March 1978

HOW TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW WITHOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

Learning something new doesn't mean you have to formally sign up at a nearby college-- or plunk down lots of dollars. There's a number of places where you can learn a great deal about a variety of things, often at no cost to you.

HOW TO THWART A CAR THIEF

As a homeowner, you probably make sure all the doors of your house are locked before you go to bed at night. But what about your car, truck, or van? If you leave it unlocked in the driveway or street, you're inviting a car thief to drive your car away.

HOW ESTATE PLANNING BENEFITS YOUR KIDS

If you haven't made definite plans for distribution of your property when you die, or if your plans are not drawn up according to the laws of your state, you're courting chaos for your family. That's true especially for your youngsters who cannot yet manage on their own.

HOUSEPLANT HOW-TO

When you're out plant shopping, do you skip the rows of foliage plants and search for the cactus and succulents instead? You're in luck because plant shops are stocking more of your favorites now, due to increased demand. Here are three interesting varieties you'll find.

Reactivating an antique armoire

A UNIQUE GREENHOUSE

What's surprising about this greenhouse is the location-- the unit hooks onto the second floor of the house. You might prefer your greenhouse off a hallway or even a stair landing, as is the case in this remodeling. Or, you might hook the unit to a master bedroom and gain a verdant seating area in the bargain.

About-face for a back porch

A LOT OF HOUSE FOR ANY LOT

Here's the second of three well-planned houses resulting from the joint efforts of Better Homes and Gardens and the Armstrong Cork Company. The three were designed to meet young families' criteria of versatility, expandability, and affordability.

5 GREAT PROJECTS TO UNCLUTTER YOUR HOUSE

Have you ever lived in a house that had enough storage space? Few people have, and it's probably because there's a bit of the pack rat in most of us. If you're feeling the stowage pinch, here are some ideas and sketches to help you design your own storage problem-solvers.

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING KITCHEN

With today's hectic schedules, erratic mealtimes, and family-participation cooking, salvation lies in having a kitchen with a place for everything. We took a tiny kitchen and made it a storage marvel. Every nook, cranny, and corner is filled with ideas to expand storage and work space.

STEP-BY-STEP PROJECT SCRAPBOOK

TIPS TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

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

STRING NEEDLEPOINT

Who says you need to buy expensive yarns and canvas to create stunning needlepoint projects? We've combined low-cost string with canvas to stitch this smashing new openwork needlepoint at a delectable dime-store price.

MODULAR THE FLEXIBLE WAY TO LIVE

Looking for a flexible way to furnish a room? Try changeable, rearrangable modular furniture. You buy only the seating and storage units you need to fit your style, your budget --and your space.

SMALL-LOT FRUIT GROWING

This spring why not start a small-scale fruit garden in your backyard? You won't need a lot of space, and you'll be rewarded with a yearly harvest of sun-ripened produce. The fruits shown here are hardier and easier to grow than you might think.

Surefire Tips for your Vegetable Garden

Want to try for an explosion of vegetables this year-- enough to fill your salad bowl with fresh-from-the-garden ingredients all summer and stock your cellar with vegetables for the winter? To help you pull it off, here are some rules of green thumb.

A LEARN-AS-YOU-GROW BOX

Everyone in the family will have fun watching nature at work in this mini-farm you can build. You'll witness the wonder of living things through the eyes of your children as they learn how things grow. And you'll enjoy a family closeness as you share the responsibility and pleasure of keeping living things alive.

High-fashion wall plates

Pint-size coffee maker

Simple security

Home video cassette recorder

Three-way brace

Insulated skylights

Platform bed mattress

Counter-top milk delivery

HOW PEOPLE LIKE YOU CAN GET ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE

If you're like most of us, at one time or another you've disagreed with a decision made by the school board, city council, or zoning commission. Or maybe you've thought that your ideas for traffic control in the downtown shopping area, park improvement, or street lighting were better and cheaper than the ones proposed by the local government agency controlling such matters.

Concept House builders list

The second of three Concept Houses, cosponsored by Better Homes and Gardens and the Armstrong Cork Company, appears on page 54.

This bathroom mirror comes to you

A GUIDE TO THE GLORY OF SPRING IN AMERICA'S GREATEST DESERTS

Spring comes early to the American deserts. Already buds coaxed by the February rains hold the promise of blossoms to come.

TEACHING YOUR CHILD TO STITCH

Stitchery can be great fun for children-- and for their parents, too. As a craft it develops appreciation of color and texture, opens channels of communication between parent and child, and is pure magic on a rainy day.

Smoothing the way for handicapped travelers

When the country's 20-million handicapped people (deaf, blind, diabetic, wheelchair-bound, etc.) travel, they do virtually everything other tourists do. Even so, making travel arrangements has always been complicated and time-consuming for the handicapped.

SHRUBS YOU CAN DEPEND ON

Nothing beats shrubs for all-around beauty and versatility in the garden. And they require little care. You can pick shrub varieties that are suitable for foundation plantings, borders, hedges, and windbreaks. Many, if planted singly, will form spectacular lawn specimens. Below is a list of drought-resistant shrubs that aren't fussy about living conditions.

How to choose and care for mini-pets

If the consensus at your house is to get a pet but you can't accommodate the traditional cat or dog, why not think small? Mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and rabbits are all affectionate and gentle, and require minimum care.

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

Dr. Bob Hannelly says he dreads this time of year because it produces a big demand for classy-sounding diagnoses for what most of us used to call "spring fever."