September 1992

TOUGH TIMES CAN'T KILL THE AMERICAN DREAM

Not long ago, I read the results of a survey done by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae). The survey measured how Americans feel about owning their own homes. It turns out that, by a 3-1 margin, folks would rather own their own homes than retire 10 years early.

A birdwatcher's garden

Sandwiched between a salt marsh and the sea, Pat Bowman's 3-acre garden is a natural gathering place for local and migratory birds. Here, Pat's feathered visitors can dine on a year-round feast of berried-shrubs, trees, vines, herbs, flowers, and native plants.

Calculators for today's classrooms

Comfy recliners for home or school

A global summer camp

What's the best way to learn a foreign language? Live it. At Concordia Language Villages in Bemidji, Minnesota, that's exactly what more than 5,000 youngsters aged 7 to 18 do every summer.

HOMEWORK HOTLINE BOOSTS PARENT INVOLVEMENT

THE GRE GOES HIGH-TECH

Safety tips for brown baggers

10 HEALTHFUL AFTER-SCHOOL SNACKS

A fun way to study for the SAT?

Parent-teacher conferences: Seven ways to assure success

The National PTA and the National Education Association suggest these tips for better parent-teacher conferences:

A HELPFUL HANDBOOK FOR TEENAGERS

Learn-at-home science lessons

Second-chance scholarships for adults

Students older than 21 are popping up at colleges in ever-greater numbers. Surprisingly, they now make up nearly half of all college undergraduates.

CLEAN NEW CRAYONS

Understanding the learning disabled

GROWING UP DRUG-FREE

STOPPING SCHOOL JITTERS

Get in the swing of playground safety

Playgrounds are not-so-funny places for kids nearly 250,000 times a year. That's how many children under the age of 15 end up in emergency rooms with playground injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

MASTERING MATH AT HOME

Teaching kids to save

Tell your kids to break open the piggy bank. School savings programs are gaining interest among schools nationwide. One program, cosponsored by The White House and the U.S.

MAKING THE GRADE

Some parents think that brains are the key to school success. They overload their kids with "enrichment" experiences-- trips to museums, art lessons, and nothing but educational toys. These are worthwhile experiences, but longterm success in school takes respect, responsibility, and resourcefulness.

HOME of the year

Prairie flowers and microchips. Shake shingles and parallel-strand beams. Lattice and solid-surface acrylics. Our Home of the Year, nestled into a sun-dappled grove in the Iowa countryside, merges cutting-edge technology with time-honored tradition and romance. Let our home of the year steal your heart, then let it show you how push-button convenience and natural grace go hand in hand, putting you and your family in tune with the '90s.

Cottage Decorating

Let the feeling of summer breeze through your rooms year-round with the carefree air of a cottage getaway. Sunny colors, inviting furniture, and outdoorsy accessories can transform any home into a summery retreat. Stroll with us through this cozy cottage to see how it's done.

Easy to make Cottage crafts

CAT OWNER'S MANUAL

Cats make wonderful companions. Here's how to care for your pet from the day you bring it home until it reaches senior-citizen status.

QUALITY HOME PLAN: A Classic Ranch

This plan merges the roomy layout of a basic ranch home with classical styling and modern amenities. From curbside, the front porch columns and symmetrical windows and gables lend a Greek revival flair.

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.

family RANCH VACATIONS

Ranch vacations take you to ruggedly beautiful countrysides where you can live your fantasy of the west, complete with cowpoke garb and romantic trail rides. Pioneer hospitality and old-fashioned friendliness round out the scene. It's a hard-to-beat combination.

HELP US HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES

It's that grand time of year again-- time for the Fourth Annual Great American Yard Sale. This fund-raising event is sponsored by members of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Service to help homeless families throughout the country. Sale proceeds are shared by our nonprofit organization, The Better Homes Foundation, and programs in your community. So scout through your home and garage for items to contribute, then bring your checkbook to the big sale. Check the following list for events close to your home; call for details.

Shopping editor's choice

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

Aunt Opal called last week to report that she had no idea how the fall elections will turn out, but she notes that all the leaves on her neighbor's sycamore tree apparently have voted to land on her side of the fence.