RV parks usually accept dogs

DEAR HELOISE » I just read the letter from a woman who has four dogs and wants to move to retirementtype housing. Perhaps she should consider an RV community. Park model RVs and fifth wheel RVs are very roomy. Most RV parks allow dogs, and many have dog parks onsite. We stay in one in South Carolina that has no restrictions on the number of dogs an RV owner has. RV parks also take care of the yard work.

Most utilities are also included in your monthly rent, which is cheaper the longer you stay. There is onsite laundry, and most have activities that keep seniors active. Just a thought.

— Judy Sanborn

DEAR READERS » To make car tires last longer, make certain that they are properly inflated. Check them frequently and rotate them so that they wear evenly. Also examine the tire tread occasionally.

DEAR HELOISE » My mother and I enjoy reading your column in the Daily Breeze in Torrance. My mother came up with a simpler way for us to look at the newspaper. She cuts it up the length of the spine of the newspaper. This then makes the pages easier to handle and turn.

— Jeannette and Diane,

Los Angeles

DEAR HELOISE » A reader suggested freezing meat scraps to put them into the trash. Please don't! The collected meat scraps will defrost in the trash, the juices soak into the trash, and the trash men will have to deal with the mess.

Either utilize scraps (chicken skin and fat have many uses) or purchase boneless, skinless chicken breasts and fat-trimmed meat for less waste.

— Nancy Martsch

DEAR HELOISE » I find that I often have to put an open can in the refrigerator. I used to put aluminum foil or plastic wrap over them, but that tends to fit awkwardly.

One day, I discovered that a lot of items come with plastic covers. Plastic tennis balls have covers that ideally fit on small cans. Icing container covers do well on midsize cans, and coffee can covers work on bigger cans. Sometimes the fit isn't perfect, but it still keeps the odors in or out, whatever the case may be.

— T.D., Lady Lake,

Florida

DEAR HELOISE » As an avid reader of your column, I've seen practical gift suggestions from fire extinguishers to keeping baking soda handy, as well as other “plan B” savers of the day.

One of my favorite housewarming (or anytime) gifts is to give homeowners or renters a security key box. The boxes are super easy to mount, and a spare key can be kept there and be easily accessible if needed.

We often use our garage door opener to get into the house. But if the electricity is temporarily out, at least you'll have a way to get in the front door.

Even if thieves try to steal the box, they are virtually impossible to open without a simple four-digit code.

— A Reader, in Arkansas

Write to Heloise at P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; Fax 210-HELOISE; or email Heloise@Heloise.com.