Get out and take a walk, safely

Dear Readers: Get outside and take a walk. It’s a beautiful time of year! But, there are safety laws and rules to follow, especially when crossing the road in traffic.

Even though drivers are required to stop for pedestrians in a painted crosswalk, you should yield to drivers when crossing outside of the crosswalk.

WALK and DON’T WALK signage should always be observed. If you’re walking in the roadway when the DON’T WALK sign comes on, continue to cross the street in a safe manner. The traffic must wait for you.

If you are listening to music with ear buds, keep the volume low enough so you can hear the street sounds, such as horns and sirens. Don’t be distracted by texting while walking. — Heloise

Pet Pal

Dear Readers: Meet Molly, Gina F.’s friendly black cat, on the porch next to some pretty summer geraniums. To see Molly and our other Pet Pals, visit Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.”

Do you have a funny and furry friend you’d like to share? Email a picture and description to: HeloiseHeloise.com. — Heloise

Baking Soda Does The Trick

Dear Heloise: I just used baking soda on my vinyl siding that was stained by a bush’s branches touching it. It certainly did the job. — Helen T. in The Villages, Fla.

Helen, say hello to all my friends in The Villages! Readers are always finding new uses for baking soda! It’s perfect for safely cleaning a ton of household items. For a list of formulas for cleaning and deodorizing with this versatile product, order my six-page “Baking Soda Hints and Recipes” pamphlet by visiting Heloise.com, or send a long, self-addressed, stamped (70 cents) envelope along with $5 to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.

FYI: Use baking soda instead of buying scouring powder. It works wonders and deodorizes at the same time. — Heloise

Flex Pack

Dear Heloise: I have three active kids, and they are always getting bumps and bruises. An easy helper — homemade ice packs. Put one part rubbing alcohol and three parts water in a zippered plastic bag, and freeze. It will get very cold, but it won’t freeze solid, so the bag can fit around knees and elbows. — Jackie in Texas

Something To Wine About

Dear Heloise: My kids and I decided to make cookies, but I couldn’t find my rolling pin. No problem. I just floured a wine bottle. It worked great! And for a cookie cutter, a wine glass stood in nicely to make perfectly round cookies. — JoAnn in Arizona