Without the particulars — yard size, grass type, shade, etc. — it is not possible to diagnose the exact source of the problem, says Skip Richter, horticulturist at the Travis County Extension Service, but it is not the dogs. If it were the dogs' urine, you would be seeing dead rings of grass — small fist-sized spots.

Want to pinpoint the problem? Take a sample of the grass (a 4-inch-by-4-inch plug with some roots and a little dirt) and place it in a closed plastic bag with your name, address and telephone number. Drop off the sample at Travis County Cooperative Extension, 1600-B Smith Road. You will receive an answer for your husband within one week. This is a free service.

Want a more detailed analysis of the problem? Send a sample and $30 to the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in College Station. For information on plant diseases as well as packaging instructions and an application form, visit http://aggie- horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/ lg_p_diseases.htm or call the Extension Service at 854-9600.

"The safety of the annuity depends on the insurance company's financial strength and stability as well as the guarantees that come with the contract," says Bryan Wayt, independent certified financial planner. An annuity is a contract with an insurance company to provide income. Annuities come in many types — immediate, deferred, fixed, variable.

Add the Next to New Shop of St. David's Episcopal Church, 5335 Burnet Road, to your list of estate sale workers. The estate committee charges a percentage of the content's sale price — on-site or at the shop — to sell the entire contents of a home. Call 459-1288 or e-mail sales@next2new.org for details.

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