Fossil Day

10am – 3pm at the Gray Fossil Museum

Visitors are invited to meet paleontologists, dig at the site and participate in all-ages activities at the East Tennessee State University and General Shale Natural History Museum at the Gray Fossil Site for National Fossil Day. From 10 a.m. – noon, preregistered visitors are invited to dig on the Gray Fossil Site with ETSU paleontologists. This program is limited to the first 25 registrants. To reserve a spot, call 1-866-202-6223 or email grayfossilinfo@etsu.edu. Participants must be at least 7 years old. The cost is $5 plus general admission. From 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., the museum will offer a variety of activities for all ages. Visitors can learn about picking for microfossils, water screening techniques and the types of fossils found at the Gray Fossil Site. There will also be a museum-wide scavenger hunt with prizes. At 1 p.m., Dr. Blaine Schubert will give a presentation about the Saltville, Virginia, excavations where ETSU paleontologists assist with an Ice Age dig, which has yielded mastodon and giant short-faced bear fossils. Schubert is an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences at ETSU and director of the Natural History Museum. At 3 p.m., visitors are invited to attend a public lecture presented by ETSU geosciences professor and museum curator, Dr. Mick Whitelaw. Whitelaw’s presentation will be about trilobites, which are ancient arthropod fossils that appeared over 500 million years ago and continued until about 240 million years ago. The talk goes along with a trilobite-themed temporary exhibit featured at the museum, “Trilobite Treasures: Arthropods of the Ancient Seas.”

Family Fall Festival

1pm – 4pm at North Kingsport Church of God, 2409 N John B Dennis Hwy

A Work of Art Reopening

3pm – 6pm

A Work of Art Gallery & Gifts in Downtown Bristol, will host a Grand Re-Opening Celebration. We have doubled the square footage in our space, painted walls, added signage, revamped carpet, created a classroom space, and gained new members! We proudly boast a membership of over three dozen local artists who collectively own and operate the gallery, and who specialize in crafts like woodwork, furniture, stained glass, photography, paintings, wine bottle art, encaustics, soaps, jewelry, dolls, wall art, postcards, notecards, pottery, and more. We invite you to join in the celebration by stopping by our renovated space from 3pm-6pm to see the changes, listen to live music, enjoy drinks and snacks, and meet some of the members of Bristol's best artist cooperative gallery, A Work of Art! A Work of Art Gallery & Gifts | 600 State Street | Historic Downtown Bristol, TN | www.aworkofartgallery.com | 423.797.0089 | info@aworkofartgallery.com

A Spot on the Hill

6:30pm – 7:30pm

A Spot on the Hill: Original Play Returns to the Old Jonesborough Cemetery this Fall. The original, research based play by Anne G’Fellers-Mason, returns to the Old Jonesborough Cemetery this October. The show premiered last fall to sold-out performances, and this season’s production will feature a number of changes, including new stories, live music, and a stationary location inside the cemetery. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to sit on. Come and listen to real stories of real lives among real tombstones. Performances for A Spot on the Hill will take place at 6:30 p.m. on October 10 and October 24. Tickets are limited, so make sure you buy yours today! Tickets are $8 and proceeds benefit the Heritage Alliance’s cemetery preservation and tombstone restoration fund. Audience members should arrive 15 minutes prior to show time. Parking is available downtown. It is a short walk up East Main Street to the cemetery. A golf cart courtesy shuttle will be available for guests who park behind the downtown Courthouse. This program is not suggested for children under 10 years of age. In case of inclement weather, performances will be moved inside to the Jonesborough/Washington County History Museum. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time. To purchase tickets, visit jonesboroughtn.org or call the Heritage Alliance at 423.753.9580. On the day of the event, tickets should be purchased at the 

Top Gun Showdown

Oct 9-11 at Muddy Creek Raceway

It is one of the premier amateur motocross events in the country.

The 2015 Battle of Blountville Civil War Reenactment

Fri, October 9, 11:30am – Sun, October 11, 12:30pm at scenic Old Hawley Farm, located at 1173 Hawley Road, Blountville, TN

Step back in time with re-enactors at this award-winning event as they perform continuous living history demonstrations including infantry, mounted cavalry, artillery drills and full-scale reenactments of the Battle of Blountville! The main battles will take place at 2 PM on Saturday and Sunday, and skirmishes at other times during the day. Period Civil War music will be on hand throughout the weekend. School Days activities will take place on Friday, along with a Ladies Tea and Civil War Bonfire on Saturday. This year's event will include a special Memorial Tribute to Joe Adkins (1957-2014) at 11:30 AM. The weekend event is hosted by the Battle of Blountville Civil War Military Park and Reenactment Committee in conjunction with the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism. For more information, please call the office at (423) 323-4660 or Bob Dotson at (423) 276-2362. For other upcoming events, please visit historicsullivan.com. 

