June 1984

IN SEARCH OF GREAT-GRANDDAD

HOME FINGER-PRINTING

ARMADA VISITS QUÉBEC CITY

$50 FOR YOUR FAVORITE VACATION

ARMCHAIR OLYMPICS

IS IT LEATHER--OR NOT?

IRRADIATED FOODS: WAVES OF THE FUTURE

BE CRAFTY AND WIN

FIRST LADY WINS ELECTION

When It's Smart for a Youngster To Repeat a Grade

Opinions on the subject vary, but one thing is certain: Holding youngsters back is becoming a hot issue in many school districts these days.

Finding the Best Day Care For Your Child

Finding the best child care arrangement can be the most worrisome dilemma that working parents face. There simply aren't enough options available, especially if the child is an infant or toddler. But new developments promise to bring more flexibility.

Gardener's Log

The exotic blooms of tropical ponds enhance yards this month. Easy to grow, aquatic plants thrive in submerged soil-filled pots. Your own water garden can be as simple as a metal tub or wooden barrel, or as elaborate as a sunken pool.

Outdoor Living Projects TO SPRUCE UP YOUR YARD

Back in January, June seemed about three years away. But a handful of heat bills and countless storms later, you're at last able to tackle those outdoor living projects you've been fantasizing about since last fall. In case you haven't settled on any final details yet, here are 19 ideas to consider. Most of them solve a problem of some kind; a few are just plain fun. But all 19 can help you make your outdoor activities even more enjoyable this year.

How to Inspect Your Car for Safety

As many as 25 percent of all fatal accidents may be caused by defective vehicles, according to a five-year study of traffic accidents conducted for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by Indiana University. If so, in 1982 unsafe cars may have contributed to 9,725 of the 38,899 accidents in which deaths occurred.

Artful Furniture Finishes

The finishing choices for new wood furniture go far beyond ordinary varnish and paint. With one of the easy techniques outlined here, for example, you can subtly color wood without hiding the grain, or lighten it for a clean, contemporary look.

Care Tips for LEFT-HOME-ALONE PETS

When the whole family is away all day and your pet stays home alone, he deserves special care and attention. A warm welcome at the end of the day is just a token of the rewards you'll reap with a little extra effort and planning.

DECORATIVE SPEAKERS

CASUAL ELEGANCE

CAMP COOKERS

Customizing a Fold-Out Bed

The classic fold-out bed long used in one-room apartments is making news in today's homes. Popular for its space-saving features, a "bed in a box" can be good-looking, too. Custom cabinets, like the one pictured here, outfit the ensemble for sophisticated surroundings.

Tips, Tools & Techniques

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

Property Taxes HOW TO GET YOUR BILL REDUCED

Property taxes are a sore subject with most homeowners. Though these tax bills generally are accurate, it's possible that yours is not. You'll have to do some digging to prove your case, but the effort could be worth it in reducing future tax bills as well as those for this period.

Exquisite BABY GIFTS

Delightful projects like these are custom-made for a baby's birth. Such a special occasion calls for exceptional gifts and our choice selection of things to make and buy includes a cozy crib quilt and personalized cross-stitch sampler

Full-Size Comfort for Compact Bedrooms

A Family Bath with Built-in Convenience

Step-by-Step RAILINGS AND FENCES

Adding a railing or fence is a great way to give the old homestead a personalized touch. If you'd like more privacy for outdoor living, an attractive backdrop for the garden, or a sturdy rail for porch, deck, or steps, study the custom-crafted examples on these four pages. One may be just right for your needs.

Color a Kid's Room

Crayon-box colors that inspire young imaginations also can help you create an extra-special kid's room. Pick a brilliant green for the floor, shade the windows with sky blue, add sparks of pink and yellow, and your scheme will be bouquet-bright and as much fun as child's play! You'll find a wealth of colorful goods in stores today. Here, fanciful furnishings from Pier 1 Imports splash an attic bedroom with candy hues.

Restyled KITCHENS

Unless your kitchen is plagued by obsolete appliances or dilapidated cabinets, you should be able to give it a bright new look without spending a lot of money. In fact, you might be surprised at the dramatic changes you can orchestrate, simply by replacing the materials on your floors and countertops or by generously adding paint, wallpaper, and accessories. Here are three examples to spur you on. In each case, the homeowners spent only a fraction of what an average remodeling costs, yet created a new look and a psychological boost worth thousands.

FAMILY VACATIONS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

With so much to enjoy in Southern California, vacationing there means being selective. Beaches and inyiting seas stretch up and down the coast, dramatic mountains loom from the deserts, and exotic flora and opulent color are everywhere.

How To Order Material From The Magazine

Antiques & Collectibles

Out of pioneer thriftiness came the now-prized and eagerly collected early American hooked rugs. Short of supplies and money, the settlers commonly reworked worn-out items for new uses. The first hooked rugs, for instance, were fashioned from sewing scraps or rags cut from old garments.

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

After attending three graduation ceremonies in one month, Dick Dresch advises commencement speakers to do less commencing and more concluding.