HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017
Look inside for these specials and many others.
Beautiful potted plants KEN MOON:
Sump pumps and faucets
Outdoor living
YEAR ROUND GARDENING:
August gardening calendar
AROUND THE HOUSE
Sump pumps and faucets BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
KEN MOON
Dear Ken: The builder put in a sump pump pit in the basement, but there isn’t a pump inside. Do you think I need one? It’s about a third full now. — Fred
Generally, builders don’t install a pump if the pit is dry when the house is finished — or unless the soils engineer specifically requests it. If there is that much standing water in your pit, I would install one. They cost less than $100, but are a great insurance policy against flooding. Be sure to install a check valve in the vertical pipe line from the pump; it prevents water from sliding back down into the pit after the pump shuts off. Most importantly, make sure the pipe is long enough on the outside to really get the water away from the foundation. Otherwise, you may end up pumping the same water over and over, as it makes a round trip from the surface back into the French drain. By the way, I recommend a sump pump for all finished basements, whether the pit is wet or dry. One other good idea is a water alarm hanging inside the pit hole. That way, if the water level rises too high, you’ll be alerted. You can buy one at an electronics store or on the web. Dear Ken: I have a single lever shower and tub faucet. Lately it makes strange noises and the hot water surges and then almost stops. What’s going on? — Geraldine It sounds like the faucet needs rebuilding. Depending on the brand, you can buy a kit full of replacement parts — springs, washers and screws — that are fairly easy to install. Shut off the water, remove the plastic handle and unscrew the chrome sleeve that holds the whole thing together. Follow the directions and you’ll have, essentially, a brand new faucet. Some brands — like Moen and Delta — are even easier to work with. You simply remove a central cartridge, which contains all the aforementioned parts inside, slide in a new one, and you’re back in business.
Dear Ken: Our furnace company wants to install surge protectors on the furnace and A/C compressor. They cost $179 and the company that makes them will pay up to $1000 in damages. What do you think? — Ellen It’s basically a wager. The company is betting $1000 against $179 that lightning won’t strike the house. I think it’s a good bet for them, but lousy for you. Lightning strikes in any one particular location are so rare that you’ll probably never recoup your money. Instead, check your grounding system in the house. You should have a fat, bare copper wire running from the electric panel to the water line where it comes in from the street. There should also be a bonding wire to the gas piping, cable TV and phone lines. Also, check for one or two outside ground rods under the electric meter — although these are being supplanted by a connection to the foundation steel, usually on the inside edge of the garage foundation, called a Ufer ground. Have an electrician check the system if you have any doubts or yours is an older home. It’s much more likely that there will be a nearby strike that creates surface currents along the ground, and an adequate building grounding system will carry them back to the earth quickly and harmlessly. Dear Ken: I have a new fence. It is regular cedar with metal posts. How long should I wait before I put on a clear sealer? — Michael Let it dry out and stabilize for 30 days or so. Then you can apply one of the many available oil-based deck stains. I would avoid a clear product, because the sun cooks it away in no time; use one of the tinted varieties. Once you start this process, the coating will have to be renewed once or twice a year to cancel out deterioration from UV light and the sprinkler system. 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 2 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017
potted plants
Beautiful
COURTESY OF HARDING NURSERY
Harding Nursery has everything you need to create beautiful pots for your landscape. Before getting started, keep these tips in mind to make sure your potted plants flourish. CHOOSING A CONTAINER: When selecting the right pot, look for one with suitable drainage. If it’s a large pot, filling the bottom with packing peanuts before adding potting soil will help. FERTILIZER AND POTTING SOIL: Choose a fertilizer that is time released and contains a growth supplement. We carry a wide range of potting soils that help with water retention. PLANTS: Consider whether the pot will be in the sun or shade. Impatiens, begonias and coleus love the shade while pansies, marigolds and snap dragons thrive in the sun. Also keep in mind that most annuals bloom all summer while some perennials have a specific bloom time. DESIGN: It’s a good idea to use one color for impact or several different plants to add texture, color and depth, white flowers really tend to draw the eye. Set the plants in the pot to see how it looks before you start planting. Taller plants, such as large geraniums or tall zinnias, should be placed in the center of the pot, medium height plants like petunias in the middle, then finish the edge with vines such as vinca vine or sweet potato vine. Make sure to use plants that prefer a similar environment and use different sized pots to add contrast and texture. Once you’ve finished, give the plants a good watering then sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Stop by Harding Nursery, 721 N. Powers Blvd., and let our knowledgeable staff and certified nursery professionals help you choose the perfect pot and plants to create beautiful planters for your landscape.
