THE GUARDIAN (a Memorial Poem)

THE GUARDIAN

As I sit here thinking of you, I think of all you've missed. 

 How one moment you were here, then suddenly added to God's list. 

How times have changed, how people have grown,
how life didn't stop, just kept moving on. 

Thirteen years of birthday parties, weddings, funerals and the Derbys. 

The birth of four more girls, but now as your grand babies. 

All the memories you couldn't attend 

The lives you couldn't touch because of your end. 

The days that were sad when you were not there.

They seem to get easier for us to bare. 

I think of the times I wish to take back or relive again 

 When I took them for granted thinking your company would have no end. 

Every May sneaks up on me, I don't keep track of the date. 

Hoping I just forget the dreaded day of your destined fate. 

 But each year it still comes and goes so quickly 

That before I know it, it's here again, still making me feel sickly. 

 Taking me back to the day when I saw your burned hand 

Hoping and pleading the nightmare would end. 

Praying and believing God would take your pain 

I stared out the window, hoping strength you'd gain. 

Not realizing He would answer our prayers 

He took your hands and lead you upstairs. 

Away from the hurt, the worry the sadness 

Now to look upon us, with a new found gladness. 

 The part that still hurts is knowing my girls 

 Got jipped of their chance to know the man with the curls. 

But on that day when my babies almost drowned 

I screamed for help and no one was around. 

Except for their angel who lifted me from my feet 

To into the water, pulling them from their baby seats. 

Breaths of life and tears of such fear 

The water coming out and me holding them near. 

On the ride home from the hospital I remembered the date. 

Oh, it was YOU that helped save their fate! 

That was your purpose to hold tight their hands, 

So they were not taken too soon to His land. 

Though you are not with us in body or sound, 

Your spirit still lives with us, always around. 

Still seeing the births, the parties, the holidays. 

Alive in our stories, recipes and things you'd say. 

 In the questions they ask about their Grandpa Tommy 

Even though they see it hurts their mommy. 

You stay alive through our little kids 

And when we see you in their curly lids. 

Your spirit and memory may fade with times 

But the lives you have touched and leaving your dimes 

We'll never forget that feeling you left 

Remaining so strong until your last breath. 

So though I am sad to have missed you grow old, 

What would have happened if you didn't go? 

Your grand babies are here and doing very well 

Its thanks to you Dad that we still have our Lina and Belle! 

So just keep watching over and holding us tight. 

 And keep coming to us in our dreams at night. 

 Keep taking Lina to the beach to collect shells 

And give long warm hugs to our Meia and Belle. 

Then invite Kaylee to your mechanical glass home 

with the lights on the fence and the bear rug in your throne. 

Oh and then make plans for another bundle of joy 

You finally get to experience having a boy! 

As we see sun rays and rainbows and catch falling dimes. 

It makes us remember all of the times 

Of when you were here and now where you are 

We always know you are never very far. 

 Though you're not with us and they'll never meet 

In our dreams and our hearts you will always be. 

"DADDY, PLEASE GUIDE US THROUGH LIFE. 

WE LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW." 

Dedicated to Tommy LaMaster 9/6/55 - 5/28/02

Written by Michelle Ferrigno 5/28/15

Michelle's Loaded Beef Stew

I am not a good cook... but when I whip up a meal that my entire family goes for seconds, I know it's a good recipe!  Took me ten minutes or less to prepare and makes my house smell delicious while it's cooking!  After having tried several beef stew recipes and never finding one that hit the spot, I began mixing ingredients from a few different recipes. So, I guess it deserves it's own name... 

Michelle's Loaded Beef Stew

• Prep
  10 m
• Cook
  1 hr 40 m
• Ready In
  Under 2 h

Ingredients

• 2 pounds cubed beef stew meat
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 cubes beef bouillon OR 4 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon Beef Base
• 4 cups water
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
•  Salt to taste

• 6-8 small red potatoes, cubed with skins
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons corn starch OR 4 tablespoons Kentucky Kernel Seasoned Flour
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 12 oz. bag mixed vegetables (corn, carrots, green beans)

Directions

1. In a large pot, cook beef in oil over medium heat until brown. Dissolve beef bouillon/bullion base in water and pour into pot. Stir in rosemary, parsley, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer 40 minutes.
2. Stir in the potatoes and onion into the pot. Dissolve cornstarch/ seasoned flour in 1/2 cup cold water and stir into stew. Cover and simmer 40 minutes more.
3. Finally add bag of mixed vegetables and simmer for 30 additional minutes. Serve and Enjoy!!

