Heloise

Dear Heloise: I bake a lot of bread to give as gifts. I use nonstick cooking spray to grease my loaf pans. My husband suggested that I open the dishwasher and spray the pans over the top rack. This way, it’s easy and clean! — Marian B., in New Orleans

PHYSICAL NEWSPAPERS

Dear Heloise: For Marvin Tiffany of York, Nebraska, I agree about missing the old days when an actual print newspaper arrived at the house in the morning. Here in our part of Oregon, I can get the local paper by mail three days a week, and it costs a fortune.

I think the price of paper, the cost of home delivery, and the lack of advertisers for print media is causing the problem. I hope Marvin can find a solution. Thanks for your column, Heloise. — Sara J., in Lebanon, Oregon

Sara, there is nothing as certain as change. The news, which was printed on paper, was a staple in nearly every home in America for many years. Many of us learned to read by reading the comics with a sibling or a parent. The first page that some men read in the morning or the evening was the sports page. And I think we all liked to read the advice columns.

I miss these days, but I doubt they’ll ever come back. We receive the news much faster now, sometimes even minute by minute as it happens. We get weather warnings faster, which has saved lives. With the disadvantages of losing a physical newspaper came new advantages. — Heloise

ID TAGS FOR HORSES

Dear Heloise: A recent suggestion for attaching identification tags to horses’ bridles (or halters) is only useful for times when the horse is being ridden. When the horse is in the pasture or even in a stall, it is not safe to keep them bridled or haltered because they can catch it on something and injure themselves while trying to get free. It’s better to braid the tag into their mane. — Susan H., in Bandera, Texas

OH, DEER!

Dear Heloise: I often saw many deer by the side of the road during their rutting season. I found that flashing my lights sometimes confused the deer, and they would still run into the roadway. However, sounding my horn was most effective because the deer could always tell where the sound was coming from, and they would run the other way. — Ken W., in Trenton, New Jersey

SCAVENGING FOR KIDS

Dear Heloise: I printed out a list (or multiple lists) of a scavenger-type activity for my grandkids to do. You can make your own rules (i.e., to stay on certain property or stay in the house). An older child can be the organizer/reader for the younger ones.

First, make a list of suitable items to be found. The kids can all look for their own collection, or they can work as a group or in pairs. Each needs a small box or basket (like an Easter basket) to put the items in.

Things to find could be something flat, something straight, something round, a toy with wheels, something to write with, something with fake eyes (like a stuffed animal), a pretty leaf, something to read, something soft, something hard, etc.

This is a “busy activity” that my grandkids loved, and they wanted to share what they’d found with me. Luckily, we have an acre that they could run around on, but most parents could accommodate it indoors, too. — Pat S., in College Station, Texas

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.