THANK YOU
BUY 3 PERENNIALS priced at $9.99 (each),
GET 1 FREE!
to our customers who have 20% OFF supported and helped us reach 60 DECORATIVE ITEMS & POTS years of business.
Unlimited. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounted offer. Offer Expires 7/31/17.
Must present coupon at time of purchase. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounted offer. Offer expires 7/31/17.
SAVE 20%
ON DECIDUOUS & EVERGREEN TREES starting at $189.95 & UP!
NURSERY GROWN QUAKING ASPENS 6-8 foot, B&B
3 $299.95 FOR
Limit 2 per customer. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounted offer. Offer expires 7/31/17.
Must present coupon at time of purchase. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounted offer. Offer expires 7/31/17.
SAVE $2
BUY 2 ANNUAL FLOWERS
HARDING NURSERY’S SPECIAL BLEND FERTILIZER Must present coupon at time of purchase. Can not be combined with any other offer. Offer Expires 7/31/17.
priced at $3.99, and
GET 1 FREE! Unlimited. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounted offer. Offer Expires 7/31/17.
We could not have reached this milestone without you! 2017
719.596.5712 721 N. Powers Blvd www.hardingnursery.com SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 3
YEAR ROUND GARDENING
August gardening calendar BY FREDRICKA BOGARDUS, COLORADO MASTER GARDENER
In praise of August —
As gardeners, we enter a slower, more easy-going phase in the garden process. There’s always something to do in the garden, but we don’t need to keep up the frenetic pace of planting-mulching-weeding that April and May demand. June’s blooms may have faded, but with proper pruning some may make a reappearance in August. July’s heat is over and there’s still a lot of summer left. In August harvesting our gardening efforts has begun, but we can take time to do it right — even enjoy the process. If we pay attention, August presents a wisdom not available any other time of year. The garden is maturing now. We can see our mistakes, our successes, and the intrusions on our efforts that nature presents on her own. What happened to my sugar snap peas? I asked in June. Even though I planted at the recommended time, the variable weather in May interrupted the normal growing cycle. Only two plants showed up. In August I can start another planting and reap a harvest of my favorite vegetable later this year. In August there’s time to look around and appreciate the garden and then get back to work.
Major chores for August —
VEGETABLES • Plant spinach and lettuce mid-month for a fall harvest. • Harvest cucumbers intended for slicing when they are six to eight inches. • Onions are ready to harvest when their
Photo by Fredricka Bogardus green tops fall over. Lift the bulbs and brush off loose soil. Bring them to a protected area like a porch or covered shed. Lay them out in a single layer on a surface that permits ventilation top and bottom. An old screen propped up by bricks along the edge can work. Proper “curing” can take two to three weeks. Do not store onions that are still wet. When the outer skins have turned papery place them in a mesh bag or old pantyhose and place them in a dark and cool place. • Peppers can be harvested anytime they achieve the size you need or want. • Water tomatoes regularly until late August. After that, fruit will ripen more quickly when water is withheld. • After harvesting and areas become empty sow cover crops, like annual rye grass, often called green manure, to build soil. LAWN • Starting mid-month and continuing
FREE Community Plant Helping you learn to Swap grow! BRING ONE,TAKE ONE! The end of summer is a great time to clean out and re-design your garden for the next growing season! Join us by bringing swap for next year. Thrill, Fill,plants and Spillto ($30) - Tuesday, May 18, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Sustainable ($30)- Saturday, Jun houseplants 10, 9:00 to 10:30to am and diseaseSucculents free perennials and/or Learn about low water, cold hardy perennials. swap.
Herbs ($30)- Saturday, June 17, 9:00 to 10:30 am Learn to grow your own herb garden and save! 10:30 am: Swap Begins! Location: 17 N. Spruce St
Phone: 520-7688
17 N. Spruce Street (719) 520-7688 http://elpaso.extension.colostate.edu/
HG 4 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017
GARDEN • Newly planted perennials, trees and shrubs need consistent watering. • Fertilize roses for the last time around August 15. Fertilizing later may stimulate new succulent growth that could damage the plant if there is an early frost. • Divide spring blooming perennials if they need it. One way to tell if a perennial needs to be divided is if the plant has a “hole” in the middle and doesn’t look as attractive as it used to or if blooms decrease or stop altogether. Also, if the plant is crowding out neighboring plants,
Get answers to your horticulture questions by keying in Ask.extension.org any time day or night. Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. you can phone 520-7684 or email CSUmg2@elpasoco.com. For current garden tips visit www.facebook.com/ ColoradoMasterGardeners.EPC. For current classes visit elpaso.extension.colostate.edu.
