Dear Heloise: I got locked out of my house, and it cost me $100 to get a locksmith out to open the front door for me. I learned my lesson since then. Now I have an extra key to my house in the doghouse. My kids and closest friends know to “Abby’s House” for a key if I’m not home.

My brother and his wife hide their extra house key in an old empty pill bottle buried in their garden with a potted cactus plant on top of it. My son has his extra key in a plastic container resembling dog poo, which he then places among his thick shrubs. There are so many clever ways to hide a house key instead of under the doormat. — Mary M., Shelton, Connecticut

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com

LET ME READ IN PEACE

Dear Heloise: I have to travel a lot by plane for my job, so I always have a book to read with me. I find it relaxing to read, and I feel less tired when we land. However, every so often, I get a seatmate who thinks it’s more interesting to talk to them. It usually isn’t.

I don’t want to be rude or offensive, but would you remind your readers that when someone brings a book and wants to read on a flight (or on a train) to please let them? — An Ohio Reader, via email

Ohio Reader, I’ve decided to print your letter, so in a way, you’ve told them yourself. Any frequent flyer has had a person next to them who was rude or unpleasant in some way or another. Just remind yourself that this is only a temporary situation and it will be over shortly. Or you could just say, “Excuse me, but I really want to finish this chapter.” Then return to your book and ignore their questions or remarks. They’ll get the hint. — Heloise

AVOIDING THEFT

Dear Heloise: Because of my husband’s job, we’ve moved about five times in 15 years of marriage. I discovered that if I labeled a box “pet items,” the boxes were left alone. If I marked it “handle with care — antique china,” it stood a good chance of being stolen.

I had a box of valuable figurines taken one time, but a box of “children’s school books” arrived safe and sound. Now I label all moving boxes with only “kitchen,” “bathroom,” etc. Anything of value goes with me in my luggage or purse. — Alice P., Portland, Maine

WAX PAPER FOR CRAFTS

Dear Heloise: I love to do crafts, and sometimes it involves spray-painting. I take a large sheet of wax paper outside and spray whatever needs painting on the sheet of wax paper. Things generally don’t stick to the wax paper like they would if I used cardboard or a sheet of newsprint. — Casey D., Eugene, Oregon

JAZZ UP COOKIES

Dear Heloise: I like to buy cookie dough in a frozen round roll and just cut off the number of cookies I want, along with how thick I’d like them to be. But I also do other things for my cookies that I’d like to share:

Before I pop them into the oven, I sometimes add butterscotch chips, pecans, or a drop of orange oil to the top of the cookie. My grandson loves a marshmallow or some sprinkles on top. It just helps to jazz up a regular chocolate chip cookie. — K.H., in Utah

DON’T TALK AND DRIVE

Dear Readers: I know it’s tempting to take a phone call while driving, but more often than not, it can usually wait. The majority of accidents are caused by distracted driving. If you must take a call, pull over somewhere, but don’t talk and drive if you can avoid it. — Heloise