TAXES AND SUGAR HEAVEN

 Guess where I am!!  This taxes thing is a total pain in the patoo!  I've had to learn more than I ever wanted to know about passive and active income, everything commercial, being a real estate professional when you aren't, and what IRS thinks of it.  I always thought it would be nice to be a multi-millionaire ... but now I know better!  It's SO complicated and time consuming you just can't imagine, but then I guess that's why they hire the Big Time Accountants.  Not me of course ... but the ones I'm trying to satisfy with answers I'm only beginning to understand myself.

On another note, SPRING has arrived.  The almond blossoms only lasted three days before the almonds sprouted.  Not a great picture, but those lighter spots are nuts.  The trees are FULL of them!!  It may be a good year after all.

Magically, truly overnight, my little Japanese maple tree blossomed into this beauty.  Last week I thought it was going to die.  Today it's gorgeous!

I'm happy to say I'm better today.  I'm breathing much better, not coughing or sneezing constantly and can actually DO something.  You know how it is when you're sick ... stuff piles up on the counters and the furniture.  I was shocked when I took a good look at my kitchen!  I'll be doing some major organization work today.

That works out well since I won't be walking.  We are up to 89 degrees with 90 on it's way.

After several hours of accounting work, followed by another two hours on my home computer making up spreadsheets breaking down hundreds of credit card transactions (OH THE FUN), I finally felt like opening up the box I received.  

I had ordered a small sewing machine for the van.  I have plenty of room to sew on my swivel dinner table.  Here's the thing.  I LOVE my Brother sewing machines, but they were VERY pricey.  This little gem was a measly $150 ... and as you can imagine, does not put the color on the blossom.  For one, I have to learn a whole new machine.  Nothing really works the same.  It said it had a needle threader, but I can't see IT any better than if I did it MYSELF!  

I'm thinking if I did all the cutting before I left and only stitched parts and pieces, it would work ... more or less.  I haven't decided yet.

What I DIDN'T do was go to the lodge.  Sometimes it's better to just stay out of their way.  I already know that the ones who don't know much about construction, will be the ones telling everyone else what to do.  I'm standing with my friend Mark who said "I'm staying completely away from that project.  That way I'm not RESPONSIBLE"!  I agree!!

Dinner was another Lean Cuisine pizza.  My package of pepperoni is almost gone.  One more and I can go back to REAL pizza!!  This time I got smart and only ate HALF.

BECAUSE ... I've been thinking about THIS for two weeks.  I thought I had the recipe somewhere.  Oh well, I'll just wing it.  Okay, I admit that didn't turn out so well ... but wait ... it's not finished yet.  

This is a box mix chocolate cake I made with coffee instead of water.  What a difference in the chocolate flavor!!  Once baked, you cool it a bit, poke holes and pour in a mixture of sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce.  Boy oh boy ... I spilled some on purpose just so I could scoop it up and eat it!!  Those were supposed to be chocolate chips, but I needed to use up the white chocolate ones.

Lastly, you smother it with Cool Whip, more caramel and nuts.  I chose to cut the cake up into small pieces and freeze it, adding the cream as I thaw a piece and eat it.  THIS was dessert.  No worries, the Cool Whip is ZERO SUGAR.  That takes away ALL the calories, right????

I was in sugar HEAVEN!  Maybe since it's a cool 59 degrees right now, I'll go for a very short walk, just to see how I really feel.  

My tip of the day ........  EAT THE DESSERT!  LIFE IS SHORT!!!