What’s going on at the Lake of the Ozarks this January?

If you're already starting to feel the winter blues and looking forward to warmer weather, we know how you feel. Fortunately, no matter what season it is, there are always fun events around the Lake of the Ozarks. Your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company has information on some of the great events taking place around the Lake this January!

OPEN MIC AT GREAT STONE COFFEE

Jan 02, 2021 & Jan 20, 2021

Great Stone Coffee

1375 Hwy KK

Osage Beach MO 65065

Bring your passion to our stage! Every First Saturday and Third Wednesday of the month, we open our stage to local acts of all ages and experience levels. Musicians! Poets! Comedians! We want to showcase your talent! Sign-up starts at 6pm, performances start at 7!

PAINT THE TOWN AT THE ROYAL CATCH BAR & GRILL

Jan 11, 2021

The Regalia Hotel & Conference Center

250 Racquet Club Dr.

Paint Night at The Regalia Hotel & Conference Center, Lake Ozark Missouri! Will be hosted in The Royal Catch Bar & Grill. Monday, January 11th at 6:30 PM We are painting winter Cardinals on wood Your choice of what to paint on… 6×24 cedar $25, 11×24 pine $30, 11×24 cedar $35. Enjoy a few hours of artistic entertainment as Monty takes you step-by-step and creating your own holiday work of art… Acrylic painting on stretched canvas. Be sure to arrive early and purchase your dinner and a few drinks before and during the event! Reserve your suits here... All seats must be reserved in advance. No walk-ins.

DRAG 2 NITE @ THE REGALIA

Jan 16, 2021

The Regalia Hotel & Conference Center

250 Racquet Club Dr.

Lake Ozark MO 65049

Who is ready for a night like no other? The Regalia is hosting an incredibly fun-filled evening that will have you laughing and in awe of the stellar performances! The Drag Show will be hosted on January 16th, 2021 at 9 PM. Tickets will be sold online for $10 or at the door for $15. Get your tickets before they are gone at nclusionplus.com/upcoming-events

LOMDA OVERLAND PARK BOAT SHOW

Jan 28, 2021 - Jan 31, 2021

Overland Park Convention Center

6000 College Blvd.

Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealer Association brings the lake to Overland Park in the heart of winter. See the latest 2021 cruisers, runabouts, performance boats, tritoons, ski boats, personal watercraft, docks, lifts, and all boating accessories at K.C's largest boat show. Bring the entire family to the Overland Park Convention Center, January 28th through the 31st.

Your Lake Of The Ozarks Pest Control Company 
For all the events that are happening around our community, your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company will help keep you updated and informed. The cold weather will be sticking around for a while longer. Just because it’s cold, doesn’t mean pests stop trying to enter your home. To keep your home pest free all year long, give A B Pest Control & Insulation a call.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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5 Scrumptious Christmas Cookie Recipes Santa will LOVE!

'Tis the season for holiday spirit, spending time with family and friends, giving, and indulging in deliciously sinful treats! That's one of the best things about the holidays - all the delightful snacks and meals you don't typically get throughout the year. In the spirit of Christmas, we at A B Pest Control & Insulation want to share with you 5 scrumptious Christmas cookie recipes that Santa will LOVE!

1. Gingerbread Man Cookies

You simply can't go wrong with this classic! They're the perfect make-ahead cookies that'll be a hit at any holiday event.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tablespoons water
2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
Frosting of choice

Directions:
Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses, egg and water. In another bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients minus frosting; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; cover. Refrigerate until easy to handle, about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 4-in. gingerbread man cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
Bake until edges are firm, 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Frost as desired.

2. Perfect Sugar Cookies

It doesn't get much more festive than this!

Ingredients:

FOR THE COOKIE DOUGH

3 c. all-purpose flour, plus more for surface

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 c. granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 tbsp. milk

FOR THE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened

5 c. powdered sugar

1/4 c. heavy cream

1/2 tsp. pure almond extract

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Food coloring 

Directions:

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.

In another large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy and pale in color. Add egg, milk, and vanilla and beat until combined, then add flour mixture gradually until totally combined.

Shape into a disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 1 hour.

