Celebrate Star Wars Day with a trip to the library to pick out a Star Wars movie, Star Wars book, and a Star Wars craft!
Baby Yoda Key Chain
Who doesn't love Baby Yoda? Visit your LLF library branch for a Baby Yoda Key Chain kit! Don't have time to stop by the library? Instructions for making the key chain can be found here.
Each LEGO Mini figure is exactly four bricks high without a hat.
Seven LEGO sets are sold every second. By the time you have read this fact, dozens of LEGO sets have been sold around the world!
Six eight-stud LEGO bricks can be combined in over 915 million different ways. Two bricks can be combined 24 different ways, and three bricks 1,060 ways. - https://kidskonnect.com/fun/lego/
Build your very own wind racer! Get some helpful ideas here. Once you've built your racer, take a picture and have your grown up post it to the Library's Facebook, @llflibrary!
Discover more about the LEGO universe and their cult mini-figures with The LEGO Book. From
manufacturing wooden toys to blockbuster video games, go behind the
scenes and discover fascinating facts and trivia about LEGO, one of the
nation's best-loved companies. A fascinating timeline highlights key
moments in LEGO history and special features spotlight groundbreaking
achievements.
Mechanics for needed for most car repairs, however, there’s a lot of vehicle maintenance you can do on your own!
photocred:drivesafely.com
1. Acquaint Yourself with
Your Owner’s Manual
Every vehicle has an owner’s manual. It’s a thick book typically
squirreled away in the glove box. If you can’t find your copy, an electronic
version could be online. Otherwise, contact your dealer for a copy.
With the manual in hand, head to the maintenance schedule section.
Take note of the intervals for maintenance items like the engine oil, oil
filter, tire rotation, belts, hoses, and so on. It’s important to follow these
manufacturer recommendations to keep the engine running as smoothly as
possible.
2. Check Your Tires
Monthly
A lot is riding on your tires - like the entire vehicle. The
thing that keeps your car driving down the road is the tires. They need to be
properly inflated to do their job as well as lessen the chance of a blowout.
You probably know how to add air to your tires already. What you
may not know is the correct tire pressure, which is extremely important. You’ll
find the ideal tire pressure on a placard located on the driver’s door jamb or
in the owner’s manual.
Tires should be inflated when they are cold (driven less than
one mile) to get an accurate reading. If that isn’t possible, add 4 PSI to the
recommended amount, explains Bridgestone
Tire. Check your spare tire while you’re at it and confirm all
pressures with a tire gauge once the tires have rested.
3. Change Your Oil and
Oil Filter on Schedule
Oil is your engine’s lifeblood. It serves as a lubricant,
keeping important engine parts from grinding against each other and destroying
the engine. Motor oil that’s not changed regularly can damage your engine as
accumulated contaminants cause friction when they rub against parts. Learn how to tell whether your oil needs changing here.
What type of oil should you use — petroleum-based or synthetic?
Is one better than the other? According to Edmunds.com Engineering Editor Jason
Kavanagh, the type of oil is not important. He noted, “As long as the oil meets the
service and viscosity requirements set out in your owner's manual, you can
switch back and forth as much as you want.”
4. Replace the Air
Filter With Oil Changes
When it comes to the air filter, you may need to replace it once
or twice each year. It largely depends on how much you drive. It’s best
practice to check the air filter when you change your oil.
5. Inspect All Other
Fluids
Motor oil isn’t the only fluid that needs to be checked. Experts
recommend checking your car brake fluid, transmission fluids, coolant and
windshield washer fluid.
Like motor oil, you’ll check transmission fluid with a dipstick.
Determine brake fluid, coolant, and washer fluid levels by removing related
covers and visually inspecting each. They should reach a designated fill
line.
NEVER remove the radiator cap to check coolant levels. You risk
getting scalded if the cap is removed. Instead, check the coolant level in the
nearby transparent refill container, says CarTalk.
6. Examine Belts and
Hoses
If you want to go one step beyond basic routine vehicle
maintenance, then inspect the hoses and belts in the engine bay. These hoses
direct coolant flow to ensure the engine doesn’t overheat. If a hose has
separated, shows cracks or bulges, then have it replaced.
Similarly, check the belts too. The timing belt, as found in
most cars and small SUVs is critical to the operation of your engine,
notes YourMechanic.
If this belt shows signs of wear, including cracking, glazing, and material loss
(chunks missing from the belt itself), then replace it ASAP. If the timing belt
goes while driving it can cause serious engine damage.
7. Always Listen and
Feel for Brake Issues
Brakes are a critical component of every vehicle. You should
always be aware of how your brakes feel and what they sound like every time you
drive. If the brakes feel spongy or it takes more pressure to apply the brakes
than normal they need to get inspected by a professional.
Brake sounds can indicate when maintenance or repair is needed.
