Helpful Hints

DEAR READERS: Here is this week's Sound Off, about holding a door for someone:

"My husband and I recently traveled 3,000 miles through the heartland of the U.S. He is handicapped, but is pretty good in his wheelchair.

"My Sound Off is about the lack of manners espoused by people in gas stations, restaurants, etc. They see us coming, me pushing the wheelchair and no handicapped-accessible entry. They look at us and keep walking, leaving us to struggle. I cannot think how someone handicapped and traveling alone must feel. In this age of 'pay it forward,' how about holding the door for someone? Don't ignore someone in a wheelchair."

-- PS in CS, via email

DEAR READER: They should be ashamed. It takes just a moment to be kind and help someone who needs a little assistance. However, some may be shy or not know what the right thing to do is. Folks, just ask! "Can I hold the door?" "Need a hand with those bags?" The worst that can happen is the person says "no."

DEAR READERS: Hints for storing stuffed animals:

• In a large laundry hamper.

• Use hanging planter hooks on walls.

• Stuff all into a beanbag cover.

• Use fabric or netting as a hammock.

• On top shelves in closets.

DEAR HELOISE: I have an old recipe that calls for "sour milk." I have no idea how to sour milk. What is "sour milk," anyway?

-- Hannah, via email

DEAR READER: Today we call it "buttermilk" that you buy in the store. It's milk that is "soured" (not bad or old milk) and has a tart taste. Add two tablespoons of vinegar to a cup of whole milk. Mix well and let sit out for five minutes or so. The milk will sour -- it's kind of cool to watch the process. It will get a little thick, and the longer it sits, the more "clumps" of solids appear. Vinegar is just about my favorite go-to product to keep on hand -- so many uses! Making a gelatin mold? Add one teaspoon of white vinegar to the recipe to help the gelatin stay firm.

DEAR HELOISE: I use claw-type hair clips. Sometimes a tooth breaks. Instead of throwing broken ones away, I use them on my plants. They come in handy for securing plants to stakes or clipping a vine to a trellis, etc.

-- Michelle L., Mobile, Ala.

DEAR HELOISE: I have a hint for watering plants that are hard to reach: I use an old sports bottle. The spout with a straw makes it easy to get the water to the plant without making a big mess.

-- Ross in Las Vegas

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

Heloise@Heloise.com

ActiveStyle on 08/24/2015

Upcoming Events