HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR HELOISE: I know some people have more time on their hands these days and ask how they should fill the hours. I’ve recently started writing letters to retirees in assisted living or nursing facilities. Because of covid-19, many can no longer have visitors or go on outings to fill their days.
I found a website that collects and sends out letters to senior citizens in isolation, letting them know they are on people’s minds. I’ve sent letters to senior citizens in Canada, Minnesota and Illinois. I’m not creative, so I just write letters like I would to an acquaintance. I talk about the area I live in, and if I’ve visited where they are located, I talk about what I’ve seen there.
The website shows cards and letters that have been sent. Some people use colored markers or stickers to create cards on a plain folded sheet of copier paper. Others are much more fancy. I have also found a use for all the post cards I’ve collected. This is a good cause to get the kids or grandkids involved with.
— Kathy, via email DEAR HELOISE: I sometimes see the word “tonne” used referring to measurement. What does it mean?
— A reader, via email DEAR READER: Great question. In the United States, a ton is, of course, 2,000 pounds. Outside of the United States, a tonne is another way of saying metric ton, which is 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.6 pounds. A metric ton is sometimes written as “tonne,” typically seen in reference to objects outside of the United States.
DEAR HELOISE: I regularly read your column in The Washington Post, and I have a hint for people with picky felines.
My cats are on restricted diets and don’t always enjoy their food. Using a tasty food topper often solved this problem, and I’d been using easily crushed, dried salmon bits for this until the manufacturer discontinued the product.
There are packaged toppings, but they’re very expensive. I tried some other treats, but they’re typically hard and difficult to grind with arthritic hands. Using a food processor seemed a bit much, so I bought a small, inexpensive electric coffee grinder to dedicate to this job. It works like a charm.
— R.K. in Maine Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email