Ridding your yard of critters

Dear Heloise: In your column and many others, I read of people dealing with the misery of dogs, cats, rabbits, skunks, opossums and others animals making a mess of their yards. I solved this problem decades ago. I wear gloves and sprinkle chili flakes on the grounds where they go and up the sides of trees. It has not harmed my plants.

That was the end of the problem. The animals might go where the flakes are not; just sprinkle there. In the beginning, the chili flakes will get blown or washed away. I repeat every week or every other week for months or years. When you notice a problem, sprinkle the flakes again. The problem will be ongoing until the soil has no residual scent of past critters. — Patricia, Pasadena, California

Mother-in-law hint Dear Heloise: My mother-in-law taught me how to take leftover scraps (vegetables and meat) and mix them with gravy to make a meat pie. Her pie crusts were legendary (feather light). Each week she would mix what she had in the fridge, put a crust on top and bake it for an easy dinner or lunch. She was very thrifty, and we all miss her. She died in April at the age of 92.

We can use her tip to reuse and save the planet from unnecessary waste. — K.F., via email

Senior citizen handyman

Dear Heloise: The best thing senior citizens can do for themselves is find a responsible, reasonably priced handyman who will do small projects. A friend told us about her handyman. He brought his wife, and they worked as a team. She sees projects with a woman’s eye. Over several years and a couple of projects at a time, they kept us safe. They installed a grab bar, handrails and much more. We think of them each day as we use what they installed. The best thing is that we passed this handy couple on to others. With this word-of-mouth, we are like a “family.” We pass on information about their “family” with hospital, nursing home, rehab and moving. — A grateful senior, via email

Dropping knife

Dear Heloise: Have you ever dropped a good carving knife on the floor only to find that you have broken the tip? Well, I found a solution that has saved many of my good knives. I take the cork from a wine bottle and carefully secure it to the tip of each knife. No more broken tips. — Barbra Williamson, Simi Valley, California

Good addition to tool box

Dear Heloise: Many colleges do not allow nails to be driven into their walls, so a good addition to the tool box graduation gift I read about in your column would include Command strips for hanging posters and pictures. They come in many sizes, and not having to buy them would save a new college student a lot of money. I read your column in the Morganton, North Carolina, News Herald. — Susan Propst, via email