Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Camping in Barstow

Barstow on Route 66We’re camping in Barstow this evening after a six-hour drive here from Arizona. Today’s excursion was uneventful as we crossed from Arizona desert, across the Colorado River and into the California desert. We went through the Arizona Outback to Parker, up through Needles and across I-40 to Barstow.

We are facing some adverse weather tomorrow, starting with high winds in the desert. It is already gusting here this evening and is forecast to continue into tomorrow. Some gusts may reach 40Mph, according to the forecast. When we get into the South San Joaquin Valley, there is a 100 percent chance of rain in the forecast. We’re hoping and praying that we will make good time and be safe as we head for our family commitment in Stockton.

After Stockton, the plan is to take our time getting back home on a route through Nevada and Arizona. Our previous format for travel days has been to stay only one night in a place. The plan this time is to stay two or more nights in a place, being sure to relax and enjoy the time like a real vacation.

05 Apr 2018 by Environment Family Wanderlust

A Pleasant Visit

A Pleasant Visit

Long time reader and commenter Crotalus and his wife stopped by this afternoon for a visit and tour of our humble abode. They were in Wickenburg on a little Vacation trip and took the time to get in touch with us to set up the visit.

We previously met up with Crotalus when we were camped in Palm Desert. At that time he presented us with some specimens from his cactus collection to add to ours. We sincerely appreciated the gift cacti and they are doing well here.

We enjoyed the visit and were pleased to show them around our place. We parted company with an open date to get together again, possibly for dinner. We wish them a safe trip back home and look forward to our next encounter.

04 Apr 2018 by Arizona Blogosphere People

Happy Easter 2018

Happy Easter

We wish everyone a happy and blessed Easter.

We bought a potted Easter Lily which opened just in time for the holiday. Photo courtesy of the Damsel. Click on the image to enlarge.

Let us keep in mind the true meaning of the Easter and Passover seasons as we pray for peace and unity among the nations. Even as we do so, let us resolve to using whatever means might be necessary to keep the peace and to keep our nation free. Amen.

John 3:16

Exodus 12:12-14

31 Mar 2018 by Culture Flowers Holidays Religion

Hedgehog Cactus in Bloom

Pink Hedgehog Cactus Flower

This is a flower in bloom on one of the transplant hedgehog cacti out front. This one used to be up on the hill behind us near the north property line. These beautiful flowers were mostly hidden under the desert brush up there until we moved it down here.

Our spring days continue to be beautiful with warm temperatures and sunshine. Today, we’re both in shorts and had a backyard BBQ session with filet mignon on the grill. Retirement in the Arizona desert is good.

Click on the image to enlarge.

30 Mar 2018 by Arizona Environment Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Feelin’ the Irish

st-paddys-2018.png

We’ve found some Irish in our ancestry research – more so the Damsel than I, but we’re inclined to celebrate our ethnicity today. It will be the traditional Irish dinner with a special toast with an Irish cocktail recipe that Damsel found.

May you and yours, Irish or not, find the blessings of a good day today.

17 Mar 2018 by Ancestors Holidays

Native Cacti

Compass Cactus Christmas Cactus Fishhook Barrel Cactus

I am still taking it easy and relaxing after surgery last Friday, but I wanted to get outside since it is a nice spring-like Arizona day. I took my Canon SL1 up the hill behind the house and took some photos of “stuff” I could see up there.

Once you’re behind the retention walls out back, it is all natural desert. The vegetation and wildlife are typical of the Sonoran Desert. Other than having moved a hedgehog cactus to the lower lot, nothing up there is managed.

The three cacti pictured above are all located in the natural part of the lot. Left to right, they are Compass Cactus, Christmas Cactus and California Barrel Cactus. I don’t know (or can’t remember) the binomial botanical names for these three. Click on the images to enlarge.

13 Mar 2018 by Arizona Environment Home & Garden Photography

IRS Withholding Calculator is Back Online

irs-logo.pngI mentioned in my two Federal Income Tax posts about filing and tweaking withholding that the IRS Calculator was offline due to the GOP Tax Reform Bill being enacted this year. I went back to the link to check the status of the calculator and it was back online. Today, I decided to check the numbers I calculated from IRS Notice 1036 and my withholding spreadsheet last month.

The calculator requires some accurate estimates of our 2018 income and deductions, so I gathered up our 2017 Tax Return and my spreadsheet before starting to input numbers. There is a list of things you will need to have handy on the calculator main page.

First, the calculator asks about filing status and whether someone else can claim you as a dependent. Then, it asks about income sources and if you and your spouse are over 65 years old as of January 1, 2019. There is also some child and dependent care credit questions, none of which are applicable to us. Finally, the user inputs income and adjustments before submission.

When I got my result report, the bottom line is that we are over withholding by about $785. We decided not to change anything at this time until we see how our expenses and deductions start to play out for the year. I made a note in the electronic calendar to check things out again in the fall.

The IRS withholding calculator may be found at this link.

06 Mar 2018 by Money and Business Retirement

Categories

Archives