Problem: Article: Start the end of the tape measure at the top of your window where you plan on mounting your blinds. Pull the tape measure down to the bottom of the window frame and record the measurement you found. Unroll your blinds and spread them out on a flat surface so they're face down. Measure down from the top of the blinds to the same length as your window. Add 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) to the end of your measurement so your blinds have a slight overhang. Draw a mark on each end of your blinds at your measurement with a pencil. If your measurement ends between 2 pieces of bamboo, choose one of them to draw your mark on. The pull strings are the thick cords that pull your blinds up when you retract them. Find where your mark intersects with the pull strings and cut through them with a pair of scissors. Make your cut straight through the strings rather than at an angle so the ends don't fray. The back of your blinds may have multiple pull strings so be sure to cut through each of them. The pull strings feed through small metal or wood rings along the back of the blinds. Find the ring that's the closest to your cut and feed the ends of the pull string through it. Use 2 overhand knots to secure the pull strings to the ring so they'll pull up the new bottom of your blinds. Repeat the process if you have multiple pull strings on the back of your blinds. The bamboo pieces in your blinds are held together by small strings that run from the top to the bottom. Warm up a glue gun so you can easily apply hot glue to the strings. Start 1 inch (2.5 cm) lower than your mark and place a dot of glue on each of the small strings. Work across the row of strings until all of them are glued in place. If you don't glue the strings down, then the pieces of your blinds will fall apart. Start your cut just below the strings you glued to remove the bottom of the blinds. Position your scissors in the gap between the bamboo pieces so you can cut across the blinds. Cut across the width of the blinds until you can remove the bottom piece. The bottom of your blinds will have frayed strings unless you fold it over. Take the bottom 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the blinds and fold it onto the backside. Place a line of hot glue across the width of the blinds and press the folded over section in place so it adheres. Keep applying pressure for 10 seconds so the glue has time to dry. Make sure you fold the piece onto the back side of the blinds or else it will be visible.
Summary: Measure the height of your window with a tape measure. Lay your blinds flat and mark the length you need on the back side. Cut the main pull strings at the mark you just made. Tie the pull strings to the ring directly above them. Glue the strings holding the blinds together 1 in (2.5 cm) lower than the mark. Use a pair of scissors to cut through the strings just below your glue. Fold the bottom 1 in (2.5 cm) over and glue it in place for a clean edge.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Although male carpenter bees are virtually harmless to humans, male bees will become aggressive when threatened or when threatening creatures enter their territory. Often, carpenter bees will hover closely around humans who near their nests in an attempt to scare them away.  Despite their belligerency, carpenter bees are extremely unlikely to injure humans due to the male's lack of a stinger.  Male bees are known to dive-bomb a perceived threat. Carpenter bees will return from hibernation in late April or early May, depending on the temperature. Males are the first to appear, as female carpenter bees spend most of the early months laying eggs and caring for larvae. Carpenter bees burrow in softwood and will rarely be found in living trees. Look for bees under wood areas that are not often disturbed (like beneath the porch stairs or on the entryway ceiling). Carpenter bees are not indigenous everywhere. This species prefers climates with warm summers. Homes in the southern states (from Arizona to Florida) and all eastern states are all at-risk for infestation.  States at-risk for carpenter bee infestation include: Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North/South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Carpenter bees are also indigenous to countries with similar climates to the southern and eastern United States.

SUMMARY: Look for aggressive bees. Pay attention to bees appearing in late spring. Spot bees hovering near house eaves. Check for carpenter bees in the eastern and southern United States.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: . Pureeing some of the black beans while leaving others whole gives this soup a creamy yet hearty texture. You can use either dried beans or canned beans, depending on your preference. . Roasted carrots and then fennel, with its licorice-like taste, are pureed to make this smooth and flavorful soup. Fennel is a perennial plant that grows year-round, making it one of the few vegetables actually in season during wintertime. ake vegan broccoli cheese soup. Pureed shallots, potatoes, red onion and jalapeno are combined with a mix of both pureed and chopped broccoli. Vegan cheese, soy creamer and soy milk give the soup a thick and creamy base without the addition of dairy.
Summary: Make vegan black bean soup Make vegan carrot and fennel soup .

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: If your thermostat is set to a high temperature, your gas bill is bound to be expensive. Try lowering your thermostat a few degrees to reduce your bill by 5-10%. For instance, turn the temperature from 70 °F (21 °C) to 68 °F (20 °C). Don’t keep the heat on in your home when it’s not necessary. Turn off the heat when you’re at work or gone on the weekends. The energy saved will reduce the cost of your gas bill. Some areas in your home need to be warmer than others. For example, it may be important to you to keep the main floor warm, while the basement can be a bit cooler. You can control the heat by installing radiator valves on every radiator in your home. These self-regulating valves allow you to control the temperature of each room by adjusting the amount of hot water goes to the radiator. Personal, or space, heaters use up a lot of energy. Plus, they are an inefficient way of warming up large areas. Avoid using them and instead look for more efficient ways to keep warm—like improving your home’s insulation. If you want to warm a small space only, a personal heater may be more effective than heating the whole home with a furnace. Choose a radiant heater, which are more energy-efficient than other models.
Summary:
Lower the thermostat. Turn off the heat when you’re not home. Save energy with radiator valves. Reduce the use of personal heaters.