February 1992

A GOOD FAMILY LIFE STARTS WITH A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE

It's time to enter this year's Home Improvement Contest! Show us what you've done to improve your home, and make yourself eligible for some of the more than $75,000 in prizes. Turn to page 160 for the entry details.

Arbor Day ALMANAC

Celebrate Arbor Day with your family this year by adding a special tree to your home's landscape. This popular holiday inspires all of us to do our part at home to improve the environment. Your state 's conservation commission can tell you when Arbor Day is in your area. To find the right tree for your yard and how to plant it, read on.

HOW AND WHEN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT AIDS

Every day, it seems, AIDS hits just a little bit closer to home. Only a few months ago, TV screens were filled with the startling news that Los Angeles Lakers' basketball star Magic Johnson tested positive for the HIV virus that causes AIDS.

RAISING SMART KIDS

A lifetime of rewards awaits your children if they can develop solid thinking skills at an early age. In school, and later at work, kids who can sort through stacks of complex information and draw conclusions will make the greatest headway It's no wonder that many schools now offer students courses in critical thinking.

AMAZING Lace

How sweet the sight! As delicate as a snowflake but infinitely more lasting, lace's ethereal beauty suggests the charm of an old-world cottage. Yet, the finespun fabric offers decidedly modern-day ease.

A NEW home To Go

Today's factory-built housing uses modern technology to make high style more affordable. The classic elegance of our "home to go" took shape from foam-core panels and laminated beams produced on an assembly line.

Lake Cottage VACATIONS

At dusk, the water takes on a magic glow, as muted colors ripple across the quieted waves. Long-necked birds fly off in silhouette against the sky, and the whole world hushes...

Elegant EAT-IN KITCHENS

People gravitate to kitchens. Why not make it easier for them to do so? Add space for a table and chairs and a kitchen becomes the life of the party, a family meeting place, or an intimate spot for two.

HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTEST

Get a real bang--and big bucks--from your next home fix-up project. You may win a top award and your project may appear in our magazine!

KEEP YOUR CAT FEELING PURR-FECT

Nothing quite matches the special bond you have with your cat. You can return your pet's affection-- and trust-- by taking steps to ensure that it has as long and healthy a life as possible. James Olson, a Boulder, Colorado, veterinarian, suggests a six-point plan for maintaining your cat's health.

EARTH-SMART GUIDE TO PAINTS AND SOLVENTS

Used or disposed of improperly, paints, stains, and solvents can harm your health, pollute the air, and contaminate groundwater. But if you follow the proper precautions, these products have negligible health and environmental effects.

DRIVING AND AGING

The aging process is inevitable. Just as inevitably, the faculties required to drive become less acute with age. Fortunately, adjustments in driving techniques can help offset the impact.

Shopping editor's choice

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

HOW TO ORDER

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

"People still keep personal diaries," insists Elaine Cowan, "only today we call them credit-card statements."