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Dear Collector, This tea set was given to my mother-in-law sometime in the 1930s. Can you tell me who made it and its approximate value?

I read that Shasta daisies bloom all summer with deadheading, but mine puts on one full show then it's all over. They only have a few small buds on the lower stems, everything else is the same height and bloom the same week or so. Also, I'm starting a compost pile and have been told not to add the peony cuttings. Why not?

I have a couple of questions: How can you control hawkweed and St. John's wort? I live in Colville at 3,000 feet elevation; we have 57 acres of trees. Both weeds are spreading. Is there any help? William and Nancy King, Colville

Pets Skyhoundz Frisbee - Dogs and their people can register to participate in this Frisbee event. Wednesday. 5:30 p.m., Shadle Park. (509) 328-0238.

Remember trips to the beach, or afternoons in the backyard sandbox, when you were a child? I'll bet that somewhere, half-buried in the sand around you, was a colorful little tin pail, a tiny shovel or a child-sized watering can. Chances are those pieces were made by a company in Brian, Ohio, called Ohio Art.

It's summer and your friends have just invited you to the lake, or you have made an impromptu decision to catch an outdoor concert – and the question is, Should your dog come along? While it's tempting to bring your pet, there are a few things to keep in mind. Obviously not everyone likes dogs and in come places, you may even be breaking the law.

Tuesday Growers' Market - Tuesdays, 4:30-6:30 p.m. "Hot off the Grill," 5-7 p.m. Outdoor event with grilled dinner specials and music by Uniontown. Moscow Food Co-op parking lot, Fifth and Washington streets. Colville Farmers' Market - Wednesdays, noon-6 p.m., through Oct. 25. Third and Oak streets. (509) 732-6619.

Kid's stuff Child's garden tools can hold memories

Every month, Real Simple scours the market for problem-solving products. This month's top picks are: Message Bean, $12

After their marriage 10 years ago, Jeanine and Roger Shawgo, of Newport, Wash., knew they wanted to build a new life together. And that new life included a new home. In 1999, the couple decided to build a 2,500-square-foot house but couldn't find a plan that would incorporate all the amenities they wanted. So Roger worked out a deal. "He told me to pick out the plan I liked the best, without paying attention to the size, and he would do the same," Jeanine Shawgo said. "And then we could compare."

Dear Collector, The enclosed picture shows the watch my folks gave me in 1933. It runs and is in the original box; could you give me an idea of its worth?

Water in the garden is magical. It adds motion, catches light, attracts birds and animals and even cools the air around it. I don't think any garden should be without it. In the last few years technology has come to pond and water feature construction in a big way, making it possible to put a small water feature almost anywhere in the garden or on the patio.