After being stranded a hand full of times, I have started packing some common tools on our off-road ATV adventures. Since then I have noticed that I feel much more prepared for the simple flat tire or spark plug change that can occur.

Even though you can’t expect the unexpected, there are several items you can bring along that will help to ensure you make it to your destination.  Check out the list below before you go on your ATV adventure!

What to pack:

1.       First Aid Kit

2.       GPS / Area Map

3.       Compass

4.       Flash Light

5.       Source of communication

6.       Spark Plug Kit - (spark plugs +wrench) \

7.       Tire Inflator/Repair Kit - (Kit = Tire plugs + Plug tools, CO2 inflators with inflator tool, or a small air compressor)

8.       Canteen - (Water)

9.       Tow Strap

10.   Source Of Flame

Summer has arrived and with it brings the new 2011 ATV’s. These 2011 ATV’s are the most advanced on the market.

With the design of electric power steering, bead lock rims, engine braking, and the new 1000cc ATV class, there is plenty to talk about.

  I have searched high and low to find the baddest utility ATV on the market. Below is a list of the top 5 rated ATV for 2011. Feel free to leave feedback as we enjoy hearing from the riders.

1.       Artic Cat 1000LTD – If you think your ATV is bad to the bone…the meanest on the block…the best there can be. Then you clearly haven’t seen the Arctic Cat 1000. That’s right a 1000 EFI stock from the factory. With the engine displacement falling in at a whopping 951cc, this ATV has all others in 2011 beat by over 100cc, s. That’s crazy power right at the tip of your thumb.

        Artic Cat pulled out all the stops and went all out crushing the competition.  With electric power steering and the most fuel capacity out of all five ATVs, a 3000lb winch, and with 2wd/4wd electric front differential locks, you will be able to do what you want when you want. I guarantee you. With this machine people will look and wish they had one!

2.       Polaris Sportsman XP 850 EPS – The 2011 Polaris falls just shy of first place for one main reason, and that is the motor. Even though it has an 850cc V-twin that has ranked high on the list for years, it was still no match for the new 1000cc of Artic Cat.

        Having said that, there are some incredible features that are better than the Arctic Cat.  For example, the new engine braking system (EBS), and the On-Demand All Wheel Drive (AWD) 4x4 system which is the best in the business. In simple terms it’s basically the same drive train system that Jeep uses, just smaller in size. To me that screams hill destroyer!!

        But that’s not all; Polaris has a 12” ground clearance beating the Arctic Cat by 1”. That doesn’t sound like a lot but 1” can make or break you in the all-terrain world. This is defiantly one ATV to look into with a very reasonable price tag.

          It can be tricky knowing when you should use ash hair colors. I have put a few tips below for times when you should be using ash hair color over natural or other toned colors.

·         The major reason for the use of ash colors is when you want to eliminate the “golden” or “red” tones in your hair color.

·         Another reason to use ash colors is when you have natural gold or red tones in your hair. For many who color their hair, the pesky “golden” tones that result can be resolved by using an ash based hair color.

·         Not only can using ash colors help prevent unwanted tones; it can soften your color to a more even all over color. If you have hi-lights you are covering up with an all-over color, or only using one color, it can help to even out the uneven tones that may result from starting with more than one color in your hair.

It’s always been said that you should never touch a bird’s eggs, or its nest, in fear the parents will not return to take care of it. Well… Recently we had a heavy thunderstorm come through with high winds. The next morning we noticed that a bird’s nest had been blown out of a tree. This has happened before, but this time there was a baby bird that had fallen out. I have never seen such a small bird, and to our surprise it was still alive after falling out of its nest. It had no feathers at all, but you could see it breathing.

So the question arose!! Should we try to put the little guy back in its nest? Or would touching the baby Robin, as well as the nest, make the parents abandon it?

After doing some quick research, we were surprised to learn that birds have a low sense of smell. So we decided to try and put the bird back in its nest and put the nest back into the tree.

For those of you who own a cat or kitten as a pet, it can be sometimes difficult to find the right treatment to prevent fleas from causing problems for your pet.  For us we have a cat that likes to go outdoors, so it can be even more of a challenge to keep the fleas away. 

When we first found our cat he was a stray that came around for the attention and a meal. We knew we would have to clean him and up and and treat him for fleas or anything else he may have so we could take him in. The treatment we have found is rather inexpensive yet it is very effective for our cat.  It is available at your local Wal Mart so it is readily available to pretty much everyone. 

Have you blown a head gasket or maybe cracked your block? Your mechanic is quoting you 4 figure numbers to have it repaired. The question goes through your mind to junk the ride or maybe replace the whole engine. Neither is cheap so which is the best route? 

Well why not fix it yourself in under 1 hour? If you have a basic understanding of an engine then you’re on the way to a quick secure fix for cheap.

The product is called Thermagasket. This product is well worth the time and money of trying to fix your problems. At worst case you try it and it doesn’t work. But I don’t think that will be the case. If Thermagasket doesn’t work then the mechanic has more in store when they tear it apart and your bill is sure to go up.

Have you been looking into the clear spring skies? But you’re not sure what that flicking light really is? The guessing game is now over. Welcome the software starry nights. It’s a perfect fit for the beginner and the novice astronomers. Simply type in your zip code and you can browse the night sky with ease. It's an easy to follow program that can answer many questions to what is really out there. Even If you don't have a telescope, this program can help to understand what that light in the sky really is. We can see so much with our telescopes, yet knowing what we are looking at makes it that much more exciting.

We have put this program on the read more section of this article. Feel free to use it at your convenience. Be sure to check into Starry Nights from time to time, as the night sky is a changing place. Many planets come in and out of view. Maybe you will get the chance to see them all!

It's that time of year again. Time to break out the lawn equipment and get to work. If you’re like me then your job takes up a lot of time, leaving you with little time to get all the yard work done. So having time limitations requires good equipment to get the yard work done in a suitable amount of time. This is where I love owning my ATV. Having a yard that is too big to push fertilize, I attach a 100 pound spreader to the back of the rack, attach the 12 volt motor wires to the battery,  fill it with some fertilizer and off I go. It makes fertilizing the yard a whole lot more fun and it gets done in very little time.