September 1982

EDITOR at large

Three months ago in this space I launched a Name-That-Room contest that I thought might attract a few hundred responses and by now would all be over and done with. My plan was to divulge the winner this month. But my estimate of the numbers was stunningly wrong.

Teacher competency

Administrators say improved evaluation means better relationships with good teachers and more authority to criticize or weed out bad ones. Teachers say they get more support from parents and administrators, and they have the satisfaction of working with more capable peers.

WHAT'S HAPPENING TO AMERICAN FAMILIES?

Better Homes and Gardens wants to know what you think is happening to family life in America.

A SPECTACULAR SMALL-LOT GARDEN

On a recent visit to Holland, we discovered a garden so spectacular that we stopped to take a closer look. Every inch of this compact city lot is brimming with inspired combinations of bulbs, annuals, and flowering shrubs.

SIGNATURE DECORATING

Some homes, like John and Marilyn Hannigan's, overflow with welcome. Although their house is a typical 1940s two-story, a friendly mix of furnishings gives it all the warmth and personality of a vintage country manor.

Tips, Tools, and 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.

Gardener's log

"I heard a bird at break of day Sing from the autumn trees A song so mystical and calm, So full of certainties."

SHARING THE ROAD WITH CYCLISTS

Nine-year-old Leslie knew the traffic rules well. Her parents had seen to that. So when she pulled her bike up to the traffic light alongside the truck, she waited with the rest of the traffic for the light to turn green; then she began to pedal forward.

A Stylish Kid's Room Redo

HOW TO FOIL PET SNATCHERS

It's always disheartening when a family pet disappears. But the trauma is even more acute when you suspect your dog or cat has become a pet snatcher's victim. Sadly, there are profitable markets for stolen pets. Here's how you can protect your dog or cat and start tracking him down if he's missing.

DRINK MAKER

SUPER SUITCASE

SUN SCREEN

BUMP-OUTS BONUS SPACE FOR LESS

Adding on doesn't always mean pouring part of your building budget into a hole in the ground. There's a cheaper way to gain extra square footage: add a bump-out. Unlike conventional additions, bump-outs cantilever or hang from the side of the house, so you save the cost of excavating, pouring footings, and building foundation walls. You may be able to ignore setback restrictions, too; in some communities, setback rules apply only to additions constructed on a foundation. Also, bump-outs may be exempt from property taxes in your area. To help you design your own bump-out, we've rounded up a set of examples that includes a bump-out for practically every room in the house-- even the bathroom.

Do-It-Yourself Duvet

HOME SELLING: SHOULD YOU HELP FINANCE THE DEAL?

Trying to sell your home can be frustrating in these days of expensive mortgage money. If potential buyers can't get financing from traditional sources, your home could languish unsold for many months. A good way out of the dilemma could be to arrange at least part of the financing yourself directly with the buyer through one of several possible "creative financing" agreements. More than 60 percent of all existing house sales last year involved some sort of "creative financing." Here's what you should consider.

NEW INSIGHTS INTO DIABETES

Minimizing pregnancy risks. Pregnancy is risky for both women with diabetes and their babies. The babies often are so large that they require cesarean delivery, and they are more likely to have serious medical problems than are babies born to women without the disorder.

NEW TREATMENT FOR SCOLIOSIS

SKIN CANCER PRECAUTIONS

CANTANKEROUS CANKER SORES

NO MORE MEASLES

SIMPLE HEARING TEST FOR BABIES

NEW LIFE FOR AN OLD ROW HOUSE

It's hard to see any potential in an antiquated row house with a sievelike roof, exposed wiring, dilapidated plumbing, and rotten plaster. But if the shell is sound and the price is right, a turn-of-the-century relic like the one above can be a blue-chip candidate for a 1980s remodeling. All you need to pull it off is a little courage, imagination, perseverence, money, and luck.

DECORATIVE PROJECTS TO BATIK, CARVE, AND EMBROIDER

A weekend can offer you and your family more than books to read, lawns to cut, and television to watch. You can use those two free days to learn a new craft and create something special for your home. For inspiration, check these pages for weekend-quick projects to batik, carve, and embroider. Then set aside a Saturday and a Sunday, choose a technique, and enlist your family in the enterprise. By Monday, you'll be enjoying the beautiful results.

AN EASY WAY TO REMODEL

Want to remodel your home without tearing out walls or adding expensive square footage? Rethink your room labels! If, for example, you have a formal dining room that's used only rarely, relabel it a "family room" and put that precious space to work full time. Or, make an awkward hallway earn its keep by furnishing it as a mini-office. Or, how about that neglected basement? Think of it as a cozy, tavern-style dining spot, and its rough masonry walls and exposed ceiling joists become decorating assets. It takes courage to use space innovatively, but it can work wonders in any home, as these examples prove.

PENNSYLVANIA ADAMS COUNTY

Vibrant waves of fall color that sweep across the land signal a wonderfully mellow time of year. A perfect way for you and your family to celebrate the autumn season is to spend an easygoing weekend exploring countryside specially linked to the past.

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

Receiving a catalog in the mail from one of the swankiest specialty shops in the city did wonders for my ego-- until Judy called to my attention the address label, which read "Burton Hillis or current resident."