DEAR HELOISE: Thank you for alerting pet owners that male deer can be violent with household pets during the rutting season. I have lived with deer in our neighborhood in San Antonio for almost 40 years.
We give them a wide berth and enjoy seeing them from a distance. As their habitat has been overtaken by development, they can be found in our backyard day or night.
We have at least an acre of land, but even in the presence of our dogs in a fenced part of our yard, the deer come close. Some of our neighbors began feeding the deer daily, so their numbers have increased.
People who feed them are creating a baby boom of deer that cannot be supported in an urban area.
-- Linda L., via email
DEAR HELOISE: A dish-drying mat makes a good fit and a comfy pad to line kitty's crate when traveling in the car. It is washable and dries quickly. On vacation with kitty, if another mat is needed, one can usually be found inexpensively at any "dollar store."
-- Adele M., Derry, N.H.
DEAR HELOISE: Your advice about growing cacti reminded me of a gardening tip I read years ago.
A reader asked how often to water her cactus garden, and the reply was to watch the weather in Phoenix: If it rains in Phoenix, water your cactus.
-- Rich F., Custer, S.D.
DEAR HELOISE: My husband only wears black socks, while I wear white and black ones. We use different-looking mesh laundry bags for the blacks and another for my whites.
It takes no time to stuff them in -- just remember to zip them up. I wash my bras in one and put items I don't want to get twisted in a large one.
-- Lee, via email
DEAR HELOISE: Dentists want us to brush our teeth for two minutes each time we brush. I keep digital timers in my bathrooms.
-- Mary C., via email
DEAR HELOISE: I purchased a small television, but found I couldn't afford cable. I use an "indoor antenna." These are not the rabbit ears of the 1950s. It's connected with a TV antenna jack (and all TVs have an antenna jack). There are a variety of indoor antennas, so search online for the best price and service.
-- Meghan W.,
Charleston, S.C.
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
HomeStyle on 01/25/2020