‘Endeering’ food

Dear Heloise: I’m writing about a hot-button issue: feeding deer that may roam in the neighborhood. Feeding deer is a bad idea. Yes, they are magnificent creatures, and we want them to be healthy. But here are some problems with people feeding deer:

■ Deer should train themselves to forage. If we feed them, they become dependent on us.

■ If deer congregate in small areas, they can spread disease amongst the herd.

■ “Word will spread” that Mrs. Jones has deer food. This can bring large populations of deer to an area.Deer can go long

■ periods without eating. Deer eat heartily in the summer to bulk up, and by this time of year, they instinctively reduce the amount of food they consume. If we feed them now, this natural process gets out of whack.

■ Commercial deer food is not healthy; “deer corn” is difficult for deer to digest.

— Dan W. in Pennsylvania

Dan, excellent information! Readers, if you are feeding deer, cut back gradually so the deer will get back to their natural rhythm. Plant trees that produce acorns, nuts and berries. — Heloise

Pet pal

Dear Readers: Phil G., via email, sent in pictures of his twin daughters’ white-and-black 7-yearold bunny, Rosie. Rosie loves to get cuddled and is potty-trained; the girls take her outside every day (they play ball with Rosie!), and they feed her lots of fruits and vegetables. Rosie even gives kisses, and she loves to read chapter books!

Phil says bunnies are easy pets — they don’t smell or bark. To see Rosie and our other Pet Pals, visit www.Heloise. com and click on “Pet of the Week.” — Heloise

Cleaning turquoise

Dear Heloise: I love turquoise jewelry. What’s the best way to clean it? — Crystal M. in California

Crystal, turquoise is a lovely light-blue stone. It is fairly hardy, but high temperatures can damage it. Wash your turquoise pieces in warm, soapy water. Don’t use ultrasonic or steam cleaners. Lay flat to dry. — Heloise

Litter tub

Household Hints

Dear Heloise: I needed a cat litter box that would fit into a small space. I made one from a large, flexible garden tub. I cut the entrance high enough to keep the litter in, but low enough for 17-yearold Zoe to step into easily. The handles make the tub easy to move, if necessary. I also purchased a longhandled litter scoop to make scooping duties easier. — Jane in San Antonio

Vertical style

Dear Heloise: I’ve discovered that if I fold my T-shirts and stand them up vertically in the drawer, I can fit more shirts in, and I can see exactly what colors I have, and the quantity of each.

This works for jeans, socks and bras, also. — Susan in Texas