November 1984

Editor At Large

A charming coincidence happened this month: in this issue, you'll find the second installment of our contest on America's Favorite Rooms as well as an article on feeding birds.

TURKEY CHATTER

A FEW BUCKS FOR THE DUCKS

MEET THE NEW MEATS

TOY GALLERY DEBUT

DOWN-HOME STAIRWAY STYLE

KIDS AND CHOLESTEROL

GRANDDADDY OF WINTER CRAFTS FAIRS

HOMES ON SHOW

CUSTOMIZED VACATION ADVICE

GIFTS FOR THE HOME

The holidays make the heart turn homeward. So, celebrate with gifts that touch the hearts and homes of your loved ones.

Better Schools: How YOU Can Make A Difference

In hundreds of school districts across the U.S., parents and other concerned citizens are pitching in to solve problems posed by tight budgets, declining enrollments, and qualms about academic standards.

FEED THE BIRDS

Your bird neighbors will reward you handsomely for the pleasure of dining in your backyard. The chatter and delightful antics of crowds of colorful feathered visitors dropping by well-stocked feeders will entertain you and your family all winter.

Suite Retreats; Subhead: Luxurious Master Bedroom/Baths

We all need a special place at home that pampers the senses and offers a bit of precious privacy. If your house lacks such space, create a custom-tailored master suite by adding a room or converting your garage or attic.

THE ART OF PLATE COLLECTING

Plate collecting is a satisfying and rewarding hobby. With each addition, your collection grows in beauty and often even in value. Collector's plates share these two characteristics: they're decorative rather than functional and are produced in limited editions for hobbyists.

Fabric-Covered Wall

Pensions

There's no way to determine what your exact pension benefits will be unless you are close to retirement now. Still, you have enough information at hand to make an educated guess. And that's important to help you figure how much additional money, if any, you must try to save for your retirement years.

PARTY FLUTTERS

Rx: A ROOM WITH A VIEW

THE SCOOP ON SNOW SHOVELING

CANCER: GET THE FACTS

BEAT THE FLU BUG

SYNTHETIC BLOOD VESSELS

MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE FAMILY

Don't feel alone if a family member is mentally ill: One four of us has a close relative with an emotional illness. Coping with a mentally sick family member triggers a of stressful emotions.

Your Medical Rights

Medicine has made incredible strides in recent years-- organ transplants, artificial hearts, and laser surgery, for example. Unfortunately, our understanding of attendant ethical and legal issues hasn't kept pace with technology.

Antiques & Collectibles; Subhead:Architectural Elements

Architectural details that once languished in salvage yards, barns, and sheds are re-emerging as one of today's newest collectibles. These vintage elements, which gave early city and country buildings distinguished charm and personality, now are valued as primitive art forms in themselves.

Storage Projects For Every Room In Your House

You can always tell when the house needs shaping up; everything has started stacking up. And if the stacks are threatening to tumble, you know it's time to get organized. To help you unclutter the most troublesome storage spots, here are buildable ideas for every room in your house.

REMOTE SECURITY SYSTEM

HOME FIRE HOSE

INSULATED BATTING

FIRE-RETARDANT HEARTH RUG

SOPHISTICATED CORDLESS IRON

CORDLESS TRIMMER

Holiday Entertaining

Gardener's Log

Orchids have delicate, exotic blossoms that even the novice houseplant enthusiasts can grow successfully. Disease-resistant and long-lived, orchids will thrive in any sunny room of your home. Flowers come in almost every color and range in size from a fraction of an inch to 12 inches across.

VIDEO CAMERAS

In more and more homes, old Super-8 projectors and roll-up movie screens are gathering dust in the attic. They're being replaced by the home movie systems of the future-- video cameras and portable videocassette recorders.

THE NEW MINIVANS

It isn't often something truly new comes out of the automobile industry. But last winter Chrysler gave us something original in every sense when it unveiled the Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan. A new concept, the minivan, was born. Toyota came right along with its interpretation of the concept called, simply enough, Van.

Wooden Frames for Needlework

Give special needlework stitchery the personal attention it deserves with our inexpensive, do-it-yourself frames created in your basement workshop.

Print Primer

Today, even modest budgets accommodate first-rate art-- thanks to the wide availability of affordable, original prints.

Take a Tour of Traditional Homes

Christmas; memories and more

Low Calorie Cooking the Microwave Way

AMERICA'S FAVORITE ROOMS PRIZE-WINNING DECORATING IDEAS

We received so many great entries in our "America's Favorite Rooms Decorating Contest" that limiting our choices to first, second, and third prizes, 10 runners-up, and 100 merit awards was a difficult task.

STEP-BY-STEP RIDE 'EM, TUG 'EM, TOW 'EM TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS

Take it from merry old Saint Nick: toy building is a labor of love from start to finish. It's also easy work; the best toys usually are simple designs you can build with ordinary tools and basic materials.

Creating Family Dining SPACE In Your Kitchen

The dinner scenario for today's busy families is more likely to be a quick, casual meal in the kitchen, than a formal dinner at the dining table. But finding eating space in your kitchen-- without building an expensive addition-- can be difficult. ...

HOLIDAY MAKE-AHEADS Enchanted Cottage and Dolls TO STITCH, STUFF, CRAFT, ENJOY

Without going near the kitchen, you can create a charming gingerbread house and dolls for the holidays. Fabric, yarn, and wood are the makings for these sweet-and-simple designs. Embellishing techniques include painting, quilting, embroidery, appliqué, crocheting, and woodburning. Terrific as gifts, the completed projects also double as caches for Christmas treats or centerpieces for your holiday table.

Convenient Turkey

Remember when planning a turkey dinner meant buying the whole turkey or nothing at all? Nowadays supermarket refrigerators and freezers are brimming with timesaving turkey portions that are ideal for small families. Rich in protein, low in calories, and economical, too, the products identified here adapt to many recipes.

How to Get the Best Price For Your Used Audio Gear

With today's new and sophisticated stereo products you may be tempted to upgrade your equipment. Or perhaps you're just ready for a system better suited to your family's needs.

New Help In Raising Kids

Your two-year-old pinches the new baby; grade-schoolers argue at the dinner table; and bedtime brings bedlam. Help with these and other child-rearing challenges can be found in a new parent education program by nationally known educator Saf Lerman, creator of the program's forerunner, Parent Awareness.

How To Order Material From The Magazine

Enchanted House and Dolls. Great gift ideas! Create your own version of the lovely Gingerbread House shown by our craft editors on p. 146-147. Our Stamped Muslin Squares are ready to paint, crayon, appliqué, bead, embroider, or finish in any technique you choose. Or, select your own fabric by starting with our Iron-On Transfer Patterns.

Winter Wonderland Vacations In Our National Parklands

Winter is perhaps the finest season in our national parklands: Crowds dwindle with the coming snows and a white silence reigns in the forests. Amid this magical stillness, wildlife forages, barely heeding intruders who slide by on cross-country skis or waddle through the wilds on snowshoes.

Slimming Down a Plump Pet

An overweight dog or cat could be courting serious health problems. If your pet is becoming a fatty, here are some tips you can use to help him slim down to size.

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

Why is it? Ken Parker says his kids can drive him to the brink during the day, but one peek at them while they're sleeping and he feels like the luckiest guy in the world.