April 1988

EDITOR'S LETTER

At a dinner party my wife and I attended not long ago, one of the women told about a church cookie exchange. Everybody was supposed to bring a favorite recipe, and something like nine women brought the same Better Homes and Gardens recipe.

LOVEKNOT BENCH

THREE HARDY NEWCOMERS

DOGWOODS FOR SPRING BLOOMS

HOUSING BOOM FOR BIRDS

CLAY POTS ARE BACK

SELF-IRRIGATING RAISED BED

COPE WITH A SLOPE

FRONT YARD FRAGRANCE

TRY SCARLET RUNNER BEANS

MAKE ROOM FOR GARLIC CHIVES

CRAFT A COTTAGE GARDEN

AQUATIC PLEASURES

STORE-ANYWHERE WHEELBARROW

BLOOMING BOULEVARDS

NAILING HAMMERS

Select the right hammer for the job-- if in doubt, ask a reputable hardware dealer to advise you which will work best. Use a hammer only for its intended purpose and store it properly, and it'll reward you with a lifetime of dependability.

4 TERRIFIC EXTERIOR MAKEOVERS

Repainting a home requires that you choose three colors: the field color-- for siding or brick, the trim color-- for borders around windows and doors and the soffit and fascia, and an accent color-- for shutters, the front door and any other small details.

WALL COVERINGS FOR CHILDREN'S ROOMS

A wealth of kid-style, mix-and-match wall coverings, borders, and fabrics makes dressing up a room as fun and easy as child's play. Stretch your imagination-- and your decorating dollar-- with these ideas:

GOOD NEWS ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE

Just a year ago, we ran a brief article in Better Homes and Gardens about nursing-home insurance. Though the coverage wasn't widely available then, interest in the topic was intense, judging from the letters we received.

DOES IT STILL PAY TO DO AN IRA?

BIWEEKLY MORTGAGES MAY TAKE OFF

KINDERGARTEN STRATEGIES FOR TODAY

Is your child ready for the academic rat race that today's kindergartens of fer? Does it do any good to hold kids back?

FLYING IN THE FACE OF FEAR

Deb Raymond had flown for years, with no qualms whatsoever. Then, for no apparent reason, she panicked. Without warning, her hands turned icy, her heart pounded, and she broke out in a sweat. Each flight made it worse. On the third trip in two months, she suddenly grabbed a total stranger next to her and asked if they were going to crash.

RUN THIS WAY?

JUGGLING AND STRESS

Got too many balls in the air? Juggling can help reduce that stress. "It's hard to think of the day's problems when you're wondering how the heck you're going to catch the ball," says Bill Giduz, past president of the International Juggler's Association.

READING ON THE RUN

FOR A CHANGE OF PACE

THE EYES HAVE IT

MUSCLES FROM THOSE MARIGOLDS?

ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS YOU'RE EMBARRASSED TO ASK

Oh, those silly questions. You know the type-- the ones you never ask because you just know your doctor will laugh. The editors finally screwed up their courage and asked Dr. Michael Oppenheim to put an end to those nagging doubts.

SPRINGTIME PILL SAVVY

SHAKING THE SALT HABIT

NEW PAP TEST GUIDELINES

A RULE OF THUMB FOR SUCKERS

DISPOSABLE LENSES COMING

TAKE A HIKE, DOC!

A PERIL OF DOING PUSH-UPS

BEDS BOTHER RESEARCHER

CARING FOR KIDS: SPLINTERS

CARING FOR KIDS: CUTS AND SCRAPES

CARING FOR KIDS: POISON IVY/OAK

CARING FOR KIDS: BURNS

ITCHING

That scratchy, burning feeling can drive you to distraction. Luckily, you can treat most common itching problems at home. Here's how:

WHAT'S HAPPENING TO AMERICAN FAMILIES?

Is it the dawning of a golden age of family life in America? Or are today's families in deep trouble? We at Better Homes and Gardens magazine invite you to tell us what you think.

DRIVING SAFELY

The technique of "visual driving" could be the most important safety skill you and your family ever learn. Here's what to consider.

PERENNIALS

For spring-to-fall garden color, you can't beat perennials. These fuss-free flowers remain in the garden and blossom year after year. To show you how you can create your own ever-blooming flower show, we visited the idea-filled garden of Virginia Burney Bach and her husband Dick.

INDOOR/OUTDOOR REMODELING

INDOOR/OUTDOOR REMODELING THREE FAMILIES REVAMP, OPEN UP, LANDSCAPE, AND ENJOY!

LITTLE GETAWAYS

LITTLE GETAWAYS Places to Read, Relax, and Renew

NUTRITION INFORMATION

With each recipe we give important nutrition information. This information, which includes calorie count of individual servings and the amount, in grams, of protein, fat, carbohydrate, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, and dietary fiber, helps you keep tabs on what you eat.

HEAD-START COOKING

Prepare a little extra for dinner tonight so you'll have the star ingredients for tomorrow night's dinner menu already on hand.

SEASONING SENSE

THE 1988 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTEST!

If you're making your home bigger, better, or more beautiful, you could be a winner! We're searching America for the freshest, smartest ideas in home fix-ups. Whether your project is large or small, if it has pizzazz, this contest is for you!

INTO THE OUTDOORS

To make that family trek safe and fun, get everyone in shape first, dress right, and know what hazards lurk in the wilds.

TOILET TRAINING, '80s STYLE

Independence-- not cleanliness-- is the central issue in teaching a child to use the toilet. For the process to work, the child must have almost total control over it. Parents need do little more than arrange so that the child can use the toilet easily.

ROLL-AROUND PLAY CENTER

To keep a little body busy, stock this crafty pushcart with favorite games, puzzles, and coloring books. Open, it provides spreadout space for a child kneeling on the floor. A pullout plastic cutlery tray corrals crayons, paints, and markers. Build the cart over a weekend, plus a few evenings for painting the ice-cream motif. Cost: About $90.

PUSH-BUTTON SEASONING

SLEEPER KEEPER

CORD-CLUTTER CLEANUP

TANGLE-FREE TOOL

PETS AND THE ELDERLY

Furred, finned, and feathered companions can help the elderly live longer, happier lives. In fact, researchers now know that owning a pet will lower people's blood pressure, even make them recover faster from heart attacks and other serious illnesses.

CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR

To do the job right, a remodeling contractor needs talent, experience, and management skills. Be sure the one you hire has those qualifications.

POPPING THE CORK!

LOS ANGELES

The World's Movie Mecca Sets the Stage for a Great Family Vacation

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

Burt, Jr., has been great lately about getting home at night on time. Turns out he's not worried about us. He's scared that if he stays out late he might run into the cross-country coach.