Home and Garden 11/25/17

HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

Look inside for these specials and many others.

Holiday 411

Gifts for gardeners • Safety tips for lights • Fresh tree care

YEAR ROUND GARDENING

Holiday gifts for gardeners

BY DEBRA STINTON OTHITIS, COLORADO MASTER GARDENER

Master Gardeners set out to explore some favorite garden centers to help you find that perfect gift for the special gardeners in your life. Suggestions are categorized as: “Stocking Stuffers” (under $25), “Great Gifts” ($25-$100), and “Over the Moon” gifts (more than $100). Read on to discover what we found.

If your gardener enjoys taking classes, CSU extension has gift certificates available. They can be used for classes, workshops and our highly popular make and takes.

Good Earth Garden Center | 1330 N. Walnut | www.GoodEarthGardenCenter.com Good Earth Garden Center is a familyowned business. They have been at the current location for 19 years. They are proud to have one of the best plant selections during the growing season, and their gift shop is great place to find gifts for all of the gardeners on your list.

For a Great Gift, you might consider a $40 Hori-Hori knife, a popular all-purpose gardening tool for digging and weeding. Rain gauges are another option. A decorative, easy-to-read model made of copper is $50, and a less expensive model made of plastic, but copper-colored, is $30. Seeds for the upcoming growing season make inexpensive Stocking Stuffers. For that Over the Moon gift consider a pretty bird bath starting at $118 in a range of styles made from a variety of materials including stone, iron and ceramic.

They feature an eclectic mix of garden art and pottery — always a great gift. You can also find a beautiful stone garden bench in a variety of colors ranging from approximately $300 to $680. Old World Christmas Ornaments and Mary Lake-Thompson tea towels are thoughtful hostess gifts. Stop by for a lot more choices.

Harding Nursery | 721 N. Powers Boulevard www.HardingNursery.com Billie and Joan Harding opened Harding Nursery in 1957. They currently operate on 120 acres of growing fields with 25 greenhouses east of Colorado Springs.

The main nursery has more than 12 acres of stock and 17 greenhouses. The knowledgeable sales staff (mostly family members) can help you with all of your

plant and landscape questions including pamphlets and free how-to seminars.

A visit to Harding Nursery, will reveal a great gift-shopping venue. From solarpowered mobiles to rustic copper wind chimes, options abound for the budgetminded gift buyer. For Over the Moon gifts they have a variety of garden ornaments including a beautiful green wind spinner of bejeweled butterflies ($129), or great sculptures in several different mediums.

Perhaps the favorite section of this garden center was the fairy garden displays. They have several gardens already planted, and a great supply of accessories, in every budget, for those who might want to start a new fairy garden or add to an existing one.

These will delight hearts young and old. Be sure to visit the Christmas shop for holiday décor and gifts, and handmade wreaths and centerpieces that will grace your door and table.

Phelan Gardens | 4955 Austin Bluffs Parkway | www.PhelanGardens.com The Phelan story begins in 1977 when Don and Sue Phelan set out to pursue their shared dream of owning their own business.

They started a greenhouse in the Knob Hill area named Sunset Greenhouses. That business was so successful, the family expanded its operations and opened Phelan Gardens in 1981 in its current location where it is still family-owned and operated.

Phelan Gardens is a year-round greenhouse, nursery, gift shop, and garden center; and its seasonal decor during fall and Christmas is a tradition for many. To support pollinators in the garden, consider Phelan’s Beneficial Bug House ($24.99) as a Stocking Stuffer. Bamboo gardener gloves start at $7.99 or a seed sprouter ($23.99) could be the perfect gift. You will impress a gardener that also has a penchant for the Broncos with a glass bird bath with the team logo and a metal stand for around $85. Other Great Gift considerations are a self-watering Earth Box Garden Kit for $85.99, or a metal, flower-shaped wireless speaker that can be “planted” to add some music to the garden ($95). If you want to really want to send your favorite gardener Over the Moon, Phelan has a wooden potting bench for $208.

