Home and Garden 02/04/17

HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

Look inside for these specials and many others.

upgrades EASY BATHROOM

MODIFICATIONS TO MAKE BATHROOMS SAFER SEVEN PURPLE VEGETABLES TO GROW AND EAT KEN MOON: WINTER WATERING

upgrades EASY BATHROOM

I

BY GINA CRONIN, GINA.CRONIN@GAZETTE.COM

f you can’t stand the sight of your bathroom, you are not alone.

Outdated countertops, messy grouting, unappealing decor and poor lighting can add some frustrating obstacles to your day.

Luckily, being a relatively small space, bathrooms can be quite simple to freshen up and upgrade.

DEEP CLEAN

Sometimes the bathroom area just needs an extra deep clean in order to feel fresh and new. Dedicate a bit of time on your day off to scrubbing down the bathroom and making it shine. Start with the shower area by washing shower curtains and liners — or

replace the liner if mildew and soap scum spots are beyond repair — and hang to dry.

Shower doors can be cleaned with a paste made from baking soda and white vinegar, which is applied and left on for an hour before scrubbed. For the tub, sprinkle with baking soda, and spray a vinegar and water solution. After it bubbles, scrub to form a paste and let sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.

Tiles, walls and ceilings can be sprayed with an all-purpose cleaner, and left on while a hot shower is turned on with door closed, and steam is built up for five minutes. Leave for 20 minutes then wipe down. For toilets, pour in a cup of baking soda, let sit for a few minutes, then use a

toilet brush to scrub and flush. Grout can be cleaned by dipping a grout brush or toothbrush – clearly labeled to not use for teeth – into bleach and then scrubbing in between tiles. Don’t forget to also scrub and mop the floors, including behind the toilet. Finish off by spraying with some room freshener, lighting a scented candle or turning on a plugin fragrance diffuser.

UPDATE THE DECOR

Now that your bathroom is clean, you can start deciding how you’d like to update the décor. Decorations are a simple, inexpensive way to make a difference.

Look into all of the beautiful shower curtain options available and have fun choosing

one that’s right now you. Coordinate it with brand new bath mats and luxury towels hanging neatly from a towel rack. Don’t forget to add some bathroom art! Signs with words of inspiration are popular for the bathroom.

If you want to take it a step further, you can put a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Seafoam green, sky blue, lavender, grey-blue and ivory are some popular wall colors for bathrooms. You can also replace some of the fixtures and accents with sleek, matching designs for the faucet and handles, drawer knobs and vanity lights.

Proper lighting alongside the mirror can make it much easier to get ready in the morning.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

HG 2 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017

safer

MODIFICATIONS TO MAKE BATHROOMS

F

METRO SERVICES

••

ew areas in a home can prove as perilous as bathrooms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says every year around 235,000 people over the age of 15 visit emergency rooms in the United States because of injuries suffered in bathrooms. The majority of these injuries — many of which require hospitalization — result from falls.

Injuries sustained in bathrooms typically occur in and around bathtubs, usually when a person is getting in or out of the tub. Falls occur when people slip on wet surfaces or get dizzy and lose consciousness within the tight confines of the bathroom.

Although bathroom injuries are mostly associated with the elderly, anyone is susceptible to such injuries. Debilitating diseases, instability from an accident or injury or even impaired vision can trigger a bathroom accident. Thankfully, some minor modifications can make bathrooms safer for everyone.

GRAB BARS

Unsteady individuals may rely on towel bars or shower knobs to provide some balance when maneuvering around bathrooms. But such items were not designed to support a person’s weight and can be slippery, making grab bars the safer choice.

Look for bars with slip-resistant surfaces instead of chrome plating.

Bolted-in bars that are fixed to the studs in a wall, provide more reliable support than bars that employ suction to stay connected to the wall.

Install the bars where they provide optimal leverage and stability, such as close to the shower and on each side of the toilet.

CHAIRS

A bath/shower chair can make bathing safer. Pharmacies and medical supply retailers carry these sturdy, plastic chairs

and stools that can fit inside of a shower or tub. They enable a person to rest his or her legs and sit while bathing. When remodeling a bathroom, have a seating area built into the design of the shower enclosure so that the addition looks seamless.