Jewelry, Woodworks, Photographs, Paintings, Pottery, Metal and Fiberworks and more from Local and National Artists!
Make and Take Workshops
Learn, create and maintain sun/shade planter Saturday, 19 June 1, 6:30 to 8:00 pm StrawberriesAugust ($35)- Thursday, Easyam: to grow in containers and watch them multiply.insect Bring a minimum of 20 healthy, 8-10
through fall, begin lawn renovation and repair. Build up low areas with garden soil and over-seed areas that are thin or bare. • Attack persistent weeds like bindweed with a two, 4-D product. But the ultimate goal is to grow a thick healthy turf that will choke out weeds.
it’s time to divide. • Some plants that benefit from dividing in late summer are: Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis) Daylily (Hemerocallis species), Hardy Geranium (Geranium species), Hosta (Hosta species), Coral Bells (Heuchera species), Coreopsis (Coreopsis species), Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) and Speedwell (Veronica species). • Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease that appears as patches of white or gray powdery “stuff.” It will most likely attack where plants are crowded and kept damp. Some susceptible plants are garden phlox, bee balm, Virginia creeper vine and roses. In the vegetable family squash and cucumbers can succumb to powdery mildew. To avoid the disease avoid overhead watering where these plants grow and space plants farther apart to encourage air circulation. Sulfur products sprayed during the growing season may help control powdery mildew. • Take advantage of plant sales. Usually starting mid-to-late-August and into September many nurseries will have plants sales with prices as much as 50 percent off.
El Paso Paso County El County Fun for family or bring a friend! Pre-registration required. For a complete listing and to purchase a ticket - visit:
Epcextension.eventbrite.com
Ute Pass Cultural Center, Woodland Park
FREE ADMISSION Food and Fun Supporting the Arts in Teller County www. themountainartists.org
Saturday August 5 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday August 6 10am – 4 pm
BEAT THE RUSH Lawn Mower Tune-ups
Plants transform outdoor living spaces into
outdoor sanctuaries
I
All Maintenance of Pikes Peak
BY JULIE MCINTYRE, SUMMERLAND GARDENS
t’s been a hot summer. And for those of us without air conditioners, it’s meant some suffering while we wait for our warm kitchens and living rooms to cool down in the evenings. But even with air conditioning, the outdoors is calling with its cool evening breezes and fresh summer air. Now is the time to enhance your outdoor patio, deck or porch, and make it even more accommodating to outdoor living. It’s time to create a backyard sanctuary. Bringing the inside to the outside is an ever-expanding trend, with ideas and products continually being introduced. Creating your own backyard oasis can be as easy or as involved as you want. It’s just about expanding your livable square footage by incorporating outdoor space, and expanding it into a place to relax, entertain and just live. Planting
beds, containers and outdoor furniture all combine to blend your outdoor space with your home and the natural landscape. Selecting the right plants establishes the overall look and feel of your outdoor room, contributing to the atmosphere and structure you want to achieve. By choosing palms, ferns and tropical plants, for example, you can transform your CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
• Yard ServicesWeekly, Monthly & Seasonally • Fence Construction & Repair • Tree Removal & Trimming • Drywall & Painting • Inside and Outside Stone Jobs
Call For Free Estimates! 719-287-4933 www.allcleanofpikespeak.com
Preservationyou through Dehydration! Helping learn to grow! Drying is a creative way to preserve foods! Learn the basic methods of drying fruits, vegetables, herbs, leathers and jerkies. Tasting and ideas for using foods will be included.
Make and Take Workshops
Thrill, Fill, and Spill ($30) - Tuesday, May 18, 6:30 to 8:00 pm Learn, create and maintain sun/shade planter
Thursday, August 24 from 6 - 8pm Strawberries ($35)- Thursday, June 1, 6:30 to 8:00 pm 17Easy N. Spruce St., Colorado CO 80905 to grow in containers and watchSprings, them multiply. Sustainable Succulents ($30)- Saturday, Jun 10, 9:00 to 10:30 am
$15 - Preregister by 12 noon August 23 Learn about low water, cold hardy perennials. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/preservation Herbs ($30)- Saturday, June 17, 9:00 to 10:30 am through-dehydration-tickets-36008603703 Learn to grow your own herb garden and save!