HG 2 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, NOV 25, 2017

Rick’s Garden Center | 1827 West Uintah www.RicksGarden.com Originally from Pennsylvania, Dwight (Rick) Richner and Ferda (Jackie) Richner started Rick’s Nursery at its current westside location in the post-World War year of 1948. In 1985, Mike Estes (a long-time employee) and his wife Gail, purchased Rick’s Garden Center where they still carry on the Richners’ legacy of exemplary customer service, positive attitude and a wide selection of products.

At Rick’s Garden Center you will find gifts in all price ranges. For $25, accessories for a fairy garden are unique Stocking Stuffers.

Wind chimes so beautiful they can be considered works of art are available in the $50 price range, and the Harvest House Indoor/Outdoor Greenhouse priced at $150 is an Over the Moon ‘wow’ gift. This amazing greenhouse is just 4.5 feet wide, 2.5 feet deep and stands 6.5 feet high. It could be tucked in a spare room in winter to get seedlings started, or set up outside on a deck or patio in warm weather. Three tiers of shelving on three sides of the greenhouse maximize the space.

Spencer’s Lawn & Garden Centers | 1430 S. Tejon Street and 4720 Center Valley Drive in Fountain | www.SpencersGardens.com This is another family-owned and operated business in Colorado Springs since 1934. Their qualified staff understand the importance of quality products at a great value. Here you will find everything necessary for outdoor living — the basics, the extras and the fun. They carry fantastic selections of planted pots, hanging baskets, annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and, importantly for this time of year, holiday gifts.

Anyone would love to discover some Colorado-made old time candies in their stocking and these are some of Spencer’s on Tejon Street’s specialties. Made in Denver since 1929, Hammonds candy canes come in many flavors and are priced at $3 each ($4 if filled with chocolate). At $29 per pound, Enstrom’s toffee candy made in Grand Junction, has been given as gifts by US presidents to visiting headsof state. Spencer’s Fruit Baskets come in

a range of sizes and prices ranging from $30 (peck) to $90 (bushel). Each is filled all the way to the bottom with fruit, candy and nuts (no paper fillers). Any gift basket can be customized to include shelled nuts, honey, candies, and Colorado-made jams and jellies. Starting at $100, Over the Moon decorative art poles with colorful and positive, uplifting messages are easy to install and made in USA. Summerland Gardens | 124 E. Cheyenne Road | www.SummerlandGardens.com Summerland owner, Julie McIntyre, is a native of Colorado Springs with a Master’s Degree in Horticulture from CSU. She is a Colorado-Certified Nursery Professional and has worked at the Denver and Atlanta Botanic Gardens. Julie has traveled the world studying plants and has a passion for bringing back new and unique plants. Staff members have 50 years of professional experience in Colorado gardening, plants and maintenance.

This is a treasure trove for gift seekers.

Whether you are looking for Stocking Stuffers or a really special gift for the gardener in your life consider visiting this garden center. To stuff those stockings, pick up some of their unique glass stones with messages ranging from “Grow Dammit!” to “I Love Mom” ($9.99), or consider a set of mini vases ($32.99) that are perfect to display small flowers. There are numerous and varied houseplants, some in amusing containers. The prices range from $4 for an air plant to $200 for a mature Bonsai ficus.

Victorian style terrariums are also available, and you can let your gardener fill them, or Summerland can assist you in creating these unique planters. There are too many garden-themed decorative and practical options to list here, so pay them a visit.

This is the final year round gardening article for 2017. We return in February 2018.

When you have questions, Colorado State University Extension has research-based answers. Get answers to your horticulture questions by visiting ask.extension.org any time day or night. Follow the El Paso County Master Gardeners on www.facebook.com/ ColoradoMasterGardeners.EPC.

AROUND THE HOUSE

Safety tips for holiday lights

BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Dear Readers: It’s hard to believe that it’s time to hang those Christmas lights again.

Nonetheless, here are a few safety reminders to keep you out of trouble. Make sure KEN MOON the light strings are plugged into a GFCI (ground fault) protected outlet. That way, you can be sure that any stray voltage leaking into the ground (or you!) will trip the breaker and take that outlet off line until the fault is repaired.