TRANSFER BENCH

Many injuries occur when people are attempting to get in and out of the tub or shower, but a transfer bench can greatly reduce the risk of such injuries. The bench is placed outside of the tub, and users just sit on the bench and then swing their legs over the ledge of the tub rather than stepping over while standing.

WALK-IN SHOWERS

Some homeowners are eliminating tubs from their homes altogether. A walk-in shower provides a barrier-free entry into the shower, making it safer for those who have difficulty stepping into and out of bathtubs.

LEVER-STYLE FIXTURES

Knob temperature controls on faucets can be challenging to grasp for people with arthritis or poor grips. Lever-style fixtures are easier to maneuver and can help prevent scalding. These levers also are easier for children to manage. The National Kitchen and Bath Builders Association recommends installing pressure-balanced and temperature-controlled valves in the bath and shower.

FORGIVING FLOORING

Tile may be preferred around the bathroom, but it can be cold and slippery.

Investigate other water-resistant flooring materials that may be softer underfoot and offer greater traction. Rubber flooring made from recycled tires is one option that is gaining ground for its practicality and sustainability.

Changes around the bathroom can alleviate many of the risks that contribute to the hundreds of thousands of injuries that occur in bathrooms every year.

Licensed Insured

Commercial Residential Code Enforcement

Complete Bathroom Remodeling, LLC

www.completebathroomremodeling.net

Service menu

• YARD CLEANUP • TREE CLEANUP • GARAGE CLEANUP • CONSTRUCTION SITE CLEANUP • AFTER MOVE CLEANUP

• CRAWL SPACE CLEANUP • ATTIC CLEANUP • WEEDS REMOVED • TRASH BENDS (ONE TIME PICKUP)

• AND MORE...

Ron White Office: (719) 432-7347

OFFICE HOURS: 6AM-8PM DAILY

Specializing in Custom Bathroom Remodeling, ADA Compliant Handicap Bathrooms and Poured Pan Tile Showers

Call James P. Hood for a free Estimate at 322-5517

SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 3

7

PURPLE VEGETABLES TO GROW AND EAT Red Fire broccoli plants produce eye-catching, six- to eight-inch bright purple florets. Photo courtesy of JohnnySeeds.com.

D

BY JESSICA DAMIANO, TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES

ietary experts have long advised eating an array of colored vegetables, as each carries different nutrients. Many yellow and orange crops, for instance, are rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene, while most greens contain iron, calcium and folic acid, and reds provide lycopene and other nutrients. Filling your plate with a rainbow of foods covers your bases and ensures a balanced diet. But one color that hasn’t gotten much attention until now is purple.

Purple vegetables contain pigments called anthocyanins, the same antioxidants found in red wine. Antioxidants have been shown to protect human cells from oxidation, which can result in disease. But with few exceptions, purple isn’t a color typically seen in the produce department, so how is one supposed to eat more of it?

Luckily for us, 2017 seems to be shaping up to be the Year of the Purple Garden.

Many of the season’s seed catalogs are sporting pages of purple, offering everything

from purple cauliflower to purple sweet potatoes. And the best news is these aren’t lab-created Frankenfoods — they’re heirlooms and hybrids from all over the world. Here are some of my favorites. Plant them and enjoy a new color in your garden — and on your table.

MOLOKAI PURPLE SWEET POTATO Commonly found in Hawaii and similar to the Filipino purple yam, Molokai is “much higher in antioxidants than orange-fleshed” sweet potatoes. Flesh is sweet and creamy with overtones of chestnuts. Plant in a sunny spot in loose, well-draining, nutrientrich soil. $9 for three six- to 12-inch plants at RareSeeds.com.

DEPURPLE HYBRID CAULIFLOWER Cauliflower, the darling of low-carb and gluten-free dieters, is certainly having a moment. In a departure from the steamed, smelly specimen many of us remember from childhood, it’s now stepping in for rice, mashed potatoes and even pizza crust.

Depurple takes cauliflower to new heights, with “buttery-sweet, nuttily nuanced

HG 4 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017

lavender-blue florets.” Start indoors, then plant it in full sun in spring — or late summer for a fall harvest. $5.95 for a packet of 30 seeds at Burpee.com.

INDIGO ROSE TOMATO Indeterminate plants are vigorous producers of two-inch-round tomatoes. Sunexposed fruit parts turn blueish plum, while shaded portions mature to dark red, which accounts for the two-color nomenclature.

