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Bridge by Steve Becker

Declarer is sometimes so certain he’s spotted the best approach to his contract that he often begins to play without stopping to double-check his plan. It is in such situations that a disciplined player restrains his impulses until he first makes sure he’s really following the right path. For example, take this deal where West led the diamond four against six hearts. South took East’s king with the ace and quickly formulated an endplay. He drew two rounds of trump, then cashed four club tricks, discarding the jack of diamonds. Next, he ruffed dummy’s last diamond and re-entered ...

Make a margarita with tropical notes

The classic margarita from my book “Freezer Door Cocktails” calls for four things — tequila, orange liqueur, sugar and lime. This variation, inspired by a cocktail at Bitter & Twisted in Phoenix, keeps the key flavors, but gets to the finish line a little differently. Italian ...

Lovina enjoys some warm windy days

It is a warm windy day with the temperature at 82 degrees, although it feels warmer in the sun. I just brought in the laundry off the lines. It was a challenge hanging bed blankets and sheets, but once again the Polygrip clothespins really helped. Daughter Loretta and her three little ones came over for a while. She said the boys wouldn’t quit begging to come over so she decided to bring them here. When they left Denzel said, “We come back again.” Byron spotted the bananas on my counter and said, “Me want monkey.” Every time I give him a banana I call him a monkey so he ...

DEAR ANNIE: Missing the sisterhood beneath the scorekeeping

DEAR ANNIE: My sister and I grew up sharing everything: clothes, secrets, bedrooms, even blame when one of us broke something in the house. For most of my life, she was my first phone call and my safest place to land. But in the last few years, something has changed. Every conversation with her has started to feel like a contest I never agreed to enter. Last month, my son came home thrilled because he made the travel lacrosse team after months of practicing in the driveway until dark. I was so proud of him that I mentioned it at Sunday dinner. Before I even finished my sentence, my ...

HINTS FROM HELOISE: Grandpa’s solution will help garden grow marvelously

DEAR HELOISE: There’s an old recipe that my great grandfather used to use in his garden, and it made everything grow quickly and in abundance. It was lost for a long time, but we found the recipe in an old book that he once owned. I used it for the first time this past year, and my vegetable garden has never looked healthier or given me such a large yield of tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots. It’s very simple and cost less than $2 to make. Get 1 packet of baking yeast. Mix it into a large bucket of very warm water. Stir well. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and stir. Let it sit for 2 ...