DEAR SUN SPOTS: I wrote back on Oct. 3 to ask where I could buy whole peas to make pea soup? We love to use whole peas instead of split peas. Did you find where we could buy the whole peas? Thank you. — Pea Soup Lover via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots is sorry, but she never got your first email. She checked her “in” box for that date, and there was no sign of it. Email does go astray, sometimes diverted by spam filters.

If you email a letter to Sun Spots that she cannot use, she will email you the reason why, so if your letter doesn’t appear, please resend. Sun Spots cannot offer the same response to handwritten letters.

There are several reasons for rejecting letters that Sun Spots sees repeatedly:

1. Illegible writing or lack of identifying information. Even though Sun Spots will withhold your name from the column, you must sign your letter and provide one of the following: phone number, mailing address or email.

2. Letter is mostly opinion, fails to ask a question. Letters complaining about rotten politicians belong in Letters to the Editor, not Sun Spots.

3. People are trying to sell something (belongs in Classified Ads) or are asking for something of value for free. Only charities can ask for freebies.

Readers can request something of no real monetary value (for example, empty baby food jars) or offer to buy something they are having trouble finding.

As for those dried whole peas, they are available at Axis Natural Foods, 120 Center St., Auburn, 207-782-3348, www.axisnaturalfoods.com.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding my request for lemon chicken soup (Nov. 21), it must be the recipe from Relish. Yes, it had rice. I believe that is the recipe. I would appreciate it if you would print the recipe. Thank you. — G.B., Mechanic Falls

ANSWER: Sun Spots couldn’t find the recipe with rice in her current round of googling, but was informed that you can replace the orzo in the Relish recipe she found with short grain white rice, and the soup will turn out nicely.

However, she cannot print the recipe due to restrictions on copyrights. This one actually belongs to the Junior League of Eugene, Ore. Hard to believe they would sue the Sun Journal, but Sun Spots has to follow the rules.

She will break the rules a bit. If you send her a self-addressed stamped envelope, she will print it out for you and mail it. Or you can take this column to your library and ask them to print out the recipe for you. They will find it at http://relish.com/recipes/greek-lemon-chicken-soup/. The library may charge you for the printout, but it probably will be less than the cost of two first-class stamps.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: How do I find the tax deeds for sale in the newspaper? — John Casey, jtizzle85@yahoo.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots doesn’t know exactly what John is asking for, and he did not respond to her email for clarification.

Her best guess is that he is looking for properties that are for sale because the owners failed to pay taxes. Those sales usually are advertised, but there is no “section” for them. The towns buy ads, which can appear just about anywhere in the paper depending on the day of the week and space available.

Information about sales for nonpayment of taxes also appears in stories, such as reports on selectmen meetings.

Sun Spots was informed that years ago the Sun Journal used to print court records of property transfers but no longer does so.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Just a note of appreciation and thanks to all of the Sun Journal newspaper carriers who delivered the papers this on Sunday, Dec. 15, despite the snowstorm! — Rachel Feeley via email

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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