Sow seeds indoors or set starter plants outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in a spot that provides at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily. $3.65 for a packet of 20 seeds at TerritorialSeed.com.

RED FIRE BROCCOLI These mini broccoli plants produce eyecatching, six- to eight-inch bright purple florets that will dress up a crudité platter or entice the kids to try something new. Plant in well-draining, fertile soil. $7.15 for 250 seeds at JohnnySeeds.com.

PURPLE DRAGON CARROT Fun fact: Orange carrots were created

by Dutch growers in the 17th century.

Before that, all carrots were either purple, white or yellow. You can get back to carrots, um, roots, by planting purple dragon seeds directly into the garden in deep, well-cultivated soil after the danger of frost has passed. $5.95 for a packet of 1,000 seeds at Burpee.com.

SCARLET RUNNER BEAN Pulling double duty as a crop and an ornamental, this prolific beauty produces inch-long, fiery red-orange edible flowers and follows them up with bright pink beans that mature to navy-speckled lavender. Plant in sun to part sun, and let the vining commence. $5.95 per four-inch plant at AnniesAnnuals.com

PURPLE BEAUTY PEPPER These heat-tolerant, compact, bushy plants produce an abundance of deeply colored, mildly flavored bell peppers.

Plant them in full sun. $2.50 for a packet of 25 seeds at RareSeeds.com.

FEB 10 / 11 / 12

SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 5

denniS The menaCe

The Family CirCuS

by hank ketcham

Sherman’S lagoon

PiCkleS

by Brian Crane

mr BoFFo

by Joe martin

by J. P. Toomey

by Bil keane

rhymeS wiTh orange by hilary Price

marmaduke

by Brad and Paul anderson

Baldo

HG 6 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017

by hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos

Blondie

by dean young and John marshall

muTTS

by Patrick mcdonnell

Funky winkerBean

luann

by greg evans

PeanuTS

by Charles Schulz

by Tom Batiuk

SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 7

loS angeleS TimeS CroSSword

non SequiTur

by wiley

edited by rich norris and Joyce lewis

lola

by Todd Clark

BeeTle Bailey 7 Perform across 8 War-torn Sudanese region 1 Runway covering 9 Got stuffed 11 Border 10 Join for a drink, say 15 Hedge 11 Close behind 16 Mellow, with “down” 17 Source of sweet-scented spice 12 Library feature 13 Not yet on the shelves 18 Car alarm 14 Gentle quality 19 What suspects may be 22 Flat-panel TV component charged with 24 1956 rockabilly hit 20 Grease, often 25 Hardly fresh 21 Squeezed (out) 26 Code-breaking game with 22 Something else colored pegs 23 First name in legal fiction 27 __ Kids: “Sesame Street” 24 Good yield brand 30 Not a good look 28 Am or Fm 31 Made possible 29 Fictional Soviet sub 32 Pan Am competitor 33 Chorus line?

34 Darken, in a way 37 Voice of Master Viper in 35 Ordered “Kung Fu Panda” films 36 Manage poorly 40 Flamenco guitarist Carlos 38 Leftover bit 41 Social worker?

39 Kid’s cry 43 “What’s the rush?”

41 Dresses 45 Kicked to the curb 42 Like some horses 50 A little of this, a little of that 44 Hunting dogs 51 One of the March sisters 46 Business opening 52 __ time 47 Letter-shaped fastener 53 Tribulations 48 Depict artistically 54 No. 2 49 Certain game extensions, 55 Headland briefly 58 Light head?

50 Force user Friday’s Puzzle Solved 56 Hand or foot 57 Flipper, for one 59 “Constant Craving” singer 60 Police may look for one 61 Gucci or Rossi 62 Some talk show personalities down 1 Big top, e.g.

2 Water color 3 Groovy things 4 Street performer 5 Claim 6 Minor players HG 8 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017

by mort, greg, and Brian walker

hagar The horriBle

moTher gooSe

Tundra

by Chris Browne

by mike Peters

by Chad Carpenter

Bizarro

by dan Piraro

argyle SweaTer

by Scott hilburn

CeleBriTy CiPher by luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

B.C.

by hart

ziTS

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

JumP STarT

Frazz

by robb armstrong

by Jef mallett

SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 9

dilBerT

by Scott adams

Sally ForTh

by Francesco marciuliano and Jim keefe

BaBy BlueS

by Jerry Scott and rick kirkman

PearlS BeFore Swine by Stephan Pastis

PooCh CaFe

HG 10 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017

by Paul gilligan

TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE

Dear Amy: My young adult son recently traveled to a foreign country to visit a friend.