When ready to roll, preheat oven to 350º and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly flour a clean work surface and roll out dough until 1/8” thick. Cut out shapes and transfer to prepared baking sheets. Freeze 10 minutes (so your shapes hold while baking!).

Meanwhile, make frosting: In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter until smooth, then add powdered sugar and beat until no lumps remain. Add cream, almond extract, and salt and beat until combined.

Bake cookies until edges are lightly golden, 8 to 10 minutes. 

Let cool, then frost and decorate as desired.

3. Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

These taste just as good as they look.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 c. granulated sugar

1 large egg

3/4 tsp. almond extract

Red food coloring

Sprinkles

Directions:

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl using a hand mixer (or in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment), beat butter and sugar together. Add egg and beat until incorporated, then add extract. Add dry ingredients and beat until just combined. 

Divide dough in half, keeping one half in mixing bowl. Add red food coloring and mix until desired color is reached. Shape each dough into a square that is roughly ½” thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. 

Place red dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll into a rectangle that’s about 1/4" thick. Repeat with white dough. Take top sheet of parchment paper off of each dough. Place red dough on top of white dough, dough sides facing each other. Gently press on top of dough to help seal together. 

Remove top parchment paper and trim sides to match up evenly. Starting on a long side, use the bottom parchment paper to help roll dough tightly in to a log. Roll log on the counter a few times to help seal the edge. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to overnight. 

Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place sprinkles on a medium plate. Using a sharp knife, slice cookies 1/2” thick and roll edges in sprinkles. Place on baking sheets 2” apart. 

Bake until edges are set and just starting to turn golden, 10 minutes.

4. Santa's Trash Cookies

Even Santa has a naughty side, and these delicious cookies will have him begging for more!

Ingredients:

1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1 large egg

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

3/4 c. crushed potato chips

3/4 c. crushed pretzels

1 1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 c. red and green sprinkles

Flaky sea salt, for garnish

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350º and line two baking sheets with parchment. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined.

In another large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt until combined. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until just combined.

Gently fold in most of the potato chips, pretzels, chocolate chips, and sprinkles (reserve some for pressing on tops of cookies).

Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop balls of dough (about 2 tablespoons each) onto prepared baking sheets. Press down lightly on each cookie to flatten, then press remaining potato chips, pretzels, chocolate chips, and sprinkles on top. Sprinkle with flaky salt.

Bake until edges are just starting to get golden, 14 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

5. Peppermint Patty-Stuffed Chocolate Cookies

Everyone will love the surprise hidden inside this stuffed cookie.

Ingredients:

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 tsp. baking powder

2 large eggs

1/2 c. canola oil

14 York Peppermint Patty Minis

Sprinkles, for decorating

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix and baking powder; in another bowl, whisk together eggs and oil. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until fully combined.

Using your hands, form small balls of dough. Flatten a ball, then place a Peppermint Patty in the center and fold dough over to completely cover. Transfer to baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough (you should have enough for about 14 cookies).

Top with sprinkles and bake until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly on baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to let cool completely.

Happy Holidays from A B Pest Control & Insulation!
We're certain that these 5 irresistible treats will make you the host with the most and the favorite at any gathering and get you on Santa's nice list! Be sure if you make any of these, to bring us by some to sample! 😉

If you are needing to protect your home from pests this holiday season, call A B Pest Control & Insulation at 573-964-1100. From keeping your home warm all season long to protecting your home from pests, A B Pest Control & Insulation can take care of it all.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

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Is Your Home Properly Insulated?

It's nearly winter, and your electric bill is starting to reflect those colder temps. You're probably wondering how you can save money on your energy bill right about now. Most homeowners don't put much thought into their attic or crawl space. Since they're not commonly used or visited, it's one of the locations in the home that tends to go unnoticed. Crawl spaces and attics can let air seep through causing poor energy efficiency. For optimal energy efficiency, your home should be properly insulated from the roof down to its foundation. Is yours?

Insulating Your Attic
Air leaks in your attic increase heating and cooling bills by letting unconditioned air in and conditioned air out. Sealing and installing a good quality insulation can improve your home's efficiency. Loose-fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an attic. Loose-fill insulation is usually less expensive to install than batt insulation, and provides better coverage when installed properly.

