Programmable Thermostats

You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°- 15° for eight hours.  You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.

Using a programmable thermostat, you can adjust the times you turn on the heating or air conditioning according to a pre-set schedule.  As a result, you don’t operate the equipment as much when you are asleep or when the house is not occupied.

Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program.

General Thermostat Operation

You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68° F while you are awake and setting it lower while you are asleep or away from home. By turning your thermostat back 10°-15° for eight hours you can save about 5% – 15% a year on your heating bill (a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long).

In the summer, you can follow the same strategy with central air conditioning, too, by keeping your house warmer than normal when you are away, and lowering the thermostat setting to 78° F only when you are at home and need cooling.  Although thermostats can be adjusted manually, programmable thermostats will avoid any discomfort by returning temperatures to normal as you awake or return home.

A common misconception associated with thermostats is that a furnace works harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been set back, resulting in little or no savings.  In fact, as soon as your house drops below its normal temperature, it will lose energy to the surrounding environment more slowly.  The lower the interior temperature, the slower the heat loss. The longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save, because your house has lost less energy than it would have at the higher temperature.  The same concept applies to raising your thermostat setting in the summer; a higher interior temperature will slow the flow of heat into your house, saving energy on air conditioning.

Choosing and Programming a Programmable Thermostat

Most programmable thermostats are either digital, electromechanical, or some mixture of the two.  Digital thermostats offer the most features in terms of multiple setback settings, overrides, and adjustments for daylight savings time, but may be difficult for some people to program.  Electromechanical systems often involve pegs or sliding bars and are relatively simple to program.

When programming your thermostat, consider when you normally go to sleep and wake up.  If you prefer to sleep at a cooler temperature during the winter, you may want to start the temperature setback a bit ahead of the time you actually go to bed. Also, consider the schedules of everyone in the household; is there a time during the day when the house is unoccupied for four hours or more?  If so, it makes sense to adjust the temperature during those periods.

Other Considerations

The location of your thermostat can affect its performance and efficiency.  Read the manufacturer’s installation instructions to prevent “false readings” or unnecessary furnace or air conditioning cycling.

Place thermostats away from direct sunlight, drafts, doorways, skylights and windows.  Also, make sure your thermostat is conveniently located for programming.

Be sure to check the website of the company that supplies the energy for your heating and cooling.  Many utilities offer rebates for upgrading your heating/cooling systems and some of those may include rebates for setback thermostats.

Is New Construction on the Rebound?

Robert R. Jones Homes is pleased to report that we have had two sales at the end of 2011.

In November 2011, we sold our Dover Model in the Manors of Deerwood, Phase VIII, Clarkston, MI.

At the end of December, 2011, we sold a design-build for clients who formerly built one of our homes. They purchased their own offsite lot and are anxiously awaiting the start of construction on their second Robert R. Jones home.

This is a great time to take advantage of current market values and buy a home in a prime Oakland County location as a “tear-down”. Many of the luxury homes under construction today, are on sites where existing homes have been demolished.

If you are considering purchasing your own lot in a location other than our current community, we are available to meet with you at your lot, to advise you what you need to consider before purchasing the lot. You may call us at (248) 895-1115 to schedule a consultation.

If you are considering building a new home, you will find the Manors of Deerwood, Phase VIII, the ideal location. Many of the residents tell us they chose the “Manors” for its picturesque terrain and quietude, as well as the convenience to I-75 and the Village of Clarkston.

There are 15 remaining home sites to choose from with both daylight and walkout sites available. Our homes start in the high $400,000’s.  We have numerous home plans to choose from, as well as the in-house capability to design a custom plan to suit your needs.

We are available for a personal consultation to help you plan your new home. You may call us at (248) 895-1115 to schedule a consultation.

All of us here at Robert R. Jones Homes want to wish our readers a prosperous and healthy New Year.

Preserving the Poinsettia Plant

One of the most common questions after Christmas is “How can I care for my poinsettia plant so that it will bloom again next Christmas?”

While this can be done, it requires work, as it is an exacting process. For those who are undaunted, the process for saving your poinsettia and getting it to re-bloom begins with the care you give it the first season.

When You First Bring Your Poinsettia Home

Light – Place near a sunny window. South, east or west-facing windows are preferable to a north facing window.  Poinsettia plants are tropical and will appreciate as much direct sunlight as you can provide.

