Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 13F. Winds light and variable..
Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 13F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: December 25, 2024 @ 8:48 pm
DEAR HELOISE: I wanted to write in concerning not using rugs and towels at animal shelters. I have to wonder what sort of “shelter” is being offered to dogs and cats where it gets so cold and wet that the cloth can freeze. Not to mention the possibility of the poor animal freezing to death!
Are they saying these indoor animals are being kept outside? Or are their facilities not being properly heated and dry? This is shocking to me! I hope they can explain themselves.
— Frank F. ,Ventura, California
Frank, the letter was referring to feral cats and other outdoor animals. Shelter cats and dogs usually have a better situation than those who are born wild or mistreated by their owners. In my opinion, no animal should be kept outside in the winter if they have owners with a warm house. Sadly, there are too many abandoned cats and dogs who have no one to look after them, making their existence difficult and their lives short.
Straw is the best solution to helping these animals stay warm, provided that there is plenty of straw to snuggle in for warmth inside of some type of enclosure. There are a variety of such houses for animals online, and most aren’t expensive.
— Heloise
DEAR HELOISE: I often use paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls to keep artificial flower stems together. I also cut them lengthwise to put on gift-wrapping paper rolls. If the paper roll is too thin to keep a cardboard roll on, then I use a rubber band to secure the roll.
Your readers have given me so much I can use. I thank you and thank them, too.
— Jackie, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Jackie, I like your cardboard roll ideas. Lately, I’ve received several letters stating that readers use the cardboard roll in paper towels and toilet paper to start a fire in their fireplace. Some also use a toilet roll of cardboard to gather a number of loose cords together. Others use a paper towel roll to wrap tree lights around when putting them into storage. All of these are great ideas as well.
— Heloise
DEAR HELOISE: Our glass pie plates wouldn’t get clean, so my husband had the successful idea to use a ceramic cooktop cleaner! The pie plates are sparkling now!
— Connie B., Universal City, Texas
DEAR HELOISE: My mom was never really happy with any gift I gave her. Since she relied on Social Security, money was tight, so I started to give her a goody box. I usually used an empty paper box and filled it with toiletries and products that I knew she used. I also included postage stamps and gift cards for car washes. She would love her goody box and looked forward to it every year.
One year, my aunt was visiting from the old country at Christmas, so I made up a smaller box for her. I found out that she loved a certain brand of canned corn, so I included six cans. She was over the moon! It was also easy for me, as I would add things to the box all year long, making it easier on my time and budget.
— Liz N., via email
Send hints to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001 or email Heloise@Heloise.com.
Share your opinion with New Hampshire. Letters to the editor may be up to 250 words. Longer opinions of up to 800 words can be emailed to opinion@unionleader.com along with a headshot.
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