Helpful Hints

DEAR READERS: Today's Sound Off is a comment in response to a column about taking pictures of medications to show physicians. A reader wrote: "Bringing the actual pill bottles can give valuable information to the health-care provider.

"1. Is it being refilled in a timely manner?

"2. Are the pills being taken accurately?

"3. Do the pills in the bottle match the prescription?

"4. Are the pills current or discontinued?

"If a senior has difficulty self-medicating, checking the actual pill bottles would reveal more than a picture would."

-- A Nurse-Daughter,

Council Bluffs, Iowa

DEAR READER: A good point, and, especially coming from you, a nurse, one to be taken into consideration. Unfortunately, with many senior citizens taking multiple medications, it's a lot to check. Ask the physician or health-care professional which they would prefer.

DEAR READERS: Here are some other uses for journals:

• Keep favorite recipes.

• Document travel information.

• Track goings-on in your garden.

• As an art journal to sketch in.

• Tape or glue miscellaneous mementos with date and time.

DEAR HELOISE: Every year, I try to do or learn something that I've not done before. Craft stores offer a variety of classes. I picked up a brochure of classes, and boy, was there a lot to choose from. I took a beginning crochet class and loved the one-on-one attention I received. The verdict on whether I can crochet is still out!

I plan to go back and pick up other classes and engage that neglected part of my brain.

-- Terri L., via email

DEAR READER: Terri, stepping out to try something new is good. Go online to the store's website. Click the "Classes" tab to see what's offered. You can even sign up for classes, too.

DEAR HELOISE: I have a hint for reusing those beer-bottle carriers. We use them to bring in water bottles from the fridge in the garage, and then take the empties to our reusable bags in the garage to take to the recycling center.

-- Marlene P. in California

DEAR READERS: Here is a way to recycle/reuse empty boxes of processed, shelf-stable cheese: Use them to organize your stuff. Reinforce the bottom with duct tape (or spray-paint, as I did one) to set in the pantry. They're sturdy and can be used in craft rooms, garages or inside drawers.

DEAR HELOISE: When I make gooey desserts like puffed-rice treats, here's a tried-and-true hint: Before spreading the mixture, I spray the spoon with cooking oil. This will keep the marshmallow from sticking to it, and spreading the mixture will be easier.

-- Karen M., Spokane, Wash.

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

[email protected]

ActiveStyle on 06/27/2016

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