Heat - To keep the poinsettia in bloom as long as possible, maintain a temperature of 65 – 75 degrees F. during the day. Dropping the temperature to about 60 degrees F. at night will not hurt the plant; however, cold drafts or allowing the leaves to touch a cold window can injure the leaves and can cause premature leaf drop. 

Water – Water the plant whenever the surface is dry to the touch. Water until it drains out the bottom, but don’t let the plant sit in water.

Humidity – Lack of humidity during dry seasons, particularly in winter, is an ongoing houseplant problem. If your home tends to be dry and your poinsettia is in direct light, you will find yourself watering frequently, possibly daily.

After Christmas Care

January – March Keep watering the poinsettia whenever the surface is dry.

April: Starting April 1^st, gradually decrease water, allowing the plant to get dry between watering. Take care that the stem does not begin to shrivel. This is a sign the plant is too stressed and is dying. In a week or two, when the plant has acclimated to this drying process, move it to a cool spot like the basement or a heated garage. You want to keep it at about 60 degrees F.  Continue watering and allowing the plant to get dry between waterings.

May: In mid-May cut all stems, including the main stem, back to about 4” and repot in a slightly larger container, with new potting soil.  Water it well. Place the newly potted plant back into the brightest window you have and once again keep it at a temperature of 65 – 75 degrees F. Continue watering whenever the surface of the soil feels dry.  Watch for new growth. Once new growth appears, begin fertilizing every two weeks with a complete fertilizer.  Follow the fertilizer label recommendations.

June: Move the poinsettia outside, pot and all.  Keep it in a partially shaded location and maintain your water and fertilizing schedule.

July: In early July, pinch back each stem by about 1”.  This is to encourage a stout, well-branched plant. If left un-pinched, the poinsettia will grow tall and spindly.

August: By mid-August, the stems should have branched and leafed out. Once again, pinch or cut the new stems, leaving 3-4 leaves on each shoot.  Bring the plant back indoors and back into your brightest window.  Continue watering and fertilizing.

September: Continue regular watering and fertilizing. Make sure the temperature stays above 65 degrees F.

October: Poinsettias are short-day plants, meaning their bud set is affected by the length of daylight. To re-bloom, poinsettias need about 10 weeks with 12 hours or less of sunlight per day. You will have to artificially create these conditions and it is crucial to be diligent.

Beginning October 1^st, keep your plant in complete darkness from 5 PM to 8 AM. Any exposure to light will delay blooming. Use an opaque box or material to block out light. Many people place their plants in a closet, but if light gets in through the cracks or if you open and use the closet, it will affect the bud set.  Move the plant back to the sunny window during the daytime and continue watering and fertilizing.

November: Around the last week of November, you can stop the darkness treatment and allow the plant to remain in the window.  You should see flower buds at this point.

December: Stop fertilizing about December 15^th.  Keep watering and treat your plant the way you did when you first brought it home.  If all has gone well, it should be back in bloom and ready to begin the process all over again.

While the process is long and somewhat tedious, persistence will pay off with a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

The Mini-Mud Room

If you are like most people you could use a little organization in your life.  What is the most stressful time of your day?  For many people it is weekday mornings.  Getting kids off to school while getting yourself ready for work.  Sometimes a little organization can minimize that morning chaos.

If you can find a couple of square feet of unused space near the garage entrance to your home, you can create some targeted storage that may work better for you than the standard reach-in closet.  Here is a short list of the items you may need to store:

• Coats and jackets
• Hats, gloves and mittens
• Shoes and boots
• School bags and brief cases
• Umbrellas
• Storage for off-season items

The photos show a number of different approaches to the Mini-Mud Room storage unit.  What works for you depends upon how much space you can devote, size of your family and, of course, the size of your budget.  Here are some of the features and construction methods you can include:

• Use of stock cabinets
• Coat hooks
• Baskets of various types or other storage containers
• Drawer units (also stock cabinetry)
• Storage compartments
• Open shelves
• Seating for removing shoes and boots
• Racks for key storage

The beauty of this kind of storage is that it is individualized.  Everybody has their own space for their own personal items.  A combination of open and closed storage provides a way to keep the space from looking too cluttered.  Padded seats can add a measure of comfort.

