HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR READERS: Tomorrow, and every day, we celebrate mothers for their selfless love and dedication to their families. Mother’s Day is a special time to remember these marvelous women.
Take some time tomorrow to honor Mom.
DEAR HELOISE: In my exercise class, we are required to bring our own weights. This can mean lugging 30-plus pounds of weights!
We discovered rolling tool bags from a big-box hardware store. This bag has an extra-wide mouth and base; the dumbbells are distributed evenly in the bag. This makes lifting the bag in and out of a car easier. The bag is sturdy and attractive.
— Deborah in Maryland
DEAR HELOISE: Is there anything that can be used in a birdbath to cut down on the stains and not hurt the birds?
— Edda B., Maryland DEAR READER: A great, nontoxic cleaner is one of my faves — baking soda. Sprinkle a small amount in an empty birdbath, and add enough water to make a paste. Scrub with a stiff brush, and rinse thoroughly. Then fill with fresh water.
Baking soda is a workhorse that’s safe, cheap and readily available.
DEAR HELOISE: For taking cupcakes or cookies to school, I use a flat cardboard tray that canned beverages come in. The tray is a convenient size, and can just be tossed afterward. To make it look festive, cut a strip of colorful paper to glue around the outside.
For serving grapes, I cut the stem into pieces with the grapes attached. That way, when someone reaches for a grape, he or she can take a little sprig, and the whole bunch doesn’t get picked over, which leaves unattractive bare stems on the serving dish.
And I’ve come up with another hint: I needed a small rack for a roasting dish, so I broke bamboo skewers to fit and laid them in a crisscross pattern to support the roast off the bottom of the pan.
I’ve learned a lot from your column over the years.
— J.R. in Alaska
DEAR HELOISE: Why don’t businesses check bathrooms for the height of coat hooks? If you are a person who uses a wheelchair and need to take off your coat in the restroom, you have to put it on the floor, which is unsanitary and has happened to me.
— Jerry L., via email Heloise@Heloise.com