August 1980

Sensible Growth in HOUSING

Suppose you're in the business of putting up houses and you've been given a nearly perfect piece of land to develop. It's in Lincoln, Massachusetts, a small suburb of Boston that's the essence of all the good things you imagine about New England.

Country scene setters

Mother's helper for infant care

Trusty plant-sitter

Is Gasohol The Way To Go?

More and more service stations are offering motorists another fuel option-- the 90/10-percent blend of gasoline and alcohol called gasohol. Though many people tout gasohol as a good, homegrown way to reduce our crippling dependence on foreign oil, others question the real energy efficiency of the new fuel.

KEEPSAKE SAMPLERS TO CROSS-STITCH

What better way to express your friendship than by cross-stitching a special thought into a one-of-a-kind sampler? Although the idea is centuries old, we've used new-style yarns and fabrics to create fresh designs for contemporary tastes. The stunning area rug shown here features a traditional design to cross-stitch on seven-count quickpoint canvas. And the quotation pillows show off some of our favorite sayings. For a closer look, please turn the page. All how-to begins on page 140.

A KITCHEN THAT HAS IT ALL space convenience storage

Michael and Gloria Plautz are no-nonsense cooks who believe that a kitchen ought to work just as good as it looks. Theirs is a thoroughly functional kitchen with easy-to-clean surfaces, efficient appliances, and accessible storage for the accouterments of their cooking hobby. Their successful redo might nudge you to make your own kitchen measure up to your needs.

Gardener's log

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Pet Potpourri

Exercising Fido while you jog is a great idea. Here are some tips to remember, especially when jogging with your dog during hot weather.

DIABETES AND OBESITY

"Diabesity" is a new term that emphasizes the link between obesity and diabetes when both conditions start in adulthood. The term was coined by Dr. Ethan A. H. Sims, professor of medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, who heads a federally funded diabetes research program at the University.

AVOIDING BRITTLE BONES

HEART SELF-TEST

TWO DRINKS A DAY FOR YOUR HEART?

Late-blooming bulbs for AUTUMN COLOR

The last of your gladiolus, calla lily, and canna lily blooms needn't signal the end of your bulb color for the year. There are a number of late-blooming hardy bulbs that can grace your autumn garden with their unique colors. And, like spring-flowering bulbs, they survive winter gales so they can be left in the ground once planted.

Cool microwave casserole

Leaking water alert

Energy-saving programmable electronic dishwasher

Fold-up step stool

Personality Decorating

Turning a house into a home involves more than selecting a color scheme and choosing the style and status of your furnishings. It's how much of yourself you put into a room that counts. Just as the clothes we wear and the accessories we choose reveal much about our personalities, the rooms we live in can reflect our values, tastes, and interests.

Miniature African Violets

You can get a lot of color in very little space when you grow miniature African violets. Even at maturity, a true miniature never achieves a spread of more than six inches. If you only have room for half a dozen standardsized African violets, you can grow two dozen miniatures in that same space.

GRAND OPENING OF A LITTLE OLD HOUSE

The owners of the little old house in question liked its convenient location and friendly neighborhood, but they realized some revisions were called for. The exterior of the house needed only a slight updating, but the interior required some more sweeping changes: The homeowners were tired of opening and closing the many doors and knocking around the maze of dreary little rooms.

GREAT LAST-MINUTE SUMMER VACATIONS

Though the end of summer is fast approaching, there's still time for a super vacation. We've explored the options and come up with a half-dozen outstanding destinations where the whole family can have a great time on short notice.

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

Dottie Dresch says going to the supermarket these days is like a trip to Las Vegas: "Last time I left the store with my groceries, two game cards, six playing chips, and an odds sheet."