Out walking today I noticed how many blossoms are suddenly out, and how many are white or cream. Honeysuckle, feverfew, dogwood, blackberry, all over. Also what I think is deadly nightshade, not white.
Lovely walk, with temptation to keep going but I did turn back and slept about an hour once home and fed. So I guess that was enough walking.
That thing on the spider web in the maple tree is either a trapped insect or a spider building some kind of structure. I have to keep checking this to see what happens.
Sone of the afternoon was taken up by filling out official State forms connected with property tax relief. They've simplified some of it and complicated other bits.
I added in my own complication by dropping the three large file folders as I was replacing them. Papers skittering all over the floor, where I can't reach down.
It took a while and some unsuitable language to grabstick retrieve and reassemble and file them. Now it's done, all the numbers I had to find and enter done, and the packet is now in the mailbox.
I could have filed online but that involved finding yet more identification and copying long numbers accurately, and life's too short.
Whether the tax relief -- the difference between current real estate tax and the base year I filed, depends on the State budget.
Most years they send me a nice check, my own money returned in fact. But under GOP Gov. Christie, it didn't always happen, so sorry, we spent it on fun stuff. Usually Dem governors come through. We'll know in July.
Now it's tea and honey toast on the deck. All winter I look forward to deck time and now it's here, me, bees, dragonflies, birds in twos, squirrels, no chipmunk sightings yet, tea, book.
Happy day everyone, try not to drop important files full of tax forms, it's better not.
I'm lucky to live in a city with good services, good schools, great libraries so I really don't mind paying property taxes even tho, they aren't cheap. It seems worth it to me.
ReplyDeleteThe issue here is that I live in the highest property taxed state in the Union. The Senior Freeze that I qualify for (low/moderate income) was put in place because seniors after a lifetime of work, giving value to the state, were being forced out of family homes by dizzying rates of increase.
DeleteMy own taxes doubled twice, and increased every year. Many moved to nearby Pennsylvania and Delaware for affordable living. This program keeps me here with my family, friends, doctors, libraries, schools, all of which I've supported and financed for 50 years. I have underwritten our great school system and libraries, in kind and in $$. No problem paying taxes but when you're pushing 90 and still productive, it's nice to get a little return.
Typo: not 50, 60!
DeleteI hate, yes hate doing any paperwork. When I used to do all the paper work for 5e business, I’d break out in hives during tax time
ReplyDeleteThese days it’s left to hubby and wonderson, with help from a professional book keeper. I just don’t want to know.
It’s all so green at your place. Enjoy the nicer weather.
I've always been OK with paperwork. Right now it's just awkward getting out the files and information required from the filing cabinet. Dropping files doesn't help.
DeleteWe sat on the deck today while lunch cooked. A first for this year! Yay!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't that feel great?
DeleteTea and toast on the deck. Now that sounds perfect.
ReplyDeleteIt was great. I tossed crusts for the birds, too.
DeleteEverything is looking so lush along your walk. Why does retirement come with so much paperwork, even though I minimise it by doing all I can online.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about seniors who aren't very computer literate. I have no trouble online, but a lot of my age mates are baffled.
DeleteI am shocked, SHOCKED, that you would utter unsuitable language! *lol* Enjoy your deck time and make the most of it while the nice weather is here!
ReplyDeleteWho me?? I always like to remind people my folks invented those words!
DeleteSpiders have returned to the mirrors of our car, at least they have on one side. And there’s also an impressive web on the bumper. They do like our car.
ReplyDeleteThe spring morning sun shows that they're busy in and under the living room furniture here. Webs galore daily. I hate to ruin their work.
DeleteUf! I‘m sure all the words were perfectly suitable.
ReplyDeleteThey fitted the situation, I'd say.
DeleteI hope you do get a nice refund. Tea and toast on the deck sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteI'm hopeful about the $$. It will be welcome. And tea and toast was great. Today it's raining, so I'm glad I seized the day.
DeleteIt's a relief to get the paperwork out of the way. Then you've earned your tea and toast relaxation in the sunshine while gaining your vitamin D.
ReplyDeleteI'd had this around for a while, but I just wasn't up to tackling the data they needed. Now I'm doing much better, so it's done. They did streamline one part -- we no longer have to go in person to the tax collector to get their notarized confirmation that the taxes were paid. It was my annual chat with Jesse the Taxman, nice guy.
DeleteI am sorry you dropped those forms--a pain but over and deck time sounds sublime. Hoping you get the refund.
ReplyDeleteThe dropped forms were definitely a pain. Plenty of grabber practice though. This is the time of year I love the deck. Always something to hear and watch.
DeleteI believe that if I had dropped those files, "unsuitable" would probably not be how I would describe what came out of my mouth. But you know me.
ReplyDeleteThe nightshade's little flower resembles the one on its cousin plant- the potato.
Yes, you can see the family resemblance.
DeleteOh dear. The dropped papers fiasco must have been SO much fun (not!). I wonder if you could have wrapped some painters tape, sticky side out, around the grabber and been able to pick them up that way? Might be worth keeping in mind, although I suspect from now on you will be keeping an iron grip on any papers that might want to go walkabout.
ReplyDeleteNo painter's tape nor masking tape in the house. But the main issue was after picking them up, reorganizing the dox into the right files. I have had a dropping problem for years now. My hands just open involuntarily, no warning. Oh well.
DeleteMine too! Only it's because my thumbs lock and whatever I'm holding is a goner.
DeleteOuch! all that retrieving and re-filling! It's good to have rebates, even if it's your own money. However, I think I'd rather keep my money in the first place, if possible.
ReplyDeleteYes, I can use it.
DeleteThat grabber has really come in handy for so many things! Yup--I think you could use one upstairs and another downstairs. I hope you get money back this year. :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe another in the car, too. I can definitely use extra $$, who can't?
DeleteWhy my mother had trouble reaching things and I wasn't around to help, she used on of those long grabber tools. They're not perfect--certainly no replacement for the human hand--but they're good to have around just in case.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I'm surprised to find how much I use it. I still use it as a dressing tool, because I'm still advised not to bend the way you need to, to put pants on etc. And my handy sock helper is still in daily use, same reason, can't reach down to put socks on.
DeleteYay for deck time! I remember that purple flower from when we lived in New Jersey. I think it's bindweed or something like that, isn't it? The paperwork spillage sounds like a faff but at least you got some practice with your grabstick. (I'm searching for the bright side here! LOL)
ReplyDeleteIt's deadly nightshade. And yes, reaching for the bright side -- I'm better at grabsticking than I was!
DeleteSorry about the dropping of the file. That had to be really annoying. Sounds like you're doing well with your walking, but glad you didn't over do. Going to far and trying to get back could have been difficult. Agree with you on yea for deck time. We managed to have cocktails out the other night and then dinner as well. The first for the year, which always makes me happy. How nice you got to see some flowers on your walk. My Iris are popping out these past few days, one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteSandy's Space
It's lovely to eat and drink outside. It seems to mark the season and feels so free.
Delete