November 1995

Between friends

Great garlands

Is it any wonder that garlands attract such attention? Using simple ideas and easy-working materials, they slip personality-plus into every room and space they grace. Here are seven for you to consider.

Miniature Meadow

Nestled in a wonderfully worn wooden box or any container that you love, an array of blooming daffodils, violets, and even grass can bring a refreshing splash of springtime color to your indoor table no matter what the season. Today, you can start your arrangement with grass seed and blooming daffodils, or purchase bulbs to enjoy bright yellow blooms even when the winter winds howl. Here's what you need to know about forcing bulbs to bloom and also about re-creating the naturally appealing tabletop "meadow" that we've planted, above.

Talking to Teachers

A PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CHILD-- AND TO SHARE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD WITH THE TEACHER.

Giving from the Heart

The Better Homes Fund's exclusive 1995 ornament, third in a series of uniquely American doors, symbolizes home and hope to homeless families. Based on a San Francisco Victorian doorway, this 24 karat gold plated three-dimensional door, shown here actual size, comes beautifully boxed for gift giving.

Sweet News for Diabetics

BY STRATEGIZING, YOU CAN MAINTAIN YOUR BLOOD SUGAR WITHOUT MISSING OUT ON THE HOLIDAY FEASTS.

My Family Decision

"Getting a vasectomy means I won't hold one of my own newborn babies again... ...that in an uncertain world our family is now finite."

7 tests for life

We love medical advice. A new study makes headlines almost weekly and many of us find ourselves altering our habits based on what we read (or at least thinking about it). We may be swallowing handfuls of antioxidant vitamins, eating more fish, increasing or decreasing our workouts.

What Happened To My Face?

ROSACEA, A LITTLE-KNOWN SKIN DISORDER, IS LEAVING MILLIONS OF AGING BABY BOOMERS RED-FACED AND FRUSTRATED. THE GOOD NEWS: THERE IS HELP.

HEALTH ALERT

Holiday Yard Ornaments

Make these yard ornaments from wood and extend holiday greetings to the entire neighborhood.

Thanksgiving Memories

RAISE A TOAST TO FAR-FLUNG FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

European Country Manor

Friends Are Forever Doll

Great Mixers

Table grace

A table prepared with fine china, crystal, and linen is so appealing, but it's the graceful flourishes created by your hands and heart that invite guests to linger. Dot nosegays among the place settings, slip doilies beneath the teacups, then add one or both of our handcrafted accents.

Home improvement contest

Eye-popping results flooded our mailboxes for weeks on end this spring when entries in our 1994 Better Homes and Gardens magazine and NAHB Remodelors Council Home Improvement Contest rolled in.

Get cozy Rooms that wrap you in warmth

There's something about sweater weather that brings out the best in a room. Maybe we can't hibernate, but we can wrap up in a coat of warm color, take the chill off with rich textures, and nestle into furniture pieces designed to give a hug. Sure, you can redo a whole room, but, as you'll see, you also can paint a wall, add golden lamplight, or simply rearrange the furniture to make your favorite room especially snug this winter.

For the birds

Invite mote than family home for the holidays this year-- unfurl a welcome mat for the birds with a beak-pleasing buffet of outdoor decorations. We have gathered seeds and fruits that are guaranteed to tempt the finickiest songsters to stop for a nibble. Copy one of our seasonal wreaths, swags, and window boxes, or use the ideas to inspire your own warbler-worthy creations. You could even pair a wreath with a bird identification guide for a handmade holiday gift.

Feed the birds

Seasonal delights

TEST GARDEN TIP

Holiday Miracle Roses

Treats for Our Garden Friends

Looking for new and creative ways to bring wildlife friends to your garden? Try our new Better Homes and Gardens book or these other products offered by special arrangement with Gardener's Supply Company. All were specially selected for our readers.

Holiday TimeSavers

It's the merriest, and busiest, time of the year. To help you streamline some of your holiday cooking, our Test Kitchen pros offer these time-wise ideas. Each cooking tip is a proven winner, and will help you and your family find more magical moments in the festive month ahead.

Our Kitchen in Cyberspace

WARM-UP YOUR COMPUTER AND JOIN US ON-LINE

Your Present Is in the Mail

You can't beat the convenience of picking up the phone to order from a mail-order food catalog. Even the most difficult person to shop for won't be able to resist a delectable edible gift, delivered right to their front door. The foods you order by mail should meet the same standards you set in your own kitchen.

Nutrition information

With each recipe in the magazine, we give important nutrition facts. To use this helpful information, first check the yield or the number of servings suggested in a recipe. Then refer to the nutrition facts, which are based on each serving. You'll find the calorie count of each serving and the amount, in grams, of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, and protein. You can also check the levels of each recipe serving for vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. These are noted in percentages of the Daily Value. The Daily Values are dietary standards determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Baking Pies Like Grandma's

Remember the pies Grandma used to make? Of course you do-- that's why you're weeping. Well, dry your eyes and get out the rolling pin. Those flaky crusts and picture-perfect fillings can be yours. Let the proficient pie ladies of our Test Kitchen fill Grandma's role.

Coffee Partners

Red wine with meat, white wine with fish... just when we've finally mastered those pairings, we're faced with new ones: Which coffee to serve with what dessert? In the coffee renaissance that's brewing nationwide, it's no longer a one-size-fits-all world of beans.

CHARGED UP!

DO YOU KNOW?

NEW LIFE FOR OLD PACKAGING

It's OK to Jump On This Furniture

Hey parents! Hey grandparents! If you're looking for just the right gifts for kids, the two products on this page are extra nice. By special arrangement with the manufacturer, Fun Furnishings, Better Homes and Gardens magazine is pleased to offer this child-size furniture that will give kids a special place of their own.

Smart, Sensible Gifts For BH&G Kids

Hey parents! Hey grandparents! Here are three great gift ideas for the young ones in your family. Check out the cool furniture on page 301 too.

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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

Uncle Dodd Buckner declares that one of the nicest things about living in a small town is that when you dial a wrong number, whoever answers can usually give you the correct one.