Dear Heloise: Is there any way to get America's businesses and medical resources, as well as any agency that prints anything, to make the font and print large enough so elderly persons can read it? "It" includes such important information as pharmacy labels, amounts for recipes and instructions for putting together products. They've given a new meaning to "small print."
My wife and I are in our 80s and can see reasonably well but need to get out a magnifying glass to read this important information. More often than not, the magnifier is not strong enough, and I have to resort to using our PC's printer to magnify the words, which is almost impossible in the case of a label. We shouldn't have to do this.
I've been thinking about this for some time, and I find there are few exceptions, which I would describe as a font that is as easy to read as an email or text. Help! -- David, Mount Sidney, Virginia
GRAVY TIP
Dear Heloise: I saw the question from Anne of Omaha about her lumpy gravy. I never have lumps. Here's what I do: Add flour to cold liquid in a separate cup and use a small whisk to get it smooth. Add this to your hot pan juices and whisk in. I never add flour directly to hot gravy. I get lumps every time if I do. -- Janice Smith, Kinsman, Ohio
Janice, another reader had a similar hint:
Dear Heloise: My mom's secret to no lump gravy is to add the flour to approximately a half cup of water, not to your pan droppings. Mix well to get all the lumps out. And then add to pan drippings, scraping to get all the good flavor from the pan. Stir as it heats up and add additional water to get the consistency you want. -- A Reader, via email
King Features Syndicate