Dear Heloise: I have been reading your column with interest and like the tips displayed therein. A recent letter from Cody, in San Antonio, noted that he gives various kinds of nuts and seeds to squirrels for their food, which is nice.

On the contrary, I feed them with small pieces of regular or butter-topped bread. Squirrels and other birds like it very much. Sometimes if all of the bread is consumed, squirrels come to me with folded hands and request more. It brings a smile on my face, and I feed them more bread pieces. — Glen Allen, in Virginia

MEDICARE SCAM

CONFIRMED

Dear Heloise: I wanted to send a big “thank you” after reading a letter in the Elko Daily Free Press about the scam to get Medicare numbers for a new card. Not more than 45 minutes later, I received one and told the guy to read “Hints From Heloise” because he was a scammer. He hung up (how rude!), and I have since gotten four of the same calls.

I am going to buy a whistle and blow it in their ear from now on. I suggest we all blow their ears off. Thank you! –Tina, Spring Creek, Nevada

DIFFERING COFFEE STRENGTHS

Dear Heloise: Your hints are often the first thing I read in the morning newspaper. The following hint is not earth-shaking but very practical for us:

My wife and I have differing and specific preferences regarding the preferred “strengths” of our coffee. With our much-appreciated machine, we can easily make two large cups from each pod. We add water to the first cup and a little instant coffee to the second. Thus, we can “have our coffee and drink it, too” while feeling efficient and economical.

My wife also fills the pods herself rather than using the prefilled ones. Fortunately, economizing is no longer important, but we get some enjoyment from believing that we are doing so and being somewhat friendly to our environment. — Harold B., in Leesburg, Florida