Properly caring for your parrot
HINTS FROM HELOISE
HELOISE
Dear Heloise: I just got a parrot, and he's beautiful. But how do I take proper care of him?
I've always wanted one, and I love this little guy and want him to live a long, happy long, happy life. — Kate S. and Pete the Parrot, in Aberdeen, South Dakota
Kate, a parrot needs daily stimulation, so be sure to talk to it and pay attention to its behavior. They need to have a base diet of pellets (pet shops sell them), but be sure to add fresh colorful vegetables and leafy greens daily. Limit seeds and nuts to special occasions or when training your parrot.
Avoid toxic foods such as avocados, chocolate, caffeine, onions and raw beans.
Make sure that he has a very spacious cage with lots of room and natural wood perches. He'll also need a bowl that's big enough for him to bathe, and they usually like to bathe almost daily. Keep his cage very clean. — Heloise
Garage sale to-dos
Dear Heloise: I've never had a garage sale before.
I know that items must be cleaned and tagged with prices, and of course, I should get a permit to have a garage sale.
But what makes people buy items? How can I draw people into the sale? — Natasha, in Minnesota
Natasha, here are some tips for drawing people into your sale:
■Display items so that they can easily be seen. Anything large and/or brightly colored should go near the entrance of the garage sale. If you have antique items, place them where anyone driving by can see them. „
■Have set hours, such as 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. „
■Be sure to place an ad in the newspaper or online and have a yard sign on your lawn. Perhaps a local church will allow you to place a sign there a couple of days ahead of the sale. „
■Get the word out. Post a sign on utility posts or by laundromats, but take them down when the sale is over. „
■Have plenty of plastic grocery bags handy, as well as boxes and newspaper on hand. „
■Make sure that everything has a price tag. And remember this: It may be valuable to you, but people go to a garage sale for a bargain. „
■Have plenty of change on hand ($1 bills, $5 bills and loose coins). „
■If you have an overload of children's toys that aren't selling as the day progresses, start giving them away to children who come with their parents. „
â– This is very important: Lock all doors to your house. No, people can't come inside and try anything on. Make this a hard and fast rule.
— Heloise
Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@ Heloise.com.
