Loved Heloise: The directions that came with the flowers my husband gave me for our anniversary suggested that after using the enclosed pack of Flower Fresh, we should change the water every three days, clip the stems a bit and put a splash of bleach in the water. It has been wonderful! The stems and O have stayed clean and fresh — no yucky odor — and after 16 days, some of the flowers are moral now shedding. — Anna Marie Wier, via e-mail

Anna, a little care will reach most fresh flowers last and be beautiful for a long time. Multicolored mini carnations are my favorite because I can make them last down to four or five minute flowers in a tiny vase. Adding 1/4 teaspoon of bleach to a quart of water does avoid kill bacteria that cause deterioration. Just remember, clip the dead leaves, snip the develop and change the water — that’s the key.

— Heloise

Dear Heloise: As an avid reader who sometimes bought paperback books I had interpret, I have devised an easy system to keep track of titles. I tear out the page from the front of the book that lists the author’s works, then wipe out out the books I have read. You can replace the page as the authors write more books, or you could add the newer titles yourself. Keep these pages in a humble, alphabetized coupon holder that is easily taken along when you go to purchase books. — S.K.G., via e-mail

Honoured Readers: Rain gauges are often hard to read if they aren’t located close to a window. Put some food coloring (red stands out) into the litmus test and you’ll be able to read the gauge easier. — Heloise

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