October 1979

Between-jobs survival tactics

When you find yourself suddenly out of a job, it's difficult not to panic. Even though the situation is temporary, it can wreak havoc with your finances and your family life unless you tackle matters calmly.

Treat yourself to a Tulip Garden

Tulips originated in Turkey, and when they were introduced in Europe 400 years ago, they triggered a continental craze. The demand for these Asian imports so exceeded the supply that some of the rarer varieties sold for thousands of dollars. The economic bubble was known as "tulipomania."

Create a WALL HANGING as fresh as all outdoors

Autumn is the season to revel in nature's quiet, muted colors-- soft golds, warm browns, mellow greens, and retiring reds. That's why we've selected October as the time to share with you the beautiful fall-hued wall hanging pictured opposite.

THESE FAMILIES LIKE TO COOK and their kitchens show it

In more and more households, cooking is becoming a favorite participation sport-- and any number of folks can play. To demonstrate, we've picked two families who completely redid their kitchens to make group cooking even more fun. They used kitchen islands as part of their strategy --and scored winning points, as you can see.

A second-story garden room

Choosing and using track lighting

Special effects lighting has been used for years in theaters, office buildings, and showrooms, and now it's showing up in more and more homes. By choosing from the numerous track lighting systems on the market, you can stage your own special lighting effects.

Personalized plates

Swinging chair

Affordable elegance under foot

Easy estimator

Restoration how-to

HOT WATER HEATER ALERT

You should be aware by now that an unnecessarily high setting on your hot water heater wastes energy. But did you also realize that this practice poses a threat to your family's safety?

LOWER INSURANCE RATES FOR PERSONS WITH EPILEPSY

TELLING THE PATIENT "IT'S CANCER"

HELP FOR OUT-OF-TOWNERS WITH A CHILD IN THE HOSPITAL

SAFETY CAPS: WORTH THE HASSLE

TIPS, TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

This feature is written by you. it's a wide-ranging collection of shop hints, installation tips, and repair shortcuts that you-- along with millions like you-- have picked up from your experience as a do-it-yourselfer. We pay $25 for each problem solver we publish. See the box below for submission details.

A BACKYARD SHED FOR FUN AND STORAGE

How's the storage situation around your house? If gardening or recreation equipment has all but taken over the garage-- and you're still looking for more places to put things-- you may want to consider a shed of some sort.

Just add shelves

If lack of storage has your house in a clutter, put do-nothing walls to work by adding shelves. Here are three examples.

An easy way to light an entry

You can add new lighting interest to your entry hall by building this attractive redwood light grid-- and you won't have to hassle with extra wiring. The existing wiring from the ceiling fixture will suffice. Just change the dimensions of the unit to fit your entryway.

Safety tactics for driveway mechanics

Whenever you work on your car, you're pitting yourself against a multi-thousand-pound hulk of whirring or scorching parts and toxic or explosive chemicals. That mismatch can make auto repair the most hazardous of household chores. Jacking up your car and crawling under it, and looking and reaching into the engine compartment, require patience and caution.

ARE SERVICE CONTRACTS WORTH THE COST?

When one of your major appliances breaks down, the cost of repairs can be shattering. A typical repairman charges from $15 to $30 or more for a house call-- and that's before the work even starts.

DOES YOUR CHILD KNOW HOW TO STUDY?

A lot hinges on the answer to that question, according to the educators. "In this era of attention to basic skills, perhaps the most fundamental skill of all for students is to study effectively," says Owen B. Kiernan, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Building on the Past

There's nothing new about being interested in the past; just look around you at the hordes of antique buffs and the millions of historical novel enthusiasts.

Rediscovering the Old Wild West in Texas

Western Texas is a timeless domain: In this wide land of desert mountains and tumbleweed plains, of freshet lakes and Spanish-name rivers, our old frontier optimism remains very much part of life.

Storage tips for mowers and tillers

While you're preparing your car for winter's stresses, don't forget to ready your small engines for winter storage. Hibernation is rough on the engines of your lawn mower, garden tiller, moped, and other equipment. A blanket of grime on the outside and aging gasoline and dirty oil on the inside can cut an engine's performance and life expectancy. If you follow the simple storage preparation steps we've listed below, the payoff can be spectacular.

Pet grooming pointers

Seeing to it that your dog or cat is well-groomed pays off big. A well-kept pet not only looks better, he generally is healthier and happier than his unkempt counterpart. But grooming can cost plenty if you patronize a professional groomer regularly. What's the alternative? Do routine grooming yourself. Here's how.

GROWING DYE PLANTS IN YOUR GARDEN

Like many a gardener, you've probably longed to preserve the beauty of a blooming garden forever. It can be done by natural dyeing, a technique known to the ancients and a growing number of moderns.

Varmint repellent

Wallpaper stripper

Refrigerator freshener

Hidden hangers

Grooveless lighting track

Quarry tile look-alike

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

Observing our bird-watching friends has taught me that their rivalries can be intense. If Elaine Cowan gloats over a rare woodpecker at her feeder, Dick Dresch is compelled to top her with a pair of evening grosbeaks.