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COMFORT CONNECTIONS
whatever football game is on that year, without following it too much, and chatting with my in-laws and my son who make it out to our place for the festivities. Sometimes, my wife’s sister will visit as well, with her husband and kids in tow, but generally it’s a relatively small operation, all things considered. The one thing I don’t do on Thanksgiving Day is cook. Every year, I receive strict instructions to steer clear of the kitchen, so I do as I’m told and let the experts handle it. And experts they are, juggling several different boiling pots and recipes at the same time, all while managing to cook up the perfect turkey. My favorite dish has to be the classic sweet potatoes that my wife prepares — they’re steeped in melted marshmallows. There are few foods on this Earth that can compare. GIVING THANKS During This Busy Season
November rolls around, and the bitter cold settles into the Hudson Valley. It’s that time of year when people’s heating systems buckle
under the pressure, turning the house into a refrigerator. The phone starts ringing
off the hook, and it’s all I can do to scramble from house to house to keep everybody happy and warm. Of course, this is far from a complaint. I love what I do, and the fact that our phone won’t stop ringing just means that our wonderful clients trust us with the maintenance of their HVAC systems — a task I take very seriously.
“BUT EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE WINTER HUSTLE AROUND AIRE SERV, I’M MAKING SURE TO SET ASIDE SOME TIME FOR MY FAMILY. “
Back when I was a kid, my family did Thanksgiving a little differently than most. Instead of sweating it out in the kitchen all day, my parents would take us to the local Holiday Inn hotel restaurant near where we lived. Let me tell you, that place was a lot nicer than any Holiday Inn restaurant you’ll find today. It was the kind of place you dressed up to eat at. My dad was friends with the owner there, and the staff would treat us to some of the best food we’d have all year. Obviously, though, Thanksgiving is always about the company you share the holiday with. When we’re all around the table, passing around casseroles and turkey and gravy and those sweet, sweet potatoes, everything else melts away. It’s just me and the family, sharing an excellent meal together and talking. Who could ask for more?
But even in the midst of the winter hustle around Aire Serv, I’m making sure to set aside some time for my family. I’m talking, of course, about Thanksgiving, the perfect opportunity to catch up with loved ones and take a little break from the chaos.
That said, I’m still on call during the holiday. Luckily, everyone else is usually too busy wrangling their Thanksgiving meal to worry about their heating. If they need it
-Jim Serra
fixed, most people do their best to get it done before the horde of relatives arrives, not after.
No, I’m usually not too busy on Thanksgiving. I spend the day watching
845-256-6158 1
THE SECRET TO
Incredible-Looking Leaf Crafts
It’s fall, and your Pinterest boards are full of fall crafts. You find yourself daydreaming about candles glowing in leaf-adorned jars, leafy wreaths on the front door, and a garland of leaves lending a touch of whimsy to the dining room. Colorful fall leaves are the secret to a home that’s perfectly decorated for the season, but how do experienced crafters find leaves that last? If you just grab a handful from
none of the leaves touch each other. Set a few more pages of newspaper on top and add enough weight to keep them flat. Heavy books are ideal for this. Move the newspaper somewhere it can sit undisturbed and leave your leaves alone for at least two weeks.
Just letting your leaves dry flat isn’t enough for decorations that last. The true secret to leaf preservation is an all-in-one glue, sealer, and finish such as Mod Podge. This is a popular tool for decoupage projects, and it belongs in every craft closet. Once your leaves are dry, gently coat one side of each leaf in a layer of Mod Podge. Place your leaves on a sheet of wax paper and wait for them to dry. This should take less than an hour. When the Mod Podge is dry, turn the leaves over and coat the other side. Repeat with a second coat on each side. Mod Podge brings the bright colors back to your leaves and makes them more flexible. They’ll look like they just fell off the tree! These leaves will last for years, and you are free to craft to your heart’s content.
your backyard, in a few weeks, your painstaking project has dried up and you’re stuck vacuuming leaf bits out of your carpet. It’s time to step up your crafting game and learn the trick to preserving leaves for years to come. Before you go out hunting for the perfect leaves, grab a few newspapers. After you’ve gathered up all your favorite leaves, place them in a single layer on a newspaper page. When choosing your leaves, make sure they are still fresh and flat. Leaves that are already dried or curling cannot be preserved well enough to use as decorations. If your leaves are damp, gently dry them off before putting them on the newspaper. Make sure
TESTIMONIALS
“Awesome customer service! Dave, our technician, was extremely friendly and courteous! He was very knowledgeable and explained everything he was doing. Very thorough every step of the way. I would highly recommend Aire Serv! Thank you.” –D.P. “The service was great! I was able to get an appointment just when I wanted it. The technician was courteous and explained the repair and service thoroughly.”