Three Types Of Attic Insulation

Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is great for insulating empty spaces, such as attics and crawl spaces. Cellulose insulation is thick, dense, and clumpy, with a consistency much like down feathers. The chief value of this shape and size is that the insulation can fit in enclosed areas (such as walls) and can conform around obstructions such as wires and ducts (found both in walls and in attics).

Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass is a type of fiber primarily composed of glass that is used as a residential and commercial thermal insulator. As an insulator, it slows the spread of heat, cold, and sound in structures. By trapping pockets of air, it keeps rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and thereby serves as a convenient method to increase energy efficiency. Commonly found in blanket form, called batts, it is available in standard pre-cut lengths and widths. Fiberglass insulation also comes as loose fill that can be blown into attic, wall and floor cavities.

Foam Spray
Spray foam insulation offers a dynamic option that is suitable for almost any attic. Attic spray foam insulation has a versatile application method, which gives it a significant advantage over traditional options. It can be applied in narrow areas, blocking gaps and cracks that allow heat transfer. While foam spray insulation is typically a more costly option, it is designed to last and typically requires less cost for repair over the years.

Insulating Your Crawl Space
Unfortunately, energy efficiency issues in crawl spaces can easily go unnoticed. Insulation can help seal off the crawl space and keep your house at the temperature you desire. Proper insulation can also prevent pipes from freezing and bursting in colder weather.

Two Types Of Crawl Space Insulation

Vapor Barrier System
A crawl space vapor barrier system prevents ground moisture evaporation from entering the crawl space. It's designed to resist the flow of air. The vapor barrier system turns the crawl space into a semi-conditioned area by stopping the air movement and making the temperature close to the living spaces in your home above. When the temperature in the crawl space is similar to the temperature in the home's living areas, your floors will feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Foam Spray
Spray foam insulation can help seal things up for good and eliminate any worries you may have about your crawl space. Spray foam is highly dense, and a little bit goes a long ways. It's non-permeable so it can help seal up any air gaps to eliminate moisture and keep your space free of mold, mildew and rot. While the only guarantee of a rodent-free home is ongoing pest control service, spray foam makes it less likely you'll be invaded by rodents. Spray foam is hard and an unwelcoming substance for them, unlike fiberglass insulation.

Let A B Pest Control and Insulation Inspect Your Attic and Crawl Space
If you are looking to insulate your attic or have a vapor barrier installed in your crawl space, enlist the help of a professional crawl space insulation company at the Lake of the Ozarks. They can make sure your house is cleaner, more energy efficient and healthier for you and your family. A B Pest Control and Insulation can seal up your crawl space and attic, so that you can eliminate moisture, odors, and pests for good! Call us for a free no obligation quote at (573) 964-1100.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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www.abpest.net

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Reasons Why Pest Control Is Still Important in the Winter Months

During these colder times, there are several things that homeowners are thinking about when it comes to maintaining their home: furnace upkeep; sealing doorways and windows to keep heat from escaping; winterizing outdoor water spigots... But what about pest control?

It's important to continue regular pest control treatments during the colder months. Your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company takes a look at how winter affects pest control and why it's still important to schedule routine pest control treatments throughout the winter months.

Insects During The Winter
While some pests may migrate to warmer climates during the winter season, some insects spend the winter in hibernation. This is because they're cold blooded creatures who need to conserve their energy during the frigid winter months. Other insects, like bees and wasps, will hide under fallen logs and warm underbrush to keep as warm as possible. Since those insects rely on the pollen from trees and plants, they must use as little energy as possible due to the poor food supply. And then there's opportunistic pests, such as cockroaches  and rodents, who are going to try to seek shelter in the one place that offers protection from outdoor elements, food and water... your home. 

Why Continue Pest Control During Winter
It's important to continue pest control treatments inside and outside your home throughout the winter months to keep pests that are seeking warmth from gaining access. Rodents, termites, carpenter ants and spiders all can invade homes during the winter, and when they do they tend to take up residence inside the walls, which could make it more difficult to find and treat.

• If pests are inside the walls of your home, they are not affected by the cold temperatures outside.
• In addition to insects living in the walls, attics provide shelter to wasps and spiders, as they try to escape the cold.
• If there are points of entry that are not sealed up, rodents can find their way into your home.
• When a professional pest control company treats your home, they will ensure there are no pest related issues or identify any conditions that could lead to the future pest problems.
• When a pest control company removes spider webs, egg cases and wasp nests, it prevents them from reemerging when the weather warms back up.

