Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our mid-60s and have been married for 45 years. We had our children early in our marriage and made many sacrifices to make sure our daughter and son had all the benefits of a well-rounded childhood. Because this took up most of our discretionary income, ...

It’s a new year and an unblemished calendar stretches out before us, sparkly and clean, like a freshly washed bed sheet that’s hanging on the clothesline moments before your dog snatches it and gallops through a mud puddle. This is the time of year when people often make resolutions. One ...

Dear Heloise: As line-drying laundry has been a recently recurring topic in your column, I’ll add my two cents. During the winter months, I dry laundry indoors using a large, collapsible wooden rack in combination with a large clothespin wheel. While these items felt pricey at first, they ...

Dear Annie: I’ve dated my boyfriend for more than 12 years. We got along fine when his grown kids were out of the picture, but now they’re back living with him. His youngest is 21, yet he treats them like infants. The daughters are manipulating and controlling. When I bring up my feelings ...

I have my share of Christmas traditions. They include a tabletop tree, gift buying, and Christmas cookies. Another tradition involves something I read. Each year I read the O’Henry short story The Gift of the Magi. It’s been one of my favorite short stories since childhood. The Gift of ...

I’ve been waiting for winter. I know logically that winter began with the solstice on December 21st, but until we experience at least one significant snowfall I am filled with doubt. I am not a winter sport enthusiast or anything like that, but I do enjoy walking in the snow with my dog. She ...