ThisLocation: workshop is presented by Colorado 17 N. Spruce St Phone: 520-7688 State University Extension Services. Learn more at (719) 520-7676 or http://elpaso.extension. colostate.edu. No refunds.
El Paso Paso County El County Fun for family or bring a friend!
$49.95 (+ parts)
(Extra for riders/multi-blade commercial mowers)
We Sell and Service:
Mowers, Trimmers Chain Saws, Log Splitters Garden Tractors, Generators Pressure Washers Toro - MTD - Murray Husqvarna - DR - Troy Bilt Commercial/Residential
ASPEN LEAF OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT 777 Conrad St.
Colo Sps, CO 80915
Pre-registration required. For a complete listing and to purchase a ticket - visit:
Epcextension.eventbrite.com
1blk Southeast of Powers & Galley
719-591-2816
SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 5
We’re OVERSTOCKED... So You SAVE
GOREN BRIDGE
WITH BOB JONES ©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
weekly bridge quiz q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:
q 4 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
♠AkJ65♥J2♦Ak5♣q87
♠A983♥AJ73♦q987♣6
SOuTH 1♠ ?
As dealer, what call would you make?
weST NOrTH Pass 1NT
eAST Pass
What call would you make?
Trellises & Arbors
20% OFF
Colorful Annuals All Packs & 4”-6” pots
Buy 2 Get 3rd FREE
ROSE
BUSHES
Floribunda Hybrid Tea Shrub Ground Cover Grandiflora Climbing
Buy 1
Great Support for Roses & Vines
over 3,000 to choose from
Get 1 FREE
Must present coupon. Expires August 6, 2017
Of equal or lesser value, must present coupon. NO LIMIT. Expires August 6, 2017
Of equal or lesser value, must present coupon. NO LIMIT. Expires August 6, 2017
q 2 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ k ♥ k 7 2 ♦ k q 10 8 4 3 ♣ A 10 8 SOuTH weST 1♦ 1♥ ?
NOrTH eAST Pass Pass
What call would you make? q 3 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ 6 4 ♥ k 10 5 4 ♦ A q J 10 2 ♣ k J
With the opponents silent, you open one diamond and partner responds one no trump. What is your rebid?
q 5 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ 9 4 ♥ A 4 3 ♦ A k 10 9 3 ♣ 9 7 3
As dealer, what call would you make? q 6 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ k J 10 7 2 ♥ k 10 7 2 ♦ 8 5 ♣ A k
Right-hand opponent opens one diamond. What call would you make? Look for answers on Monday. (E-mail: tcaeditors@tribpub.com)
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5:30 Sat 9-4 Sun 10-4
OUTDOOR LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
With energy-saving tips, rebates and discounts, you can earn big savings and help our city at the same time. Take our pledge and join the movement to change the current. Take the pledge and win prizes at changethecurrent.com.
HG 6 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017
patio into a mini version of your favorite tropical paradise. Tall junipers, rosemary and lavenders in clay pots can replicate the feel of a Tuscan villa. Or maybe you’re drawn to the southwestern look, complete with succulents, agaves and sages. It’s all achievable — it’s just a matter of deciding the feel you want to create in your backyard oasis. Plants not only provide the visual appeal, but they also can supply the overall structure to your outdoor spaces. Plants can be used to create shade, divide spaces and partition large spaces into smaller rooms. Strategically planted trees can create privacy or build screens. Living walls can be constructed with trellises planted with vines, either in the ground or in pots. Arches and arbors can be deliberately placed and planted with climbing vines to accentuate archways or create entryways when none are existent. Colorful containers can be
planted around the space to add color and fragrance for much of the year. By changing out what’s planted each season, pots can even change the look of your space. Pansies in early spring, colorful annuals or herbs and vegetables all summer, and mums in the fall. Outdoor furniture should not only be selected for its comfort, but also for its ability to stand up to the elements, like stone and metal. We carry outdoor carpets made of recycled plastic that won’t fade or mold and are easy to clean with the spray of a hose. Consider adding an outdoor fountain for the beauty and serene sound they provide. Increasing your homes square footage by incorporating your outdoor space doesn’t have to break the bank, it can be achieved simply with well placed plants and the right outdoor pieces. To learn more, visit Summerland Gardens at 124 E. Cheyenne Rd.
