HELOISE Fire logs can be made from newspaper

Dear Heloise: I believe I read in your column a few years ago instructions for making logs from newspaper. Would you be able to find this "recipe" and reprint it? Mary Jo Zinsius, Louisville, Ky.
Homemade newspaper logs are a great way to recycle those bundles of newspaper and cut down on the cost of firewood during colder weather!
All you need is a stack of newspaper and some cans (a size similar to tuna-fish or cat-food cans works well) with both ends and labels removed.
Put together a 1-inch stack of newspapers (do not use colored or glossy advertisement inserts), alternating the folded sides. Roll the stack tightly, then slip on a can and push it to the middle of the roll to hold it together.
Put the logs outside and wet them with water, then let them dry thoroughly before using -- this is very important, since the wetting/drying process helps compress the newspaper sections into "logs," which will help keep them together better when burning. Heloise
P.S. After burning the newspaper logs, the metal cans can be removed with a pair of tongs -- be careful in case the metal is still hot.
Dear Heloise: After a recent overnight trip turned into a two-day trip because of airline delays, I've learned a very valuable lesson. I take a blood pressure medication, and I took along enough for one day. Because of the unforeseen delay, I was without the medication until I arrived home on the second day. From this point on, I will take enough medication for several days -- just in case.
Hopefully, this will help keep someone from making the same mistake! Michelle M., New York
Glad you are OK! If your prescriptions are with a national chain, you can usually call and get an emergency one- or two-day supply from a local pharmacy. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When my mother was bedridden, I got a couple of walkie-talkies (they clip onto your belt like a cell phone).
This way, I could go outside or anywhere within three miles of the house, and she could call to let me know that she needed something. A Reader in Texas
Dear Heloise: Those old, outdated wallpaper books that you can get for free make nice sheets for scrapbooking. They are great for borders or to use as background pages. Maggie Kirchner, Sun Lakes, Ariz.
Dear Heloise: Recently, you had a hint about using a paper-towel holder to hold toilet paper. Well, I use my plunger. I cover the bottom of the plunger part with a plastic bag and set three rolls of toilet paper on the handle. Now I feel I am using the plunger for a dual purpose. Patty, Via E-mail
You could also use a large, plastic coffee-can lid to separate the rolls of tissue from the plunger portion. Just cut an "X" in the center and slide it onto the handle first. Heloise
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate