November 4 (Sunday) – all states, except Arizona and Hawaii – TURN YOUR CLOCKS BACK AN HOUR.  Although we don’t have to do it here, most of us have family and friends who live in other states so it’s a good idea to pay attention to time changes.

November 6 (Tuesday) – VOTE!  As an American citizen, it is a right and a privilege.  Read, think and VOTE!

November 12 (Monday/observed) – Veteran’s Day. Veteran's Day has always been on November 11th but is observed this year on the 12th - a time to thank and honor those who have served in the military to assure our freedom. Fly your flag in honor of these brave men and women...both days.

November 22 (Thursday) – Thanksgiving.  We wish you and yours a wonderful holiday

Growing up in the Midwest as we both did, the meal had to include the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with homemade gravy, cranberry sauce and green beans.  Of course, Pumpkin Pie.  When my Dad was still with us, he always wanted Minced Meat Pie. Nobody else was a fan so that stopped.

But wait, what did the Pilgrims really eat? In fact, the pilgrims probably did not eat turkey on their first Thanksgiving.

We do know that they ate venison, wild turkey, clams, lobster, mussels, sea bass, bluefish, corn, squash, and beans. The pilgrims learned their hunting and farming skills from the Wampanoag Indians.

Why do we think that they ate turkey and cranberry sauce at their first Thanksgiving? The Victorians prepared Thanksgiving that way and so it stuck because they made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863. Until the 19th century, Pilgrims weren’t even associated with Thanksgiving–it was simply a day of thanks.

We’ll stick to our original feast (as our mothers prepared it) except, we’ve switched out green beans for Creamed Corn.  STOP! This isn’t the canned stuff Mom made – this recipe is simple and really delicious. Give it a try. The Pilgrims would be pleased with corn as our vegetable choice - right?

We’ve provided the Creamed Corn recipe this month.  Last month we gave you Sandy’s Pumpkin Pie Cake (fabulous).  In the past we’ve published my Mom’s Dressing/Stuffing recipe.  She got it out of a Better Homes & Gardens magazine as a young bride – we’ve never made it any other way.  If you want it, just ask and I’ll email it right to you.

If you know someone who will be alone, invite them to your table.  Around our Thanksgiving (moist eyes always included) table, we all share at least one thing we’re grateful for.  It’s a wonderful day!  Enjoy.  And don’t weigh yourself on Friday!

There are three main reasons: regulations, soil and cost.

On the East Coast and across the Midwest, builders have to lay foundations 48 or even 72 inches below the surface so the foundation doesn’t crack as the ground freezes in the winter then thaws in the spring. That’s not an issue in Arizona.

"If you're going to already be digging that deep, you might as well get some return on your investment by making a basement," said Philip Horton, an architecture professor at Arizona State University.

Because the ground doesn’t freeze in Phoenix, you only have to dig 18 inches below the surface to pour a concrete footing for a house. If you want a basement, you’ll have to go out of your way to dig deeper.

That’s complicated by a common soil-phenomena in the state called caliche. Horton said it’s like a naturally occurring cement." It’s really hard to dig through and inconsistent in where it exists in the soil," he said. Most developers and contractors in Arizona prioritize quick builds with low costs, so Horton said adding a basement is a risky investment given it’s hard to predict the cost of a dig ahead of time.

If it weren't for these factors, Horton said it would make sense to have basements in Arizona because underground temperatures are lower and more stable.

There’s always something to beware of – a friend told us about two "purse" incidents that just occurred:

1)     Her friend, Linda, was enjoying an evening out in a local restaurant; seated at a table with her friend. She put her purse on the ground next to her feet.  As friends do, they were engrossed in conversation.  When the check came, Linda reached into her purse to grab her wallet – IT WAS GONE.  Of course, she was horrified.  Later Linda and her daughter returned to the restaurant asking to see the security video of the previous evening. It showed two women who pulled it off quickly. Woman #1 casually walked by their table, reached down, picked up the purse, took it to Woman #2 sitting at the bar where the wallet was pulled out of the purse. Within seconds, the purse was returned to the spot Linda originally set it down.  Linda didn't notice the thieves; nor did her friend. Later they found out from the credit card companies that $60,000 had been fraudulently charged within 3 hours of the theft. One card showed a purchase of a $20,000 Rolex.  Of course, Linda went to the store, told her story and asked the salesperson why they hadn’t asked for photo ID on such a large purchase.  The answer is astounding…the salesman said he was the one who waited on the customer. He did ask for an ID.  She presented a [fake] driver’s license with the thief’s photo but Linda’s name on it.  So, this ring of thieves is efficient by having fake ID equipment - probably in a van outside the restaurant. This is frightening! They will continue to strike!

2)     A few days prior to Linda’s theft, my friend was standing in another restaurant with her purse on her shoulder talking to friends. She admitted that her purse did not have a zipper closure.  Her new Android cell phone was missing when checked later.  She was told that cell phones are a hot item because the thief can toss the SIM card, replace it for a few dollars and sell the phone for hundreds of dollars.

3)     How many times have we seen an unattended grocery cart with an open purse; the shopper is nowhere near the cart.  It’s an open invitation to steal. I use a clip to affix my purse to a shopping cart…and never walk away from the cart.

