It's the Winter Solstice (and Happy Hanukkah!)

We just want to take a moment to wish everyone a very Happy Hanukkah! May you have a joyous celebration of light with those near and dear to you.

Speaking of light, did you know today is also the winter solstice? Today is the darkest day of the year, with Chicago experiencing only 9.1 hours of daylight while those in Southern California will have nearly 10 hours. If you happen to be in the Arctic, you won't see daylight until, well, tomorrow.

For interesting reading on the solstice - and how Stonehenge fits into the picture - check out this article by ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/winter-solstice-2011-shortest-day-year-december-22/story?id=15206334. Get ready for lighter days ahead!

Keep Warm Safely!

Let's be frank for a moment, everyone turns on the heat in the winter. We add on layers, put our thermostats up a few degrees and even bring out our space heaters. At this time of years, heaters and other heat sources are often the cause of devastating home fires. So what can you do to keep your home safe and warm? Read on for a few tips...

- All heating systems, especially furnaces and other boilers, should be checked annually and adjusted and repaired if necessary.

- Ensure space heaters have a safety label (with the letters ETL, UL or CSA) and that they are at least 3 feet from anything that could burn.

- In rooms where there's a risk of burns or heater-related accidents supervise children and pets and place screens around open fires and hot surfaces.

- Only burn seasoned hardwood in fireplaces and stoves. No trash! The US Fire Administration has a great series of videos at http://tinyurl.com/USFA-safe.

- If you have a chimney or flue used by your heating system, have it checked - and cleaned if necessary.

- Never warm or dry clothes or any fabric near open flames or where they might burn.

- Turn space heating systems off and extinguish open fires before going to bed.

- Have at least one smoke and carbon monoxide alarm on each level of your home. If they're already installed, check batteries and test them.

- If you plan to use kerosene heating, again check for that UL label mentioned above, ensure it's legal to burn kerosene in your area and, please, only use clear K-1 kerosene, never gasoline.

- Make sure you have a fire escape safety plan, just in case the worst happens.

If you're curious about more fire safety resources, visit the US Government's main fire safety resource at http://tinyurl.com/firesafety-gov. Stay warm this winter - and more importantly be smart about it!

It's a Wonderful Life Radio Broadcast

"It's a Wonderful Life", the 1946 film by Frank Capra, is a Christmas classic for many. The story of how George Bailey encountered Christmas Eve and turned his life around is a story that many know and love (and if they don't it's likely playing on television all day on Christmas Eve) but have you ever experienced it as a radio-style broadcast?

Twelfth Night Productions in West Seattle is reprising their holiday tradition of doing a live-radio play of "It's a Wonderful Life". Set in the era of radio, this production is like a behind-the-scenes look at a radio broadcast -actors and their microphones, and even the classic sound effects. For those who love the story, it's a new way of appreciating George's journey.

"It's a Wonderful Life" runs through this Sunday, and more information can be found at http:///www.twelfthnightproductions.org. Have a great weekend!

The 12 Days of Christmas

Today is December 13th and coincidentally, 12 days from Christmas. So it seems appropriate to bring a classic Christmas carol to the forefront. Everyone knows the song, right? And how some very kind true love has very unusual choice in presents. Every day the true love comes up with another unique and special gift increasing in quantity from 1 to 12. But have you ever really considered how much the 12 Days of Christmas would cost in 2011? PNC Wealth Management puts together the Christmas Price Index each year to compare how the cost of life in 2011 has impacted the 12 Days of Christmas.

Turns out, to buy all 12 verses for your true love you'd spend $101,119 - a 4.4% increase from last year. If you decide to cut back just a bit and buy just the final verse, you'd spend $24,263. Want to know how it all breaks down? Here's the list:

1. 
   
   Partridge in a Pear Tree: $184.99


2. 
   
   2 Turtle Doves: $125


3. 
   
   3 French Hens: $150


4. 
   
   4 Calling Birds: $519.96


5. 
   
   5 Golden Rings: $645


6. 
   
   6 Geese-a-Laying: $162


7. 
   
   7 Swans-a-Swimming: $6,300


8. 
   
   8 Maids-a-Milking: $58


9. 
   
   9 Ladies Dancing: $6,294.03


10. 
    
    10 Lords-a-Leaping: $4,766.70


11. 
    
    11 Pipers Piping: $2,427.60


12. 
    
    12 Drummers Drumming: $2,629

Who thought a Christmas carol could be so costly? If your looking for something a little more interactive, PNC Wealth Management made an interactive game to help find all of the different gifts - visit http://content.pncmc.com/live/pnc/microsite/CPI/2011/index.html#educators/welcome. And good luck with the final preparations for the holidays as the countdown continues!

Is Your Antique Auto Ready for Winter?

Winter came a bit late in the Seattle area - while in the past we've gotten snowfall before Thanksgiving this year the chilly temperatures are hitting sea level right now. For those with antique or classic cars, the change in climate can be worrisome. An older car can be a delicate instrument and there are definite steps you should take to keep it protected and running smoothly during the winter months. One of the companies we work with, Hagerty, has put together a few pointers for preparing your car for a cold winter:

1) Top Off Your Levels:
- Fill your gas tank and add a fuel preservative. The full tank keeps out moisture and the preservative keeps the gas from breaking down. Then take one last drive to circulate the preservative.

