Here's A Tip
By JoAnn Derson
To get a better, more
even-burning flame, trim candle wicks to 1/4 inch
before lighting. Remember: More flicker burns
quicker (and that’s not a good thing).
Another nominee for removing
antiperspirant stains: meat tenderizer. D.L. of
Michigan writes, "Moisten the armpit area,
and then drag it through some meat tenderizer.
Work it in, let it sit for five minutes or so,
then launder in the hottest possible water."
"Area rugs are wonderful
in homes with hard flooring, as they add a nice
coziness and a warm spot for feet, but you must
take care to prevent them from slipping. You can
glue eraser slices underneath the rug in all four
corners to do this for a small rug, or use lines
of silicone caulk across the entire rug." -
O.S. in Minnesota
Who said white bread is not
good for anything? Take the center of a slice of
white bread, ball it up, and you can use it to
erase marks on most wallpapers. No kidding, it
works!
"Leaky faucet? Put a clean
container or pitcher to catch the water that you
are wasting and paying for, and use for plants,
tea or coffee water or for other needs." -
K.P. in New York
"I use ‘over the
door’ shoe bags in almost every room. They
are neat for holding office supplies, or
toiletries, toys or craft supplies, etc." -
G.J. in Georgia
COLLECTING
By Larry Cox
Quezal Vase
Q: I purchased a Quezal vase at
a yard sale for 25 cents. It looks like a
Tiffany, and I have several friends who wish to
buy it. -- Pat, Riverside, R.I.
A: Quezal glass was made from
1901 until about 1924 in the Queens, N.Y., studio
of Martin Bach Sr. Other companies made similar
art glass, including Loetz, Steuben and Tiffany.
Since Quezal vases generally sell for well above
$1,000, my advice is to contact a reputable
dealer or appraiser in your area and find out if
your piece is authentic. If it is, you have a
good eye and made a wonderful buy.
Q: I have a bisque Mickey Mouse
that is almost 50 years old. It stands about 9
inches. -- Lucy, Goshen, Conn.
A: Since you sent no pictures
and sketchy information, I’m afraid my
answer will also be on the vague side. One of the
better price guides is the Official Price Guide
to Disney Collectibles, by Ted Hake (House of
Collectibles, $29.95). If you suspect your
figurine is valuable, it might be worth investing
in this book to document your piece and find out
for certain. You can order it at
www.houseofcollectibles.com.
Q: I have a collection of
"Golden Replicas of U.S. Stamps," plus
other collections issued by the Postal
Commemorative Society. How can I sell them? --
Sheila, Huntington, Md.
A: Like many of the
"instant collectibles" issued by the
Postal Commemorative Society, they are lovely to
look at, delightful to hold and impossible to
sell. I recommend you contact the company for
advice, since the only other alternative is an
online auction. The address of The Danbury
Mint/Postal Commemorative Society is 47 Richards
Ave., Norwalk, CT 06857.
Q: I have a lamp that first
appeared to be glass-leaded. On closer
examination, I decided the pieces of the shade
might be plastic. I am enclosing a picture for
your opinion. -- Brenda, Marion, Ind.
A: Your shade is made of capiz
shell, a close cousin of the oyster.
Senior News
Line
By Matilda Charles
Social Security
Asks: ‘Paper or Plastic?’
In a few months
some of us can add another plastic card to our
wallet. This one, however, will be a means of
getting money in, as opposed to taking money out.
The Treasury Department will start rolling out a
program called Direct Express, a way to get our
Social Security and SSI benefits via a pre-paid
debit card if we don’t have a bank account.
At first I
wasn’t sure about this: another plastic card
with a PIN. But the more I study the program, the
more I like it.
The Direct Express
card will ensure that we receive the money on
time. No more paying hefty fees to check-cashing
places. No more worrying that the check will
disappear from the mailbox or be late. Instead,
the money will be electronically added to the
account immediately on the day it’s due.
There are pluses
and minuses to the program. With the Direct
Express card we can:
Make retail
purchases and get cash back, buy money orders,
make online purchases, get cash at an ATM
machine, and more.
Check the account
balance either with a phone call or online.
On the negative
side, only a certain number of monthly
transactions are free. The first ATM withdrawal
is free, but only if you use certain ATM
machines. Subsequent withdrawals could cost 90
cents each. Extra fees could be tacked on,
depending on what machines you use.
If you don’t
have a bank account, you can sign up for Direct
Express by calling 1-866-675-5648.
If you do have a
bank account and would like to have direct
deposit, that’s available by calling
1-800-333-1795.
Keep an eye on the
details as we get closer to the Direct Express
rollout. Some of them may change, including the
fee costs.
Land
Transactions
Curtis Marlin Knight and Sharon
Gayle Knight, Co-Trustees of the Knight Family
Trust dated January 6, 2006 sold the property
commonly known as: 111 W. 10th St., Carthage, MO
64836, to Hannah E. Robinson. The transaction was
handled by Tami Adams & Roland Miller with
ReMax Classic.
William Fraher Abernathy and
Sandra Bremner Abernathy, Treustees off the Bill
and Sandra Albernathy Trust dated June 13, 1995
sold the property commonly known as: 714 Howard,
Carthage, Mo 64836, to Ernest A Morris and Terry
I. Morris, husband and wife. The transaction was
handled by Tammy Brand with ReMax Classic.
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