Dear Heloise: If you are sorting through older photos (especially of buildings) and are tempted to toss them out, consider mailing them to the city or county where they were taken. Many people who own older homes or businesses would truly value a glimpse of what their properties looked like in the past. The same is true for old letters that describe life at the time of writing. (A quick email to a local museum, library or genealogy website before mailing would be appreciated by these organizations.) — Myra, A Reader in Albany, Oregon

“MUST GO” DINNERS

Dear Heloise: My friend told me she was having “must go” for dinner. I thought it was some kind of fish! She said it meant that everything leftover in the fridge must go! It’s one of my husband’s favorites now because he loves a smorgasbord. We usually have this on the evening that the trash is going out, so anything leftover gets disposed of during the next day’s pickup. — Toni L., in Parma, Ohio

SAVING THE OTHER HALF

Dear Heloise: After reading a recent tip, I thought I might toss in mine. I only eat half of an avocado for breakfast. The remaining half with the pit attached gets a drizzle of lemon juice and gets placed in a zipclose sandwich baggie. I then insert a straw, close the bag as much as possible, and suck the air out before removing the straw and sealing. — David G., via email

LEFTOVER PAINT

Dear Heloise: Most household paint is considered to be hazardous waste, so please check with your local trash company regarding how to dispose of it. I believe that most major paint companies now take it back. Even if it’s dry, and you put a lid on it, the metal will rust, and the chemicals will go into the earth. I read your column daily in the Ventura County Star. — Lilith, in Ventura, California

Lilith, some paint companies might take back paint while it’s still in the can, but I haven’t heard of any. However, if you have a can of wet paint that you want to get rid of, first pour dry kitty litter in the can to absorb the wet paint. You can call your city’s trash collection or possibly the city hall to find out what your city requires when disposing of paint.

Do not simply toss the kit in the trash for the weekly collection without checking with your city’s rules on paint disposal. — Heloise

MORE ON PERFUMES

Dear Heloise: I read the column regarding perfumes. I think a world without fragrance would be pretty sad. I am not talking about drenching oneself in heavy perfumes that could wake the dead. I am talking about perfumes that are light and airy. A perfume wearer should always be aware of others when using perfumes, but at the same time, when used correctly, perfumes are very pleasant.

The writer referred to “olden times” when perfumes were used to cover up odors. Today they are used to be of enjoyment to the wearer. It would be a sorry world without fragrances! — Jean B., in Olathe, Kansas

PET PAL

Dear Heloise: My cat has so many different positions that she gets into. She is a rescue cat named Tiger Lily. Here is a picture where she is sitting up and watching TV. — Patricia McNeer, via email

Readers, to see Tiger Lily and our other Pet Pals, go to Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.”

Do you have a furry friend to share with our readers? Send a photo and a brief description to Heloise@Heloise.com. — Heloise