The open access is the key for this idea to improve on the function of a simple closet.  It’s an idea that can easily be worked into a new home build or as part of a remodeling project.  It’s also a project that can be tackled by the do-it-your-selfer.

The Gingerbread House

The tradition of baking the sweetly decorated houses began in Nuremburg,Germany, after the Brothers Grimm published their collection of German fairy tales in the early 1800’s.  Among the tales was the story of Hansel and Gretel, children left to starve in the forest who came upon a house made of bread and sugar decorations.  The hungry children feasted on its sweet shingles.  After the fairy tale was published, German bakers, inspired by the fairy tale, began baking houses of lebkuchen, a spicy dough often containing ginger. The houses were called “hexenhaeusle” (witches houses). The bakers employed artists and craftsmen to decorate them.

The popularity of gingerbread houses and cookies spread to colonial America. Recipes varied from region to region, according to the national origin of the immigrants who had settled there.  Most recipes had fewer spices than in European recipes, and often settlers included local ingredients.  Maple syrup molasses was included in many recipes in northern areas of the country, while sorghum molasses was used in the South.  Gingerbread houses were more popular in America than in England.  The American hard style gingerbread more closely resembled traditional German recipes than the softer English gingerbread.

Children, and adults alike, delight in the gingerbread house creation. There is an excellent Gingerbread House recipe by Kurt Gutenbrunner of Wallse restaurant, on TODAY.com recipes. It not only includes a recipe, but also helpful tips for preparation, assembly and decoration. There are templates to make the project easier, especially for novices. They can be found online, at craft stores or traced from an architecture book. Nothing says holiday spirit like the aroma of gingerbread baking in the oven.

Fire Safety for the Holidays

More than 33 million American homes have a natural tree for the holidays. Nothing compares to the fragrant scent a natural tree provides. The scent and atmosphere provided by a natural Christmas trees brings back cherished memories of Christmases past.

Choosing a Christmas tree

If you are cutting down your own tree at a Christmas tree farm, you know how fresh the tree is. If you choose a tree at a local Christmas tree lot or a nursery lot, you need to choose a fresh tree by looking for the greenest tree with the fewest brown needles; however, many shipped-to-lot trees have been colored prior to shipping. This is a common practice and will not negatively affect a tree’s freshness.

• Perform the “drop test”.  Raise the Christmas tree a few inches and drop on the stump end.  Fresh, green needles should not drop off. Take hold of a branch and lightly pull your hand toward you allowing the branch to slip through your fingers.  Most, if not all of the needles, need to stay in place. The trunk should be sticky to the touch.
• Inspect the tree’s base. Make sure the “handle” or (first eight inches of the stump) is relatively straight. This part of the tree is extremely important when securing the tree in a stand.

Keeping your Christmas tree fresh:  Water, Water, Water

• Refresh the tree by making a straight cut, taking one inch off the bottom of the stump and immediately place in water. This will improve water uptake.
• Place the tree in a stand that can hold at least 1 gallon of water. Expect the tree to take up additional water.  Water tree until water uptake stops.
• Always keep the base of the tree in water.  If the base dries out, resin will form over the cut end and the tree will dry out quickly. You don’t need to add anything to regular tap water. Research has shown that plain old water will keep a tree fresh; no additives are necessary.

Christmas tree fire hazards:

• Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent.  The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not have lit candles near the tree. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
• Inspect Christmas tree lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in insulation, broken or cracked sockets and excessive kinking or wear before putting them on the tree.  Only use lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
• Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect lights to a power strip equipped with a circuit breaker and surge protection. If you are building a new home or remodeling, determine the most likely spot for your Christmas tree and install a switched outlet.  No more crawling behind the tree to turn on Christmas tree lights!
• Do not leave holiday lights on unattended or overnight.
• All tree decorations should be non flammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.

Dry, under-watered trees Christmas trees account for 200 fires annually, resulting in 6 deaths, 25 injuries and more than $6 million in property damage. (U.S. Fire Administration) The most common causes of tree fires are shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles. Well-watered trees are not a problem, the drier the tree is, the more likely it is to catch on fire. Follow the precautions and have a safe and happy holiday

Olde World Canterbury Village

You don’t have to go very far to get into the Christmas spirit. Aldridge’s Always Christmas, in Lake Orion, is one of the largest and most unique Christmas stores anywhere. It is located in the Olde World Canterbury Village, a designated historical site in the State of Michigan, extending over 21 acres.

