Use vinegar to clean dog bowl

Vinegar will work perfectly for removing that hard-water buildup! It also helps kill germs and certain bacteria.

Just warm some household white vinegar — don't boil — and pour enough into the water dish so that it covers all the hard-water buildup. Let sit for about an hour, and use a nylon-net scrubbie to remove the loosened buildup. Follow by washing well with soap and water. The water dish should be squeaky-clean and odor-free. Also, vinegar is a great deodorizer to help get rid of doggy odors in the home, freshen drains and clean shower heads and even clay planters — all these and more uses can be found in my six-page pamphlet Heloise's Fantabulous Vinegar Hints and More! To receive a copy, send $4 and a self-addressed, stamped (60 cents), long envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. FYI: Most vinegar, especially white, will last indefinitely on the pantry shelf under normal conditions. — Heloise

Dear Readers: Mary Ann Thomas of Trinity, Ala., sent in this picture of her cat, Indiana, sitting up and looking out the window.

Her husband was working in southern Indiana when a tiny kitten showed up on the doorstep — they were hooked, and they adopted her not knowing if she was a boy or girl. Appropriately, the name Indiana covered all the bases, including her birthplace.