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NOVEMBER 2017 www.katconstructionllc.com (612) 326-1122
Football, Family, and Lutefisk
Thanksgiving Traditions
When I was younger, Thanksgiving always involved a “fathers vs. sons” football showdown at my grandma’s place in Columbus, Ohio. Towards the end of the four-day family gathering, after the leftovers were packed in the fridge, the guys would all line up — dads on one side, us kids on the other. As you can imagine, it had the potential to get a little intense. The whole family was watching, so reputations were on the line. But, mostly, it was just a good time spent alongside my cousins, duking it out against my dad and uncles. For years, it was guaranteed that the dads would dominate. Though, I’m realizing now that the yearly tradition suspiciously disappeared at nearly the exact same time us young bucks began to win. These days, the festivities are a little tamer, but still lots of fun. Ever since we moved out to Minnesota a few years back, my wife and I have gone to visit with my in-laws. Everybody spends a few hours of the day hanging out, watching whatever game is on TV, and catching up. And, of course, there’s the big meal, courtesy of my mother-in-law, one of the best cooks around.
between. I can tell you one thing I’m less into that most of my wife’s family totally loves: lutefisk. I guess it’s a tradition from way back with them, so it’s always a part of their Thanksgiving setup. They’ll chow down on it like it’s nothing, and even my oldest son will get in on it. However, I’ve tried it, and let me be the one to tell you that it’s as bad as usually advertised. I’m told it’s a bona fide Minnesota tradition among the large communities
of Swedish- and Norwegian-Americans. Its gelatinous texture pretty much guarantees that it will never be my thing. Besides being the ideal excuse to get the family together all at once, Thanksgiving always provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the people and things in our lives for which we’re grateful. Lately, I’m particularly thankful for my three boys. It’s been incredibly gratifying to watch them grow up and steadily become upstanding young men. My middle son is working with me now full-time and doing a great job. My other two kids are doing really well in school, taking substantial steps towards their success. Sometimes I wonder how they turned out so well; I credit their mom for that. Happy Thanksgiving,
The spread always includes the staples, from turkey to mashed potatoes and everything in
“Besides being the ideal excuse to get the family together all at once, Thanksgiving always provides us opportunity to reflect on the people and things in our lives for which we’re grateful. ”
–Keith Thompson
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3 FAMILY ACTIVITIES for Thanksgiving
Unless you have a child auditioning for “MasterChef Junior,” you’re probably not going to let the little ones cook the turkey this Thanksgiving. Just because the kitchen might be off limits, though, doesn’t mean you can’t find a few creative ways to make the holiday extra special for your kids. Spice up Thanksgiving with these fun, family-friendly activities.
holes in the tops of the circles and run string through them. Tie the other end of the string to a coat hanger or embroidery hoop and hang it from the ceiling. STUFF THE TURKEY GAME Want to get the kids outside so you can get to work in the kitchen? Create a Thanksgiving- themed game for them to play outside while you prep the stuffing and put the turkey in the oven. To create a holiday-themed “Stuff the Turkey” game, all you need is a few paper bags. We’ll bet you have some left over from shopping. Use two small bags stuffed with scrap paper to create legs and glue them to a larger bag folded to look like the body of a turkey. Now that you have your turkey, you need some balls to stuff it with. Anything soft and baseball-sized will work, even some balled-up paper. Kids will take turns trying to toss the balls into the turkey, scoring points for every shot made.
COLORING-BOOK TABLECLOTHS If you have a big family, you are probably familiar with the Thanksgiving tradition of the kids’ table. It may be smaller than the grown- ups’ seating arrangement, but it doesn’t have to be any less special. Turn your kids’ table into a canvas for a colorful, creative dining experience.
To do this, use craft or art paper to cover the table. Tape everything down tightly and provide crayons and colored pencils for every place setting. If you want to add some extra holiday spirit, put the drawing supplies in empty cranberry sauce and pumpkin cans. GRATITUDE MOBILES Of course, Thanksgiving isn’t just about delicious food. It’s also about reflecting on the parts of our lives we are grateful for. Teaching kids about gratitude is the most valuable Thanksgiving lesson. Bring that concept to life with a gratitude mobile.