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
by hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos
SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 7
Blondie
by dean young and John marshall
muTTS
by Patrick mcdonnell
Funky winkerBean
luann
by greg evans
PeanuTS
by Charles Schulz
by Tom Batiuk
HG 8 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017
loS angeleS TimeS CroSSword
non SequiTur
by wiley
edited by rich norris and Joyce lewis
lola
by Todd Clark
BeeTle Bailey across 1 Two-sided 11 Shows one’s hand, in a way 15 “Is anyone else here?” 16 “My turn” 17 George Washington in New York, e.g. 18 Middle of a classical trio 19 Tolkien character 20 Pindar works 21 2,000-year-old portrayal for Eden 22 Word with steel or square 23 “Semper Fidelis” group 25 Baseball statistic 28 Tuscan treat 29 Model Cheryl 30 Audacious 33 React to dizziness 34 Kazantzakis title character 35 HR dept. concern 36 2013 Nelson Mandela portrayer 38 Strained 39 Voice of Magoo 40 Shade-tolerant foliage 41 Busts, e.g. 43 The better part 44 Took the trouble 45 Fashion designer Jacobs 46 Arctic coast explorer 49 Fling 50 California Raisins ads production technique 53 Pitcher Hershiser 54 Cylindrical stuffed pasta 55 River in Rwanda 56 Not taken down 1 Subside 2 Pressing agent 3 Skin 4 Its point is often boring 5 Completes an installation, perhaps 6 “Buenas __” 7 Jaw-dropping courtroom admission 8 Does lawn work 9 Director Lee
10 11 12 13 14 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 32 34 37 38 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 50 51 52
Born “Enough already!” “It wasn’t me!” Film with few costumes? Infiltrators German count Pasta commonly served with Bolognese sauce Peach __ Pierce portrayer Abruzzi bell town Even It might be tapped Costumes Hard pill to swallow “Frozen” queen Impersonates Cowardly Lion’s farmhand alter ego Skim along, as clouds Built like models Spam source “Danke __” Alpha __: Bull constellation star ESPN journalist Kenny Operates Fracas Excellent Lover of Geraint Ward for heart patients, briefly PC connection Attention in a 50-Down
by mort, greg, and Brian walker
hagar The horriBle
moTher gooSe
by Chris Browne
by mike Peters
Friday’s Puzzle Solved
Tundra
by Chad Carpenter
SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 9
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
HG 10 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017
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
by Paul gilligan
SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 11
TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE
ADVICE
ADVICE
Dear Daughter: First, a word of caution. You seem to have invested a lot of positive hope in the idea of having a relationship with your father. You say you want to “pick up where you left off.” But where has he been? Has he been searching for you? You should start by taking this very slowly, and in careful stages. You were 8 years old when you last saw your father. You don’t say what transpired before he disappeared from your life, but it was wrong of your parents to deny your right to have a relationship with him — even if they thought they were protecting you. I agree that you should pursue this relationship privately. If you develop a friendship with your father, you should notify your mother — again, privately (she should help you to handle your stepdad).Please understand that she will likely feel very threatened by this, especially if your daughters are involved. You are an adult. You have the right to contact your father. But because the stakes seem to be so high in your family, you must keep your eyes wide open to the consequences.
Answer: Just recognizing that you need to take steps to reduce your stress response is really commendable. According to the American Psychological Association, around 24 percent of adults say they experience extreme stress and identify their main stressors as money and work. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do improve your stress responses. Let us introduce you to some ancient arts that have astoundingly groundbreaking benefits: yoga, meditation and tai chi. You’ll love them. An interesting new study analyzed how these sorts of mind-body interventions can change your stress response on a molecular level! The researchers, writing in Frontiers of Immunology, looked at 18 different studies that covered about 850 subjects over 11 years and found that mind-body interventions “reverse the molecular reactions in our DNA which cause ill-health and depression.” Seems mind-body interventions are turning genes on and off (epigenetic changes), and that affects the biological makeup of the body, the brain and the immune system. It also reduces chronic inflammation associated with stress — inflammation that ups your risk for all kinds of diseases, from cancer to diabetes. So if you want to reverse your feelings of stress, anger, insomnia, frustration and body-related discomfort like muscle- and headache, and undo the epigenetic changes that amp up your stress and increase your risk for a wide variety of health woes, check out the meditation guides at sharecare.com and find a local tai chi or yoga instructor.