The GFCI circuit usually protects the bathroom, garage and exterior outlets. To help identify it, look for those tiny push buttons in one of the outlets. If you need to wire in another one someplace else, don’t fret, a ground fault device with the self-contained safety circuit is less than $15.

Don’t plug strings of lights into any one circuit endlessly without checking how much current you’re using. Sum up the amperage rating of each light string, and when you get to a total of about 12 amps or so, you should think about utilizing another circuit.

Also, check the amperage ratings of the extension cords and timer you plug your display into (but never use less than a 16 gauge, outdoor-rated cord). Finally, each plug and socket connection should be wrapped with a plastic grocery bag and rubber bands or twist ties.

the floor vents and down the metal duct tubes. If they are coated with a layer of dust, your contractor can recommend a reliable duct cleaning company.

Dear Ken: : My furnace air has a musty smell to it. Any ideas why this would be happening?

— Tom

It usually is an installation problem. If the carpet was somewhat cooler than the inside of the house when it was laid, it can “relax” later and lose its stretch. This is an easy job for a good carpet layer (the hard part is removing and replacing the furniture). They will probably use a power stretcher — a telescoping gizmo that pushes against the opposite wall — to stretch all of the undulations out of each room.

You may be drawing intake air into the system through a return air grill from a damp basement or crawl space area, which mixes with the main level. Or some ducting may have pulled apart creating gaps, which can also pull in stale air.

Check with your HVAC contractor for advice on this. You also might need a good cleaning of the insides of your entire system. You can use a swivel mirror and a strong flashlight (this works best after dark) to look through some of

Dear Ken: After several months in our new (to us) home, the doorbell started buzzing. We replaced it and the transformer located on the furnace. That worked fine for about two months, but now it’s buzzing again. Should we give up and contact someone to fix it?

— Dennis Not quite yet. You’re going to love this answer: it might have been the doorbell button all along! They wear out and can leak a small amount of current across the contacts. So unscrew it form he wall and then disconnect the bare wire ends. You can then see if the buzzing has stopped and you can also “ring” the doorbell by touching the ends together to make sure everything works okay.

If it’s not the button, the wires somewhere in the circuit may be shorting together. Usually you can’t get to the trouble inside the walls to make the repair. Don’t despair, however, because you can replace this traditional set-up with a wireless setup — many of which are less than $25.

Dear Ken: Our carpet is getting loose.

We have waves in the middle. Is this a sign of bad carpet or installing?

— Cheryl

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.

SATURDAY, NOV 25, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 3

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THE HOLIDAY DIGITAL SHOPPING JOURNEY:

Trends for holiday shopping NEWSWIRE

Variations in consumer behavior, device preferences and online holiday traffic provide marketers with clues on how — and when — consumers shop online during the holidays BrightEdge, the leader in enterprise organic search and content performance, today released the BrightEdge Digital Holiday Shopping Research Report. The research, compiled using 2016 data points, provides marketers with insights to make the most of 2017 holiday shopping trends. This eight-week holiday shopping season data provides marketers with valuable clues for reaching the online consumers at the right time, on the right device and when the consumer is most likely to purchase.

KEY FINDINGS

The BrightEdge Holiday Report confirms Black Friday and Cyber Monday were the most important digital shopping days last year. However, Thanksgiving Day is quickly becoming as important as Black Friday or Cyber Monday, meaning retailers with the goal of delivering a successful holiday season must be prepared for Thanksgiving too. Some of the findings include: Veterans Day is the unofficial start of the Digital Holiday Shopping Season, with online traffic beginning to spike.

When it comes to consumer behaviors, different devices matter for different days: – Traffic from tablets spikes on Thanksgiving Day but still lags desktop

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and mobile.

– Mobile traffic dominates Black Friday as on-the-go shoppers research the best deals, locate that perfect gift and navigate to the store with that product.

– Desktop traffic dominates Cyber Monday as shoppers make their final purchases back in the office.

Conversion rates peak on Cyber Monday, eclipsing Black Friday by 10 percent.

Throughout the entire holiday period, conversion rates are 50 percent higher, than non-holiday shopping times.