–R.L.
“Aire Serv just installed a new water softener. They were on time, courteous, and efficient. This is the third time that Aire Serv has installed something for me. Each time it has been exactly as they said it would be and at exactly the very reasonable price they quoted. There were never any add-ons or ‘ifs, ands, or buts.’ Service just doesn’t get any better than this.”
“Your people are prompt, call when they are on their way, and call again if a problem arises. Everything was explained in a way that was easy to understand, and I was given options whenever possible. Very polite.”
–D.K.
–H.J.
aireserv.com/mid-hudson-valley 2
HOW TO KEEP YOUR HEATING AT PEAK EFFICIENCY
You know winter has arrived when a layer of frost blankets your lawn and the clouds look heavy, gray, and full of snow. Luckily, you’re comfortable in your house with the heat cranked up and a warm cup of cocoa in your hands. But to make sure your house stays warm, it’s important that you keep your forced air heating system running smoothly and keep your air clean. To do that, you’ll need to practice proper air filter maintenance. The easiest thing you can do for your HVAC, whether temperatures are below zero or above 100, is to change the air filter regularly. Every three months is sufficient, but most people do it when the seasons change. If you slip up and forget, you may not notice, but it’s likely your system will run at lower efficiency, producing higher heating bills, an increased carbon footprint, and a lack of adequate coziness within the
home. The pressure of the clogged filter will strain the equipment and can easily lead to damage that will require repairs. If the filter gets bad enough it may even cease to work, welcoming dust and other contaminants into the house. But which filter should you use? They come in several different types, but your best bet is to pick a mid-range filter no higher than MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) 8. You can go higher and pay more for a filter that traps even smaller particles, but it’s not really necessary, and some equipment will need modifications to fit these high- efficiency filters. If you do need to modify your equipment to fit a filter (some systems will even need to be upgraded to be able to fit MERV 8), it’s best to leave it to the professionals at Aire Serv. We’re happy to help with any of your heating and cooling needs.
SLOW COOKER SWEET POTATO SOUP
HAVE A LAUGH!
INGREDIENTS
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced • 5 cups chicken or vegetable stock • 1 cup coconut milk • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 pounds sweet potatoes, roughly chopped • 1 onion, chopped • 2 stalks celery, sliced • 2 medium carrots, chopped
DIRECTIONS 1. Place all the ingredients except for the coconut milk in a slow cooker. 2. Season everything to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. 3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. 4. Puree everything until smooth, using a blender or an immersion blender. 5. Add the coconut milk, give everything a good stir, and cook for another 30 minutes. 6. Adjust the seasoning and serve warm.
Recipe courtesy of PaeloLeap.com.
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392 Masten Rd Pleasant Valley, NY 12569
Giving Thanks During This Busy Season INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 Feeling Crafty This Fall? 845-256-6158 | aireserv.com/mid-hudson-valley
Testimonials
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Keep Your Heating at Peak Efficiency
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Soup
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Thanksgiving at America’s Resort
THANKSGIVING AT AMERICA’S RESORT
Carve Your Turkey at The Greenbrier
This Thanksgiving, many Americans plan to go over the river and through the woods to sleep on the air mattress at grandmother’s house. But your family Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be crowded and uncomfortable. For generations, The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, has brought families together for a weekend of true American elegance.
offered at the resort, make every day as busy or as relaxing as you want before enjoying a gourmet dinner at one of the resort’s six full-time restaurants.
The Greenbrier is a dream getaway anytime of the year, but America’s resort really goes all out for the
traditional American holiday, Thanksgiving. Family members from every generation can find something fun to do before the family gathers together for the massive Thanksgiving brunch in The
The local hot springs have been popular with travelers since 1778, but The Greenbrier didn’t come to life until 1913. The sprawling 710-room national landmark sits on 11,000 acres of rolling hills and has been described as “‘Monte Carlo’ meets
Greenbrier’s Colonial Hall. The award-winning culinary brigade
‘Gone With the Wind.’” The blend of Colonial decor and Hollywood Regency flourishes make guests feel as if they have stepped back in time, while still offering all the modern amenities. Mom and Grandma relax in the spa, Grandpa enjoys a round
serves up Thanksgiving classics, like soft rolls and roasted turkey, alongside marinated mussels and ricotta tortellini. Make time for the horse-drawn carriage ride
and evening gala, and you have the perfect Thanksgiving.
of golf, the siblings all go off-roading in a Jeep, and later, the whole family will face off in a game of laser tag. With 55 leisure activities
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