Here’s a quick rundown of common brake sounds:
Squealing - It’s time for new brake pads when you hear squealing
because the ones you have now are worn out and rubbing against the rotor.
Grinding - This isn’t a normal sound, but it may not be a major
issue if brake grinding is happening only the first time you drive the vehicle
in a day. When the humidity levels are high outside, rust can form on the brake
rotors in a matter of a day if the vehicle isn’t driven. The grinding sound is
the rust getting knocked off. The simple fix is to park the vehicle in a garage
when it’s snowing, raining, or humid.
Rattling - A rattling or vibration sound suggests one of the
rotors are warped or worn out and need to be replaced.
Intermittent Sounds - If brake sounds come and go it could be an
indicator of brake fade from overheating. When the brake pads, rotors or brake
fluid overheat you may hear brake sounds and the brakes won’t feel as
responsive. This problem should be looked at by a professional who can pinpoint
the cause and fix it.
8. Replace Wiper
Blades as Needed
If the windows streak or the blades screech when the system is
operating it’s time for a replacement set. This is actually a very important vehicle maintenance measure. If you find yourself in a rainstorm the windshield
wipers are what give you visibility. You never know when you may need them so
check the wiper blades often.
9. Remove Battery
Corrosion
As for the car battery, the main requirement here is to ensure
that the battery terminals remain free from corrosion. Just like the brakes,
environmental factors can cause buildup that hinders operation. A wire brush
along with a solution of water and baking soda will knock the corrosion right
off. Visit this site for helpful instructions to safely remove corrosion.
It's about that time for end of year parties. . . you know, the ones that tend to be forgotten until the night before? Go ahead and buy a box of cake mix, some icing, and a can of soda and you'll be prepared for any party that sneaks up on you! The following recipe is just one of many combinations available for an easy, quick cupcake fix.
Ingredients:
1 box of lemon cake mix
1 12 oz. can of lemon-lime soda
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Follow the directions on the box for mixing (minus the other ingredients).
2. Blend
cake mix and can of soda in a large bowl at low speed until moistened
(about 30 seconds). Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
3. Use a ice cream
scoop to scoop batter or pour batter in muffin tin lined with cupcake
papers, filling batter 2/3 full and bake immediately.
4. Bake
in a preheated 350 degree oven for 18 – 23 minutes or until cupcakes
test done with a toothpick. 5. Remove cupcakes to wire rack to cool
completely before frosting with your favorite recipe.
Seed bombs are small round objects that contain viable seed
inside a “soil-like” material. When the seed bomb is thrown into a suitable
landscape, rain will cause the seeds to sprout inside the ball. Seed bombs are
a great way to provide habitats for bees and other pollinators!
How
to Make Seed Bombs
Materials :
air dry clay
potting soil
flower seeds
material for gift giving
Pinch off small
pieces of clay
Break off small
pieces of air dry clay. We want to have enough clay to finish with a ball about
1- 1.5” in diameter. Use your thumb to shape the clay into a small bowl. They
don’t have to be perfect – have fun!
2.Place a small
pinch of seeds in each clay bowl.
The
number of seeds that you use inside your bomb depends on the type of flower.
For plants with large seeds, such as sunflowers, 2-4 seeds will be plenty. For
plants with much smaller seed size, like the included seeds, a larger amount (about
1/8 tsp) is good.
3.Add a pinch of
potting soil to nourish seeds
Add a teaspoon (or so) of potting
mix on top of the seeds and use your fingers to pinch the clay bowl closed,
incorporating the soil and seeds into the clay mixture.
4.Coat each seed bomb in potting soil
Gently roll the clay seed bomb in
loose potting soil. This natural soil covering will help nourish the seeds as they
grow and give your seed bombs a more natural look.
Where Can You Throw Seed Bombs?
The whole purpose of making seed bombs is to create more
blooming flowers without any care by the gardener. When deciding where
to throw seed bombs, consider the needs of the plants. Tossing a handful in
the middle of an asphalt parking lot is not likely to yield good results.
However, any field that has some top soil and moisture is a good candidate.
Bare spots along the edge of the yard or on the edge of wooded areas are also
good candidates for seeds suitable to the climate.
How Long Will Seed Bombs Last?
These can be made several weeks ahead and stored until
needed. For extra freshness, store them in the refrigerator until you are ready
to use or give them.
Share
Seed Bombs
When your
seed bombs are finished, wrap one in the provided piece of fabric, then share
with a friend to celebrate Earth Day!
"False or Fake News is a type of journalism with the goal to deliberately
misinform or spread hoaxes through print, broadcast, and social media.
“False news” is not news you disagree with. There is an intent present
to mislead for financial, political, or malicious gain. "- MS State Libraries
When performing research, it's imperative to cite legitimate sources. Visit the MS State University Library's site for tips for evaluating news. The University of West Florida provides a list of fact-checking sites and how to distinguish opinions from facts. Don't get faked out, get smart!
