Grandchildren never send a thank-you
Dear Heloise: Our seven grandchildren all live far away, so we often send a gift or gift card. However, we seldom, if ever, receive a thank you. If we suggest or ask for one, is it really sent from the heart? Any suggestions? — Maggie in California
Maggie, your grandchildren may only need a card or a phone call from you, but not necessarily a gift. Staying in touch, especially now, is all that matters. — Heloise
Pet The Dog
Dear Heloise: Having owned dogs for many years, I have some suggestions for dog lovers. If a dog is unfamiliar with you, don’t pet its head. That might be considered an aggressive act. Instead, slowly extend your hand to them, palm up. Belly rubs are OK only if the belly is offered by the dog. If a dog is friendly, pet in the direction that the hair grows in long strokes. Also, if you have children, teach them to be gentle with dogs. —Trudy in North Dakota
Carpet Deodorizer
Dear Heloise: My carpet smells musty. My sister read in your column that you recommended using baking soda, sprinkled on the carpet, to remove odors. She said to wait 30 to 40 minutes and then vacuum the baking soda off the carpet. It worked like a charm! — Lena in New Hampshire
Lena, yes, baking soda is great for freshening carpets. It is also nontoxic, inexpensive and won’t scratch most surfaces, so it’s ideal for cleaning and freshening.
FYI: Sprinkle some baking soda on your pet’s bed between washings to keep it smelling fresh. — Heloise
Marshmallow Yummies
Dear Heloise: My four children and I were roasting marshmallows in the backyard when I got an idea. I made a small cut in the marshmallow and pushed a couple of chocolate chips inside. After roasting the marshmallows, there was a very tasty treat inside. Everyone loved it, and now when we’re gathered around a campfire, that’s how we roast our marshmallows. — Stacy in California
Save Those Receipts
Dear Heloise: I’ve noticed that receipts I need to save fade over time. So now I make a copy of any important receipts and save them in case the original is unreadable. — Robert in Michigan
Teacup Garden
Dear Heloise: I love growing herbs for cooking, so I took old china teacups that I bought at a yard sale, filled them with dirt and planted herbs in the cups. They sit on a window ledge and look nice, besides giving me fresh herbs! — Bonnie in Louisiana