HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: Last Valentine’s Day, I used the “romantic postmarks” to send cards from Loveland, Colo., and a couple of others you had listed in your column. Are there cute postmarks for our Christmas cards? — Sharon W., Mobile, Ala. DEAR READER: Sharon, there are a lot of postmarks that work for Christmas. Here is a short list to pick from: Evergreen, LA 71333 Garland, NC 28441 Hope, MI 48628 Noel, MO 64854 North Pole, NY 12997 Rudolph, OH 43462 Snow, OK 74567 Star, TX 76880 To get a complete list, you can visit the United States Postal Service website, usps. com, and search for “Post Offices Christmas Names.” To have your Christmas cards postmarked, choose the city and then address a large envelope to “Postmaster, Christmas Re-mailing.” Enclose all of your pre-addressed-and-stamped Christmas cards. There is no real deadline, but be sure to mail the package soon to give it time to get there, be handled and sent on.

What fun to add a little something extra to a holiday envelope.

P.S.: Don’t forget to send cards to our troops serving overseas or a family member of theirs who may not get a card from a deployed loved one.

DEAR HELOISE: In the fall, there are many holidays relatively close together. It can be a hassle to drag out decorations just to have to turn around and get out a different set.

A few years ago, I tried to find decorations that work for several holidays to save time and space. For example, instead of skeletons and spiders for Halloween, I decorate with pumpkins and fall leaves. That way, they carry over into Thanksgiving.

— Kellie, via email

DEAR HELOISE: Your column referred to trunk smell. I had a problem with my RV refrigerator when the power went out and we lost the frozen meat. We didn’t know for a week. The smell was awful. I tried everything. I purchased a can of coffee, opened it and put it in the freezer. The smell was gone within a day!

— Kathy A., via email DEAR READER: The coffee trick is a standard military-move hint from way back.