Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise: As a first-grade teacher, I deal on a daily basis with shoelaces tied in knots.

I have found a pair of tweezers to be an essential tool in pulling the knots loose in those tiny shoestrings.

Many 6-year-old smiles of relief have rewarded this simple discovery. - Linda Grupenhagen, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Smiles from us older kids with too-tight shoelaces and uncooperative fingers. - Heloise

Dear Heloise: Last time we took down pictures to paint the living room we wondered how to best find all the holes again.

No problem! Just paint the wall as usual, then insert toothpicks into the holes. They pull out easily when the paint dries. - L. and D., Billings, Mont.