DEAR READERS: Today's Sound On comes from a reader who, along with her neighborhood, is trying to make a positive impact on rebuilding the declining monarch butterfly population. She wrote:
"My neighborhood has become afflicted with 'monarch madness'! We are trying, one plant at a time, to make our 'hood' into a monarch butterfly oasis. There are several houses on each block that have milkweed plants, which provide food for the monarch caterpillars and the hatched butterflies.
"Our local hardware and garden center found out about the monarch project and offered a very nice discount on the plants."
-- Karen in Oxnard, Calif.
For those who might not know, the milkweed plant is a hardy plant that is easy to grow and maintain. The blooms are colorful and provide food for many species of butterflies, as well as hummingbirds and bees.
DEAR READERS: Here is a list of other things you can use as ornament hooks:
• Paper clips
• Bread-bag ties
• Thin, decorative ribbon
• Natural jute or twine
• Large safety pins.
DEAR HELOISE: A while back, David W. wrote in about putting money in library books. While that would be a nice treat to find, I would be concerned that someone had accidentally left it there and then would be out the money, especially if it is a large bill.
So, I would like to suggest that he put a note with the money, stating something to the fact that this is a gift.
-- A Reader, via email
DEAR READER: This is what I would call making an original hint even better.
DEAR READERS: When you are ready to conquer a stain, keep these helpful hints in mind:
• The sooner, the better. The longer it is left on fabric, the more difficult it will be to remove.
• Lift the stain slowly. Some stains will require time, patience and perseverance.
• Repeat as often as necessary. Some stains require more than one attempt.
DEAR HELOISE: Quick hint for transporting deviled eggs from one location to another: Place them on lettuce leaves on the plate. Keeps them from sliding.
-- Jim D., via email
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
ActiveStyle on 12/05/2016