Gift cards would be great for teachers
Dear Heloise: The idea of giving teachers a gift card to a local bookstore, etc., is very thoughtful and would be appreciated by many teachers. However, in my state and many others, there is a state law that prohibits gifts to be given to teachers, or any other public employee, if the value is above $3.
Teachers spend many hundreds of dollars on supplies for their classrooms. In the winter, kids go through boxes of tissue, and many teachers buy these for their classrooms. Teachers would love to have a thoughtful card and some supplies for the classroom that the schools don't furnish. J.E. in Iowa City, Iowa
Thanks for the information. We called a school district and found that they have rules and regulations about gifts. So, it would best to call your school district to see what is acceptable. Heloise
Dear Heloise: With seed catalogs arriving daily, I've started planning my new garden. I have found that those large, 5-gallon paint buckets are good for holding a number of things, like gypsum, sand and even plant food. The lids keep out moisture better than bags do, and they're the perfect size for small garden debris. If you feel creative, you can decorate these buckets with regular latex paint. They look good on the potting-shed shelf. I use old detergent measuring cups to spread their contents. Patsy Ittner, Via E-mail
These buckets can be bought at discount or hardware stores for a couple of dollars each and have many handy uses. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Have you ever been looking for an item you don't use very often, like a turkey pan, holiday dishes or special glassware, etc.? I decided to make a list in a small notebook of where seldom-used items are stored. This makes finding everything a snap! F.W. from Illinois
Dear Heloise: Here's a hint that my real estate agent shared with me, and I thought I would pass it along to others: Whenever she would call to set up a viewing, I would quickly simmer some potpourri on the stove top. This would make the house smell delicious and give potential buyers a feeling of home. O.G. from Pennsylvania
Another good idea is to bake some cookies or bread, if you have the time. This makes your home smell wonderful and inviting. Just be sure that you have the time for the cleanup, too. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I hated filling up my car with diesel fuel because it was yucky and my hands would stink all day long. So, now I keep a small box of rubber gloves in the glove compartment. When I fuel up, I put on a glove, and now I don't have to go through the day with a stinky diesel smell! R.E. from Rhode Island
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