ESCANABA- Flowers and plants may be fragile, but they speak powerful words! “Hello, love you, thinking of you, smile," and “Be well” are some of the things flowers say. Mother’s Day and flowers go together like music and lyrics. Roses speak of love, and so do moms. Carnations stand ...

Dear Annie: My dad is turning 73 next month, and my mom is throwing this big party for him. She is begging me to come, but my parents live across the country -- a six-hour plane ride. I work full time and have two kids under 5. My family only takes a trip like this once or twice a year, and if ...

Dear Heloise: I use baby wipes frequently, and I have one package in each of our two bathrooms. After a while, I found that the top sheets would be dry, while the bottom sheets would be swimming in liquid. Now when I use the bathroom, I flip the package. Some packages are flat and get flipped ...

Dear Heloise: Mattresses keep getting thicker and more expensive, and they require special deep-pocket sheets on top of this. Are they actually more comfortable or just harder to get into, especially for shorter people and those who have mobility difficulties? — Marlene K., in Regent, North ...

Dear Annie: I am the grandmother of two. My almost-3-year-old granddaughter told me she does not love her "Uncle Dave." I asked her why and she said because he tickles her. Her parents, my son and his wife, push their kids to "give hugs" upon visiting and leaving friends and relatives. I ...

Dear Heloise: I read your column every week and have become concerned about how frequently your readers are offering hints that make life easier but aren’t good for the environment. For example, in a recent column, a reader suggested using a plastic tablecloth while cooking, painting and ...