Dear Heloise: In a recent issue of the Colorado Springs Gazette, J.W. expressed frustration due to their packages consistently being delivered to their neighbor.

This is the technology age, and I suspect that way too many delivery drivers rely solely on their GPS to pick out the right house. It may not solve all the problems, but it may solve some of them if people realize how easy a driver can see house numbers from the street and read them accurately.

I recently drove past our old neighborhood where house numbers are pretty randomly placed. Many are unreadable because the paint is worn or faded.

One house, though, had really solved this problem: They had planted a square white post in their front yard, probably about 4 or 5 square inches and 2 feet tall.

They had their house number in a really contrasting color on all three sides that was visible from the street. It was impossible to miss or misread. — Roger R., via email

HANDWRITTEN KEEPSAKE

Dear Heloise: While clearing out my grandmother’s house after she passed, I discovered seven handwritten letters from my grandmother and her brother, who settled in Alaska as a young man.

They were so beautifully written that I saved them, and I have framed one that was written to her a week before her wedding. It now hangs in my study. In the letter, he thanked my grandmother for the sweater she knitted for him and wished her well on her wedding day.

I know people don’t write letters like this anymore, and it’s really a shame. The words and lovely penmanship seem timeless. Maybe we should all try writing to people who are far away more often. — Patricia C., Casper, Wyoming

Patricia, I agree. When something is handwritten, it seems a little more personal and thoughtful. — Heloise

A CLEAN TOOTHBRUSH

Dear Heloise: I’ve been reading your column for years and love all the hints I read about. Lately, there have been several comments about storing a toothbrush away from the toilet to keep it safer from bacteria. Here’s my hint:

First, always close the lid of the toilet before you flush. Next, store your toothbrush in the medicine cabinet or in some type of container.

Every other day, rinse the bristles in hydrogen peroxide. Just a once-over on the brush will help fight germs. — Harriet R., via email

COLD-DRIED PARSLEY

Dear Heloise: I think most of us have heard of freeze-dried parsley but my mother taught me how to prepare “cold-dried parsley.”

First, rinse the parsley, shake it a few times, then pat it dry with a paper towel. Place it in a brown paper bag (a small one) and leave it in the refrigerator for about a month. It will still smell nice and fresh, and it will still be green.

This is when you can use it in stews, soups and other dishes, and it tastes better than freeze-dried parsley, in my opinion. — Carol L., Albuquerque, New Mexico

THAWING OUT MEAT

Dear Heloise: I found that thawing meats in the refrigerator simply doesn’t work. When I get home from work, the meat is still very hard and frozen.

My husband suggested that I buy an ice chest, place some ice cubes inside, then place the meat on top of the ice cubes before going to work. He said that by the time I got home, the meat would be cool but not frozen.

He was right; it was ready to be cooked. The insulation of the ice chest kept it safe and cool all day. — Mae F., Long Beach, California

FOLLOW THE SOUND

Dear Heloise: I recently saw some tips for finding a parked car. One was for putting decals on the car, and the other suggested taking pictures of the shops nearby.

If you are parked in a large parking structure with a large number of cars, neither of those would work. Instead, I use my “lock door” button on the key fob repeatedly as I walk toward the sound. — Mary Cangelosi, Tustin, California

LEMONS AND BLEMISHES

Dear Heloise: I read with interest the letter on applying lemon juice to skin blemishes, and I’d advise against it. We used this a long time ago, and it produced a white substance, which then had to be popped. Yes, the blemish finally healed, but the risk of scaring my skin was not a price I wanted to pay. — Lena G., Sandy, Utah

MANDOLINE CAUTION

Dear Heloise: I bought a pair of safety gloves that I use in my kitchen to protect my hands when I’m slicing vegetables on my mandoline or sharpening my knives.

I know some people will say it’s not needed, but I started to do this after my neighbor had to be rushed to the emergency room.

She made a deep cut in her hand when she was working in her kitchen. — Christine S., Frankfort, Kentucky