HINTS FROM HELOISE
DEAR READERS: Looking to adopt a dog or cat but don’t know where to start? The Shelter Pet Project, in cooperation with the Humane Society of the United States (www.humanesociety.org), is a great resource.
Simply visit the website (www.theshelterpetproject.org), enter your ZIP code, select either a dog or a cat and sit back.
An array of adoptable animals will appear, along with a picture, description (including medical status, if available), contact information and instructions on how to proceed. The many animals on the site can be found at shelters and rescue groups in the ZIP code you’ve selected.
Keep in mind, the Shelter Pet Project houses no animals; it is simply a clearinghouse to showcase these amazing, adoptable pets all across America. Check it out!
— Heloise
DEAR HELOISE: Getting prescriptions filled at the veterinarian’s office may not be the best or most cost-effective choice. Did you know that the pharmacy at the grocery store may carry your pet’s meds, and they may be cheaper too?
One problem I’ve run into, though: The grocery store pharmacy may not have the correct dosage that the veterinarian prescribed.
— Harold R. in Illinois DEAR HELOISE: When the grandkids visit, we bake sugar cookies. We have fun imprinting patterns on the cookies using ordinary kitchen items: citrus juicer, cooling rack, apple corer, the bottom of a glass, bottle cap, drinking straw, fork, uncooked bowtie pasta — anything with a pretty pattern or texture.
The cookies come out beautiful and delicious!
— Mary S. in Pittsburgh DEAR HELOISE: I use the plain side of the front of greeting cards for grocery lists, phone call notes and miscellaneous memos to myself. It is a good way to recycle usable card stock. I also have cut out pieces of product packaging boxes to reuse if the inside is white or light gray. I enjoy your column!
— Vonnie S., Pasadena, Calif. DEAR HELOISE: If I’m out and about and notice I have a button coming undone, I have a fix: I dab some clear nail polish on the button, and this holds it in place until I can get home and reattach it properly.
— Helen D., Monroe, La. P.S. By the way, I’m the one in my group of friends with the BIG BAG. Anything you need, I probably have it!
DEAR HELOISE: Instead of putting brown sugar on my oatmeal, I stir 1/4 teaspoon of molasses into the pan during the final minutes of cooking. I get all the flavor I crave without the added sugar.
— Deborah S., League City, Texas DEBORAH, THE GOOD NEWS is that molasses is low in saturated fat and sodium. It’s also a good source of vitamin B-6, potassium, magnesium and manganese. The bad news is that a large portion of molasses’ calories come from sugars. Calories in molasses are about the same as sugar, but molasses contains about half the sucrose as sugar.