However, conversion rates decline to pre-holiday levels roughly one week before Christmas to account for shipping time.

Bigger screens (i.e. desktop and tablet) equate to bigger holiday orders.

“During the busiest and most important time of the year, it is essential that marketers make the most of the opportunity in front of them,” said Kevin Bobowski, SVP, Marketing of BrightEdge.

“Thanksgiving Day is quickly becoming the most important shopping day of the year — even more important than Black Friday or Cyber Monday. A day of football, family time and traditional turkey feasts puts

consumers in the buying mood. We’ll be tracking the same metrics to monitor the changes in consumer activity from 2016 to 2017.”

More information: www.brightedge.com/ resources/research-reports/2017-holidayshopping-data-new-data-device-trends In the weeks following Thanksgiving Day 2017, BrightEdge will be analyzing and comparing last year’s data with data from the 2017 Black Friday and Cyber Monday to compare year on year trends.

BrightEdge, the global leader in enterprise organic search and content performance, empowers marketers to transform online content into business results such as traffic, conversions and revenue. The BrightEdge S3 platform is powered by a sophisticated deep learning engine and is the only company capable of web-wide, real-time measurement of content engagement across all digital channels, including search, social and mobile. BrightEdge’s 1,500+ customers include global brands such as 3M, Microsoft and Nike, as well as 57 of the Fortune 100. The company has eight offices worldwide and is headquartered in Foster City, California.

Fresh Christmas tree care METRO SERVICES

Christmas trees are often the centerpiece of holiday decor and one of the hallmarks of the season.

The National Christmas Tree Association states that there are approximately 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees sold each year in the United States, where there are close to

350 million currently growing on Christmas tree farms. The NCTA also notes that, when a Christmas tree is cut, more than half of its weight is water. To maintain its quality and appearance, keeping the tree hydrated is of utmost importance. There are other steps to take as well to minimize needle loss and CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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SATURDAY, NOV 25, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 5

CHRISTMAS TREES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

KEEP IT COOL

help ensure the tree lasts through the holiday season.

Trees are used to being outdoors and not inside. Inside the home, place the tree away from a heat source to prolong its life. Avoid drafts from heating vents, radiators and fireplaces as well.

BUY A QUALITY TREE

It’s advisable to buy a freshly cut tree from a local nursery or cut one down yourself. Trees available at tree lots may have been cut down weeks prior and may have already started to deteriorate.

Some needle loss is to be expected, but if the tree you’re considering loses lots of needles when shaken, go elsewhere.

CONSIDER A LIVING TREE

Living trees can be planted in the yard after the season, ensuring that the beauty of the evergreen can be enjoyed year-round.

Select a tree that is hardy to your planting zone. Live trees often need to be transitioned FIT THE STAND TO THE TREE from the outdoors a garage and then • No ClogtoWarranty“Lifetime” WATER Rather than whittling down the trunk into the house so they will not be shocked.

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$2,500.00 required. Payment options available with minimum purchase and approved credit. Other restrictions (or $300 Discount) HG 6 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, NOV 25, 2017 may apply. Not valid with any other offer or previous job. Exp. 11/30/17. NEW ORDERS ONLY. New orders only. Gas card ($25.00) with in-home estimate to homeowner(s). Limit one per household. 40” TV ($300.00 value) with purchase will be mailed after installation and payment in full. Minimum purchase of $2,500.00 required. Payment options available with minimum purchase and approved credit. Other restrictions may apply. Not valid with any other offer or previous job. Exp. 11/30/17. NEW ORDERS ONLY.

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Look for answers on Monday.

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ e-mail at tcaeditors@tribpub.com)

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, NOV 25, 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, NOV 25, 2017

loS angeleS TimeS CroSSword

non SequiTur

by wiley

edited by rich norris and Joyce lewis

lola

by Todd Clark

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9 Prefix with tourist 10 Time off for many C’mon!”