 
Michelle LaMaster, Insurance Agent
Cell: 502.643.4124
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April Showers Bring... May Flowers, Monsoons, Flooding, Hail and Storm Damage

Spring rains bring beautiful flowers, greenery and growth of nature.  However, storms can also bring excess water, wind and hail resulting in ugly consequences.  Below is advice on what to if you suffer from the adverse affects of Mother Nature.

BEFORE SUBMITTING AN INSURANCE CLAIM, GET A PROFESSIONAL OPINION.  Before contacting your insurance carrier, get a professional to assess the situation. Or even better, get two. Having a professional, unbiased opinion will help you to be informed of issues you may have encountered and they can typically work as an advocate with your adjuster if you do decide filing a claim is necessary.  Also keep in mind, once you submit a claim, it's on your claims history, which follows you like your credit history.  This is regardless if the adjuster finds damage and pays $10,000 or denies and pays $0 for no damage. A claim is a claim is a claim.  Unfortunately, zero dollar payout claims also count as claims frequency, which will result in loss of claims free discounts, make it difficult to fit in a preferred market, causing unnecessary increases to your rates and problems for your insurance future.

CONFIRM AND CONSIDER YOUR  DEDUCTIBLE VS THE TOTAL LOSS.  Now days, most homeowners insurance policies in Kentucky and Indiana have a separate (and typically higher) deductible for wind/hail losses than for standard losses. From what I've noticed with most carriers,  the wind/hail deductible ranges from $1,000 to 5% of home's value. Unfortunately, over the last couple years,  some insurance carriers slipped the deductible change in at the policy renewals, unnoticed by the policyholder... until a wind/hail claim occurs.  When considering filing a claim, include deductibles in the scenario. Also, keep the aspect in mind that insurance is intended to help one recover from a substantial financial hardship,  putting you back where you were before the loss. Insurance is not designed to maintain a property, put an insured 'ahead' or to pay out small/minor losses.  Zero pay out and small losses accrue the same upfront costs for adjusting the claim and therefore result in a claim ding on your insurance history. 

BELIEVE YOU HAVE STORM DAMAGE TO YOUR ROOF, SIDING, GUTTERS, WINDOWS? 

1. BEWARE OF STORM CHASERS.     In March and April 2012 the storm chasers and start-up companies poured into the heavy hit areas of KY and IN, and they are again out today.  Regardless of what carrier you utilize, take precautions, check the BBB for their rating and SOS for their establishment date. Storm chasers might eat your deductible (which is insurance fraud), however they also offer "tail-light" warranties, which are basically valid until the storm clean up is over and they drive away in search of the next storm town. 
2. LOOK FOR A REPUTABLE, LOCAL ROOFING AND EXTERIORS COMPANY.   Going local not only supports and strengthens the local economy, it provides you a barrier of protection knowing the business' established date and their reputation with clients, the BBB and trade associations.  I personally endorse a few locally owned and operated, trustworthy roofing and exterior companies. Each of these companies stand behind their work with warranties, and specialize in residential and commercial roofing and exterior work, such as windows, gutters and siding. 
   

DO YOU HAVE WATER DAMAGE FROM FLOODING OR WATER SEWER BACKUP?

1. THE HOMEOWNERS (HO-3) INSURANCE POLICY EXCLUDES LOSSES RESULTING FROM FLOOD.  There is no way around it - flood insurance policies are a completely different type of insurance policy than a homeowners (HO-3) insurance policy. Flood insurance is federally regulated and though it can be purchased from many standard carriers, the costs and coverages are exactly the same.  Unfortunately, most people do not carry flood insurance because it is expensive, limited in coverage and is not required to be carried by their mortgage company unless the property resides in a flood zone. A flood certificate is required to obtain a flood quote, which is available for a charge from MSD or your sewer provider.  There  a handful of carriers such as AIG, PURE and CHUBB that provide limited flood coverage in their high value homeowners policies. For more information about those carriers check with your insurance professional. 
2. WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A FLOOD?   According to FEMA the definition of flooding is:   A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of 2 or more acres of normally dry land area or of 2 or more properties (at least 1 of which is the policyholder's property) from:
• Overflow of inland or tidal waters; or
• Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or
• Mudflow;or
• Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined above.
3. WHAT IS WATER BACK-UP AND SUMP DISCHARGE OR OVERFLOW COVERAGE?   


• Water Back-up and Sump Discharge coverage is excluded on the standard Homeowners (HO-3) insurance policy in KY in IN. However, this coverage is available to be added on to the HO-3 policy by endorsement, for an additional cost. As an insurance agent professional, my recommendation is to always carry this coverage endorsement add-on, regardless if you have a basement, crawl space or slab, and even if you carry the local Sewer Districts coverage offered on your water or sewage bill.
• Water Back-up and Sump Discharge or Overflow coverage is available by endorsement to the homeowners policy.  This endorsement add-on will provide $5,000 (as a starting limit, which can be increased to higher limits) of coverage for back up through a sewer or drain or overflow or discharge of a sump, sump pump or related equipment, even if the equipment suffers a mechanical breakdown. For example, the sump pump motor burns out and the basement floods; there is $5,000 of coverage for that damage. The coverage is for water or waterborne material, so coverage is provided for damage caused by items floating in the water. This coverage does not, however, increase the limits of liability for coverages A, B, C, or D in the homeowners’ policy. This takes the problem of defining back-up or overflow out of the equation of certain losses, since the endorsement provides the coverage that is excluded in the main policy itself.  
4. LOOKING FOR A REPUTABLE, LOCAL WATER RESTORATION COMPANY RECOMMENDATION?     I personally recommend a few companies that are locally owned and operated, maintain an A rating with the BBB and have been around for many years. LLH has done business with these companies.
• Black Diamond Louisville (502) 585-1919 Jeffersonville (812) 944-0453
• Emergency Restoration (502) 968-0926
• Purofirst (502) 244-1510
• Precision Dry (502) 212-2096
• Servpro (502) 897-3608
• Kings-Quality (812)944-4347

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Seriously, Stop refrigerating these foods...

Interesting article.  I've refrigerated nearly all of these.

Article By: Christopher Snow 

If you're like a lot of folks on the internet, you're probably tired of people, governments, and disembodied voices telling you what to do. And to be fair, a lot of the things you shouldn't put in your icebox are pretty self-evident.

You shouldn't refrigerate pants (but should freeze them). You shouldn't refrigerate a live mongoose. You probably shouldn't refrigerate other refrigerators, because that's wasteful.

But you know what? Since this list is potentially infinite, I guess we'll save time and restrict ourselves to the foods many people think they should be refrigerating, but really don't need to. Yes, that will be better.

Definitely Don't Refrigerate...

There are some foods that are actively made worse by refrigeration. These are the items you should absolutely keep away from cold.

---

[Credit: Flickr user "Buzz Hoffman"]

Potatoes

Refrigeration causes the starch in potatoes to turn to sugar, and while this might sound like a good thing, it gives them the wrong flavor. The skins will also darken prematurely while cooking, making them look less appetizing.

Onions

Here's a weird one. You don't have to refrigerate onions, but you do need to keep them physically separated from the potatoes. Spuds emit moisture and gases that will make your onions rot. Your best bet is to keep onions in the mesh bag they came in—they like air circulation.

Garlic

Again, air circulation is key. Garlic bulbs will keep for two months without refrigeration, and if you keep them out of the damp air of the fridge you'll avoid making all your other nearby produce smell like garlic. Some even say that refrigeration will make garlic sprout prematurely.

Avocado

Is there anything more delicious and healthy than a ripe avocado? Avocado won't ripen in cold conditions, so unless you need them to keep for awhile, you should let yours live outside the refrigerator until they're ready to eat. There's a popular legend suggesting the presence of the pit prevents browning, so if you only use half of an avocado, be sure to reserve the side with the pit.

Tomatoes

Cold breaks down the cell walls in tomato flesh and causes them to become mushy and mealy. For better results, store them at room temperature and keep them out of direct sunlight, which can ripen them early and unevenly.

Bananas

"I'm Chiquita banana and I've come to say, bananas have to ripen in a certain way." So went the original Chiquita commercial from the 1940s. Now, we're not saying you should go and buy Chiquita brand bananas, but their refrigeration advice is solid.

Allow bananas to ripen at room temperature, and use your refrigerator when you want to slow the ripening process. Just be aware that refrigeration also happens to turn banana peels brown (though the interior is still unspoiled). Frozen bananas also make a great ice cream replacement for dieters.

Melon

[Credit: Flickr user "el_finco"]

Fresh melon—uncut, we should specify—is best stored on the kitchen counter where it can properly ripen and sweeten. Only after you cut up your cantaloupe (or whatever) into bite-sized bits should the flesh be refrigerated (but never frozen).

Stone Fruits

Peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums, cherries, and so on should be ripened at room temperature, stem-end down. Only after the fruits start softening slightly to the touch and begin to smell sweet should they be moved to the refrigerator. Shelf life is three to five days after that.

Bread

Try to eat your bread before it gets to the point where you need to chill it to stave off mold, because if you end up refrigerating, the loaf will get tough and less tasty. For this reason, a lot of people freeze bread. Freezing preserves the texture, but then you have to deal with defrosting it. And who's got the the time to microwave a slice of bread when they're rushing to catch a train in the morning?

Pastries

[Credit: Flickr user "QuintanaRoo"]

It's the same story with cookies and pastry. You can store them covered outside the fridge, and it's true they won't last quite as long, but refrigeration causes baked goods to go stale faster. Keep your cannolis on the countertop where they belong.

Hot Sauce

Not all hot sauces are created equal, but if it's a vinegar-based hot sauce like Tabasco, you can almost always safely store it in the pantry for months on end. Cold weakens the flavor and changes the viscosity of the sauce, affecting the pour.

Spices

Once again the humid environment of a refrigerator is detrimental to the flavor of spices, and since most can be safely stored for years without refrigeration, there's no benefit to cold storage at all.

Honey

Ugh. My family refrigerates honey and I'll never understand why. Honey is one of the world's earliest preservatives. It has a practically indefinite shelf life, and we've heard tales of archaeologists uncovering ancient Egyptian tombs with edible honey inside.

Don't refrigerate honey. It'll crystallize, and you'll have to squeeze that stupid teddy bear even harder to get it out.

Peanut Butter

All-natural peanut butter does have to be refrigerated, because the peanut oil can rise, separate from the mash, and go rancid. Commercially processed peanut butter, on the other hand (like JIF and Skippy), can be stored for months without issue—even if the jar's been opened already. But really, who can't eat a jar of peanut butter in a month? It's delicious, and good for you, too.

Oils

Nut oils (like hazelnut oil, mmm...) must be refrigerated, but for other types of oil you're in the clear. Oils will become cloudy and harden when refrigerated, and while this doesn't do lasting damage, you'll need to wait for the oil to warm before it tastes right or flows properly again.

Maybe Don't Refrigerate...

These are hotly contested. We've heard some pretty convincing stories of people storing these items at home without refrigeration, but you might want to keep them cool just in case.

---

Apples

Everybody stores apples in the fruit drawer, but that's not entirely necessary. More importantly, it could reduce the amount of antioxidants in the fruit's skin. Apples will keep for about a week outside the fridge, and depending on the variety they might last a bit longer inside—but whether the tradeoffs are worth it is up to you.

Coffee

Go ahead and refrigerate your leftover iced coffee from lunch, but coffee beans and grounds should really be stored more carefully. Condensation created by the fridge or freezer can affect the flavor of the beans, and sensitive palates can detect the difference. For best results, store beans or grounds in an airtight container outside the refrigerator instead.

Eggs

Certain organic eggs may be left out for a few days, as long as the shell is intact, but we're not sure why you'd want to bother. You'll get much better longevity out of a properly refrigerated egg, and there's nothing smellier than a rotten one.

[Credit: Wikimedia Commons, "James Sloss"]

Butter

Personally, I keep butter in a French butter dish, which holds butter upside down and inside an air pocket underwater. The water creates an airtight seal, while the butter remains easily spreadable at room temperature. The USDA doesn't really advise this, but it's working out fine so far.

Condiments

Again, despite the "Refrigerate After Opening" labels, you really don't have to refrigerate processed condiments like ketchup and mustard. They'll do fine right there on the kitchen table, just like the ones left beside the menus at the local diner.

Salad Dressings

Some people refrigerate salad dressings, some don't. Since most dressings are oil-based, and we've already established oil's longevity outside the fridge, they should be fine. Salad dressings that aren't oil-based are usually made of processed goop, and those are dense with preservatives anyway. Use your best judgment, of course.

Soy Sauce

The "Refrigerate After Opening" warning on that bottle of Kikkoman is only there because they're required to write it by law. The truth is, all the salt in the sauce is going to keep the stuff safe for months without refrigeration.

