October 1992

LET'S HELP ALL KIDS SHARE THE TREATS OF HALLOWEEN

October here in Iowa usually gives us the first hint of autumn, with nippy nights and bright, crisp days. At the end of the month, we get Halloween and hordes of trick-or-treaters with their eager faces and corny jokes.

THE SWEET SMELL OF SPRING

QUICK CORDLESS CLEANUP

WHERE BLUEBIRDS FLY

CALICO INDIAN CORN

THINK SPRING! Bulbs

Bulbs to plant now for colorful blooms that grow bigger and better every year.

CRAFT THIS JOLLY HOLIDAY SCENE WITH OUR EASY-TO-BUILD PLANS

Give your holiday decorations a personal touch by building one, two, or all three of these wood projects. Even if you're not especially handy with tools, you can't go wrong with the construction. Our editors got together with the editors and designers at WOOD magazine to develop fool proof plans that include full-size patterns plus construction and painting tips, and instructions for staking the projects outdoors.

Treating Others

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT'S ORANGE AND YELLOW ...

CANDY-CORN COSTUME

MATERIALS: 45-inch-wide fabric in the following amounts and colors: 1⅝ yard white, ½ yard each of yellow and orange; 1⅝ yard polyester batting; 2½ yards of 1-inch-wide grosgrain ribbon in your color choice; 1⅝ yard Wonder-Under transfer web.

THE LOST ARTS

America's schools are failing to educate students in the arts, and your child is bound to suffer unless you do something. Here's why the arts-- dance, theater, music, drawing, and so on-- are vital to your child's success in the classroom and the workplace.

WHEN CHILDREN ARE AFRAID

Young children can get spooked by just about anything-- the dark, the wind, or even a favorite stuffed animal. Yet no matter how scared your kids get, childhood fears are usually nothing to worry about. They are normal emotions that help your children figure out how the world works.

TIME FOR A CHANGE

WALK OF A LIFETIME

FREE SCREENING FOR DEPRESSION

SENIOR SEND-FORS

FOR WOMEN, FAMILY CUSHIONS THE BLOWS

HYPERACTIVITY TREATMENT AND TEENS

A new study offers hope to parents of teens with a childhood disorder commonly called hyperactivity. Earlier research has shown that stimulant drugs like Ritalin can improve classroom behavior in younger kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

A GRAPE REASON TO DRINK JUICE

ROOM GROWS AS KIDS DO

America's rooms lighten up!

We're demanding less from our rooms these days-- less clutter, less formality, less fuss. In this decorating decade of less is better, a new easygoing spirit reigns. It says come on in, put your feet on the coffee table-- don't worry, be happy. Sound inviting? Turn the page for our picks of the latest furnishings that'll help you ease into the '90s-- your way.

Rediscover The RANCH

THIRTY YEARS AGO the ranch-style home was everything anybody could ever want-- roomy, informal, and affordable. Today, value-conscious home buyers with an eye for remodeling are snapping up these humble, hardworking classics. Reasons? Ranch homes age well. Their straightforward construction means few, if any, structural problems. Plumbing, wiring, and mechanical systems are usually in good working order. The floor plans still work. Most ranch homes have adequate kitchens and bathrooms, an informal family room, and open traffic patterns.

Dried and true

Gather the season's last buds from field or florist and dry them into a stunning display. Whether you cure the flowers yourself or buy them dried, arrangements such as the Twine-Bound Roses above are easier to do than a fresh bouquet.

SLIPCOVER CHIC

It's easier than ever for a sofa to slip into something more comfortable. Whether slouchy or sleek, well-fitted or tossed on like a favorite sweatshirt, slipcovers now are more than practical-- they're downright chic. Look for new sofas with optional slipcovers to buy, change the look of your sofa with an easy-to-make version, or have a professional craft one for you. Our examples will help you decide what's right for your home.

EARTH-WISE DRIVING TIPS: What each of us can do to help

Let's face it. We're getting better mileage and fewer emissions from our cars, but we're far from environmental perfection.

QUALITY HOME PLAN: Restful lines hug the ground

HOME AND FAMILY INFORMATION GUIDE

You can get useful ideas and product information by mail. Use the coupon in this section to order your choice of literature listed below.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

With each recipe, we give nutrition information. We list the calorie count of each serving and the amount, in grams, of fat, cholesterol, protein, carbohydrate, sodium, and fiber.

ORDER A COOKBOOK TO HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES

What do America's foremost food editors really cook at home? The answer lies in Food Editors' Treasured Recipes, a cookbook that features the favorite recipes of more than 30 food pros.

HELPING HOMELESS FAMILIES

"The heart has gone out of much of the world," says Lucy Poulin, founder of H.O.M.E., Inc., in Orland, Maine. "Here, we provide structure and discipline without losing heart."

WHERE TO FIND OLD-TIME PRODUCTS

Easy adventures for families

Adventure: exciting, thrilling, and-- strenuous and dangerous? Not always. Hike high mountains on a llama trek, and never be burdened by a heavy pack; your gentle, four-legged travel companion does the work.

WHEN YOUR PET DIES

Tell someone a relative has died, and you receive a sympathetic hug and a how-can-I-help response. But say that you've lost Rusty, your collie, and the person may be less supportive.

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence.

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

State Trooper George Macklin believes that the "one for the road" ought to be the sober one at the wheel.