Grab some colored paper circles — or cut them out — and have your children write down things that they are thankful for. A silver Sharpie is great for this. Punch
What Our Clients Are Saying ... “A lot of people really do not like when someone comes to their door offering anything. I like that KAT came to my door, and I set up an inspection then and there. I run my own business, and I am also a single father of four. I just do not have time for everything, and some things get pushed onto the back burner for quite some time. Thanks to KAT for the great work they did. I would recommend them for sure.” “Purchasing a new home in Clear Lake came with some flaws. I didn’t know my roof was damaged from a storm that hit pretty bad in the area. I was in the cities and found a flyer and called immediately. They also gave me a sheet indicating how the process would go after they inspected the property. As soon as I made a claim with my insurance company, a sales rep came to my house. She was super nice and knowledgeable. I believe the lady who helped me was Abigail, and she also spoke Spanish, which was a plus. I would 100 percent recommend this company.” –K.O.
–Ana M.
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Insurance Tips for Minneapolis Residents
With the brutal storms that have been raging around the country this year, it’s more important than ever to ensure you have the appropriate insurance coverage for your home. Too often, we hear from clients who, after catastrophic damage to their house or roof, assume they’re covered, only to find out that they’ll be footing a hefty, unexpected bill.
When it comes to insurance, don’t get caught out in the rain. The first thing you’ll want to check is that you actually have enough insurance to cover the rebuilding of your house if it’s destroyed. According to Amy Bach of United Policyholders, one 2009 study determined that as many as two-thirds of American homes are woefully underinsured. According to Forbes contributor Caroline Meyer, too many homeowners “buy only enough insurance to cover the amount of their mortgage,” amounting to “at most, 80 or 90 percent of the value of the house,” or they insure the house for its current value, without factoring “the actual cost of rebuilding … including labor and supplies.” Either have a home-value inspector come in and assess the full value of Laughing Corner
your property or pay for an estimate from HM Facts or Accucoverage. If the figure they give is higher than your current insurance, increase your coverage. Also, don’t assume your policy includes flood insurance. Generally, flooding isn’t included in your standard homeowner’s package. And in Minneapolis, flood insurance, while not completely necessary, is a good thing to have in the event of a catastrophic storm. Other common gaps in insurance policies in Minneapolis, according to the state commerce department, include sump pumps, sheds, trampolines, pools, and the assets contained within a home office or business.
It’s a good idea, either way, to also prepare a detailed home inventory in case you need to file a claim later. Document anything valuable in your house and its value — this will make the claims process a lot easier down the road.
PESTO POTATOES Roasted Parmesan
It only takes 3 ingredients to make these crispy, flavorful potatoes. They’re the perfect side dish for any meal. Recipe courtesy TwoPeasAndTheirPod.com.
Ingredients
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2 lbs. red potatoes, quartered 2 tablespoons basil pesto
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3 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine potatoes and pesto. Toss to coat. Transfer potatoes to a large baking sheet or shallow roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Roast 20 minutes and remove from oven. 3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese evenly over potatoes and put the pan back in the oven. Roast for an additional 10–15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and crispy. Remove from oven and serve warm. 3
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INSIDE This Issue 1 • 2 • 2 •
Thanksgiving Traditions 3 Family Activities for Thanksgiving Client Testimonials Insurance Tips for Minneapolis Residents Roasted Parmesan Pesto Potatoes Iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons
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ICONIC MACY’S
Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons
Thanksgiving is a holiday full of traditions, from turkey and stuffing to football and naps. Since 1924, the Macy’s Parade has grown to become not only a Thanksgiving staple but also the world’s largest parade. Over 3.5 million people attended the parade last year, with another 20 million tuning in from home. The main attraction is always the massive character balloons, which first graced the skies in 1927. Over the decades, some of these balloons have become nearly as famous as the character they depict. FELIX THE CAT When the Felix the Cat balloon appeared in 1931, it set the standard for all characters to follow. Sadly, the original balloon got tangled in wires and
caught on fire, so it has been lost to history. Felix’s influence on the parade is so immense, however, that when Macy’s brought him back in 2016 for the parade’s 90th anniversary, they recreated his original design. Without Felix’s debut, the parade might look a lot different today. SNOOPY When it comes to balloon characters, none is more famous than the classic “Peanuts” beagle. His first balloon floated through the sky in 1968, and he’s been a regular fixture ever since. Charles Schultz’s famous pooch holds the record for most variations in a parade (eight) and most total appearances (40). Though Snoopy doesn’t come out every year, he usually closes the show when he does.
PIKACHU The Pokémon mascot didn’t appear until 2001, but he’s become a star attraction, showing up every year since. Bright, expressive, and impossible to miss, Pikachu checks off all the boxes for a successful balloon character. For 16 years, those who predicted that Pokémon was just a fad have gotten a big, yellow reminder of just how wrong they were.
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