Q: I am looking for small plastic birds that are whistles. You put water in them and blow through their tails, and they make sounds like birds. I saw some in a catalog several years ago but did not order them at that time. When I was a child, my brothers and sister each had one. There are different species of birds. At Christmas, I always make little bags of goodies for my siblings and try to find something from our childhood. These would be great. I hope you can help me. Thank you. — Mary Mularz, email
A: What a nice idea, Mary. You'll have no trouble surprising your siblings with these whistling birds. Locally, Warbling Bird whistles are available for $1.50 each at the Fernbank Museum gift shop, 767 Clifton Road, Atlanta, 404-929-6300. These are the whistles that you can use with or without adding a few drops of water. Colors include neon yellow, orange and red. You can purchase the same brand of bird-shaped whistles online at www.windycitynovelties.com, where you'll pay $2.90 for a bag of a dozen whistles in assorted colors.
Q: Where can I find beignet mix? I love beignets, and my friend makes them from a mix. He told me he purchases the mix at Ingles, but there is no Ingles near me. Are there other stores that carry it? — Debbie Lary, Lithonia
A: The most popular brand of beignet mix comes from Cafe Du Monde, the same folks who offer up the powdered sugar-drenched French doughnuts at the legendary New Orleans cafe of the same name. If you can’t locate Cafe Du Monde beignet mix in your neighborhood supermarket, then you always can find the yellow-and-white box, with a sketch of the cafe on the front, at Cost Plus World Market, 3330 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, 404-814-0801. Simply add water to the mix, cut into squares, then deep fry and enjoy. A 28-ounce box, $3.99, makes up to four dozen beignets.
Q: I hope you can help me find Totem Poles used for house plants to climb. They were made with peat fiber. I have looked for them for several years with no luck. I would appreciate it very much if you could find them. — Betty Perrow, Talking Rock
A: Mosser Lee Company makes the Totem Pole plant supports to keep your indoor plants from flopping over. The poles are made from long-fibered moss particles that can hold up to 20 times their weight in water. And since your plant will keep growing, Totem Poles are extendable. Sizes run from 18 inches up to 42 inches, with a 12-inch extension sold separately. Prices range from $4.99 to $9.99, and the extension costs $3.99. You can order online at www.mosserlee.com or by phone, 715-284-2296.
Q: I recently moved to the Atlanta area from another state, and when my parents drove down to visit me, they ate at a restaurant in Georgia that they said had the best coffee. Unfortunately, they can't remember the name of the place, but wanted me to find that coffee, if possible. All I have to go on is that they believe it's a chain because they remember seeing more than one of these restaurants as they traveled on the expressways. The food was very Southern, and the restaurant had a large gift shop that also sold old-fashioned candies. I'm not holding out much hope, but I'd love to surprise them if you found this place and if it sold its coffee. Thank you for any help. — M. Crawford, email
A: This is going to be much easier than you think. Anyone traveling the highways in and out of Georgia can be assured that they'll come across plenty of signs touting Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and restaurants. Not only are these a bastion of Southern fare for travelers, but each restaurant features a gift shop loaded with clothing, music, souvenirs and grocery items, including Country Fixin's Cracker Barrel ground coffee, regular and decaf. You can pick up a pound of the coffee for $9.99, at Cracker Barrel, 6175 McDonough Drive, Norcross, 770-446-1313. It's also available online at www.crackerbarrel.com.
About the Author
