Pinwheels help keep squirrels from planters

Dear Heloise: I have flower boxes around my patio, and at the beginning of spring, I noticed squirrels digging in them. They make such a mess! Plus, when I start planting, they uproot the small plants, too. To discourage them, I bought some shiny children's pinwheels and put them in the planters. The spinning and the shine seem to scare them away, leaving my flowers intact.
I love your column and have been a fan of your mom's and yours for years. In fact, at my bridal shower 36 years ago, one of the gifts in my "wishing well" was a pocket edition of "Hints From Heloise." It was one of the most practical and entertaining gifts I received! Louisa Cardillo, via e-mail
Louisa, thanks for the kind words. Squirrels can be pretty darn bothersome! Heloise
Dear Readers: We had to take our precious Cabbie (a miniature schnauzer) to the vet. She had some tummy problems and had to stay for a few days. I went home and then brought back her pillow and a towel with my scent on it.
The next day, we went to see her, and the vet tech said that Cabbie didn't want to get into her crate until the tech put her pillow and the towel inside. So, try to take something with a familiar scent when you take your pet to the vet -- your pet wants to feel comfortable, and "a touch of home" might just do the trick. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Just read the idea of measuring out fish food into cupcake liners. At each of our three tanks, we use seven-day pill containers, one marked for the morning and the other for evening feeding. It's really easy to measure out the food on a weekly basis, and you don't have to worry about spilling it! Melissa Himes, Youngstown
Dear Readers: Bill and Myra Rasmussen of Cleveland, Tenn., sent a photo of Mr. Bean, their 1-year old Chihuahua, cuddling with his pal Jaffy, a 2-year-old tuxedo (black and white) cat. They look snug as a couple of bugs on a rug! Visit my Web site, www.Heloise.com, to see the photo of Mr. Bean and Jaffy. Heloise
Dear Heloise: For an inexpensive pet bed, cover a standard pillow (larger pillow for a larger pet) with two kitchen trash bags going in opposite directions. The ones with drawstring closures work well.
Then cover this with an old, pretty pillowcase. The pillow stays clean and dry. It works well for older pets that like multiple resting places. Roz Eisner, Cheshire, Conn.
Dear Heloise: Hamsters are nocturnal and usually sleep during the day. To make the cage more comfy, I put an old towel over it to darken it during the day. The hamster has a nice, dark environment in which to sleep. Matthew Maltos, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate