DEAR SUN SPOTS: On Sept. 22 you ran our letter requesting spruce or fir boughs for keeping our outdoor cat friends warm for the winter. Unfortunately, we got no responses. Can you run our request again.

Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends builds houses and cafes for the feral felines we help and insulates them with spruce or fir boughs. Nothing works better than this to protect the cats from the harsh winter weather. The natural materials also make the cats feel at home.

Because of the dry season, the boughs we had didn’t last. When you’re cleaning up your yard this fall or if you know someone with healthy blue spruce boughs who would like to keep our feral friends from freezing this winter, please call me.

Our dream is to have a tree donated like the one they have in Portland for Christmas. Please help these babies stay warm this winter. Thank you. — Norm, normblais39@yahoo.com, 650-8374

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Why is it so hard for people (reporters and others) to use proper pronunciation when referring to names? For example they say “Shrader” instead of “Shroder”; there’s no “a” in this name People say “Alltimers” instead of Alzheimer’s.

What is so hard about pronouncing these names anyway? To me it appears they have no proper education for spelling and pronunciation. — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots is pretty sure that no one intentionally mispronounces words. They either don’t know the proper pronunciation, there is a disagreement about the proper way to say a word (for example, author J.K. Rowling’s name) or they have a regional accent.

As for spelling, again, people just don’t know how. Sun Spots is pretty sure you did not intentionally misspell words in your letter. (Oddly enough, although almost all email programs offer a spellcheck option, Sun Spots has noted that people rarely seem to use it.)

Spelling and pronunciation can also affect each other. Once when Sun Spots was eating in a restaurant in the Midcoast area, her waitress had the name “Heathah” on her nametag. Sun Spots just had to ask if that was correct.

The young woman said, yes, it was. Her parents decided that since everyone would say it that way they might as well spell it that way as well!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: To answer B.G. from Turner about how to clean her stainless steel sink (Sept. 29), I have a double stainless steel sink in my kitchen that I have had for 20 years.

I use Cook Top Cleaning Creme for Smooth Top Ranges (Sears). This product will clean anything from making your sink shine like new or get the bugs off from the front of your car. I also clean the bottoms of my frying pans when they need it with this product, and they come out like new. There are so many uses for this cleaner.

Another cleaning agent that most people do not know about: At Family Dollar there is a product called M30. It will get stains out of just about everything from clothes to carpets to car upholstery. — Diane Cordell, New Gloucester

ANSWER: Considering the imminent closing of the Sears at the Lewiston Mall, you’d best dash over and stock up!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Help! I am making an afghan for my grandson, and I have run out of Red Heart knitting worsted, color spruce. I cannot find it anywhere. I need about three ounces. Does any knitter have any? I will pay for yarn and shipping. Thanks. — Marie Worcester, marieworcester@ymail.com, 743-8345

DEAR SUN SPOTS: On Sept. 28, a busy day at Walmart, I did a lot of shopping, drove home, unloaded my car and did not have my pocketbook. I called Walmart and found out that some honest person had turned it in to the office. It is wonderful to know there are many honest people in the world. Thank you! — Thelma Nickerson, Turner

DEAR SUN SPOTS: One last chance for anyone who wants a free aloe vera plant. They are healthy. — Ruth, 784-4278

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 emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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