Scarecrows on Main

Stroll down Main Street in Mountain City and see all of the fun and spooky scarecrows that groups have created.  “Scarecrows on Main” exhibits create a visual feast in the downtown area while entertaining locals and tourists alike throughout the entire month of October.

Sunday: October 11th

The 2015 Battle of Blountville Civil War Reenactment

Fri, October 9, 11:30am – Sun, October 11, 12:30pm at scenic Old Hawley Farm, located at 1173 Hawley Road, Blountville, TN

Step back in time with re-enactors at this award-winning event as they perform continuous living history demonstrations including infantry, mounted cavalry, artillery drills and full-scale reenactments of the Battle of Blountville! The main battles will take place at 2 PM on Saturday and Sunday, and skirmishes at other times during the day. Period Civil War music will be on hand throughout the weekend. School Days activities will take place on Friday, along with a Ladies Tea and Civil War Bonfire on Saturday. This year's event will include a special Memorial Tribute to Joe Adkins (1957-2014) at 11:30 AM. The weekend event is hosted by the Battle of Blountville Civil War Military Park and Reenactment Committee in conjunction with the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism. For more information, please call the office at (423) 323-4660 or Bob Dotson at (423) 276-2362. For other upcoming events, please visit historicsullivan.com. 

Top Gun Showdown

Oct 9-11 at Muddy Creek Raceway

It is one of the premier amateur motocross events in the country.

Scarecrows on Main


Stroll down Main Street in Mountain City and see all of the fun and spooky scarecrows that groups have created.  “Scarecrows on Main” exhibits create a visual feast in the downtown area while entertaining locals and tourists alike throughout the entire month of October.

It's that time of year again!

Fall is a wonderful time to live in East Tennessee! Though the days my be shorter, they are filled with beautiful foliage, fall festivals, corn mazes, scarecrows and pumpkin patches. 

With all of the beautiful trees, we need to remember that those leaves will fall! That means that gutters will be filled. Now is the time to keep an eye on those gutters and be ready to clean them out several times before the winter. Keeping the gutters clean will help with drainage of rain water and will help when we get heavy snow. If the gutters are already weighed down with the leaves, then the heavy snow may cause them to collapse. 

As we are raking and getting rid of those leaves in our yards, we need to be cautious how we dispose of the them. Some cities have road side pick up for them, but for those of us that live in a more rural area this is not an option. Some people prefer to burn their leaves. While this method is effective, it is also dangerous. The leaves will burn, but if the conditions are dry the fire could spread (especially in high winds because the leaves are light and will fly away easily). A method our family prefers is to either mulch the leaves or put them in our compost pile.

Also be cautious driving with leaves on the roadways, especially if we have gotten even the slightest amount of rain. The leaves will turn very slippery and cause your wheels to loose traction on the pavement. Be careful with large piles of leaves that are on the side of the roadway waiting to be collected. Children love to play in leaf piles and may be not be aware how close they are to the roadways.

As we get closer to Halloween, please be extra careful for the children trick-or-treating.

Enjoy the beautiful sunsets and the time with family and friends. Stay safe this fall season and be looking for other tips from us on how you can prepare your home for the winter and some great fall recipes!

Thank you!

Barbie Lambert

Manager

Community Outreach Program

There are a lot of local non-profit agencies in our area that help our community, our children and our loved ones. However, they don't always get the help they need from the funding they receive. With this in mind, we are finding ways to help give back to our community in supporting some of these programs.

This month we will be supporting the Children's Advocacy Center of Sullivan County (CAC). The CAC is dedicated to serving children who are alleged victims of sexual and/or physical abuse through prevention, education and intervention.

How we are helping:

We are asking friends, family and policyholders to bring by donations of: Juice Boxes/Capri-Suns; Small bottled water; Individually wrapped snacks; and Individual chip snack packs. They supply these to the children who come in for their appointments. 

We have already donated 15 teddy bears to CAC and we will match what donations come in.

With each donation brought in, your name will be entered to win a gift card.

Help us help our community. Together we can support these local heroes who help our community!

For more information about CAC go to  www.cacsctn.org.

