April 1976

GIVE NEW LIFE TO YOUR CAR'S UPHOLSTERY

Torn or abused upholstery is as detrimental to the appearance of the inside of your car as rust is to the outside. Yet, of the two, the interior is much easier to maintain and, if necessary, repair. Preventive maintenance-- keeping the interior clean and well conditioned-- is neither time-consuming nor costly.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE WHAT ARE THE FACTS BEHIND THE CRISIS?

Doctors blame the crisis on money-hungry lawyers and on patients who expect modern medicine to guarantee perfect results every time.

HOW TO HANDLE A ROTARY TILLER

You may have been told some awesome tales by people who've had a bad experience operating a rotary tiller. Like the man who was dragged across his lawn because the tiller took off instead of digging in. Or the lady who tilled her entire yard instead of her tiny garden because she was reluctant to release her grip-- and had to follow the machine until it ran out of gas.

Step-by-step project scrapbook

How to choose healthier plants

Some plant species have a natural resistance to disease, and others have an affinity for it. To keep plant losses and your worries to a minimum, concentrate on the species that are, by nature, healthy. The trouble-free plant list has grown considerably in the last few years as specially developed resistant varieties supplement the naturally resistant species. ...

WELL-STACKED CENTERPIECES

Try your hand at stacking. You'll be amazed what great designs you can put together from what you have on hand-- such as candlesticks, flower containers, and wine glasses. And you don't have to limit yourself to glassware and pottery, either. Cans, jars, and throw-away molds can look smashing when they're imaginatively combined.

A great little camp organizer: build it, pack it, stack it

Here's a modular storage unit designed to help you eliminate campsite chaos. Because the basic box stores the extra shelves, with room to spare, you can use it as a packing chest while traveling. When you pitch camp and unpack the gear, you're ready to set up a camp kitchen cupboard twice the size of the chest itself.

WHY ESTATE PLANNING MAKES SO MUCH SENSE

"Estate planning" may sound like something for only the very rich. Yet few families today can do without it.

TIPS TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

A REGULAR FEATURE DESIGNED TO MAKE AROUND-THE-HOUSE JOBS EASIER FOR YOU

PASTRY POINTERS

Want to make your pies turn out as pretty as those in our pictures? These helpful hints describing tools and techniques should start you off right. We'll bet the next time you bake a pie, it will be spectacular enough to slice at the table instead of cutting pieces secretly in the kitchen!

A SMALL HOUSE THAT SCORES BIG

Big houses often rate high on a scorecard of attributes: good traffic patterns, a spacious feeling, privacy-protected bedrooms, plentiful storage, outdoor/indoor space for fun and entertaining.

GROW VEGETABLES WITH US IN A GREAT BACKYARD GARDEN

Imagine raising 270 pounds of tomatoes, 107 pounds of beans, 66 pounds of cabbage, 149 green peppers, and MORE in your own backyard vegetable garden. We know you can do it because we planted a 25x25-foot plot last year and weighed or counted all the food the plot produced.

REMODELING: LOW-COST KITCHEN AND BATHROOM IDEAS

It's a toss-up whether a house first shows its age in the kitchen or a bath. Whichever, those age signs are dismal to live with. But, you don't have to. You can rejuvenate a kitchen and/or bath for less than you think --and here's the proof.

GARDENING IN APRIL

Good spadework done in April can make permanent improvements in your garden. One of the most satisfying ways to spend your time and effort is to revamp your perennial border. Set in a few plants you've never grown before, add new varieties to existing plantings, and revitalize crowded plants by dividing.

Electric tools with loss-proof rechargers

Multipurpose sprayer for most outdoor jobs

Dramatic improvement of an outstanding tire

Super-hot torch for the homeowner and hobbyist

Parquet tiles--more than just a floor covering

Foolproof way to preserve your fresh flowers

CORRIDOR KITCHEN MEANT FOR A BUSY FAMILY

The less you like to cook, the more care you should put into planning your kitchen. With an efficient kitchen, you can fix meals and clean up afterward in minimum time-- and that's important. The young family who designed and built this kitchen enjoy good food, but they don't give high priority to cooking in their long list of interests.

What makes a good room good?

DOWN-TO-EARTH LANDSCAPING GUIDE

Well-planned landscaping can make your lot look better and live better, so it's a blue-chip investment. And it needn't be budget-breaking. To help you keep a firm hand on costs, we collected some no-nonsense plans for common situations, starting with up-front plantings. Study the design concepts for each, then modify or adapt the ideas to fit your needs. Next month, we'll tackle tough problem spots and outdoor living.

VEGETABLE DRESS-UPS

Want to make everyday vegetables taste extra-special? First of all, cook vegetables just till crisptender for bright color and the best fresh flavor. Then all it takes is a simple addition-- a little chopped onion or celery, a sprinkle of an herb, or a few bacon crumbles.

How to order material from the magazine

Build the charming split-level shown on page 52 from our professionally designed plan. Plan consists of a materials list for cost estimating, outline of specifications for workmanship/materials, and complete drawings, including: Four exterior elevations (views of outside) Framing plan for each level Roof plan Wall sections Floor-plan dimensions for each level Foundation plans Cabinet elevations for kitchen, bath, etc. Details for built-ins, special situations, etc. Plan gives all dimensions necessary to construct the entire house and can be modified by your builder or architect to suit your needs.

Bobbin lace

For all its apparent complexity, bobbin lace is simply another textile technique, based on the twisting and plaiting of threads to create an open-type fabric. As practiced by contemporary craftsmen, the technique need not require complex equipment or tools, and makes use of inexpensive materials.

A FAMILY TRAVEL GUIDE TO AMERICA'S GREAT PUBLIC GARDENS

Dozens and dozens of magnificent public gardens bloom across America, and they're yours for the visiting. There are all sorts of gardens: formal, rock, botanical, sunken, topiary, fragrance, woodland, landscape, and sculpture; and indoor, outdoor, tropical, desert, seaside, arid, mountain, and plains; and Mediterranean, colonial, English, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese.

Remodeling glossary

If you're planning on having a professional handle your next major home remodeling (or even if you decide to do it yourself), there are some building terms with which you should be familiar. Here are some definitions to help take the mystery out of contractors' jargon:

How to tell if your dog is sick enough to need a veterinarian

Playing doctor when your dog is ill is a dangerous game. Usually, diagnosing your pet's ailment and prescribing treatment are best left to your veterinarian. However, there is a way you can help the doctor help your dog. That's by recognizing changes in behavior that signal illness.

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence. If not delighted, each company will happily refund your money.

The Man Next Door

Bill Norman says he put a lot of work into his garden and he's darned if he'll let April showers get the credit for his May flowers.