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Greetings!
"Ah, summer.
What power you have to make us suffer and like it."
Russell Baker What is it about summer that we just love so much? Sure it is hot. And, humid. And OK, maybe a bit sticky, too, but we just love it. Need it. Have to have it. We wait all winter aching for its arrival. Ready and oh so willing to toss off the sweaters of early spring, to get those shorts out for a walk on the beach, a stroll through the park or two hours on our knees working in the garden. Summer is what we dream of. Certainly there are a few who dream in ice blue, skiing down powdered slopes. But don't most of us imagine the perfect summer night filled with midnight blue skies, brilliant stars twinkling above, a bonfire on the beach, scary stories we tell our kids and s'mores before bed? Or maybe it's just the call of the shaded hammock. The solitude and peace of a good book, an ice tea and a song bird to accompany that eventual afternoon snooze.
How will you remember these summer nights? We'd love to know what your favorite summer memories are. If you'd be willing to share them we'll post them in the next At Home.
Tell us here.
We thought we'd dedicate this issue of At Home to all things summer. We hope you enjoy both the newsletter and the summer. They both will be done so soon. |
"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon;
to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."
Henry James
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It's Gotta Be A Book  Our unofficial survey from last month is complete and the voters have spoken. By a 9-1 margin readers still want their books - be they paperback or hard cover - rather than a Nook or Kindle electronic reader.
We did get a few comments about the convenience of the Nook but overall there is still something quite satisfying about the feel of a good book in your hands. So, what are you reading this summer?
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"If a June night could talk,
it would probably boast it invented romance."
Bern Williams
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Stay Cool
Here are three ways to stay cool on the hottest summer day. They work every time.
- Slow down. Wait til late to cut that lawn or do the laundry. The temperature can drop as much as 20 degrees between 5pm and 8pm on summer nights. Plus, utility rates drop after 8pm so you'll be cooler - and more profitable as well.
- Attic Fans - install a thermostatically-controlled fan in your attic. (We can even install one on your roof if access to the attic is problematic) It is 140 degrees or more up there on the hottest days. It is astonishing the amount of hot air that a fan will draw from your home. And - it will make your air conditioning even that much more efficient. Need help? Click here and we'll send an electrician and the big red truck.
- When in doubt - drink. Ice tea. Lemonade. Cool water. Stay hydrated. It may be broiling outside, but if you stay hydrated you will feel cooler and that is, after all, the only thing that counts. Sorry, alcoholic beverages, however enjoyable, do not work as well at keeping us cool as a bit of that refreshing spring water.
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"The summer night is like a perfection of thought."
Wallace Stevens
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Rockin' the Night Away
So which one will it be: "Swing, Swing, Swing"
by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
"Rock Around the Clock,"
by Bill Haley & the Comets
"Louie, Louie"
by the Kingsmen
"Stairway to Heaven"
by Led Zeppelin
"Born in the USA"
by Bruce Springstein
or "Cry Me A River"
by Michael Buble
You're throwing the big summer bash. The BBQ is fired up, the brews are cold, the evening is hot and the music is blasting your favs. Question of the month is: which song do you have to include in your mix?
We want to know - which song helps you rock the night away?
Tell us your favorite. We'll pick a winner and send you the CD!
We've had eight calls already this summer to add outdoor electrical outlets. We've installed lights to illuminate backyard gardens, front walks, added them to a gazebo and even added outlets that allowed the homeowner to place music speakers outside for his party. If you need any electrical work around your home, we hope you'll think to say, |
"Oh, the summer night
Has a smile of light
And she sits on a sapphire throne."
Barry Cornwall
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BBQ
It's summer and that means you're going to BBQ.
And if you are going to BBQ then you might as well enjoy the best BBQ. So, where to go to get the best. North Carolina? Texas? Georgia? Everyone has an opinion of course, but we figure you don't have time to fly south so we thought we'd recommend two great Connecticut locations for BBQ.
Up north, as the crow flies, in Windsor you will find the awesome pulled pork, succulent collards and Blackened Catfish at Nat Hayden's. Nat's nothing short of delectable and we highly recommend it.
Now for you folks down south - say south of New Haven (and for those of you who like a road trip) -- we recommend a Fairfield favorite: Wilson's BBQ with its authentic Southern-style take on East Carolina Pulled Pork, Texas Brisket and Memphis Baby Back Ribs.
