6 clever car hacks for surviving spring weather

(NC) Late winter and early spring mean slippery driving conditions, more pedestrians on the roads and dark, rainy skies. Rather than turning a blind eye to the changes ahead, these car hacks will prepare you for anything the warmer, wetter season brings.

1. Check your wipers. Over the winter, your wipers can become damaged by frost, ice and heavy snow. Keep your windshield clean and clear by installing a new pair of wipers after the snow melts away.

2. Show off your pearly lights. Visibility in the spring months can be bleak. To make your lights shine bright, simply brush them with toothpaste so your vehicle can stand out in a rain storm.

3. Keep your tires roadready. Melting snow often unveils new potholes and cracks in the road. Save your car from major roadway damage by ensuring your tires are filled to the manufacturerrecommended air pressure at the turn of the season.

4. Understand hydroplaning. Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds up between the road and your vehicle's tires. It can impact the driver's control and ability to brake. Prevent the risk of hydroplaning by reducing your speed in rainy weather

Baldwin’s Birds

turn in the "pecking order". Hopefully, the budding Crocuses, forcing their way upwards through the Niger Seed husks at the front of the house, along with other budding plants and trees, will soon provide them with more of their natural foods. Until the appearance of such a food supply is more established, we'll have to continue our support for them all until we ourselves are certain that they can survive independently without our support.

One birds

topsy- turvy spring

Once again the weather does a flip-flop and everything has to rethink as to what it is doing and how it is going to cope with it! We haven't got to the first day of Spring yet and some of the hibernating animals, such as the Chipmunks, have already popped out to have a look around. This, of course, doesn't over impress the resident non-hibernating members of our garden crew, the squirrels, who don't really want any more competitors to their food supplies!

On the other hand, the birds just carry on as normal, warily, competing within their kindred flock members and a few others, for their

One of our resident birds in our topsy-turvy weather, is the beautiful little "Upside-down Bird" a Whitebreasted Nuthatch, but even it has its moments of uncertainty, as can be seen in the picture of it being the "right way up!" What a lovely treat, as it shows off its other side! Maybe you too have had the good fortune of seeing one in your "neck of the woods". Stay safe and well.

Cheers, John Baldwin

and safely avoiding large puddles.

5. Share the road. Warmer weather means there will be more pedestrians, construction workers and cyclists on the roads. Remember that speeding fines are often increased in construction zones, and you need to be vigilant at pedestrian crossings.

6. Rest assured with insurance. Is your vehicle covered should an emergency strike?

Jump online and head to Esurance for your auto needs. It'll make your life easier by providing you with an online quote, claims information and policy management — available any time, anywhere.