×

Features

A mother-in-law’s criticism could do more harm than good

Dear Annie: My son recently got married. My new daughter-in-law used to dress so cute. She always had makeup on and her hair done. But nowadays, she dresses like a slob. There are days I swear she doesn't brush her hair. She's told me herself that her mom has said to her, "What's wrong with ...

Repelling squirrels from birdseed

Dear Heloise: My husband enjoys feeding birds. We also have a lot of squirrels. The squirrels used to climb up the pole and eat the birdseed. So, he put a slinky on the pole, and the squirrels won’t climb up the pole anymore. Problem solved! — Margaret, in Griffith, Indiana BATHROOM ...

Peace and quiet comes at a price

Dear Annie: I'm 26 and sharing an apartment with two roommates who make my home life miserable. There's constant noise, passive-aggressive notes and one of them regularly invites people over late on weeknights (plus, they usually make dinner without cleaning up). I work long hours and need a ...

Teaching kids how to prep and host

Dear Heloise: The best activity for kids before a holiday meal is having them help in preparing it. This is how they’ll learn how to prep for a big celebration, which is the only way to learn how to do anything. Of course, the work must be geared to each kid’s level of ability, and some ...

Walking on eggshells: Nests, hatchlings and new life everywhere

ESCANABA- June is an egg-cellent month in Upper Michigan! There are a lot of good eggs out there. Some have already hatched and others will hatch very soon. Have you adopted a family of nestling robins in your backyard apple tree? Or perhaps you’ve taken in boarders — a nest full of ...

Fish-sitting favor ends in guilt

Dear Annie: I am 22 and working at my first job out of college. My salary is low and just covers my rent, car payments and basic living expenses. I have no savings yet. Recently, my neighbor, whom I know only to wave at, asked me to feed her fish while she went out of town. I agreed, and she ...