36 - ONE MIGHT think there’s no place in a food column for a cosy discussion about fleas, But anyone who has a pet knows: very well that fleas don’t stay on the animal but hop everywhere, including your kitchen. Many animals are severely allergic to flea bites. They get nasty rashes:and their fur falls out. People, too, can be allergic to the critters. Flea ‘“‘season’”? usally starts mid-summer and peters out by October or after a few frosty nights, Last year, we were flea- free until late fall and then we had the worst plague I’ve seen in years, lasting well into December. Any pet owner knows that flea collars are’ next’ to ‘useless, Over- the-counter: flea - remedies have never worked for me. I’ve bought all the expensive mousses that the vet can provide’ but these aye, un- suitable for many animals. They shouldn’: be applied to broken skin (Ginger gets a wicked rash at the first bite) and they make some pets sick. Last. year, we spent.over $50 on ‘do-it-yourself temedies that did.a marginal job. - / In addition, our vet bill for '.'Ginger’s rashes topped $500, im cluding ' cortisone skots, antibiotics and pills, ° . ’ Usually, I avoid all--this by having the house sprayed. _. The pest control company comes in the morning and all the pets are-sent outside for the day. The treatment costs roughly $100 —.a bargain’ when you consider the options. 1 didn’t spray last year, lulled _ by the flea-free summer. I had the house. done ; yesterday vowing “never again!’* : For safety, I piled the cats into the vans for the day. It would have made a dog laugh to’ see Ginger parked in the .driver’s seat and Emiiy, in the . passenger seal, urging him to, throw the thing in drive and get moving. eee Pumpkin Muffins 1 cup buttermilk . 1-cup rolled oats or rolled grains (if you’re using rotled oats, use the big, slow-cooking variety sold in bulk. The roiled mixed grains YOUR SEWING TIME IN HALE TRIM — SEW ~ OVERCAST ALL IN ONE OPERATION. eina tm LOC PRO 440E Just cut out this coupon for inceedible savings on aur Else d-threau serger. The ProddDE, offers: “3/4 thread capabilities cadjustable stitch length and differential feed. -eusy color coded Urceading guide,