The flower purchase this week was these nice purple and white variegated carnations. I also got some plain white carnations to mix with these in the vase. When you get close to these, you can smell a delightful, sweet fragrance. Click on the image to enlarge.
We went out for a doctor’s appointment today and saw the rodeo guys warming up for the weekend events. There sure are a lot of horses, cows and trailers in town these days. We’re not complaining though, the town can use the revenue generated by the cowboys and cowgirls. Click on the image to enlarge.
We finally got the last of the tax forms in the mail today, so I finished up the (almost completely done) tax package and e-filed it in the Turbo Tax on-line repository where it will languish until the 31st of January when the IRS begins accepting returns. The tax program assured me that my return would be near the front of the line when the IRS opens the gates.
Our filing status did not change this year, but we had a considerable quantity if non-cash donations to local charities. When my Mother passed away last fall, we gave most of her personal things to Soroptimist and Habitat for Humanity. Between those donations and our normal ones, we had more deductions.
Because of the extra charitable donations last year, we overpaid both the Federal and State tax. As I may have mentioned before, I prefer to owe them each a small amount rather than letting them use our money interest free. I believe that I have adjusted both Federal and State withholding to underpay slightly this year. Meanwhile, we will be getting a total of less than $1K back.
By the way, I calculated what we would have owed Kalifornistan income tax just for kicks. I turns out that their tax rate is EIGHT TIMES that of Arizona’s in our income bracket. Between that little factoid and knowing what tax spenders out there spend the money on, makes me glad to be outa there. Hopefully, this is also the year we will be flipping our SoCal house and get out from under the outrageous property tax and insurance bills.
With much of the country immersed in frigid conditions, I would feel remiss if I failed to report how the “polar vortex” is affecting us here. This winter, just like last winter, has it’s warmer and cooler days. This image is from earlier this afternoon on our back patio in the shade.
The Greenbats and media (but I repeat myself) will be all over this as being caused by greenhouse gasses, cow farts, etc. People, the climate cycles are nothing we can do anything about.
Both Damsel and I agree that we prefer summer here in the desert and often remark “Add thirty or forty degrees to that temperature – then it would be NICE.”
I know, I know . . .
We have a lot of beautiful sunsets. But, why not another one? Click on the image to enlarge.
On our trip to do grocery shopping yesterday, I bought two bunches of Gerbera daisies for the vase in the great room. They had several colors, but I bought the orange and yellow ones because the colors blend nicely and brighten up the room. Click on the image to enlarge.
Not only does Wickenburg get the “snow birds,” but the rodeo circuit also kicks into gear during the winter months. This rodeo setup popped up recently between US 93 bypass and the Hassayampa river in town.
This panorama is of the rodeo setup behind the cattle pens and hay bales in the foreground. The horse pens are to the left of this view. We have seen a LOT of equestrian trailers in town this week, some small and some in the “big rig” class. Click on the image to see the full panorama.