How Winter Weather Affects Treatment
However, the weather could have some effects on the treatments. During this time of the year, most treatments are performed around the foundation of homes, where there are eaves and overhangs that tend to be sheltered, so they don't usually receive large amounts of moisture. Treatments around the outside of the home are usually ok during light rain or snow. However, if there is no shelter or if there's heavy rain and snow, it may be best to reschedule the treatment for a different day. Once pest control treatments have been applied and have had a chance to dry, precipitation will not usually affect the treatment.

This month has been unusually warm and dry, which may have caused some pests to not go into hibernation. If you need pest control services this winter, call A B Pest Control & Insulation at 573-964-1100. We can help you keep your home pest free this season!

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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www.abpest.net

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Christmas Tree Pests to Keep an Eye Out for

Thanksgiving is behind us, and for many, that means it's time to break out the Christmas décor and get into the holiday spirit! One thing we all look forward to this time of year is putting up that gorgeous lighted Christmas tree. If you're one of those people who prefer a live tree over a fake one, you know there's nothing like the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree to get you in the holiday spirit. 

However, when you bring in a real or cut tree, you could be inviting insects to spend the holidays with you and your family, including spiders, mites and beetles. These insects could remain on the tree into the winter and could become active after being introduced to the warm temperatures inside your home. Your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company has all the information you need to know about Christmas tree insects.

Insects That Live In Christmas Trees
There are many different insects that can call your Christmas tree home from aphids and mites to spiders and beetles. Although insects may not be active during the winter months, they could lay eggs in Christmas trees. When a Christmas tree that has eggs is introduced into your warm home, they could hatch mistaking the warmth for spring. Although these insects typically don't do physical damage to your home, they can become an unwanted house guest(s) throughout the holiday season, especially if the tree you bought has eggs that hatched.

Aphids

Aphids are soft-bodied insects that use their piercing sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap. They can usually be found on the lower boughs of evergreen, pine, balsam fir, spruce, Fraser fir and white fir trees. If you see aphids crawling around on your tree or around your house, to get rid of them but avoid stains, you can simply vacuum them up. 

Mites

Commonly found on Douglas fir, pine, white pine, Fraser fir, and spruce trees, mites are tiny red or brown critters that often go unnoticed. The most common sign of mites on a Christmas tree is the discoloration of the needles that they cause. When many mites are present, their damage gives the needles a dusty, rust-colored appearance. 

Sawfly

Sawflies are often found on spruce and pine trees, and can be detected by their brown cocoons. Often people mistake these cocoons as old butterfly or moth cocoons and don't remove them thinking they're harmless. Other indications that sawflies are probably present are the reddish-brown, straw-like remains of incompletely consumed needles or the bare twigs stripped of needles.

Bark Beetle

Bark beetles are dark brown or black bugs that burrow themselves in the trunks of Monterey pines, ponderosa, Coulter pines, Jeffery pine, white fir, and juniper trees. These tiny beetles are cylindrical hard bodied red, brown or black bugs that are roughly the size of a piece of rice grain. To identify an infestation, look for small holes and saw dust trails on the trunk. 

How To Pick The Right Tree
Harmless or not, you don't want to be spending the holiday season with bugs crawling around the presents. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help minimize the chances of bringing pests into your home through your Christmas tree. When choosing your perfect pest free tree, inspect it carefully including looking underneath the branches. Look for signs of aphids, adelgids or small insects. Things to look for include trees that have their own "flock", light tan, walnut-size, frothy egg masses and small holes with sawdust trails. Make sure to shake out your tree well to dislodge any hiding critters. Remove any bird nests that may be present as they may contain mites. And trim any branches back that show indication of pest remnants. 

Have A Pest-Free Holiday
If your pest infestation goes beyond the tree, it is best to call a professional pest control company at the Lake of the Ozarks. From bed bugs to spiders, A B Pest Control & Insulation can make sure your home is pest free for the holidays. To schedule an appointment with a professional Lake of the Ozarks exterminator, contact us at 573-964-1100.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

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