Knowing how my elderly parents worry, I asked my son not to tell them; given the frequency of terrorism in the world today, I knew AMY they would worry themselves DICKINSON sick over him being out of the country.

They feel stress even if we go shopping in our own city. As they have aged, they fret about every situation, until they are actually physically ill and end up in the emergency room.

I made the decision I felt was best for my parents. I was in no way trying to be malicious or deceitful. Now that my son has returned home, I am faced with the decision to tell them and explain the reasoning for my decision, or not tell them. I fear they will not understand my reasoning, and forever hold it against me, or worse yet, my son.

I can’t go back and change my decision at this point. However, I regret dragging my son into a web of deceit.

Do you think I should continue to keep the secret, or tell them, and end up hurting them and stressing them out in spite of my trying to avoid it in the first place? — Riddled with Guilt

ADVICE

Question: My doctor told me that I should lower my nonHDL cholesterol level. I’ve heard about LDL, the bad cholesterol, DR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN but what exactly is non-HDL, and what is a healthy level? — Judith L., West Lafayette, Ind.

Dear Riddled: You should not feel obligated to tell your parents of the movements of your adult children in the first place. Your son’s trip is his news to share. It sounds as if he agreed with your choice to withhold news of this pending trip from your folks.

Now that he has returned, you/he should tell your parents. Keep it light and simple: “Has Chas told you about his trip to Europe? He returned home safely from two weeks visiting his friend, and I’m sure he’s eager to tell you about it.”

If your folks interrogate you about your role in this, simply tell them, “I made a judgment call not to let you know in advance because of the stress and worry it would cause.” If they disagree with your choice — and you can assume they will — explain that you followed your best judgment and you’re sorry if they are disappointed, but it’s done now and you hope they will understand.

Answer: Don’t let the phrase “non-HDL” confuse you. (“H” is for “healthy.”) Your goals are still the same: to protect your heart, brain and sex life by lowering your lousy cholesterol levels, no matter what you call them. Your first step is to make lifestyle adjustments, such as losing weight if you need to, getting in 10,000 steps or the equivalent daily and ditching the inflammation-producing Five Food Felons (all trans and most sat fats, added sugars and syrups, and any grain that isn’t 100 percent whole). Your second is to take a modern statin (atorvastatin or rosuvastatin) if lifestyle changes don’t do the trick.

But what does “non-HDL” mean? Well, very simply, it means all the blood lipids (fats) you have that are NOT attached to HDL, the good-for-youbecause-it-transports-cholesterol-out-of-yourbody lipoprotein.

The lousy LDL cholesterol you hear so much about isn’t the only artery-clogging, heart-damaging lipid. There are VLDL (very low density lipoprotein), IDL (intermediate density lipoprotein), and small dense LDL particles — and let’s not forget triglycerides. All those various non-HDL lipids contribute to blocked arteries and heart disease.

So knowing the total non-HDL level, according to a study out of Dr. Mike’s Cleveland Clinic, is a better predictor of heart woes, and lowering that level is a better predictor of reduced cardiovascular risk.

What’s your goal? We think you should aim for a non-HDL level of less than 130 mg/dL (30 above our recommendation for LDL and triglycerides).

To figure out your non-HDL level, subtract your HDL level from your total cholesterol level.

Send questions to askamy@tribune.com or to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

Email your health and wellness questions to youdocsdaily@ sharecare.com.

—

—

ADVICE

HINTS FROM HELOISE

Dear Heloise: Just wondering: How sensitive are my dog’s ears? I’ve heard their hearing is exemplary! — Regina M. in Chicago Regina, in a word, a dog’s hearing is impeccable. Dogs hear higher frequencies than humans, and they hear noises that are farther away than what we can

hear.

Dogs can control the muscles in their ears more easily than people can move their ears. Surely you’ve seen your dog tilt his head when he hears something. He is manipulating the sounds so they are easier to hear!

Some hints to care for your dog’s hearing: • Avoid loud, sharp and jarring noises: fireworks, jackhammering, loud music, etc.