For more information regarding this program and donation questions, please contact Barbie at 

(423) 323-5361 or barbielambert@easttnmutualins.com 

Buying your First Home: Part 3

So you've found your realtor and they've sent you some houses to look over. Now it's time to pick a few to go see.

While you're looking at the possibilities there are a few things to keep in mind. Think about the type of neighborhood you want to live in. Do you prefer an older neighborhood, one with young families, a mix or something close to the action downtown? How much work do you want to put into the house? Are you looking for move-in ready, a bit of a fixer upper or a total gut job? You might also want to consider how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want and how many you need. Are you looking for a large yard with lots of space and possibly trees or a small yard that is quick and easy to mow? Remember that you might have to compromise on one thing to get the rest of the things on your must-have list. Having this information in mind while you look will keep you on track to find the best home for you.

Come by next week when we talk about the walk through.

Buying your First Home: Part 2

     So it's time to look for a realtor. There are a lot of them out there and it might seem a bit overwhelming trying to pick one. We tried randomly picking a realtor and were disappointed. He took our contact information and what we were looking for and said that he would email us some listings. Two weeks later we still had not heard from him.

The next step for us was to ask some friends if they had any recommendations. We contacted the realtor that our friend recommended. She asked us some questions about what we were looking for and had emailed us listings within the hour. She always responded quickly to our questions and concerns.

When you're looking for a realtor, don't wait two weeks trying to give them the benefit of a doubt like we did. They are in business to make money so if they really want your business, they will get back to you very quickly.

Tune in next week for another addition.

Buying your first Home: Part 1

It’s exciting when you first decide to buy a house. I should know, my husband and I just purchased our first home two weeks ago.  During the process I felt excited, overwhelmed and I wished I had a guidebook to tell me about each step in the process. My goal is to give you a basic idea of the process and little bit about our experience in the next few posts. It will in no way be a story that applies universally, nor will it be a complete guide to home buying, but hopefully it will give you a blueprint of how it will go.

Once you decide to buy a house, you should find out your loan pre-approval amount from your lender. It doesn’t guarantee that amount, but it gives you an idea of your price limit.  We didn’t do it quite this way. We looked around at the home listings for a while and looked one house with the listing agent before we really got serious. Our bank has an online application for home loans that we filled out. The next day a loan officer called us to talk about which loans we were eligible for and what would be the best fit for us. After we chose a loan and received pre-approval, we looked at our budget. It’s best to take your pre-approval amount, lay out your budget and figure out what you can really afford including property tax, insurance and PMI if you don’t have a 20% down payment. Once we had our amount set, it was time to look for a realtor.

Tune in next week for another post on buying your first home.

NAMIC PAC- Washington DC 2015

It was another exciting year joining NAMIC PAC (National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies- Political Action Committee) to speak with our State Representatives and Senators regarding some issues associated with our Insurance Industry. It is vital for our companies (especially small county mutuals) to stay involved in the growing trends of the industry because what works for national and international companies do NOT work for our community based insurance companies. It is important that we meet with our representatives and make sure they know that some of the regulations that they are being asked to vote on effect the small companies in their hometowns/districts.

It works! As a result of  our efforts, they have already had Representative Fincher sign on to the International Insurance Standards Transparency and Policyholder Protection Act of 2015. Representative Fincher was also awarded the NAMIC Benjamin Franklin Award for all of his support of the Insurance Industry's issues.

So, a BIG Thank you to NAMIC for being the voice of over 1,500 Mutual Companies big and small, nationwide! Thank you to all of the State Representatives, Senators and their staff that we were able to meet with. We will see you again in 2016!

4th of July Safety

• Secure pets who are afraid of fireworks inside.
• Don't allow children to light fireworks. 
• Never place your body in the path of a firework.
• Don't allow young children t play with sparklers. They burn at around 2,000 degrees
• Do not aim fireworks at other people.
• Make sure the area where you light fireworks is free of dry grass, shrubs, trees, buildings and vehicles.
• Once a firework is done burning, pour water on it.

As you grill this holiday remember to:

• Never leave your grill unattended.
• Keep it clean of grease and fat buildup to prevent grease fires.
• Make sure gas connection is tight.
• Keep charcoal starter fluid away from children.

Lightning Safety Awareness Week

This week is Lightning Safety Awareness Week. We wanted to share a few tips with you to keep you safe.

By Mark Coldren, via Wikimedia Commons

In the house:

• Stay away from windows and doors
• Do not lay on concrete walls or floors
• Do not shower or bathe until at least 30 minutes have passed since the last rumble of thunder

Outside (there is no safe place outside):

• Move inside as soon as you hear thunder or see lightning
• Stay away from elevated areas
• Avoid isolated trees
• Do not lay down on the ground
• Do not stay in a body of water (lake, river, ect.)
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity

Summer Car Trip Tips

Sunscreen:
     You can still get burnt when you put your arm out the window. Using "broad spectrum" sunscreen      will protect you from UVA and UVB rays. Don't forget to reapply.

Sunglasses:
     Protect your eyes from UV rays while on the road.


Pet Safety:
     In order to keep your furry family members safe, animals should either be transported in pet                carriers or protected by a safety harness. The 2013 Harness Crashworthiness Study gives good            suggestions on the best harness for your dog.

Bring water and snacks:
     Pack lot of water to keep everyone hydrated during your journey and snack to satisfy cravings            while on the road.

Pack activity books and toys:
     To keep kids occupied pack a secret bag of toys, games and books to surprise them with                      throughout the trip. If you forget to pack extra games, you can always count on classic car trip            games to keep the whole car entertained.

     Audiobooks can also keep the whole family riveted during your journey and they are free to rent        at the library.

First Aid Kit:
     A first aid kit is always handy to have while travelling. You never know when you may                        accidentally cut your finger.

Car Prep:
     Make sure that your tires are properly inflated. There is normally a sticker on the inside of your         door that indicates the proper pressure.

     Make sure that your spare tire is properly inflated, sometimes they are underinflated. If you do            have to change your tire, it will make driving easier and safer.

     Make sure that all of your car's fluids are full. This will help to protect your vehicle.

Positive attitude:
     A positive attitude and a cool head in hot weather make congested highways safer and more pleasant places to be.

Home tips for Vacationing!

Well, it is that time of year again. Summer fun and Vacations are upon us! While we are gone on our wondrous adventures, it is always in the back of our mind….”how are things at home”, “what will I find when I get back”. Here are some simple tips to help ease your mind while you are away:

1.  Don’t post your vacation on Social Media before or during your trip. This sends out a big signal to EVERYONE that you are not home. I know it is hard, but wait until you return to post those awesome memories for everyone to see.
   
2. Have a Security System? If you do, make sure that it is set. It wouldn’t hurt to have a close family member or friend with a key to your home and access codes, just in case something comes up while you are gone. If you don’t, make sure to talk to your neighbors so they can be on the lookout for anything strange or out of the ordinary.  
   
3. Take photos of your personal property. This is a simple step that can save you a lot of time in the event of a loss (also shows proof of property). With technology today it is as simple as taking photos with your phone or digital camera. I would suggest downloading the pictures to a USB drive and having a friend hang on to it while you are gone. Or, you can go to an online site like www.knowyourstuff.org and sign up online to keep a Home inventory. Or, you can even get a Home Inventory App for your phone.                                                                            
4. Keep your jewelry, special documentation, guns, etc. in a home safe. If it is a small lock box or safe, make sure that it is secured to the home in some way (may want to secure to the floor etc).
   
5. If you are going to be gone for a longer trip, you might want to turn off your water (unless you have sprinklers set up on a timer. This will help in case there happens to be a malfunction to your washing machine or dishwasher hoses. (This step in more important in winter when pipes could freeze).
6.  For your personal property on you while you are away, I would suggest having copies of your credit cards and the company numbers in case your wallet is stolen. Review your homeowner’s Policy for theft coverages. Some policies will cover personal jewelry, etc. Make sure to have your agent’s information in case you need it.

Most of all… HAVE FUN! Enjoy your time off with your family and friends.

Know that we are here for you if you need anything. We hope you have safe travels!

Sincerely,

Barbie Lambert

Manager

East Tennessee Mutual Insurance Company

Do You Know What's Covered?

         Do you know what your insurance policy does and does not cover? It may be a little confusing at first, but reading through your policy or talking to your agent about it can make a huge difference when you have to file a claim. You might even decide that your current insurance policy doesn't provide the coverage you would like and change companies or policies.

        Some people don't read their policy booklets until they have a claim to file. That's when they sometimes find out that things they assumed were covered by their insurance are not.

        As a certain other insurance company says, "know the gaps."

Rainy Day Carrot Cake Recipe

On rainy days there is nothing better than baking! I love the smell in a home when you have something delicious baking in the over, whether it is bread, cookies, or cakes.

