DEAR SUN SPOTS: It is discouraging for me to buy fresh peaches in the market. the texture is not dependable, and the flesh around the pit sticks to it and does not get soft.

What can I do to improve the ripening? — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: Sun Spots surfed the Internet and found that the consensus seems to be that peaches ripen best on the tree, and that if they are picked too soon to travel north they will not ripen properly. One site even said that a peach picked before it’s ripe but after it’s begun to turn from green to yellow will soften, but not really ripen.

Several posters suggested putting your peaches in a paper bag to ripen, perhaps adding an apple (Sun Spots is not sure why that would help).

Sun Spots long ago gave up on buying fresh peaches. Mr. Sun Spots loves canned fruit, and Sun Spots agrees with him that a good canned peach (she buys Del Monte’s “lite” variety) is much tastier than a poorly ripened fresh one.

If you really love peaches, you might want to consider timing a vacation to Georgia (the “peach tree state”) or parts thereabout right at peach harvest time. Those peaches will be tree-ripened, and Web sources say that flavor is on a whole new level of superb juiciness.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In January a reader wrote you looking for love songs about memories from the 1950s. I would like to suggest “Memories Are Made of This,” sung by Dean Martin.

Sweet, sweet memories you gave-a me

you can’t beat the memories you gave-a me

Take one fresh and tender kiss

Add one stolen night of bliss

One girl, one boy

Some grief, some joy

Memories are made of this

Don’t forget a small moonbeam

Fold in lightly with a dream

Your lips and mine

Two sips of wine

Memories are made of this

Then add the wedding bells

One house where lovers dwell

Three little kids for flavor

Stir carefully through the days

See how the flavor stays

These are the dreams you will savor

With His blessings from above

Serve it generously with love

One man, one wife

One love through life

Memories are made of this

Memories are made of this

— Lois, Lisbon

DEAR SUN SPOTS: We would like to sell a maroon electric car in very good shape. It does need a battery. We’ll take $400. — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: Sun Spots did not include the contact information for this letter because readers cannot sell things through the column — only give them away. This week Sun Spots got three more letters from potential sellers. She refers all of them to the Sun Journal classifieds (1-800-482-0935), which will gladly accept ads!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I love your column. I recently found Gifford’s grapenut ice cream at Hannaford’s in Auburn. What a treat it was! Although a little pricey, it was worth it. — No Name, Auburn

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). Please include your phone number. 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 e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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