FRIDAY!! FRIDAY!! FRIDAY!! FRIDAY!! FRIDAY!! FRIDAY!! FRIDAY!! FRIDAY!! FRIDAY!!

Check this out!!!

Slowly we are making progress next door!!  We got the office area carpet laid last week.  Looks GREAT!!!!

The office area before carpet...

And after carpet!!!

Spring Driving Tips!!

Spring driving safety tips -

Check your lights. Since spring rain hinders driving visibility, make sure all your lights work, including headlights, taillights, backup lights, turn signals, parking lights, and brake lights.

Replace your wiper blades. Worn-out wiper blades may not be up to the task of clearing water away from your windshield. Check your wiper blades and replace them if necessary (usually once a year).

Check your tire pressure. Harsh winter weather can deflate your tires. Make sure you have enough air in them once spring rolls around. (As a bonus, proper tire pressure can also help you increase your mpg.)

Slow down and drive carefully. The first few rainy days of spring can produce exceptionally slippery roads due to oil and other leaked fluids mixing with rainwater, so slow down and increase your stopping distance when it's raining.

Keep your eyes peeled for bad road conditions. Remember that harsh winter weather breeds potholes and other driving obstacles.

Watch out for animals. This is especially important during the early morning and evening when animals are most active.

Winter Driving Tips -

Winter Driving Tips --

• Always be cautious. Even a seemingly clear road can have ice. If you see the headlights or taillights of a car ahead of you reflect off the road, chances are it's ice.
• Make sure you turn on the engine and heater and scrape the snow from the car before setting out.
• Carry a set of jumper cables with you in case your battery dies. Most people will offer a jump but few people will actually carry the cables. Your chances of getting a jump-start increase 10-fold when you have your own cables.
• Test the road. When first starting out, briefly accelerate firmly, then firmly brake. This will give you a better feel for the road conditions. If you notice the road conditions change, repeat the process in a safe manner (at a stop sign or empty side street). Being aware of road conditions will help you make better driving decisions.
• Try not to have to stop completely, especially if on an incline.This means very gradual stops on snow and maintaining momentum before getting to a hill.
• Keep your gas tank full for 2 reasons: if you do get stuck somewhere and you're completely isolated for a period of time, you can use your car for warmth. It also prevents water condensation from forming in your gas tank. (some fuel additives are available on the market that "remove" the water mixed in your fuel.) Carrying a thick old blanket, coat or sleeping bag in the trunk is wise, too.
• Every time you approach a bridge or overpass - do your best just to coast over, without any acceleration or braking. Because air can travel underneath the road surface, as well as over it, any moisture on the road will freeze well before it would off of the road. As well, the shape of the bridge can increase wind velocities, cooling the road surface further and affecting handling.
• Unpacked snow in either the passing-lane, the shoulders, or in-between tire-tracks offer much better traction for steering or stopping than packed snow or ice in the right lane. Iced over lanes is a good place to be the meat in a metal-and-meat sandwich. Firmly grip the wheel, and slowly make your move to a safer place to drive.
• Carry a small plastic bucket with a good fitting lid full of a sand/ salt mixture in your trunk along with a small shovel. If you find yourself stuck and alone sometimes putting a little sand/salt mix under your tires can really help give you some traction and allow you to get yourself unstuck. Kitty litter also works but not quite as well.
• If there is a lot of slush between lanes, and you do have to change lanes - plan this ahead of time and do it at very low angle of approach, holding steering wheel steady. slush has a tendency to work almost as a suction strip that may cause sudden change of direction.

 

Happy New Year!!! Happy New Year!!! Happy New Year!!! Happy New Year!!! Happy New Year!!! Happy New Year!!!

Holly Jolly Pets!!

Tips for Driving on Black Ice

Tips for Driving on Black Ice

Winter is quickly approaching and with this season brings inclement weather.  Rain, sleet, snow and ice can make for an unpleasant driving experience.  Motorists should be extremely cautious when driving in bad weather conditions.  Ice covered roadways can be the most dangerous, especially when it turns out to be black ice, which is nearly invisible.
Black ice is a very thin layer of frozen water containing few bubbles of air.  The lack of air bubbles makes the layer of ice transparent and causes the surface of the roadway to look slightly wet and not icy.  This can be detrimental to drivers who come upon the black ice covered road unknowingly.  Out of nowhere the vehicle can start to skid and slide in any direction, causing a vehicle to become out of control.
Typically black ice is most commonly found on roads winding around bodies of water such as lakes, rivers or on overpasses.  Moisture in the air freezes when it comes in contact with the much colder roadway.  Additionally, a sudden drop in temperature can cause an already wet roadway to quickly freeze.
Here are a few tips on how to drive on black ice:

1. Drive slowly – The best way to avoid skidding out of control is to operate your vehicle at a slower speed.  A slower speed will even give you more time to react to the effects of black ice
2. Don't slam the brakes - While it may be a natural instinct to slam on your brakes, this will only cause your car to lose control and slide even more. Tap the brake pedal lightly instead of pushing down hard on it.
3. Maintain a safe following distance – In situations like this, you need to extend you following distance to ensure you will have ample time to react to the motorist ahead especially if they begin to lose control.
4. Look for trouble spots ahead - If you have an idea that there may be black ice ahead (if you see cars ahead of you sliding, for example), downshift to a lower gear before you come onto the black ice. The lower gear will force you to drive more slowly and it will give you better control of your car.
5. As soon as your car begins to slide on black ice, take your foot off the gas pedal - In fact, the last thing you want to do is give your vehicle more gas. It is very important to slow down when you are driving on black ice or in any other winter road conditions.

Drive Safely!