Here is a recipe I used at Easter that was a big hit (though I think you can make this on any spring day). Since we have been trying to eat a little healthier, I modified a Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Recipe (because I think there is nothing better than a Betty Crocker Recipe, just saying). I made these into cupcakes, but here is the cake recipe.
Modified Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Recipe:

Cake:
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup shredded apple
½ cup Vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Cinnamon (or a dash more- I like it like that)
Dash of nutmeg
3 cups shredded carrots
1 cup chopped walnuts

Frosting:
1 8oz package 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
¼ cup butter, softened
2 to 3 teaspoons milk
4 cups powdered sugar

Directions
• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of one 13x9-inch pan or two 8-inch or 9-inch round pans with shortening; lightly flour. (I used cupcake pans with liners) In large bowl, beat granulated sugar and brown sugar, apple, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed about 30 seconds or until blended. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, vanilla and the salt; beat on low speed 1 minute. Stir in carrots and nuts. Pour into pan(s).

• Bake 13x9-inch pan 40 to 45 minutes, round pans 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (The Cupcakes only take about 20 minutes, I waited until they were brown on top and toothpick came out clean). Cool rectangle in pan on cooling rack. Cool rounds 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

• In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until smooth and spreadable. Frost 13x9-inch cake or fill and frost round layers with frosting. Sprinkle nutmeg on frosted cake, if desired. (I cut the tip off a plastic baggie to apply the frosting on the cupcakes- then decorated with a candy carrot on top). Store in refrigerator.

This was a fun recipe and it turned out delicious. Even my picky 5 year old loved it.

Happy baking!
Barbie Lambert
Manager
East Tennessee Mutual Insurance Co

Spring Weather

Every year in the spring we can expect an increase in moderate to severe weather. While we cannot prevent all loss, we can make some preparations to reduce the severity off the loss. Here are some tips to help secure your property:

1. Check your roof. The number one loss during storms is related to roof damage. Shingle roofs: check condition of shingles (are they showing age, coming up at the edges, any other visible issues). Metal roofs: check the condition (is the roof old enough to need a sealant on it, is the areas around the screws showing rust or damage, are there any raised sections). If there is damage to the shingles or metal roofing it can cause leaking to the interior of the home. 
   
2. Check your gutters: If your gutters are full of debris, they may overflow, back up into the home, or collapse (this is a damage that most insurances do not cover). Make sure the downspouts are clear of dirt and debris and have room for water to drain. 
   
   
   
   
3. Check your trees: If there are trees near your home, inspect the top branches for any sign of dead limbs and check the bottom of the tree for any sign of decay. Remove any limbs that hang over or near your dwelling. Are there trees near the power lines entering the home? If so, make sure they are cut back away from the lines.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Check your outside personal property: Is your outdoor furniture secure? If you have a trampoline, is it properly installed and secured to the ground (follow manufacturer’s guidelines)? If you have any outdoor canopies, are they taken down before a storm or strong winds approach? 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5.  Lightning: While you cannot do much to prevent lightning damaging to the exterior of your home, you can do several things to protect your personal property. Electronics: make sure your computers, TVs, even your mobile devices are plugged into surge protectors or unplug during lightning storms. Outlets: make sure outlets are not overloaded (overloading outlets can be a fire hazard to begin with, but a surge from lightning could cause the outlet to heat too much or even spark). 
   
6. Water: Unless you have a flood policy, your insurance policy does not cover flooding to your home. However, you can take steps to prevent water entering your home: If your dwelling is by a creek, have sand bags ready (you can use them around the exterior of your home to keep water out of any window or door openings to your basement). Check to make sure your gutters are clear so rain water is not over pouring and causing excess water around the foundation of your dwelling (if water enters through the basement walls, it is generally not covered).
7. Power outages: A lot of power outages are due to trees falling on power lines. A back-up generator will help if the power is out for an extended period of time. For shorter amounts of time, make sure to leave freezers and refrigerators closed (this will help prevent food spoilage), turn off power switches to lights and HVAC units if possible (this will help prevent overloading your breaker box when power is restore).

It helps to be prepared! Items to have available before/when storms happen: bottled water, flash lights, candles, waterproof matches, nonperishable snack and food items, a battery operated radio, charged up cell phones, any medications you may need, and emergency numbers.

Spring is also a great time to replace batteries in smoke detectors and check dates on fire extinguishers in your home.

Lastly, know your policy and your coverages. Your agents are here to help you and to make sure you are adequately covered. If you do have a claim, it is important to stay calm and call your insurance company. We are here for you!

Be Safe!
Barbie Lambert
Manager
ETMIC