April 1989

Doing What You Can to Help

The pundits who follow social trends tell us that the '90s will be a time when we'll have a greater sense of community and a heightened social awareness; something like President Bush's "kinder, gentler nation."

RAINY-DAY ALMANAC

April showers may bring spring flowers, but they also bring everyone indoors for the day. Check out these helpful hints that turn those rainy-day blues into extra-special fun for the whole family!

MORE HEALTHFUL COOKING

HELPING HOMELESS FAMILIES

HOW THESE QUILTERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED-- AND HOW YOU CAN, TOO

IS YOUR CHILD HYPERACTIVE?

When your kids are hard to control, you may wonder whether they are hyperactive. Even though hyperactivity is common, the answer is usually no.

THE CASE FOR CREATIVITY

Creativity is the key to a brighter future, say education and business experts. Here's how schools and parents can encourage this vital skill in our children.

WASH, RINSE, AND RIDE

HOW TO BECOME AN EX-COUCH POTATO

FEELING THE BEAT

WHAT HAPPENED TO PLAY?

DIETING TIP: EAT!

STRETCHING A POINT

ROW, GRANDPA, ROW!

FIXED TO SELL

Before you put a "For Sale" sign in your yard, look at your home with the critical eye of a buyer. It could help you get a better selling price and a faster sale.

FIRE-RESISTANT SHINGLES

Although your city's fire code may not require that cedar shakes and shingles be fire-retardant for roofing or siding materials, you may feel more comfortable if they are. Here are some treatment options.

SITTING WELL

Want to invite some new dining chairs home for dinner? Before making a selection, be sure to consider comfort, compatibility, and durability.

LIVEN UP WITH LIGHT

Extra doses of daylight in the right places can make your house look newer, bigger, more dramatic. Check out the stylish daylighting ploys on these pages.

FARM-FRESH STYLE

The Robinsons revive a rural Seattle home with a loving touch

SIMPLY SENSATIONAL SUMMER BULBS

VARIETIES: Tuberous begonias come in a variety of flower forms: formal, ruffled, carnation, and camellia. Flower colors include: red, yellow, orange, salmon, pink, white, and bicolors. Variety Non-Stop is a relatively new introduction that will out bloom most other begonias. There are also trailing types for window boxes and hanging baskets.

MEET OUR NEW TEST GARDENER

EARLY-BIRD BLOOMER

SPRING SALAD GARDEN

GIVE LAWNS A SHARPER EDGE

FAMILY FOLK ART

Clear the clutter from the refrigerator door and give your kids' art the status it deserves!

IT MAKES GOOD SCENTS

LIVING IN SMALL SPACES

Want to beef up your living space without bumping out or adding on? This book tells how to make room in a small home-- and create that important feeling of space.

ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES

From windmill weights to doorstops, objects cast in iron are real heavyweights in collectors' eyes.

EDIBLE FLOWERS

Color-rich, spicy-flavored flowers make resplendent accents for salads, entrées, and desserts. Not just any flowers will do, however. You must choose those that are botanically safe to eat and are grown without pesticides. Supermarkets in major cities are beginning to stock edible flowers in produce sections.

USING QUICK-RISE YEAST

MICRO-COOKING MEAT

Meat cooked in the microwave oven is deliciously quick, if you follow a few basic guidelines. Our Test Kitchen makes these recommendations for juicy, flavorful results.

REVERSE MORTGAGES

A new program using an old concept may help older homeowners tap their equity in order to supplement monthly income or to pay for big-ticket expenses or emergencies without having to move or sell the house.

PET PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Amateur pet photographers have it all over the professionals. After all, you know your pet's moods and expressions. Learn the three P's of pet photography and capture these moments on film.

COMMON PET PROBLEMS

The problem: It's 3 a.m. Your family is trying to sleep. But, your cat acts as if it's high noon. As it races around the living room wrestling with a favorite toy, the entire family wakes up.

FAMILY VACATION VIDEOS

With a few dollars, some planning, and patience, you can turn your family's vacation videos into something even the neighbors will enjoy.

THE HANG OF IT

THEFT PREVENTION

Motor-vehicle theft is our fastest growing property crime-- more than 1.2 million cases in 1987-- at a cost of $6 billion a year.

AMERICA'S NATIONAL PARKS

This summer, come explore our nation's greatest natural splendors: the wildlife, the waterfalls, the geysers, the giant mountains--all await your family. And, you'll love the special closeness that comes from experiencing the outdoors together. Whether you pitch a tent beneath the trees or stay at a cozy lodge, a national park visit may be the best vacation value around.

SAFETY UPDATE

Federal regulations require that 40 percent of new cars sold in 1989 and all 1990 models have passive restraint systems. Here's advice.

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.

Del Monte

Better-Than-Ever Good Home Cooking

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

Liz Randall, mother of five, sums up problems of parenthood like this: "My oldest child is in high school, my youngest is in nursery school, and there are some days when I can hardly tell the difference."