Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here Here comes the sun, here comes the sun And I say it’s all right “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGKPHFrHVVY At long last, summer is upon us, and it’s time to enjoy all that [...]
Since Memorial Day weekend (May 23-25) is the unofficial start of summer vacation, here’s a checklist to get you ready for summer: 1. Watch summer vacation movies. I must say that my favorite is Mr. Hulot’s Holiday (Les Vacances de M. Hulot), a 1953 French movie from Jacques Tati which was nominated for the Grand [...]
O, the month of May, the merry month of May, So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green! In France May 1 is Labor Day (la Fête du Travail) and it is customary to exchange lilies of the valley for good luck. This tradition goes all the way back to the French king [...]
Uh-oh, the dreaded tax day is upon us, and here’s an inspired idea: I think Snoopy best captures our sentiments—ah, if only it were that simple! However, we do hope that you have been able to get a nice refund and, if so, might we suggest that renting a house in the Hamptons is not [...]
First, I want to wish all of you who celebrate either Easter or Passover a most pleasant holiday. For those of you who are busy cleaning your home of all chametz, do not hesitate to call us if you need any extra assistance. Easter calls to mind two very important questions of our time: why [...]
Since we’re only two days away from St. Patrick’s Day (an event you can even celebrate at Disneyland Paris), it’s time to wear green, go in search of shamrocks, and if you are so inclined, drink a pint or two of Guinness. In the Hamptons there are plenty of parades—Amagansett, Hampton Bays, West Hampton Beach—so [...]
Spring officially begins this month (on the 20th), and for me what first comes to mind is—of course—spring cleaning. To get you into the mood, here are a few inspiring quotations: My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance. —Erma Bombeck Dust is a protective coating for fine furniture. —Mario Buatta [...]
Given that Presidents’ Day will soon be upon us I’m sure you’re wondering whether there are any connections between presidents and the Hamptons. Happily, the answer is yes, but not in the way that you’re thinking: the fame lies with the first ladies. Julia Gardiner was born on Gardiners Island and her father had a [...]
Spring may not be in the air, but certainly love is, as we celebrate Valentine’s Day this month. It has a long and interesting history, beginning with an early Christian martyr, Saint Valentine. According to legend, before his execution he wrote a farewell letter and signed it “Your Valentine.” It was not until Geoffrey Chaucer, [...]
Oh the weather outside is frightful But the fire is so delightful And since we’ve no place to go Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! Perhaps you’ve heard this song played (rather frequently) during the holidays, “Let It Snow.” It has been covered by many famous artists—Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, [...]
First, we want to wish all of you a happy new year, and we hope that your holidays were filled with much joy. In France, New Year’s Eve is referred to as la Saint-Sylvestre (a pope who held office from 314-355 AD), and quite naturally there is lots of champagne and even foie gras. January [...]
All of us at A Votre Service! wish you a Happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with many joyful moments!
If you need help with gift wrapping, toy assembly, flowers, food, or any other accommodating service that will help make your life more enjoyable during the holidays, please let us know. If you are interested, we recommend reserving our service as early as possible in the month of December. For more information about the service [...]
It is important to set up snow plow service early in the season so that your property can be staked in advance. We do not offer this service directly but we will be happy to give you several contacts upon request. If you do not need snow plowing but only snow shoveling for the entry [...]
We would like to remind you that during the winter months it is imperative that you have your house watched regularly. The cold weather can bring many unwelcomed problems that can be avoided such as freezing pipes or flooding from a leak or storm. Too many times, it is our cleaning lady who in her [...]
On this Thanksgiving month, we would like to take a moment to express our gratitude to our year round and summer clients as well as local real estate agents and other professionals for their continuous support and trust in our services. The entire team of A Votre Service! wishes you a Joyful Thanksgiving!
Before your garden goes to sleep for the winter let us clean it up for you. Please remember that the towns in the Hamptons are no longer doing curb side pick-up for the leaves. They must be bagged and brought the dump. For more information contact Brenda at mail@avshamptons.com or call 631-725-2128.
This is the time to clean-up the leaves from the gutters so that the rain water will flow freely from your gutters. You might also enjoy a last window cleaning before the winter. For more information contact Brenda at mail@avshamptons.com or call 631-725-2128.
Mice love fall! It is their time to find a warm and cozy place to winter and they may elect your home. We have a qualified and reliable pest control contractor that would go to your home to bait and do follow-up visits. If there evidence that mice have been in your kitchen cabinets and [...]
During the time when you are not visiting your house on a regular basis we recommend that in order to keep your home well maintained the house be serviced at least every 3 or 4 weeks. Aside from giving it a hand over, the cleaning lady will use the time to do special projects, i.e. [...]