4)     Or, women with open purses over their shoulder - it's an open opportunity to attract someone interested in your $$$$.

The holiday shopping season is upon us, so the bad guys/girls will be out looking for carelessness.  And it isn’t only purses, pickpockets are out there looking for wallets from you fellows as well.

BE CAREFUL – BE AWARE.  And this goes for your vehicles too.  Don’t leave anything of value in sight. Packages should be hidden in the trunk while you’re shopping.  And vehicles should always be locked and garaged if possible. 

Periodically we should all review our property and automobile insurance to be sure we’re adequately covered at a fair price.

PROPERTY INSURANCE:

• There are many life changes that may trigger you to update your homeowners insurance policy. For example, if you have made any renovations/improvements to your home you should update your dwelling coverage. If you have installed a swimming pool or trampoline you may want to increase your liability coverage.
•  Also, if you purchase any items of high-value, you should check your policy limits for that item and schedule an endorsement to make sure you are covered in the event of a loss.
• Did you add an alarm system?  Home alarms can reap a nice discount.
• Ask your agent what coverage you have if you can’t live in your home due to massive damage. Is living elsewhere well covered?  Will it cover the entire time you’re out of your home?  Can housing be found nearby at the amount provided?
• If you live within an HOA that insures/maintains part of your structure, send your agent a copy of your CC & R’s and their insurance policy.  That too can reduce your costs.

 VEHICLE INSURANCE:

A question you might ask regarding your Vehicle Insurance and car rental coverage:

• If you self-insure when you rent a car (use your own insurance vs purchasing the rental company insurance), you may be responsible for Lost Revenue in the event of an accident. Let me explain.

Recently we overheard a conversation in an airport, where a customer was returning the car that had been involved in an accident to a well-known car rental company. The content of the conversation was basically "Your rental agreement will continue until the damages have been repaired and the vehicle is put back into service". Can you imagine being responsible for paying the daily rental rate while a vehicle, that you do not own and is in the shop for an indefinite period? The Lost Revenue that you may be paying is the daily rental rate for as long as the vehicle is out of service.

Hearing that, Al contacted our insurance agent who was familiar with the issue.  It is critical that each of us understand the vehicle rental agreement as well as your own insurance coverage when self-insuring a rental car. Our insurance company works with a specific vehicle rental company where the Lost Revenue is covered by our insurance.  Going forward our first call will be to the rental company that coordinates with our insurance company.  Other insurance companies may have broader coverage. We suggest so check your insurance so you know exactly where you stand with your policy, should your rental car be involved in vehicle damage while you’re renting it. 

SERVICE OF THE MONTH - INSURANCE

As we mentioned, we’ve been reviewing some basics in the past few months (Trust, Insurance, etc).  Every few years we do this. One of the insurance companies who offered us a quote was Farm Bureau; not your everyday name like Farmer’s, State Farm, Progressive, Geico, Allstate.  Lori Peak, Agent for Farm Bureau got our attention as Realtors – when she sent out an email about a perk they offer.  It involves coverage for appliances (which includes the A/C).  For $24/year they have coverage for your A/C or appliances with mechanical problems (with a $500/deductible) for repair/replacement.  We have so many friends whose A/C is pushing 20+ years old.  Often parts aren’t even available. That got us thinking – homeowner’s doesn’t generally cover those things – if anyone would, it would be a "home warranty plan." What a great idea!

We know there are many wonderful companies and agents - we picked Lori to share with you today.

The other intriguing facet was "Driveology" wherein they evaluate your driving habits which may result in discounted rates. And, Farm Bureau is competitively priced.  Lori answered every question we threw at her – some were pretty tough.  As of today, November 1, 2018, we are now insured with Farm Bureau.  If you are ready to evaluate your coverage, all we can say is that OUR experience with Lori and Farm Bureau has been phenomenal.

LORI PEAK, Agent    Lori.Peak@fbfs.com or www.LoriPeak.fbfs.com   Phone: 480-635-3864 (office)

Serves 6-8

Mix Milk, corn, sugar and pepper in a crockpot. I don’t have one so PLAN B is for me. (Same ingredients: different method).

Cube the cream cheese and butter – place on top.  Cook on high for 3 hours; by then the cream cheese and butter should have melted so give it a stir and serve.

OR

Plan B Instructions

1. Cube the cream cheese and butter, add to a medium size sauce pan over medium high heat.
2. Add the milk and stir continuously until the mixture is smooth and so the milk doesn’t scald.
3. Reduce heat to medium and add the sugar, spices, and corn.
4. Continue stirring until the corn is heated through, about five minutes.

 A wonderful side-dish for holidays...or any day!

Buyers need an excellent home inspection but if you've lived in your home for a long time, it might be worth getting one to find any potential issues.
With over 30 years of industry experience, and the full backing of ASHI (the American Society of Home Inspectors) and ISN (the Inspection Support Network), you can be sure that a Nau Inspection means quality work and top tier service.

Bob is a fully licensed general contractor. Bringing this expertise into a home inspection ensures that any problems in your home are identified correctly the first time.
CALL BOB: 480-226-7915

https://www.nauinspections.com/