When walking

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Please remind people that when they walk down a road (a two-lane road) with little or no shoulder, to always walk facing oncoming traffic. With so many pedestrians and drivers on their cellphones, far too many people are not paying attention to people walking along the road or to traffic. At least if you’re walking toward traffic you might have a chance to get out of the way if the driver is careless about watching the road. — Carol L., Silver Springs, Maryland

Carol, you’re absolutely correct. There are so many distracted drivers on the road that many accident reports contain the phrase “I didn’t see” or “I didn’t hear” or “I didn’t know.” So, readers, please watch the road, and if you need to check your phone or make a call, pull over and stop. — Heloise

Solar lights

Dear Heloise: Many people place solar lights along a pathway or scatter them in a flowerbed, but I put mine in some of my large pots with flowers on my porch and patio. Several of my neighbors now have started doing the same thing, and it makes our street look beautiful at night. There’s just enough light to show off the flowers (geraniums, dusty millers and marigolds). — Gloria T., Greensboro, N.C.

Mulching mistake

Dear Heloise: I might be able to save your readers from making the same mis- take I made. I have an allbrick house and there are “breathing” holes between some of the bricks. In my effort to cover my garden and flowerbeds around the house, I used too much mulch and covered up all the breathing holes close to the ground. Spring and summer rolled around, and before I knew it, I had water prob- lems and termites. The exter- minator told me to never cover those holes. They are there for a reason. Sadder but wiser now! — Anita H., Barnwell, S.C.

Household Hints

Memory helper

Dear Heloise: My mem- ory isn’t what it used to be. To help me keep appoint- ments and remember vari- ous important dates, I started using those small sticky notes that you get in an office sup- ply store or grocery store. As soon as I have an appoint- ment, I write it down and place it to the left side of my bathroom mirror. Every day before I shave, I glance at my sticky notes to see what’s coming up. A friend of mine loved the idea and started to do the same thing, but on a corner of his desk. Now nei- ther of us miss birthdays or appointments. — Stanley J., Deltona, Florida

Nighttime reading

Dear Heloise: My daugh- ter has read to her children every night, almost from the time they were born. This not only got them interested in reading, it also expanded their vocabulary. Teachers have commented that read- ing to a child helps them take an interest in learn- ing about other cultures, increases their vocabu- lary and stirs their curi- osity about new subjects. Sadly, many parents today do not take the time to read to their children, especially after a long day at work. But if they could make time once in a while, it would be beneficial to their children. — Elizabeth M., Windsor, Connecticut