Dear Sun Spots: Once again, Christmas is here.

I am making a large Christmas box for our pets at the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. I am a volunteer. Our pets at the shelter don’t have a home for Christmas, and all pets should have Christmas.

I am doing a pickup now for Christmas gifts for our pets. People, please have a heart and love for all of our pets at the shelter so they can have a Christmas. We have lots of pets the shelter, so if you will buy a couple of gifts for them so they can have Christmas, our pets at the shelter will love you for it. This also means that our homeless pets will have a Christmas, too.

Here is our shelter’s Christmas wish list:

* 2-gallon home and garden sprayers.

* Dogs’ water and food dishes.

* Non-scoopable cat litter.

* Paper towels, bleach and laundry soap, any type.

* Toys for cats and dogs.

* Treats for cats and dogs. Small cat food dishes and small litter boxes.

* Rabbit food.

* Guinea pig food.

* Brooms and dust pans.

* 33-gallon trash cans.

* 39-gallon trash bags. Pine shavings for our little critters.

* Office supplies, stamps and envelopes.

* Canned cat and dog food.

* Hard food for cats and dogs.

* Soft scrub.

* Hay for our little critters.

* Fresh fruit, carrots, and spinach.

* Blankets and bath towels. Used ones would be great.

I will be happy to pick all gifts up. Please contact me at (207) 784-2068, after 4 p.m. Our pets all thank you. Thank you and God bless you. – Lexie Cates, Lewiston.

Dear Sun Spots: I need advice how to get wallpaper off a wall. A few years ago, we had it redone. At that time, the wall was stripped and cleaned, then a sizing put on, then new wallpaper installed. Now, it needs to be replaced again. My wife has used steam, water, vinegar, and tried scraping it. She even has a tool with slots to rough it. It just won’t come off. Any suggestions you or any readers have would be greatly appreciated. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, according to www.handymanusa.com, you might want to consider getting a wallpaper scraper. It’s a little round thing that has wheels with teeth on them, which may be what your wife has used. However, the addition of DIF wallpaper remover may work better in removing the old wallpaper. Go over the wall with this scraper, moving it in circles. This will create little holes in the wallpaper. Then get a paint roller and the DIF wallpaper remover. Mix the DIF with water in a bucket according to the directions on the bottle. Dip the paint roller in the DIF solution and roll it on the walls. Put it on heavy. Don’t worry if it drips all over the place. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then start peeling off the wallpaper. The purpose of making the little holes is so the DIF can soak through to the glue. After you’re finished, if you have holes or scratches in the wall use drywall compound to patch them up. Then when you’re ready to paint, first you must primer the wall or else some of the glue that’s still on the wall will crack the paint in the future.

Dear Sun Spots: I want to thank all the nice people who answered my request for the Knit-O-Graf patterns. I received nearly 50 different ones from several people. One of them lives only about five miles away. I was overwhelmed with the great response from all these great people. Thanks again. – Eleanor Dunham, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: To the person who bought the sewing machine Labor Day weekend: I have the two boxes of attachments and the instruction booklets. If you would like them, please call (207) 783-3846. between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. – Alice Lee, Auburn.

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