As a Realtor®, Master Naturalist, Director with the National Loon Center Foundation and Whitefish Area Property Owners Association. I’m committed to providing my clients with the best real estate knowledge and service to help meet their buying and selling goals as well as equipping them with best stewardship knowledge and community connection to thrive for years to come.
Hello everyone!! November 20, 2024
Turkey Day in Minnesota is filled with unique traditions that reflect the state’s rich culture and community spirit. Here are some great traditions you might find:
Family Gatherings: Like many places, Turkey Day is primarily a time for families to come together, often involving extended relatives.
Turkey Trot Races: Many towns host "Turkey Trot" races on Turkey Day morning, allowing families to work up an appetite while supporting local charities.
Cranberry and Wild Rice Dishes: Minnesota is known for its wild rice, and many families incorporate this local ingredient into their Turkey Day meals, often pairing it with cranberries.
Game Day: The state’s love for football means that many people gather to watch the NFL games, especially if the Vikings are playing.
Volunteerism: Many Minnesotans dedicate part of their holiday to volunteering at soup kitchens or food banks, giving back to the community.
Outdoor Activities: With the possibility of snow, some families enjoy outdoor activities like sledding or ice skating before or after the meal.
Shopping Traditions: Black Friday shopping starts early in Minnesota, with some families taking part in the tradition of shopping after their holiday meal. We like to do this but with a glass of wine and a computer!
Cultural Celebrations: In areas with diverse populations, families may incorporate cultural dishes or practices into their gathering celebration.
Local Events: Many communities hold special events, parades, or festivals leading up to Turkey Day, fostering a sense of community.
Holiday Wishes and Special Prayers: Some families share what they're thankful for before the meal, making it a heartfelt moment of reflection.
These traditions showcase Minnesota's blend of community, culture, and outdoor spirit, making the holiday a special time for many. If you have some great traditions that your family love, please share them with us!!
Following are some great trivia questions and answers from our November Trivia events:
1. What do Europeans call the Common loon?
The Great Northern Diver
2. True or False - For a Loon to die of lead poisoning, it would have to ingest 5 ounces or more of lead.
FALSE!! A small ounce lead sinker is enough to kill an adult Loon
3. Who was Walt Disney's favorite Princess
Cinderella
4. What Aquatic Invasive Species in considered the greatest threat to any Minnesota Lake?
Starry Stonewort - Dense mats at the water's surface inhibit water recreation. It overtakes and outcompetes native aquatic plants, potentially lowering diversity. It provides unsuitable shelter, food and nesting habitat for native animals. It grows quickly and is highly tolerant of all environmental effects, has solid stems so stays on the bottom making it difficult to detect until it is out of control and impossible to eradicate.
5. What is Muhammad Ali's real name
Cassius Clay
6. What six-letter word names both a seed company and an exercise that combines a squat, a pushup and a jump in the air?
Burpee
7. What are the Northern Lights also known as?
Aurora Borealis
Real Estate Corner:
This great advice came from one of my wonderful and trusted Lenders-Jim Finn at Riverwood Bank in Crosslake:
Homebuyers should go to www.optoutprescreen.com, and electronically opt out for five years. This does two things for them. It prevents companies from sending out firm pre-approved offers of credit, but most importantly what it does is it does not allow the credit reporting agencies to sell their information once their credit is pulled for a mortgage. I have had some customers that waited too long to start the process and ended up needing to have their credit pulled because a property they wanted popped up and they didn’t want to miss out on it. Well, some of them received upwards of 50 calls from brokers who purchased their information from the credit reporting agencies. They are almost as bad as “Shannon, the warranty on your car is about to expire.” There are some people out there who will say anything to try to get buyers to give them a chance to get their business even if it means saying things that aren’t true. It’s unfortunate, but it does happen.
Once they settle on a lender, they should not be making any changes to their credit such as buying a car, getting another credit card, etc. When the lender contacts them for documentation, get it to them ASAP, especially if you are working on a closing in less than 30 days, it just makes for a smoother process. If they are a first-time home buyer, they are strongly encouraged to complete a homeownership education training. It will cover important topics such as preparing for home ownership, budgeting, credit counseling, shopping for a home, obtaining a mortgage, and loan closing. Typically, these are free unless you are applying for a grant, some grant programs require a specific course to qualify for their grant.
If you would like to connect with Jim:
This is is one of my family's favorites on a cold blustery day!! Awesome with a bowl of Creamy Tomato Basil Soup!!
WAPOA and Loon Center Community Events: |
January 30 - Loon and Lakes Trivia at 14 Lakes Brewery 6-8 pm March 13 - Loon and Lakes Trivia at 14 Lakes Brewery 6-8 pm |
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