• Sensory overload is terrible. Yelling and loud TV and music combine to make an unhealthy environment, so no big football games or parties for the dog.

• Make sure kids don’t stick objects (coins, crayons, etc.) in a dog’s ears.

• Have the veterinarian check the dog’s ears during annual exams.

• Well-balanced meals can help with nutritional needs to boost ear health. — Heloise Dear Heloise: I’ve found I often chip my pottery dishes when putting them in the cabinet. I hate to serve on chipped dishes.I’ve found that you can touch up nearly any pottery using nail polish! There are multitudes of colors now, and even very inexpensive varieties work well. These dishes even go through the dishwasher and come out fine. Most repairs are done in just minutes and make the dish come back to new!

Check out the dollar stores for polishes and ranges of color. — Carol S., Yantis, Texas Dear Heloise: I have several ornate gold picture frames, and sometimes the gold paint can fleck off. No problem — it’s an easy fix. Gold foil off the wine bottle can be crumbled to patch the frame. And it’s hard to detect! — E.G. in Florida —

Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com or via post to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPES BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS ARIES (March 21-April 19) You may not see your mirror image clearly. Someone who seems enthused and committed might be merely being pleasant and has no intention of following through.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Once bitten, twice shy. You might have your guard in place when dealing with others and hesitate to negotiate a crucial deal.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Appearances can be deceiving. You may seem unapproachable or insincere to others or may say something that triggers a misunderstanding.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) It may be flattering to receive invitations, but you might go overboard with social activities. Take a rain check on flirtations, as it might be better to focus on a friendship right now.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) When you are wrapped up in something of importance, you tend to ignore anything insignificant.

Once you get started with something, you are not likely to be deterred by anything or anyone else.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Avoid discussions of serious issues with loved ones.

It is possible that your words will be misinterpreted as an effort to be controlling LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Outgoing friendliness can be mistaken for flirtation and create a jealous rift with a friend or romantic partner.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) It may be time to quit stockpiling and find ways to share with others. The key to sharing isn’t necessarily about money or possessions, but also thoughts and feelings.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Everything comes down to the bottom line. You may analyze your debt load and view some nonessential extras as frivolous. You may dump those that are too costly. Keep something in reserve.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Use the power of your convictions. Be sure to act in accordance with the highest standards. Those in close association may follow your lead.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) It is more blessed to give than to receive. Learn to appreciate the wonderful things in your life that you have and be willing to share them.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Group outings take the cake and may satisfy your sweet tooth. It may not have been your choice to participate in the first place, but you will be glad you went along for the ride.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Feb. 4 In the next six to eight weeks you may be overwhelmed by ambitions, but are not in a prime position to make successful changes. Wait until April, when your wisdom is at a peak, to make crucial decisions and launch major initiatives.

Good luck is likely to follow your every move in both April and July. Rise to the occasion and put your most important plans into motion, but do not forget to enjoy the things that money can’t buy.

SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 11

AROUND THE HOUSE

Winter watering and lower level heating

GOREN BRIDGE

weekly bridge quiz

BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Dear Readers: You’ve probably noticed that this winter is turning into another dry one. I hope you’ve been doing your winter watering.

KEN MOON Every three or four weeks, it’s vital to give your lawn, young trees, bushes and flower beds a good drink of water. That’s why, last fall, I recommended against blowing out the sprinkler system. If you did, that’s okay, but you’ll have to drag hoses and sprinklers all over the yard. Winter watering is vital to wet desiccated roots in your yard’s landscaping. In addition, it will discourage the proliferation of mites.

These little guys love dry weather, as it gives them a chance to establish a foothold munching on your beautiful lawn.

As we’ve discussed, the zone pipes in modern sprinkler systems crisscrossing the yard rarely freeze — the most vulnerable part is that piped manifold on the side of the house. It’s still not too late to have a plumber come over and rig up a couple of drain valves so you can un-winterize your sprinkler system quickly, and then reverse the process when you’re done.

Dear Ken: I have a new ranch home with a finished basement. The lower level seems impossible to heat.

Is there any way to fix this?

– Tom If your heat comes out of the basement ceiling and is captured by a cold air return also on the ceiling, the heat will tend to “cling” to the upper reaches of the basement rooms. So there will be a pretty significant temperature gradient — maybe 10 degrees or so — from the ceiling on down. Since you are low to the floor — watching TV for instance — you feel cool, even though the average room temperature may be okay. So check on the location of your cold air return ducts, and have

WITH BOB JONES ©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

an HVAC contractor re-route them to the floor, if appropriate in your house.

