Dear Sun Spots: For the gentleman wanting to make creton, Bobbie O. of South Paris, this is the best way to make creton and much better than what is sold. It’s an easy recipe. The ingredients are:

1 pound ground pork

1 small onion, finely chopped

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon clove

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook pork and chopped onion until well done. Mash pork and onion until very fine. Add spices and salt and pepper.

Now that’s creton. – J. R., Lewiston.

Dear Sun Spots: For the reader who was looking for Needhams, I am back in the candy business at Lorraine’s Sweets Express, 895 Lisbon St., formerly known as Nutcracker Sweets, same building as Shapes Express around the back, (207) 782-5500. I offer handmade Needhams, milk or dark, for $7.95 per pound. – Lorraine Fontaine, Lewiston.

Dear Sun Spots: The house that my ex-husband and I built back in 1965 has been sold and, to obtain a basis for the capital gain, I need help to establish the value of the home in that year. Since we built the house and never had a mortgage on it, I am at a loss on how to go about finding that information. The house is located in Rumford. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: The best way to determine what the value of the home was back in 1965 compared to the value of the home now would be to contact a local real estate agent or appraiser who will have the tools and experience to figure the appropriate appreciation of the house in order to create a starting value of the home in the year it was built. You could try contacting Lionel Dubord of Lionel Dubord Realty in Livermore Falls at (207) 897-3053 or Tony Koris of the Leavitt Realty Group in Rumford at (207) 369-0551.

There is also a neat online cost of living calculator at www.newsengin.com/neFreeTools.nsf. If you click on “All Items” and then “Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT” it will bring up a calculator for your area. You can then type in the dollar value of your home in 2004 and then put the year 1965 in the last $ field and then click “calculate,” it will give you a rough statement, such as telling you that $125,000 in 2004 had the same buying power as $19,475 in 1965. Granted, this is only an estimated value and does not take into consideration the actual real estate market in the Rumford area for that year but it is a fun tool to plug numbers in to get a general idea. A real estate agent or an appraisal company will be more qualified to give you more accurate values.

Dear Sun Spots: I was delighted to see my request for the game “Easy Money” in your column on Friday, Dec. 10, and wanted to let you know that I was able to purchase the game from the Web site you referenced. Now I can pass down an old family tradition to my kids and grandkids. Thanks again and keep up the great work. – Bill, Monmouth.

Dear Sun Spots: I am still looking for certain V. C. Andrews books. Would anyone have a copy of “Wicket Forest” and “Heart Song”? I can be reached at (207) 998-3404. – A. G., Poland.

Dear Sun Spots: Could you please find me the address for Oprah Winfrey? You do a great service to help the community, and I appreciate your help. – Monica McInnis, Lewiston.

Answer: You can write Oprah at Harpo Productions, P.O. Box 909715, Chicago, Ill., 60607, or Oprah Winfrey Show, Harpo Studios, 1058 W. Washington St., Chicago Ill., 60607. You can also write Oprah on her Web site at www.Oprah.com, click on “e-mail us.”

Dear Sun Spots: Would the woman who picked up an L.L. Bean coat, size 6x, on Stetson Road, Auburn please give me a call at (207) 998-2804. I found the hood for it. – Bea Loux, Poland.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to [email protected].