4C SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 SUNDAY NEWS-LEADER CRYPTOQUIP PREVIOUS ANSWER Dear Abby: I am sad that I found a long-lasting husband. di- vorced. in my 40s and I still would like a man in my life. The men met all seem to enjoy having their homes to themselves. kind of frightening.
Some female friends have told me that the good ones are already taken, so waiting for a divorce to happen. Should I try online dating? Do you think I should reach out to another state for someone? in Pennsylvania Dear Impatient: Stop waiting for a divorce to those men have been burned and likely to be can- didates for marriage in the near future. Because an increasing number of matches are made via online dating sites, write a and post it on a cou- ple that cater to mature adults, prefer- ably who live relatively close by. If you meet someone, take things slowly and you may have better luck. Dear Abby: A few years ago, my par- ents gave me a beautiful piece of proper- ty and the opportunity to build a small house, mortgage-free.
The problem is, during those few years, I married and started a family. We have now outgrown the house and are in desperate need of an upgrade. like to sell the house and use the funds to buy something more ac- commodating. Adding on is not an op- tion, as our funds are limited, and we could use the proceeds from the sale to buy something we have to up. I know how to break the news to my parents that we want to sell.
My father worked hard to provide this opportunity for me, and I know how to say it. Any advice? In a Dilemma in Michigan Dear Dilemma: Tell your father you are grateful for the it took for him to give you the chance to own a home of your own. Then bite the bullet and point out that since the house was built, your family has grown to the point that it is no longer practical, so you would like to sell it and use the money to move to a larger place that can more comfortably accommodate your needs. To do that is not unreasonable or ungrateful. Dear Abby: Is it possible to lose your sense of humor because of a stroke? Be- fore it happened, my dear sister was witty, fun-loving and the life of the party.
She has recovered physically, but she no long- er has a sense of humor. Everything is deadly serious to her now, and she understand when someone is making a joke. I want her to but afraid this might be a result of her brain injury. Any insight? Laughing by Myself Dear Laughing: What you have de- scribed could absolutely be related to your stroke. When it happened, certain areas of her brain were This her fault, and telling her to will not improve the situa- tion.
Thank your higher power that she has recovered physically, keep your com- ments direct and literal, limit the jokes and you will both be more comfortable. Contact Abby at www.DearAbby.com. DEAR ABBY ABIGAIL VAN BUREN Divorcee wonders if any men are out there bush is not native to North America, therefore is an alien plant, and has become invasive in some areas, es- pecially in disturbed ground or along waterways. It has been banned in some states, Oregon and Washington; more states may follow this trend. They are particularly harmful because they crowd out useful native plants and mo- nopolize the pollinators, disrupting the life cycle and reducing the success, leading to fewer A better choice for would be a variety of native plants.
There are beautiful native shrubs that are both nectar plants and host plants for vari- ous pollinators. These would include buttonbush and New Jersey Tea for wet sites, Summer-sweet and Virginia Sweetspire for drier areas. There are also many plants such as milkweeds, coreopsis, native asters, garden phlox and cardinal that will both attract and host various polli- nators. A wide variety of both host and nectar plants will lead to greater suc- cess in attracting and providing habitat for Is plastic sheet mulch a good choice to use in my vegetable garden or is there a better choice? What are the pros and cons of plastic mulch? What about using this in other types of gardening? Plastic mulch, when used in vegeta- ble gardening for a season can be useful, but also has many issues involved in its use. Use in other types of gardening, such as beds, is not a good idea and may create more problems than it solves.
Some good points of plastic mulch is that it is at stopping soil ero- sion, it warms the soil and may help ex- tend the growing season, helps retain moisture, and will help manage weeds and insects. On the other hand, there are many cons in the use of this product in the vegetable garden. First of all, the plastic contributes to already and also provides a good hid- ing place for slugs, earwigs, and other pests. In the case of heavy rains, the plastic will not allow the soil to dry out, keeping the soil soggy for days. Organic mulches are better choices such as straw (not hay), deep compost, leaves, well-aged wood chips or saw- dust, or grass clippings.
Readers can pose questions or get more information by calling 417-874- 2963 and talking to one of the trained volunteers the Master Gardener Hotline at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Greene County lo- cated inside the Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic MO 65807. Regal fritillary butterflies, currently a species of concern in Missouri, are being raised at Temple Hall on the Missouri State University Campus. COURTESY OF CHRIS BARNHART Gardening Continued from Page 1C she receives from spending, nothing will change. You may be shielding her from that kind of pain.
If she will not agree to see a family counselor with you and your brother, the two of you should speak with some- one who will help you lay down ground rules. Then you both need to become united on how you will respond to her in the future. You and your brother will need to ex- ercise tough love with your mom. In the future, if she is truly in need of food, has the electricity turned or her personal safety is at risk, do not give her the mon- ey directly. That would be like handing a bottle of whiskey to an alcoholic.
In- stead, pay the bill or supply the meal yourself. Dear Cheapskate: Last summer, heat from the sun caused the red letter- ing from a plastic shopping bag to melt onto the gray leather front passenger seat in my car. I have been unable to re- move the stain and hope you may have a solution. Toni, Florida Dear Toni: This is a problem I mess around with, because it will the resale value of your car. Because we know the content or type of ink that penetrated the leather, any attempts you make to remove it could set it permanently.
You need a leather expert. Call a local dry cleaner to get a referral. Leather upholstery is not something you can easily (or cheaply) replace, but you need to get this stain removed to protect the resale value of your car. Good luck! Dear Cheapskate: I have a 3-year- old daughter. Eventually, my husband and I plan to have more children.
I have saved lots of baby things, clothing, toys and other items, but I am having trouble storing all of these things. They have taken over my guest room closet. I can- not take up any more space with these things. I have begun bags for donation and garage sales, but there are some things I need to keep for future children. I do not like the idea of paying for stor- age space elsewhere, but I am not sure what to do with these quickly accumu- lating things.
Can you help? Becky, Wisconsin Dear Becky: Do you have friends or relatives with garage, basem*nt or attic space you could use for a few years? If not, I suggest you decide what items you really need to retain. For all the clothes, blankets and other soft items, get a few vacuum storage bags that are easily and compressed using your vacuum cleaner with a hose to suck out all the air. You can stash these under beds or in the tops of closets. As for equipment, get out your tools and dis- assemble them. Put all the pieces into compact boxes that you can tuck away.
Take photos during the process so remember how to put these items back together when the new babies arrive. Dear Cheapskate: I have been a faithful reader of your articles for the last two years. Though I live in India, it has helped me a lot. I paid my credit card completely, and I have not touched it in nearly 18 months! You are a great motivator for me. I thank God for you.
I recently received one of your books from the USA through a relative of mine. Every day, I eagerly look forward to reading your articles. God bless you. Thank you once again. Keep it going.
Laly, South India Dear Laly: How great to hear from you across the miles. I am so proud of you to have paid that credit card! Sadly, I believe credit card debt has be- come a globally unifying concept. It af- fects us in similar ways even though our cultures might be vastly I hope you enjoy that book. I look forward to hearing from you again. Mary invites you to visit her at Every- dayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and re- sources for all recommended products and services.
Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.every- daycheapskate.com/contact/, Ma- This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate- a frugal living blog, and the au- thor of the book Parents Continued from Page 1C Grown children can feel the burden when their parents have woes. GETTY.