Personal Insurance Policy Options

Automobile  •  Homeowner  •  Condo-owner  •  Secondary, Seasonal and Rental Property  •  Landlord and Tenant/Renters •  Umbrella Excess  •  Boat/Watercraft  •  Motorcycle  •  ATV/Golf cart  •  Life  •  Scheduled Valuables  •  Health  •  Dental  •  Vision  

Being an independent insurance agent gives me an advantage that captive agents and direct writers can not provide to their clients- Options! Representation of 100+ personal, business, life, and health carriers allows me to maintain a competitive price and comprehensive coverage. And, alternate solutions as your life needs change, or should you wish to explore the markets.

In addition to offering a full circle of services for all lines of insurance, bonding, and wealth management, there is no need to piece together your insurance or financial portfolio through multiple direct writing or captive carriers.  We have it all under one roof!  See what I can do for you!

At Logan Lavelle Hunt we also have agency standards set in place.  Any agent can sell you a minimum premium insurance policy to give you the lowest premium. And though price is important, what good is insurance if you don't have good coverage?  It is of utmost importance that we set minimum recommendations for our policies to ensure there is coverage for as many perils that an insurance policy can cover.

It's easy to request your comprehensive policy review - just pick your starting point:

• Provide me with a picture or scan of your policy page via:
• email to michelle@louisvilleins.com
• text to 502-643-4124
• Request a time to chat for about 30 minutes to go over your info.

At minimum, I can review the coverages you currently have and make recommendations for you.

Michelle LaMaster, Insurance Agent
Cell: 502.643.4124
Facebook | Email me

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Coverages Explained - Homeowners Special Personal Property Coverage HO-3 w/15 HO-5

Personal Property Coverage – What Are My Options?

Your home insurance policy includes coverage for your personal property. Big deal, you knew that. You probably even knew that you wanted to have “replacement cost coverage,” whatever that is. But what a lot of people don’t understand is that they have options as to what their personal property is covered against.

Each policy and each company is different, so you should always talk to your independent agent regarding your specific coverage, but essentially there are two options available for your personal property coverage.

The first is the coverage available on the standard HO-3 policy. With this coverage your personal property coverage is limited to the listed perils in the policy. If your loss is on that list you’re set, if not you have no coverage.

The second option is available with the HO-5 policy, or by adding the special personal property endorsement to your standard policy. This coverage expands your personal property coverage so that you are covered for anything that could happen EXCEPT a short list of exclusions. If you have a loss to your personal property you simply consult your policy, if the loss is not excluded you have coverage. Clearly this is the better coverage because there are fewer exclusions.

A few examples:

• Lets say you spill bleach or paint on your couch and it has to be replaced. If you had a standard un-endorsed home policy you would look at your policy and see that spilling bleach is not one of the listed perils, so you would have no coverage. If you had the HO-5 policy or the special personal property coverage endorsement you would look at your policy and see that spilling bleach is not excluded so you would have coverage!
• Lets say the power company sends a power surge through the lines and it fries your T.V. and stereo. If you had a standard un-endorsed home policy you would look at your policy and see that your electronics are not covered for that type of peril so you would have no coverage. If you had an HO-5 policy or the special personal property endorsement you would look at your policy and notice there is no exclusion for such an act, so you would have coverage!
• Let’s say you are carrying your brand new flat screen TV down the stairs and you drop it. If you have a standard policy you’ll see dropping is not a listed peril, so there’d be no coverage. If you had the special personal property endorsement or the HO-5 policy you would be covered.
• Let's say your kiddos just got a new Wii for Christmas and they forget when playing Just Dance to put that strap around their wrist.  And, oh no!  There goes the remote right through the $4,000 tv screen!  There is coverage on the HO-5, because there is no exclusion.

As you can see there is greater potential for an uncovered loss if you have a policy without the special personal property endorsement. The good news is that it’s easily remediated by calling your independent insurance agent.

Other endorsement coverages are also important for your homeowners policy.  Water sewer backup coverage, earthquake, replacement cost coverage and mold coverage are excluded and often overlooked when taking out a policy.  These types of coverages may be added on to a policy for an additional fee or in a bells and whistles type endorsement.

Also see what I can do for you, for a listing of all the lines of business and services I offer!

Michelle LaMaster, Insurance Agent
Cell: 502.643.4124
Facebook | Email me

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