January...Styling, Cooking and Candles.

Good morning, Friends...  Well, it's finally gone...2023.  I just want to say, good riddance.  

I hope you all are doing well?  Getting over the flu or covid?  We did absolutely nothing for New Years.  At 12:05am, we were awakened by a loud "knocking" at our bedroom window.  Larry jumps up...well...sort of jumps up...more like a roll and jump maneuver...lolol...and went to check things out.  I grabbed my weapon...(yes, I am licensed and know how to use it)... because you never know what or who is doing the knocking!  Come to find out, it was fireworks down the street!  It's also illegal here in the city limits...morons!  I hope they had to pay a huge fine...  Police sirens everywhere.  Needless to say I was up for the remainder of the morning.  A nap was taken later in the day.  

I'd bought Libby the pug a new sweater for Christmas...she was not impressed.  She just stood there, not moving, until I took it off...lol

I woke up early needing a Dutch Baby!  So, waiting for  Larry to get back up, I started pulling out my cast iron skillet, and got busy throwing one together.  I made the blueberry topping first, then the pancake.  We loved how it turned out.  Can't beat lemon and blueberries!

I left out the orange zest and used just vanilla and also used whole milk in the Dutch Baby recipe here.

SO good!

I also came across a recipe for Ham & Potato Chowder...here's the link to the recipe...You will love it!  I love all of the Wyse Guide's recipes!

Then, of course, here in the South, we had to start the New Year off with black-eyed peas and cornbread!  I threw in ham...seriously yummy!

I try to keep it real here on the blog...This was our sweet Sloane about a week ago.  She's better now as you witness in the next photo.  This year has been a tough one for her.  Allergies...flu...ears...our poor sweetheart has had enough!  Please keep her in your prayers.  

This is Samantha's half-sister, Ema.  Looks like you should pronounce her name E-Ma...no... they call her Emma, but it's spelled, Ema...confusing.  Anyway, she turned 17.  Long story but she belongs to our daughter's Ex-husband,  Robert.  He remarried and had two more children.  

Well, I tried to cut back on photos.  We really didn't do much of anything between Christmas and New Years.  Caught up on paperwork...started pulling together the things I need for the Tax Man...oh yes...it begins.  

Everything that comes in the mail for taxes, I make a copy then put in my CPA file.  I have a cover sheet for the accountant so all he needs to do is check off the items on the cover sheet and if he needs the actual proof, I make copies to send along, as well. 

Larry & Donna____        Personal Tax List 2023

605 xxxxxx Street

Xxxxxx, Texas

Her cell#

His cell#

1. Property Tax Receipt:

2. CPA 2022 Receipt:

3. Larry SSA – 1099 Benefit Statement:

4. Donna SSA- 1099 Benefit Statement:

5. All Banks Savings Interest -(I list them all)

9. Larrys VA -PO Health Coverage Letter -

10. Scott & White Senior Care /Proof of Coverage - Larry

11. Scott & White Senior Care /Proof of Coverage - Donna

                                    12. Anything else that needs to go to CPA

When you're retired, there's not too many things you need to declare.  Most years we owe $0.   This is just the cover letter I include.  Our CPA likes it...saves him time and me...added expense and wasted time.  

I take care of everything that comes in the day it comes in!  Make copies, go into computer and add the item, save it.  I use the free software called, Libre Office 7.6... (you can download it from the internet) I don't procrastinate!   I usually have everything that comes in by mid-March.  So... I open my computer and print the list and a copy...open the CPA file...grab the Cover List copy...add the files I made copies of then, stuff it all into a large white envelope.  I add our address to the front, the CPA's address...what's inside...Personal Tax List 2023...then drop it off personally at their office.  It's usually back within days.  I file away all the originals and cover list in my file cabinet.  You never know if the CPA could misplace the files I gave him!  It happened to a friend of ours...she had no backup copy!  She had given her taxman all the originals!  It was miserable for her to have to find everything she needed, all over again!  

I don't know how you do it, but we've always used a CPA.  The same one that does our company taxes.  I don't do them myself...nor do I allow a family member to do them!  Years ago, Larry told me to let SIL do them...we ended up paying IN over $300 dollars to the IRS...I vowed, Never Again!  Larry never interfered again, in my book work...good boy.

Well okay then! Lolol...you probably aren't interested in how I get my IRS packet ready for the CPA...but you got it, anyway! Lolol

As we watch Santa head off into the sunset for a much-needed rest...have a great week...until next time...