Dear readers: Denim jeans have been around for almost 150 years! Most folks have worn jeans at some point in their lives for comfort, and for casual style. Do you know how to care for jeans? You probably don’t need to launder denim after each wearing, but the best way to wash jeans is to turn them inside out to minimize fading, wash them in cold water and either line dry or tumble dry on low heat. Remove them before they are completely dry and hang, or lay flat. I have a collection of my favorite hints for clothing care in a handy pamphlet. Visit Heloise.com to order, or send a stamped (70 cents), self-addressed, business-size envelope, along with $5, to: Heloise/Stain, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Close all zippers and buttons before tossing clothes in the wash. — Heloise
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.
Dear Amy: I recently found my biological father through Facebook after more than 20 years (I am 28) of not knowing if he was alive. Although I am really happy that I found him, I am scared to AMY let my family (my mom, stepdad, DICKINSON and sisters) know that I have reconciled with him and reconnected. I have asked about my dad before (I even had a picture of him), and my stepdad felt betrayed that I was even curious about him. I ripped up his picture because I felt so guilty that my stepdad was hurt. I KNOW my stepfather will manipulate the situation (that’s just how he is) and con my sisters and my mom into not speaking to me. On the other hand, I do wish to create a relationship with my father and start where we left off (I have two beautiful daughters I know he will love to meet), but I am so scared to do this because I know that it will divide my family. What should I do? — Worried Daughter
—
Question: Lately my blood pressure has been really high, so I started taking medication, which seems to be working. DR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN But I think the cause is stress, since my diet is good and I work out regularly. What else can I do to lower my blood pressure and maybe even stop taking the meds? — Kevin H., Davenport, La.
—
Dear Heloise: A road trip with a dog can be a challenge — I try to be prepared! Here are some hints I’ve used when traveling: • A tote of supplies is necessary: bottled water, food, bowls, treats, a leash, any medications, HINTS documentation of rabies vacFROM cine, newspaper sleeves for potty HELOISE breaks, etc. • Let your veterinarian know before you go, especially if the dog has special needs. • Get the dog acclimated to being in the car by first taking short rides around your neighborhood. • Take lots of breaks along the way, and make sure your destination is pet-friendly. • Never leave the dog in the car alone — it quickly can get entirely too hot in there. I enjoy traveling with my dog because we travel safely! — Mark S. in Maryland
Dear Heloise: I like to go to the city animal shelter on a free day and spend some time with the cats and dogs. I noticed a list of what the shelter needs: newspaper, blankets, towels, food and bleach. What the shelter didn’t need: clothing and pillows. Call your shelter to see if you can help! — F.L. in Pennsylvania —
Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com or via post to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio TX 78279-5001.
TODAY’S HOROSCOPES BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS ARIES (March 21-April 19) Hit the road, Jack. Explore unusual and unique places with a like-minded friend or lover who shares your taste for the road less traveled. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) If your heart strings are plucked, take some time out to consider the source. Don’t waste your valuable time or money on a pastime or a person that can’t prove their worth. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Fair-weather friends head to the hills. Recent upsets or a situation may have given you a better idea about the people you can trust and the ones that you can’t. CANCER (June 21-July 22) A turtle withdraws into a shell if he senses that something is dangerous. Someone might be playing the knock-knock game with your shell.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Entertainments and social events will seem more exciting and hold more allure if there is a special occasion to celebrate. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You may be looking forward to fantasy-filled romantic moments, but your partner might not live up to your expectations. Don’t let a minor disappointment disrupt a happy relationship. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) It isn’t a good idea to lock in anything permanently today, but you can experiment with a temporary look or style. For example, you could tint your hair with something that rinses out or borrow a hat. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Become self-reliant and adapt to the latest trends to be a successful force in the community or marketplace. Quit repeating the same old mistakes.
HG 12 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 29, 2017
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) The most perplexing questions might be answered by listening to your own intuitions. You must share information to preserve trust. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) A frank discussion might show you how you can achieve what you dream of having. This is a good time to work within a group situation to change things for the better. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Your heart is in the right place and you are passionate about your feelings. However, this is not a good time to pledge some of your future income or to sign a pay as-you-go contract. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Until you have been there, you could disregard someone’s feelings. This is the time to be fair, frank and understanding.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY July 29 Take charge of your life during the upcoming six to eight weeks. Your high energy and enthusiasm can be funneled into more physical activity and more competitiveness in the workplace. Your love of fun and adventure makes you a popular figure that appeals to a wide range of people in September and early October. Numerous new contacts will enhance your network of friends and widen your horizons. Your business acumen is at a high point.