OUR NEW LEARNING AT HOME FEATURE HELPS WITH TEACHING YOUNG STUDENTS.
Today’s Sound On is about going back to school:
Dear Heloise: Did you know that there are colleges that offer free classes to seniors, with credits, depending on available space and a few other requirements? There are night classes in most communities as well, for people of any age to attend, usually for a small fee.
I always wanted to study pottery, and night classes offered me a chance to learn. My wife decided to try a foreign language, and we both decided to take American Sign Language. Now that we have to wear a mask to class, learning sign language seemed like a good idea.
Besides being fun and keeping our brains sharp, these classes have opened our lives to new friends and new skills. It gets us out of the house and keeps us interested in life. When the pandemic is over, I hope more people will take advantage of night classes to enrich their lives and study the things that interest them.
Please tell your readers they’re never too old to learn something new! — Travis and Linnie W., Wilmington, Del.
FAST FACTS
New uses for old clawfoot bathtubs:
■ Paint a vibrant color and fill with dirt and flowering plants for a unique garden feature.
■ Sink into the earth to the edge of the tub and fill with water and Koi fish.
■ Fill with ice and use to keep drinks cool at parties and barbecues.
■ Fill with dirt and plant a few flowers and figurines from a craft store for a fairy garden for children.
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
Dear Heloise: I enjoy your column in the Rapid City Journal, as well as your mother’s when
I was a young adult. I have a suggestion how to “kill two birds with one stone”: hydrate and save water at the same time. We are all encouraged by our health professionals to (1) drink more water and (2) wash our hands often. I keep a glass by my kitchen sink as well as by my bathroom sink. When I am waiting for the water to get warm, I fill my glass with the cold water and take a drink! Thank you for your very informative column in our local newspaper. — Mary Ann, Rapid City, S.D.
FIREPLACE MESSAGE
Dear Heloise: Thank you for the info today reminding people to have fireplaces cleaned and checked. In addition, please caution people about “fireplace logs” such as Duraflame -- these burn hotter than most wood. Also, with woods, different types can burn hotter than others and may not be good for use in an indoor fireplace. They can check with local fire departments about both. Thanks. Love your column! — Melody T.S., Monrovia, Calif.
Melody, checking in with the local fire department is a good idea, and it is also a good idea to make certain you have a chimney cap to stop birds from nesting in the chimney and to keep small animals from getting inside. — Heloise
Send amoney-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, SanAntonio, TX78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise. com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received inmy column.