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It doesn't take much to make history come alive. A photograph, the sound of a tinny voice on an old record or the ruffles and tucks in an article of vintage clothing can take us back to another time and place. Spokane's schoolchildren are lucky. History comes to them.

Dear Collector, This piece was my grandmother's, who was born in Scotland. Marks on the bottom are difficult to read: "A?M?" and "SM & Sons." I would appreciate any information you can give me, including value.

Garden touring season in the Inland Northwest is happening early this year, so mark your calendars with the following dates. “The Associated Garden Club of Spokane will host a tour June 4, which is early compared to the traditional August date. The tour features six gardens on Spokane's South Hill and near North Side. Highlights include a tiny urban garden filled with everything but lawn and the gardens of several plant collectors.

More dogs are hitting the road today than ever before. According to a recent American Pet Products Manufacturers Association survey, almost one in five dog owners will pack their pooches when they head off on vacation this summer. Life will roll along better for your roadie-pets if you add this six-pack of items to their bags. 1. An "ID pack" for the itinerant dog – Before you hit the road, make sure your dog has a current rabies tag, and an identification tag with your cell phone number on it. After all, you don't want someone who finds your dog to call your home phone when you're a thousand miles away. The tag should be securely attached to a collar that will not slip over the pet's head. For added assurance, write your phone number with a permanent marker on a nylon collar. Bring a current photo of your pet, along with a printed description that can be photocopied to make posters if your pet becomes lost on the road. This is a good idea even if your dog is micro-chipped with new ISO chips.

It was the view, overlooking the Spokane River with the Spokane skyline in the distance, that sold Marcella Rose on her latest project: a little cottage a few blocks east of Downriver Golf Course. No stranger to remodeling, after purchasing the house 15 months ago, Rose stripped out dark carpets and opened widows to sunlight and the view. Using soft color on the walls and fabrics as an accent, and furnishing the house with antiques, Rose brought period charm to the dated interior.

"Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose," Gertrude Stein wrote in 1913, and though she wasn't writing about flowers per se, that quote is often used to say that something is exactly what it looks like. We know a tulip is a tulip even when it comes in dozens of colors and many shapes. The same goes for day lilies and daisies.

Americans today are increasingly turning to their homes and backyards as a retreat for comfortable, cost-effective and carefree entertaining. Patios, decks, pools, hot tubs, ponds, fountains, waterfalls, fireplaces, play structures, gazebos, decorative lighting, synthetic putting greens, elaborate outdoor kitchens and lavish landscaping are many of the components that Americans are choosing to create their very own backyard fantasy. •Decks and patios: As the centerpiece of backyard entertaining, the complexion of decks and patios has changed dramatically. When it comes to products and finishes, consumers are seeking form and function – it's all about aesthetics and ease of maintenance. Broom-finish, gray concrete has been upstaged by architectural "stamped" finishes that are attractive, durable, and easy to clean. And although wood is still a popular choice for decking, a grown number of consumers are opting for composite materials that offer the look of real wood without all the maintenance that goes along with it.

Stamps of approval Stamp collecting combines art instruction, history and social commentary. And it's fun.

Who could resist "Molly, Pete, and Ginger," the tumbling playmates who fill the pages of a 1940s school book? Kate Wieber couldn't.

Dear Collector, I received this "Captain Midnight Secret Squadron" decoder when I was a kid. Can you tell me the year it was issued and present value?

Are you looking for a summer project for the kids? Would you be interested in a way to help out the community without leaving home? With the price of gas right now, doing something from home may sound like an extra good idea. Here's what to do: Plant an extra row of vegetables in your garden and then donate the resulting produce to local food banks. You will join thousands of Inland Northwest gardeners who are fighting hunger through Plant a Row for the Hungry.