11 Boards a ship 16 Immediate slap shot after 12 Dallas plaza in 1963 headlines receiving a pass, in hockey 14 Lead-in to a promise 18 Biology notebook doodle 17 Gets out of control 19 __ Mahal 21 Calls it a night 20 Parsons School sketches 24 Do some window 22 __ Kan: Alpo rival maintenance 23 “A Jug of Wine ... ” poet 26 Evidence-gathering device 25 Brought along 28 Tactic 26 Plural contraction 29 Some partners’ workplaces 27 Desk accessories 32 “The Kite Runner” boy 30 Blue ghost in Pac-Man 33 Pre-metalworking period 31 Recycling center debris 35 First course 33 Opposite of hastens 36 Spring festival focus 34 Gets under control 37 Esteem 35 “This doesn’t concern you” 39 Recording 37 Order of encyclopedias 40 Show clearly 38 Shaking one’s head, maybe 41 Red herrings, perhaps 42 Cook seen on TV specials 46 Arcade game ender 43 Cut down 47 Harbor hauler 44 Cover on the street 48 Handy bag 45 GI grub 46 Like the most substantial sum 51 “Hotel du __”: Anita Brookner novel 49 Social post 53 Light color 50 Leaning to the right, in a way 52 Cheese from the Italian for Friday’s Puzzle Solved “sheep” 54 Entertain lavishly 55 Strength 56 Puts up 57 Golfer’s short irons down 1 100% correct 2 Southernmost location in continental North America 3 It may delay river traffic 4 Realize 5 Sour

by mort, greg, and Brian walker

hagar The horriBle

moTher gooSe

Tundra

by Chris Browne

by mike Peters

by Chad Carpenter

SATURDAY, NOV 25, 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

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by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

JumP STarT

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by robb armstrong

by Jef mallett

HG 10 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, NOV 25, 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, NOV 25, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 11

TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE

Dear Amy: My partner and I have

been together for almost three years. Over the course of this time, I’ve come to know his family. While I understand that no one is perfect, it seems to me that my partner’s mother has had it in for me since we met.

AMY Every time I go home with him, DICKINSON she ends up drunk-fighting with my boyfriend about our relationship. She has told him that I’m disrespectful and rude. She says that I have no personality. She’s yelled at me, told me I’m not good enough for her son and kicked us out of her house because we didn’t want to get drunk with her. I always thank her for her hospitality. I help with dishes every morning, afternoon and evening. I clean up after myself, and follow the rules she’s put in place.

We’ve begun to talk about starting a family.

When the topic of his mother came up, he said that if I wanted our children to see his mother, that was fine — but if I didn’t, my partner was OK with that, too. I understand that his mum might change, but also don’t want to put my children in an environment where their grandmother disrespects their mother. Either way, I feel like in the end, I’m the monster. — Helpless Monster-in-law Dear Helpless: Don’t overdramatize your role here.

This whole dynamic existed before you came into the fold; you are collateral damage. How do I know this? The phrase “drunk-fighting.”

If you have been a guest in a household where the host is drunk, mean and disrespectful, you should stay away from that household until you have some realistic hope that the dynamic has changed. This is your partner’s mother, and you should be as supportive as you can be in terms of his relationship to her.

Don’t make any pronouncements on children now. With someone as volatile as his mother, you will have to take her behavior on a case-by-case basis, and make decisions as you go. And your partner should definitely seek a “friends and family” support group for the children of alcoholics.

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Send questions to askamy@tribune.com or to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 434 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611.

ADVICE

Question: My mother, 87, has a cataract in one eye and developing one in the other. Her doctor says she should have surDR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN gery, but at her age, I’m worried.

What’s your advice? — Edie C., Beaver Falls, Pa. Answer: If her overall health is good, the surgery should not only improve her quality of life, but could extend it as well. A new study based on data from the Women’s Health Initiative found that cataract surgery was “associated with decreased risk for all-cause mortality.” “All cause” means everything from cardiovascular disease to cancer.

The team of researchers, assembled at UCLA and including docs from across the U.S., recently published their findings in JAMA Ophthalmology.

They looked at more than 20 years of data that included 74,000 women 65 and older, 40,000 of whom had cataracts.

The scientists found that seeing an ophthalmologist and maintaining your vision was associated with better cognitive function and a longer life.

One obvious reason is that an older person’s risk of falling is greatly reduced with improved vision.

