I spent a great deal of the week fighting a head cold, but Pam moved ahead with the bathroom update and that is the story of the week. We also started preparing taxes, always a pain in the neck, and cracked open a 2,000 piece jigsaw puzzle.
Pam put a 2nd coat of [white] paint on several of the bathroom walls and ordered a few upgrade items. These included a replacement mirror with an interesting shape and a wall-hanging storage unit.
So, the bathroom project continues. One wall is waiting for new paint but most of the “fussy” walls are done. Once painting is completed we can hang the new mirror and storage unit.
Since we have been doing jigsaw puzzles this winter (mostly 1,000 pieces each) I thought we would move up to a larger puzzle– a 2,000 piece challenge. It was unboxed this week.
This one may take a while to finish and it spreads out onto quite a large surface, but it’s a good way to spend several cold winter’s days. IF we can keep the puzzle pieces away from Elmo…
Tax prep has made it onto the radar. Our taxes this year are not as complex as last year (since we don’t have a two-state income and moving expenses to deal with). Still, both Federal and state forms have their challenges. I really dislike going down the forms and discovering a new schedule needs to be viewed or completed before one can move forward. Per our initial numbers, we should get a refund from the Feds but will have to pay the State of Iowa. We expected this given the withholdings (or lack thereof) on our retirement income. Still, preparing taxes is an exercise in frustration.
Pam is really looking forward to spring this year; she ordered this lamb statue (named Gretel) to be placed in in the Mary Lynn Memorial Garden after the snow is gone. (Mary and Jeff raised sheep for a while on their farm – Gretel was one of Mary’s favorite sheep.) A list of seeds and plantings for the upcoming year has been compiled as well and will be ordered a bit later this month.
I am debating about moving away from scanning slides to converting a bunch of old VHS tapes, taken when the kids were young, to a more modern format including DVD. Pam pointed out the kids have a good selection of photos in scrapbooks she kept for them over the years. And while it is true they have not seen many of the slides I have scanned, these may not substantially change their memories.
The VHS tapes may be a different story. There were no photos made from these and it’s always fun to see things in motion. I began looking into how to create DVDs and the hardware / software needed to convert the tapes into a digital format. Good thing we still own a VHS player! I have not yet purchased the items I will need to take this on but will probably do so in the next month or so. I do plan to keep scanning some of my slides for the Photo Archive but my focus will change. Besides, it’s always fun to learn how to do new things.
Tomorrow is the Super Bowl and it will take place in near-record heat – THERE. But HERE in NE Iowa it was -2 degrees last night and will be colder than that tonight, down to about -4 degrees. Below zero temps are forecast for a few nights next week in the 10-day forecast. I know I’ve had my fill of sub-zero days for the winter.
Photo Archive
A few more mine sites from the Savage Basin Road near Telluride, Colorado.
That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!
Pam’s Penny
I know folks out there are saying, “They still do their own taxes?” It’s a matter of principle. We have simple retirement income. No investment income. No itemization, a very straightforward 1040. If we can’t do our own taxes, who can? And yet, preparing tax forms is NOT an easy exercise and — let’s just say — does not enhance marital quality.
The bathroom re-do is not actually very far along. The white base coat is only step one. I plan to re-use the Art Deco fan stencil [from the library] in the bathroom. Stenciling is always a fussy decorative painting project. Plus tiles will be installed on the floor, then wall edges and floor transitions need wood molding. A lo-o-o-ong way to go. (Luckily I only need to use a two-step ladder to reach the ceiling. I don’t think there’s enough space in that bathroom for a full stepladder.)
Himself is correct, milder spring-like weather cannot arrive soon enough. Bless the variety of birds (even the squirrels) plus puzzles for keeping us occupied during these cold and nasty winter days.
Happy Trails.
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