Sometimes, folks who finish their own basements omit a return air duct and grill all together. That makes this unpleasant situation even worse.

Dear Ken: Our home is about nine years old. We notice that our front door closes and locks but doesn’t seal well. We can see lots of daylight.

How can we fix the gap?

– Marge You probably need to move the striker. That’s the small plate with a hole in it on the door jamb that receives the door knob latch and deadbolt. If you have a fixed type — by far the most common — you probably need to move it towards the inside a little. Today’s fiberglass and steel doors expand and contract with the seasons, sometimes even daily if they face the sun, so they need this adjustment often. Moving that fixed striker, even a little bit, means you have to get out the wood chisel to gouge out a new recessed groove.

There is a great alternative to this never-ending adjustment process: an adjustable striker. These incorporate a sliding plate which you move in and out as needed simply by loosening the two screws. If you don’t have that type, you can easily make the switch. Incidentally, check the screws securing the striker. If they are the short ones that came in the box, substitute three and a half inch deck screws. They run into the side studs and so are significantly more secure.

Finally, a door is adjusted properly: 1. When there’s no visible daylight around its four edges.

2. When it won’t wiggle in or out after latching.

3. When you have to apply slight pulling pressure inward to engage the dead bolt.

Ken Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 9 a.m. Saturday and is carried on KRDO, AM 1240 and FM 105.5. Visit AroundTheHouse.com.

HG 12 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, FEB 4, 2017

q 1 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

q 4 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠ 8 ♥ A 10 9 2 ♦ k q 10 9 5 ♣ A q5

♠ 10 6 ♥ 8 5 3 ♦ J 9 ♣ A q J 8 7 3

Partner opens two spades, weak, and right-hand opponent passes. What call would you make?

weST NOrTH eAST SOuTH 1NT Pass Pass ?

What call would you make?

q 2 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

q 5 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠Aq987♥98642♦q7♣7

♠ A 9 8 ♥ A J 9 2 ♦ A 10 9 5 4 ♣ 8

Right-hand opponent opens one no trump, 15-17. What call would you make?

Partner opens one diamond and righthand opponent passes. What call would you make?

q 3 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

q 6 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠ A 8 7 5 3 ♥ A k J 10 3 ♦ 5 3 ♣ k

♠ 10 8 ♥ A 8 4 2 ♦ J 10 6 5 4 ♣ q 4

SOuTH weST NOrTH eAST 1♠ Pass 4♥* Pass ? *Splinter bid, a raise to game with at least four spades and at most one heart.

Partner opens one no trump, 15-17.

What call would you make?

What call would you make?

Look for answers on Monday.

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ e-mails: tcaeditors@tribpub.com)

BATHROOM UPGRADES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

UPGRADE THE COUNTERTOPS

Upgrading the countertops is the one of the single best investments you can make for your bathroom. Quartz, marble, soapstone, limestone and travertine countertops are hugely popular and catch the eye of anyone who enters your bathroom — especially potential buyers when you go to sell your house.

STYLIZE THE SINK

Why not put install a trendy sink to complement your new countertops? Look into the abundance of beautiful vessel sinks available — with glass, tempered glass, bronze, ceramic, brushed nickel and many other artistic finishes to choose from.

REPLACE THE CABINETS

New cabinets and vanities provide the perfect opportunity to add some style to your bathroom. Keep it classic with vintage or antique furniture; rustic with reclaimed

wood and barrels; modern with greys, metallics and glass; and high-end with designer oak, maple, cherry and hickory cabinetry.

MODERNIZE THE FLOORS

Now that everything from the walls to the ceilings is upgraded, it’s time to take a look at the floors. The floors make a bold statement in the bathroom, so look into some attractive design possibilities. Some popular bathroom flooring includes ceramic, porcelain, stone, engineered wood and vinyl.

For added appeal, tile floors can match the tile surround on a tub, which can make the room feel more spacious. Take it a step further by adding in-floor radiant heating beneath the tiles — providing a wonderfully comforting touch. It may add a layer of top luxury, but it’s not as expensive to add as one would think; averaging around $600 for installation in a small bathroom, according to HGTV.