Falls are the leading cause of death among people 65 and older, accounting for around 9,500 deaths annually. Also, when you can see better, you’re happier, more active, more able to read, play games and interact with the world.

So for your mom, the next step is to find a good eye surgeon. We suggest getting referrals from her doctor and friends who have had the procedure done; then talk to the surgeons. Ask about their complication rate. Even though the procedure has an overall success rate above 98 percent, there are risks. In the U.S., the lifetime risk of a detached retina as a complication is about 1 percent. That number rises to about 2 percent if there is some cloudiness on the lens post-surgery that’s cleaned up with YAG laser capsulotomy. But chances are Mom will sail through — that she’ll be able to see!

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

ADVICE

Dear Readers: We praise our dogs, but do we use a happy tone of voice when we do so? A small sample of dogs was studied, according to Science magazine, and the research showed that dogs’ brains responded best when they heard encouragement HINTS in a friendly and upbeat voice!

FROM HELOISE So, your dog can tell what mood you’re in — give him happy praise, and use happy words! — Heloise Dear Heloise: It is holiday party season, and I wanted to share some hints about dressing up without busting the budget: • Basic black is a good starting point, but I go easy on “pops” of color.

• “Subtle” is key. You can use a basic black dress or pants set over and over just by changing accessories: a scarf, blouse, shoe or earring.

• Trends — I avoid them. A ripped neckline doesn’t look chic at a party.

• Party clothes have to be comfortable. Chances are, you’ll be on your feet for a long time, and itchy clothes are a no-go.

• Look for bargains at secondhand and resale shops. I can find high-quality designer pieces at good prices. — Shelly S. in Chicago Dear Readers: Let’s get your home in shape for friends and family with a deep cleaning of your living areas. Here are some major areas to cover: Vacuuming under all furniture and rugs is a good way to start. Wipe down and dust the baseboards, and dust the ceiling fans.

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, moisturize any leather furniture, and buff and dust wood furniture.

Check labels and refresh window treatments and draperies. If you have them, wash artificial plants to make them pretty again.

Flip the mattress (if it flips), and consider new pillows, pillowcases and sheets.

These hints should refresh your home for company! — Heloise —

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) Contrary to popular opinion rest for the weary is just around the corner. Take a well-deserved break from a rigid schedule.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Pile up the praise. If your words are sincere they act like grease to keep the wheels of a relationship turning smoothly. Treat your partner with respect and do your best to fulfill promises.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) The tides are turning, but the water may still be too deep. You may receive too much input from others where your money is concerned.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) It does not matter what you see, but what is there.

Wishful thinking might cause you to fall prey to distorted perceptions, especially if you pursue a new romantic partner too quickly.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Cling to optimistic people and they might rub off on you. This is not a good day to make a crucial commitment or decision, but you can gather advice from those who are wiser than you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Someone may seem push all your buttons but you can choose to ignore it. You should focus on the pursuit of a treasured ambition.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Circumstances may conspire to place you in a questionable position. Be as honest and forthright as possible. Truth may be obscured by wishful thinking; a new romance might be less than satisfying.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Develop a taste for the finer things in life. You are known for being passionate so be passionate about being successful.

HG 12 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, NOV 25, 2017

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Savvy savers can become successful spenders. If you have been careful about staying within the budget you can enjoy the fruits of your labors.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You can hit the target if you concentrate. Your intense ambition to succeed is almost a tangible entity by itself. Keep in touch with friends.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You may feel free to act in a more adventurous manner if you rub shoulders with people from a different walk of life. A chance to take a calculated risk with money may appear tomorrow.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Even without a green thumb, put your best green foot forward. To leave a very small footprint on the environment will encompass your highest ideals. It is good business to be environmentally friendly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Nov. 25

A spate of invigorating energy is working its magic on your psyche the next five to six weeks, but this doesn’t mean that you should trust to luck or can make sound decisions. Focus on networking and making new connections in January, when your friendliness will attract like-minded individuals.

You might be drawn to an idea that will turn out to be to a wild goose chase or engage in a romantic entanglement that doesn’t meet your needs.