House key comes in handy
Dear Heloise: I am a senior citizen living by myself in Northern Indiana. Right now, we are in the middle of a blizzard. As a safety precaution, if I absolutely need to go outside on these cold days, I always make sure I have a house key in my coat pocket. One never knows when a lock could accidentally get turned on the way out the door. The results could be deadly. Stay safe. -- Michael Noll, via email
SCANNING OLD PICTURES
Dear Heloise: The reader from Kentucky has the right idea about scanning old photos. I took as many old family photos as I could find -- the earliest being a photo of my greatgrandmother who died in 1902 -- dated them as best I could, printed them on album pages made of photo paper, and made a keepsake album for each of my two grandchildren. Of course, I also have all the photos and facsimile pages on my computer. -- Ellen, via email
APPLE BUTTER FOR PILLS
Dear Heloise: I read your column every day in the Lima News. There recently was a letter from Pat Reeder about swallowing large pills. My dad had large pills to take as well, and we used apple butter. If apple sauce doesn’t agree, try apple butter instead. It always worked! -- Liz, in Ohio
WIRELESS CAR UNLOCKER
Dear Heloise: My sister and I have wireless car unlockers, and they contain a car key within in it. On one edge, you will see a rectangle, on the rectangle a dot, the cord push, and a T shape. Push the dot, then the other side, pull up the edge, and there is the key! -- Joyce Maurer, Reading, Pennsylvania
OLIVE OIL STORAGE
Dear Heloise: Olive oil can go rancid if not stored properly or used in a timely manner.
It is cheaper to buy a large bottle, which stays in the refrigerator until needed. When removed for use, the lid stays on until the oil returns to liquid form at room temperature. This prevents condensation from happening inside the bottle. I have never had any go bad in all the years I’ve done this. I keep small amounts out for daily use. -- S.T.
PET PAL
Dear Heloise: My best friend/dog is a “Schnoodle,” half Poodle and half Mini Schnauzer. He is 7 now, but he still acts like a puppy. I have many photos of him when he is groomed, all white and adorable. But this one, taken after a trip to the dog park, is my all-time favorite. Look at that grin that says: “I had so much fun, Mommy.” -Jana Walsh, Phoenix
Readers, to see Jana’s Schnoodle and our other Pet Pals, go to Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.”
Do you have a furry friend to share with our readers? Send a photo and a brief description to Heloise@heloise.com. -- Heloise
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.