June 1979

How to Figure "Fuelishness"

You have to be an ever vigilant motorist to keep your car from being a "fuelish" gulper of today's high-priced gasoline. Here are some of the sneaky ways your car can waste precious fuel. Some of the losses may sound minuscule, but added together they can represent a heap of dollars spewing from the exhaust pipe of your car.

WINDOW FASHIONS... By the Yard

In this family living area, opposite, a pair of French doors posed a decorating challenge. The "wall of windows" resulted in too much sun and too little privacy. But heavy draperies were ruled out because they would obstruct the swinging doors.

Contemporizing a '40s house

When Gil and Lois Tredwell bought this house in 1946, it looked very much like every other story-and-a-half on the block. Several remodelings changed the interior, but the exterior stayed the same for over 30 years.

Owning a home: How to figure the REAL COST

Digging up the down payment is only the beginning. Home ownership involves a greater expense than the monthly mortgage payment indicates. Here's how to judge what owning a home really costs.

Play it safe with picnic foods

Enjoying good food in the great outdoors is one of the pleasures of summertime. Here's how to make sure the food you take along is safe to eat, whether you're planning a picnic in the park or an extended camping trip.

Beat the heat! Build sun visors for your windows

Plan ahead so you won't get burned by summer utility bills. Here and on page 52, you'll find ways to protect south- and west-facing windows that take the brunt of summer sun. You can build these two projects right now so the glass areas of your house will be ready to withstand harsh summer rays.

Shopping for window hardware

Behind the scenes or on display, window hardware makes a big difference in how your curtains and draperies look. That's why it's important to choose sturdy and workable hardware that's suited to your particular window treatment.

From carport to greenhouse

Book-size screen

Neat pleater

Auto fuel saver

Electric fun craft

Snap-in grid storage system

Tight money tactics: How to finance a home sale

Suppose you must move, and you want to sell your home quickly. There's a buyer eager to close the deal-- but only if he can take on your mortgage at its present rate. Should you let him assume the mortgage? Can you let him?

Three hangups for plants

Better outdoor living starts at home

This summer, make the great outdoors live up to its billing! To help you, we've assembled modular projects that answer a number of needs: privacy, shade, seating, storage, plant potting and display. Pick your projects, then adapt them to suit your own situation.

A PAY AS YOU GO FUN FUN FUN CENTER

Why let a tight budget thwart your dream of an outdoor retreat? With this pay-as-you-go project, you can split the job into at least six stages and attack each as time and money permit.

WELCOME WILDLIFE TO YOUR BACKYARD

Invite wildlife visitors to your backyard and you'll make your garden more enjoyable. This proved true for Alice and Cliff Grant who turned their suburban lot into this flower-filled haven for birds, bees, and small animals as well as people.

Choosing and using sprouts

Most people think of sprouts as an ingredient for Oriental recipes. But these versatile vegetables can be added to a variety of dishes to boost flavor and add texture.

How to steam vegetables

Ever try steam cooking? It's a favorite Oriental method of cooking that preserves the natural flavor and nutrients of vegetables.

Cross-stitch on gingham

"FOREIGN" VACATIONS IN THE U.S.A.

America may be the great melting pot, but many diverse ethnic groups who settled in this country have preserved their respective old-world heritages in communities across the land.

MEDIGAP: WHAT CAN THE ELDERLY DO?

Stories about health insurance rip-offs of the elderly have been much in the news lately. The prime culprits: high-pressure salesmen who scare older people into buying policies they don't need and can't afford by pointing out the gaps in Medicare coverage.

How to order material from the magazine

Project Plans for the Better Homes and Gardens designs shown in this issue are available below. Each plan packet includes large professional drawings, materials list, woodcutting diagrams, and easy-to-follow instructions.

National crafts center

Lamp sculptures

Gourmet's nirvana

All-season seating

Coping With Parasites That "Bug" Your Pet

Most dogs and cats occasionally play host to parasites. At best, these tiny pests are annoying; at worst, they can debilitate your pet or lead to serious health problems.

How to handle luggage hang-ups

With 250 million people and some 350 million pieces of their luggage traveling by air each year, it's no wonder some of that baggage (an estimated three million pieces) gets damaged, lost, pilfered, or misdirected. ...

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

Hank Nardman, eight, thinks the summer reruns on television are great. Now, he says, he can catch up on his favorite programs that unfortunately were preempted by evening homework during the school year.