Pumpkin Terms
·         Skin: The outside, colored part of the pumpkin.
·         Flesh: The stuff inside, used for cooking.
·        Easy Carving: Is the pumpkin fairly easy to carve with a knife or pumpkin-carving kit? 
·         Shape: Pumpkins are not just round. They can be squat, tall, long, uneven, etc.
·         Texture: Glide your fingers across the pumpkin's skin. Is it bumpy, slightly rough, or smooth as a baby's bottom? That is the pumpkin's texture.
·         Ribbing: If you were drawing a pumpkin, the ribbing would be those vertical stripes you create to indicate that it is a pumpkin and not some other round object. Deep ribbing is noted.
·         Size: Straightforward—big, small, miniature, medium. Sometimes indicated in weight.
·         Keeps well: Describes a pumpkin's "shelf life" or if it tends to last a few months (uncarved) or quickly wither off the vine.

​How many people will be taking the road this holiday season over the 4th of July weekend?  According to AAA it is estimated that 700 million trips will be taken based on economic indicators.  Travel is down by 15% compared to July – September of 2019.  This is the first decline in travel since 2009.  According to the travel specialists the trend remains that Americans are making plans to travel more cautiously being spontaneous.
Traveling by car will be the favored way of traveling this summer.  It is estimated that more than 683 million car trips.  There is a positive note as consumers make plans for future vacations by railroad, cruises, booking airlines, and traveling by bus.

Are You Suffering From Caregiver Burnout?
By Starla Fitch for Sunlight Senior Care
 
If you have people you love who are aging, you may expect that eventually, they may need your help with maintaining a home, paying bills, or even coordinating medical care. But even if you are expecting it, a sudden medical situation can throw your life into chaos.
 
If you fail to do the following, you can experience caregiver burnout?
 
· Get proper rest and nutrition. You can’t take care of someone else if you aren’t taking care of yourself.
· Exercise regularly. Even if you only exercise for 10 minutes a day, it’s a great way to relieve stress and make sure you are staying healthy too.
· Try stress-reduction techniques. Meditation, prayer, yoga, tai chi, and even communing with nature for a few minutes a day can help reduce stress and recharge your batteries.
· Ask for help. Reach out to friends and family for breaks. Check-in with your loved one’s medical providers for local resources or support groups.
 
Let Sunlight Senior Care help!
 
We can help you reduce stress by managing all of your loved one’s in-home care needs.
 
Sunlight Senior Care is the regional leader at providing comprehensive, coordinated in-home care for seniors. Our goal is to coordinate all in-home care, companionship, and medical equipment needed to allow your loved one to age in place. We even offer legal and financial services through third parties, to ease the burden on you and your loved one.
 
Call (402) 200-5555 TODAY!
 
One of our caring staff members will be more than happy to assist you.
We understand what you are going through, and we CARE!
For more information, please give us a call or visit our website at
 
www.sunlightseniorcare.com
​

​How to insure your backyard
Posted in Home
 
Whether you’re grilling out, gardening or splashing in the pool, your backyard is a space to relax, run around and spend quality time with the people you care about. If anything were to happen to it, you would want to be in a position to get your yard back in shape.
 
You know your home insurance policy covers your house, but what about your backyard? Items like a shed, swing set, pool or even a few trees can affect how much coverage you need to recover from a loss. While your independent agent can determine the best coverage for your situation, here’s what coverage is needed for common backyard items.
 
Shed
A standard homeowners’ policy contains many different coverages in addition to the portion that protects your house. Your shed is protected as another structure on your property. Items protected under “other structures” also include detached garages, driveways and fences.
 
Grills, tools and other equipment
Most grills, lawn equipment and other items in your backyard are covered under the personal belongings portion of your policy. However, if you have an item that is particularly pricey, your standard policy may not contain enough coverage to replace everything after a loss.
 
One option is to raise your coverage limits. Keep in mind that there’s a cap on how much your insurance will cover for each individual item, as well as for the entire loss. Alternatively, you can add endorsements to cover specific, high-value items. It may increase your premium, but you will be covered for more kinds of losses and your policy deductible doesn’t apply. This means that you could replace expensive equipment at no additional cost.
 
Pool
When protecting your pool, your coverage depends on if you have an in-ground or above-ground pool. In-ground pools are considered a structure, but above-ground pools are considered personal property. Either way, both are protected to a degree with a standard homeowners’ policy. Be sure to talk with your agent about adding coverage to ensure that your pool is fully protected.
 
In addition, owning a pool increases your chance of having an accident. You may need to increase your liability limits or add an umbrella policy, which helps cover costs once you’ve surpassed policy limits. Make sure you also take preventative safety measures, like installing a fence around your pool and never leaving children unattended.
 
Landscaping and trees
If caused by a covered loss, like fire, vandalism or lightning, your homeowners’ insurance will cover damage to landscaping and trees. Similar to your lawn equipment, the amount your insurance company will contribute to your loss is capped – and even more so by the individual item.
 
Trampolines and playsets
Backyard playthings are covered under your personal property coverage. If destroyed by a covered loss, your standard policy should cover your trampoline, swing set and more.
 
Remember, while a trampoline or playset can be a fun addition to your yard, these items put you at a higher risk of an accident. Increase liability limits or add an umbrella policy to help cover you if someone is injured while playing on your property.
 
Be sure to discuss your backyard with your agent. If you fail to disclose that you have items like a pool or a trampoline, a future claim could be denied. Withholding information on your home also puts you at risk for your policy to be cancelled entirely. So be sure to discuss the items in your backyard with your insurance agent and they will help you get the right coverage at the right price for you. Find a Grange agent and make sure your yard is properly insured today.
 
This article is for informational and suggestion purposes only. If insurance policy coverage descriptions in this article conflict with the language in the policy, the language in the policy applies. To learn more about home insurance coverage, speak with your local independent agent.