Directions:

From I-75, take Exit 83 North (Joslyn Rd).  It is located off Joslyn Rd, north of Waldon Rd, at 2369 Joslyn Court, Lake Orion, just 3 miles from I-75.

Hours of operation:

• Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 5:30
• Sunday 11:00 – 5:30

It’s Always Christmas houses one of the World’s largest collections of Department 56 items including the entire seven series. They are showcased on a giant 70’ x 10’ main display. Nearby the Department 56 display is the World’s largest Nativity display featuring a vast Fontanini collection.

In the lower level of Always Christmas, fascinating adults and kids alike, is an amazing selection of licensed sports products including NFL, MLB, NHL and collegiate teams, toys, board and travel games, puzzles, dolls and specialty gift items. There is a large collection of children’s books, battery operated toys and remote-controlled cars and trucks. They also feature educational toys and games, including Educational Insights which is a line of science projects and books. The prices are very reasonable. Santa arrived this weekend and will be at Always Christmas every weekend through Dec. 18^th from 12:00 – 5:00.

There are several other gift shops with offerings from greeting cards to home décor and garden accessories. The most fascinating shops are the Celtic Connection with a wide selection of Irish knitwear, Irish linens crystal and jewelry, and its sister store, the Highland Fling which specializes in tartan goods, kilts, skirts, ties and sashes. They will special order any tartan. They are also known as the only kilt rental outlet in Michigan.

If you need to rest and are hungry, The Clansman Gaelic Pub offers a casual dining atmosphere. It is located on the north end of Canterbury Village behind the King’s Court Castle.  The Pub offers home-made soups, sandwiches and a selection of fresh salads. Domestic and imported beers, cocktails and wines are served from the bar. They also offer full service dining along with three plasma televisions where you can relax and enjoy your favorite sports event.

Hours of operation:

• Monday – Thursday 11:00 – 10:00
• Friday & Saturday 11:00 – Midnight
• Sunday 11:00 – 6:00
• Phone: (248) 391-1900

The King’ Court Castle, located on the grounds, is a magnificent structure built with old world craftsmanship featuring oak paneling and carvings from France, tapestries and an antique stained glass window from Scotland. The antique fireplace in the castle was shipped from England. What a wonderful background for a fairy tale wedding!  There is even a wedding chapel and bridal boutique nearby. The facility is also available for corporate events.  For information on facility rentals, call (248) 391-1900.

If you are looking for a unique gift, Olde World Canterbury Village is the place to visit. You can browse or buy; the employees are very cordial and helpful. It is truly a pleasurable shopping experience.

Portable Generator Safety

Winter is on its way and with winter comes ice storms and power outages. The National Fire Protection Association and Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend the following safety tips in preventing loss of life and property when operating portable generators:

Follow manufacturer’s instructions.

• Never use generators in the house, garage, crawl spaces or other enclosed or partially enclosed areas even with ventilation.
• Never use generators near doors and windows; this can allow carbon monoxide (CO) to enter the home.  Place generators as far away from the home as possible.
• As an additional safety factor, install carbon monoxide alarms in home, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of the home, e.g. battery-operated or plug-in with battery back-up.  When a CO alarm sounds, it is a warning to occupants that poisonous gases may be in your home.  If you feel sick, weak or dizzy, immediately get to an area with fresh air. Within minutes, CO poisoning can lead to incapacitation and death.
• Test CO alarms frequently and change batteries as needed.
• Use UL listed/marked outdoor extension cords to connect to the generator.
• Do not overload cords; check for the generator’s maximum wattage listed on the product and/or label.
• Keep children and pets away from the generator and fuel.
• Never connect generators to other power sources, i.e. power lines; this can create a reverse flow of electricity and can electrocute a utility worker unaware of the connection.
• Do not connect the generator directly into your home’s electrical system through a receptacle outlet – this is an extremely dangerous practice that poses a fire hazard and an electrocution hazard to utility workers and neighbors served by the same transformer.
• If using a generator, plug individual appliances into heavy duty, outdoor-rated extension cords and plug cords into the generator.
• Ensure that the extension cords have a wire gauge adequate for the appliance loads and have all three prongs, including a grounding pin.
• Keep charcoal grills outside.  Never use them indoors. Burning charcoal in an enclosed space can produce lethal levels of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Fire Hazards

• Do not refuel the generator while it is running or when hot; turn the generator off, let it cool before refueling.
• Always place stored fuel in non-glass containers with appropriate labels.
• Always store fuels outside living areas and away from fuel-burning appliances.
• In preparing for unexpected emergencies, review the manufacturer’s instructions and test the generator, at least once a month, to ensure it is in proper working condition.

