Be safe using ladders to put up holiday decor

Dear Readers: Ladder safety? It’s so important this time of year. Whether you’re stringing lights around your home or topping the tree with a star, please be careful on the ladder.

Here are some hints from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (www.osha.gov), a division of the United States Department of Labor:

⏩ Read the instructions for the ladder and inspect it before mounting it.

⏩ Use the ladder, whether step, straight or extension, on a dry, flat surface free of clutter.

⏩ Never stand on the top rung of the ladder.

⏩ Ensure the ladder’s locks are engaged before you climb it.

⏩ Always keep three points on the ladder: two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand.

Falls from ladders are a big cause of injuries. Be careful.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Meet Hizzy. Hizzy showed up in our backyard in September, a true “alley cat,” a very hungry kitten. Look closely at his feet, he has seven toes on

HELOISE one foot and six on the other, polydactyl kitty. A real pistol!

Brooke, what a doll! Readers, to see Hizzy and our other Pet Pals, visit www. Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.”

Do you have a funny and furry friend you’d like to share? It’s easy. Email a picture and description to Heloise@Heloise. com.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: To decorate the rec room, I lined the walls with album covers — a true art form lost to digital downloading. I use adjustable, repositionable tape to adhere them to the wall.

Dear Heloise: I carry pens and pencils in a travel toothbrush holder to avoid stray marks in my bag.

Greta T. in Minnesota

Dear Heloise: My son can tend to get carsick at times. I carry dog waste bags with us in the car. They can come in handy.

Dear Readers: When coming out of the carwash, and before getting back on the road, be sure to double-check the rearview mirrors. They can get bumped during the wash process.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I frame my favorite old Christmas cards in different, pretty, colorful frames. It makes for a nice spread across the mantle.

Helen R. in Arizona