You cannot go wrong with these two outstanding BBQ eateries. If you just want to do it all yourself...well here's a BBQ recipe we'd never hear of - Alabama White BBQ Sauce. What?
This traditional Alabama Barbecue Sauce uses mayonnaise as its base rather than tomato sauce, vinegar, or any of the other traditional barbecue sauce bases. Like many barbecue sauces you want to apply this only at the very end of your grilling or smoking. It will breakdown and separate if it is heated too long.
Use this sauce on chicken and turkey. It is also good on pork. Alabama White Barbecue Sauce's tangy flavor is a great addition to grilled foods.
You need to make it at least 8 hours before you will use it. Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients: - 2 cups mayonnaise
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
Preparation:
Mix ingredients together and refrigerate for at least 8 hours before using. Brush lightly over chicken, turkey or pork during the last few minutes of grilling. This barbecue sauce is also great as a dipping sauce so set some aside before you start grilling to serve on the table.
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"Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world." Ada Louise Huxtable
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How Old Is Old?
Fair question. 10 years is old. Really.
That 40 gallon water heater in the basement, the one that seems to run out at the most inopportune times, if it's 10 years old - it's living on borrowed time. 15 years is old if you are an air conditioning system. At 15 it's entering old age. And that boiler, well depending on who made it and how often you've maintained it, 20 years is average.
We hope that you will be comforted to know that in 80 years Aiello has replaced thousands of those units and we'd be happy to help you when the time comes. In the meantime - consider what old means to other home appliances and materials:
Life Expectancy (in years) According to a study by the National Association of Home Builders
Compactors 6
Dishwashers 9
Dryers 13
Washers 10
Gas Ranges 15
Refrigerators 13
Heat Pumps 16
Ducting 10
Dehumidifiers 8
Thermostats 35
Room A/C 10
Faucets 15
Showerheads - lifetime
Carpet 8
Laminate 15-25
Linoleum 25
Bamboo - lifetime
Marble 100
Granite 100+
Garage Door Openers 10-15
Kitchen Cabinets 50
Wood Decks 20-30 in NE
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"Deep Summer is when laziness finds respectability." Sam Keen
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Help Us Help
Aiello Home Services has long supported charitable causes throughout Connecticut. Now, through our Make A Difference Fund, we are ratcheting up efforts and we need your help. If you know of a local, community non-profit organization/group - or an individual in an especially needy position, that would benefit from a $1,000 donation tell us here There are more than 3,000 Aiello customers receiving this newsletter. We're confident that with your help we can help make a small difference in the life of someone less fortunate. Thanks for your help. |
"To see the summer sky is poetry" Emily Dickenson
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Momma Don't Let Your Sons Grow Up To Be Cowboys  Singers, maybe. Country singers - for sure. Especially if they turn out like Kenny Chesney. If you're a fan of Kenny Chesney - this is your chance to see him- FREE.
Thanks to our friends at Country 92FM - Aiello Home Services is happy to offer 4 tickets to the Kenny Chesney concert.
The date: Saturday August 13th, Meadowlands New Jersey.
If you want to sing along - FREE -
just enter here.
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" Yellow butterflies look like flowers flying through the warm summer air." Andrea Willis
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Get In Hot Water!
You're in the shower. The warm water feels great. Suddenly - it's freezing cold. What happened? Well, more than likely someone else took a shower earlier - or washed dishes or clothes or both and they used up all the hot water.
Put an end to all that.
Now - through August 31st Aiello Home Services has a special INSTANT REBATE of $200 on new Noritz Tankless Gas Water Heaters.
Noritz is one of the leaders in the tankless industry
and back their systems with full 12 year heat exchanger warranty. The 93% efficient systems are available in 18 different configurations for residential use - so there's a perfect system for any home.
Plus Noritz Tankless Water Heaters are Energy Star rated and eligible for both Federal Tax Credits and CL&P and UI Rebates -
up to $600.
Aiello can install a new system in one day. So, if you're tired of running out of hot water say "Hello Aiello" and save $200 instantly with a new Noritz Eco-Tough Tankless System.
Call 860-292-2600 |
"In the summer, the song sings itself. William Carlos Williams
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One last word
We're inspired by summer.
Its laziness. Its languid nights and remembered mornings. It seems summer has inspired many and we thought we'd share those quotes with you. If you have a favorite summer quote or thought, we'd love to hear it. Please share it with us here - and enjoy a glorious rest of summer.
Sincerely,
Stephen Birch Aiello Home Services
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