Reports submitted to the Consumer Product Safety Commission indicate that each year, approximately 400 deaths from non-fire CO poisoning are generator-related.  As sales of portable generators increase, so will the number of occurrences and deaths unless safety precautions are taken.

The Secret to a Juicy Turkey

Brining . . . Professional chefs and food experts alike will recommend brining a turkey. Brining makes it moist. Why are brined turkeys so juicy? Salt causes the meat tissues to absorb water and flavorings.  It also breaks down the proteins, resulting in a tender turkey. Despite the moisture loss during roasting and the long cooking time, you end up with a juicy bird.

Making the brine . . . The real trick with brining is finding a container that is large enough to submerge the turkey, yet small enough to fit in your refrigerator. Try a stock pot or a large roasting pan. If you use a shallow roasting pan, you need to turn the bird periodically so that each side rests in the brine. Place the container on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator so spills won’t reach foods below.

Alternatively, pick up a 5 gallon pail with lid from your local home improvement center.  Put the brine and turkey in your basement or garage if your refrigerator is too small.  A third idea would be to use a cooler.

The basic ratio for turkey brine is one cup of kosher salt to two gallons of water. Some recipes include sweeteners (1/2 cup brown sugar) or acidic ingredients to balance the saltiness.  For extra flavor add the following aromatics: 1 onion, 2 carrots and 2 stalks of celery, all rough chopped.

• Bring 3 cups of water to a boil.  Add salt, aromatics and brown sugar (if using).  Let cool for about and hour.  Add remaining water (1 gallon plus 5 cups) in the form of ice cubes.  This will cool the brine quickly.
• Remove giblets and neck from turkey.
• Immerse turkey in brine and refrigerate for at least eight hours but no longer than 24 hours.  Add ice as needed to keep the temperature cool if you are not putting your turkey/brine in the refrigerator.  Make sure you keep the brine temperature below 40 ° F.

COOKING THE TURKEY

When you are ready to roast, pour off the brine.  Rinse the turkey well with cool tap water, and pat dry with paper towels.

Tuck the wing tips behind the back and place the bird, breast side up, on a roasting rack.

Proceed with your preferred recipe, but remember that the turkey has already absorbed a certain amount of salt and any drippings that you use for gravy will already be salty, and no salt should be added to butter or spice rubs.

If you are stuffing your turkey, rinse the cavity well.  Some pros recommend cooking the dressing or stuffing separately, others say, leave out the salt when preparing the dressing.  I added cranberries to the dressing before stuffing the bird and it was fine. 

The extra time and effort it takes to brine the bird is well-worth it . . . the result is a delicious, juicy bird.

Dining with Pat – Venison

The deer hunting season is almost upon us and thousands of deer hunters will be heading up north to their favorite campsite destination, hoping to bag an eight or more point buck.  If you are lucky enough to be a recipient of a hunter’s bounty and are willing to try a recipe for venison, the following is a delicious feast.

Venison, the edible flesh of deer, is virtually a no-fat meat; therefore, it requires tenderizing. Tenderizing can be done the day before cooking the venison by placing the venison steaks in a marinade of your favorite oil, vinegar and spices.

VENISON SWISS STEAK

• 6 venison steaks, tenderized, about ½ pound each
• ½ cup flour
• ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 large onions, cut into ¼ inch thick slices
• 4 cups pf stewed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon paprika

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Combine the flour, salt, pepper and paprika. Dredge the venison steaks in the seasoned flour mixture, coating both sides. Heat a heavy frying pan over medium-high heat, add the oil, and brown both sides of the steaks. Don’t crowd the steaks when browning . . . it’s best to brown one or two at a time.

Place the browned venison steaks in a large, lidded baking dish and add the remaining ingredients, placing some of the tomatoes under the steaks. Cover the dish and place in the oven, baking for 2 to 3 hours, or until the meat is “falling-apart” tender. Serve over garlic mashed potatoes or hot buttered noodles. You will enjoy this one!