- Make sure your antifreeze is fresh and topped off.
- To avoid a nasty sludge in the spring, change the oil.

2) Take Preventative Measures
- Give your car a good wash and wax to protect the paint. Protect the chrome with wax or paint sealant.

- Over-inflate tires to avoid flat spotting, or jack up the car to take pressure off of the tires.
- Put a battery manager on your car.
- To prevent rodents nesting in an engine compartment, try a rodent repellent under the hood. Just make sure to remove it before starting up.
- Put down a few moisture pads on the upholstery to absorb moisture and prevent mildew.
- Cover the car with a breathable car cover to prevent corrosion and rust.

3) Re-circulate your oil.
- When a car sits, oil settles into the pan, leaving the engine without lubrication. Disconnect the coil wire and crank the engine over several times. Reconnect the coil wire and you should be good to go.
If you have any questions about protecting your classic car - insurance related or not - get in touch! We are always more than happy to help!

Weekend Recipe: Rum Cake

Everyone around our office knows that we are a big fan of sweets...the office candy dish never stays completely full for all that long. So when a newsletter came in the mail this morning with a recipe for "Mighty Meach's Awesome & Idiot Proof Rum Cake" how could we not share?

Cake:

1 cup chopped pecans

1 package Duncan Hines Deluxe Yellow Cake Mix

1 3-1/2 ounce package of vanilla instant pudding and pie filling

1/2 cup light rum

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup salad oil (vegetable oil)

Grease and flour a 10" tube pan or Bundt Cake pan. Sprinkle chopped nuts over the bottom of the pan (if you're afraid that the nuts will make it difficult to remove the cake from the pan, then put the nuts on just before the glaze).

Combine cake mix, pudding mix, water, rum, oil and eggs. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into pan and bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes (watch your oven though, different ovens take more time and other bake faster). The cake should be tall and lightly brown when it is ready.

Pour the Hot Rum Glaze (recipe below!) slowly over the cake as soon as you remove it from the oven. The glaze usually takes about 5 minutes to make, so plan accordingly. A good idea would be to put the cake on an edged cookie sheet when you remove it from the oven - that way if the glaze overflows, the mess is contained. Add the remaining pecans over the top of the glaze and press gently to make sure they stick.

Let the cake cool for 1 to 1-1/2 hours before you remove it from the Bundt Pan or tube pan.

And just to clarify - this is an adults-only type of dessert. From what we've heard and imagined this cake will be a hit among adults at any festive gathering!

Hot Rum Glaze:

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup light rum

1 stick of butter

1/4 cup water

Combine all ingredients and simmer 2-3 minutes. If you want a thicker glaze, you can simmer it a little longer. You can also adjust the rum flavor by adjusting the ratio of water to rum in the 1 cup of 1/2 liquid the glaze needs.

McDonald McGarry Toy Drive!

It's December and that means its the season of giving and holiday cheer! We've teamed up with ServiceMaster of Seattle again this year to collect toys for Toys for Tots and Seattle Children's Hospital. We believe that there is no better way to share holiday cheer than sharing something special with children in need.

We have a donation box decorated and ready! Come on by - we'd love to see you!

'Tis the Season for Holiday Traditions

Every December, families around the world take part in their holiday traditions. Some decorate trees together, others partake of a traditional Hanukkah celebration and still others decide that Home Alone is the epitome of holiday movies. For those that celebrate St. Nicholas Day, tonight is a very important night.

Tradition holds that St. Nicholas visits the during the night on December 5th and fills any shoes that are left out with candy and treats. Waking up on the morning of the 6th, children would rush to see what was left for them in their shoes. While different countries and cultures celebrate St. Nicholas Day differently, there is a sense of tradition in the receiving chocolate in your Converse and marking the countdown to Christmas.

Which makes me wonder, what are some of the best holiday traditions in your family? Do you put out your shoes? See The Nutcracker ballet each year? Have a series of detailed ceremonies for Hanukkah? Dance in the snow when it falls the first time? Share in the comments below!

More Safe Driving Tips for Winter!

In the Holiday Newsletter, we discussed a few ways to get your car ready for the winter season that will be upon us sooner rather than later. As we promised, here are some of our best tips for safe driving this winter (courtesy of Edmunds and Safeco Insurance).

1) Check the traction on your tires - it's hard for a tire to stay safely in contact with the road if there's no tread on your tires. There should be at least 6/32 of an inch of tread on each and every one of those tires. If you live in a very snowy area, look for tires with a "snowflake on the mountain" symbol which is a sign of good snow traction.

2) Make sure you can see! Replace windshield wipers, replace fluids and check to make sure you've got ice removal in your car.

3) Run the air conditioning - it helps remove condensation and frost from the windows and keeps things clear. You can put your temperature on heat and just run the air conditioning in addition. Often, when you put the defrost on, this happens automatically.

4) Make sure your headlights are working - you need to see and others need to see you.

5) Watch out for black ice, and remember the trouble spots! Black ice can be hard to spot and it can test a driver's skills. Also, remember that bridges and intersections aren't the only icy spots out there. Anywhere water crosses the road is a possible spot for ice - hose drainage, car wash areas and even sprinkler systems can cause ice.

Stay safe on the roads! And have a great weekend!