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12 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2026 By Suzette Strauss, Resident Realtor I used to love singing the song, noted in the title, as I would ride my horse in the early morning of a hazy day. I was in junior high and I tell you, it always seemed to cause the sun to break through the haze and put a smile on my face. But a hazy window, now that is not so easily remedied and certainly does not put a smile on my face. After encountering hazy windows in many houses in our community, I thought I would share some good-to-know info. Many original owners may find that their windows are still under warranty. If you intend to sell your home, this warranty is not transferable. Therefore, I would kindly ask you to have your windows examined prior to listing your home and have them replaced, if necessary, at no cost to you, although it can take several months. Windows are not a small expense. I have seen anywhere from one to nine windows in homes in our community where the seal has failed. I have four to replace as I write this article. Double-pane windows are great. They reduce convection and conduction of heat. The two panes of glass are separated by a space that is filled with inert gas, like argon or krypton. Since these gas molecules are heavy, they move slower, thereby greatly reducing the transfer of thermal energy. They also reduce noise, which is a wonderful benefit. If a seal fails, the gas escapes, and moisture will begin to take its place. Over time, the window becomes hazier and eventually looks like oil and scratches all over the surface. It is not necessary to replace the framework to resolve the issue, just the glass. Most of our glass is Low-E, which is a bit more costly, but I'm told by Glass Fabrication (who only replaces glass) it has a greater ability to protect the indoors from UV rays that can cause discoloration of carpet, etc. I will be singing again soon, "I can see clearly now; the haze is gone!" By eresa Rossetti, Resident I'm sure you've heard this saying many times, and recall that the rest is "try, try again." I'm here to tell you that there are many other authors who have penned variations on the theme. In a circa 1955 Reader's Digest, author M.H. Anderson suggests, "If at first you don't succeed, you're running about average." Comedian Steven Wright said, "If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving is not for you." Definitely words to live by. But my favorite is from W.C. Fields: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a "darn" fool about it." W.C. did not say "darn," but I'm pretty sure you can figure out what he actually said. W.C. was not known for his subtlety. Some people will just keep on trying, no matter how many failures they encounter. Some will throw up their hands, give up, and call a professional. Many will bless the YouTube videos, which one can pause and restart repeatedly, to put into action what the written description tells you to do. All of those options are viable alternatives. Everyone's skill set is different. Ah, but you may notice I stealthily inserted the words "written description," as in the instructions that came with the gizmo you are attempting to get to work. People, these are supplied for a reason. Sadly, some of these are now available only online. My new refrigerator is one. We had to go online to figure out how to "unlock" the fridge so we could change the water filter. Now onto a story. Some of us have become a little ( o r a lot) hard of hearing. You might need headphones to listen to TV, or you're turning the volume up quite a lot. It's hard for others to enjoy a show/game, etc. with you, since they either can't hear it or it's too loud. Fortunately, newer TVs, combined with certain headphones, can split the sound. We bought a set of these headphones. They worked perfectly! Mutual TV viewing could begin again! Huzzah! One day the headphones came off the charging device with the left ear thingy dangling in the breeze. The wires were still attached. Awkward. Duct-taping ensued. Unattractive and not perfect. They were still under warranty, and the company immediately sent a replacement. Huzzah again! One of the people living in our house believed they could connect them. That person was mistaken. The other person in the house was able to do it in under 10 minutes. That person read the instructions. I leave it to you to decide who these two were. Maybe this quote, from a quips and quotes book published in 1968, offers the solution: "If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way your wife told you." I Ca Se Clearl No If At First You Don't Succeed…