JAMES AND MORRIS CAREY \ On the House Taillight tickets to fireplace flues -- simple tips

Worried about that fateful night when you will be stopped by a policeman and given a ticket because your taillight is out? Want to know an easy way to prevent that?
Are deer a problem where you live? Want to know how other folks are keeping these beautiful but pesky, flower-devouring creatures at bay?
Want to learn how you can keep cold air from entering your house through your fireplace this winter?
For solutions to these problems and more, read on.
Messy power strip
If you have a home office or an at-home student, more than likely, you have a power strip sitting on the floor covered with an array of messy cords. A way to clean up that mess is to attach the power strip on the underside of the desk structure. The task is easy because plug strips come with keyhole-shaped screw slots that make mounting possible. However, if you aren't really skilled with a measuring tape, the prospect of hanging the plug strip can be disheartening. Here's a simple procedure that will make the job easy:
UGet a piece of paper and a pencil.
UUse the pencil to rub the position of the keyhole screw slots onto the paper -- a pencil rubbing.
UUse the tracing to transfer the exact screw locations onto your desk.
UUse the rubbing as a pattern to locate the position of, and install, the mounting screws.
Upside-down tomatoes
Don't you hate it when you're trying to grow tomatoes and half of them end up growing in the soil and getting dirty and discolored? It doesn't have to be that way. Try growing your next tomato plant in the air, and upside-down at that.
UFind a pot with a hole large enough for the tomato root to fit through. Or drill the needed port. The pot should be hung about 5 feet above ground (on a fence or wall).
UWith the tomato roots relatively bare and while you're holding the plant upside-down, place the roots through the hole in the bottom of the pot. At this point, gently spread the roots around the inside of the pot and begin covering them with potting soil. The newly added dirt will hold the plant in place as it hangs down from the pot.
UWater the pot as usual, and watch your ripe, red fruit grow upside down -- free of dirt and other imperfections associated with ground contact.
Avoid taillight tickets
Now you can drive more safely without worrying about whether your taillight (or brake light) is working. All you need is your garage door and some tin foil:
UStaple or tape a piece of tin foil onto your garage door behind each tail light (the foil should extend slightly beyond the side of the vehicle).
UBefore raising the garage door, and before starting the engine, turn the ignition key on and check taillights, brake lights and turn signals by using the rearview mirror to check what's working and what's not.
UBy the way, the same procedure can be used to check the front lights. If you want to get fancy, you can use glass, plastic mirror tiles or sheets of polished metal.
Deer deterrent
We have several friends who, like us, love deer but have difficulty with all the damage that these beautiful creatures cause to landscape and gardens. Recently, it has been discovered that hanging a piece of bar soap from a string will deter deer. Hang the soap between where the deer live and you favorite foliage. One taste of this meal, and they'll move on to a better restaurant.
Energy-efficient fireplace
If you felt cold air coming into the house through your fireplace last winter and couldn't figure out why, you need to know more about the mechanics of a fireplace damper. It is made of metal and has no weather-stripping. So, as the fireplace gets used, it can warp and rust to the point where it won't close tightly. If this is the case with your fireplace, look into a "chimney pillow." This pillow is like a beach ball or an air mattress.
UPlace the chimney pillow into the fireplace flue just above the damper.
UInflate it by using a hand pump, or blow it up by mouth.
UClose the tap on the fill hose.
The chimney pillow will keep hot air in and freezing air out. A label or another reminder should be placed on the hearth or in the firebox telling you to remove it before starting a fire. Deflation takes about a minute, and no tools are required.
XFor more home improvement tips and information, visit www.onthehouse.com on the Web.