March 1994

Between friends

Family Forum

Since it's a concern we face every time we turn on the tap, there's little surprise that Better Homes and Gardens® families regard water pollution as the greatest environmental problem of the day.

A New Generation of Tours

Tours used to mean a bunch of people shuffling on and off a bus as they obediently followed their leader-- like an endless field trip. But no more. You can still leave the driving to them, plus the hassles of lining up hotel rooms and restaurants. But, instead of being confined to a bus, do as we did. Zoom in a helicopter to explore a glacier in the Canadian Rockies, or go on a soft adventure to hike in the Rocky Mountains. Our sampling of tours includes cultural forays, trips for grandparents and grandkids, and other special-interest outings. But you don't have to go on a tour to benefit from the group concept.

Raising an Adopted Child

Parents who adopt children often also adopt a set of anxieties. The questions I'm most often asked by adoptive parents reflect concern about telling their child about his origin as well as myths that persist about adoption. What these parents often forget is that the child is first a child, and the adoption really plays a small part in raisins that child.

The Invisible Handicap

Many adults, including noted artist Pat Buckley Moss, are finally discovering the truth about a handicap they've lived and struggled with all their fives. When Pat was a child, her teachers and friends told her she was "dumb and stupid and retarded." But she didn't let it bother her. "I always thought I'd just have babies and draw pictures." Six children and more than a thousand paintings later, she now devotes much of her time to telling kids that they can be successful, even if they have trouble learning as she did.

The World's Best-Kept Diet Secrets

The French Paradox, The Mediterranean Diet, The Rice Bowl Regimen. More and more studies suggest that some cuisines are more healthful than our American diet. Does that mean we should all drink red wine and serve tofu stir-fried in olive oil?

TEST GARDEN TIPS

BRING BIRDS TO YOUR BACKYARD

Drought-tolerant gardens

Wildlife in your backyard

With careful planning and preparation, your backyard can become a natural gathering place for a host of colorful birds, butterflies, and beasts. All you need are wildlife-pleasing plants and an assortment of feeders, birdbaths, and houses. Here's how we transformed our Test Garden and surrounding property into a bed-and-breakfast for wildlife.

Welcome Wildlife

Master pieces

In the humble voice of fabric fragments and strands of thread, the women of this country pieced together an eloquent tale of patience, thrift, and artistry. Display these soulful works proudly, care for them kindly, and let their beauty inspire other handiwork in your home.

Friendly gatherings

Comfortable and kid-proof decorating doesn't have to mean room-size sofas and dirt-colored fabrics. In the Muellers' bungalow, family-style decorating involves bright washable fabrics and shapely, well-made furniture, all set against a happy backdrop. Hands-on and heartfelt, it's a decorating style that requires more soul and sweat than savings. Sound inviting? Come on in.

Flights of fancy

Come stroll through our aviary of bird and floral designs. We've used cross-stitch, woodworking, applique, and embroidery on the five chirpy projects. Make the whole flock or even just one to bring the sweet song of spring indoors.

Greenhouse Kitchen

Find a place in the sun for your dark kitchen. The outdated kitchen in Terry and B. J. Droubi's San Francisco Victorian now basks in natural light thanks to a top-to-bottom remodeling that features a sun-grabbing greenhouse addition.

Romance Your Room

Romance your room with nature's soft side-- light colors, a sprinkling of nubby textures, and fluid, billowy surfaces. By combining an airy atmosphere and earthy elements, you'll emphasize the elegant rather than the rustic look of the great outdoors.

Bring the Seaside Inside

Clever Island Ideas

You can stretch your kitchen's space and improve its efficiency and style with a well-designed island. Get the most from your island with these design ideas. Or, come up with some island ideas of your own.

Flights of Fancy Projects

Framing Tips

Cross-stitch mistakes aren't always made with a needle and floss. Poor framing choices and finishing shortcuts often turn a well-stitched design into a so-so sampler. Here's how to make the most of your precious handiwork.

Classic Quilt Patterns

In recent years, Americans have recognized the art of quilting as one of our country's own craft specialties. The rich history of quilting in our country and the fresh and imaginative expressions of today's quilters have established an artistic legacy for future generations to enjoy and cherish. The Better Homes and Gardens Classic Quilt Patterns Pack includes six designs that represent some of the finest efforts of quilters from decades past-- designs we hope will inspire you to create an heirloom that your family will treasure for decades into the future.

Nutrition information

With each recipe, we give important nutrition facts. The calorie count of each serving and the amount, in grams, of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, and protein will help you keep tabs on what you eat.

Preserving Memories With Family Recipes

My feet were numb from standing at the kitchen counter. For hours I sliced, cored, and peeled what seemed like thousands of pears and stuffed them into jars for processing. But not before I put a stick of cinnamon into each. I learned to do this from watching my mother, and she learned from her mother, and I imagine that Grandma learned from her mother.

Pet Odor

Prose for Old-House Amateurs

Family Vacation Ideas

The East Coast's seaports can get mighty crowded during the region's short summer season. Amazingly, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, doesn't. Tucked away between Maine and Massachusetts, this gem of a city, often bypassed by tourists, still retains much of its early American charm.

Insulating Outlets

Well-Bred Manor

The Shopper's Mart

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

The man next door

Grandma Hillis always said that fashions rise and fall. I just realized that she was talking about the winter hats and scarves that rise to the top closet shelf in March, then fall down each time you open the closet door.