Rachel, I need to know how to contact you on the internet. Do you have an email address? Is it the same as before? Do you have a Yahoo name? Same as before?

We went and got our taxes done last night and this was the first time since we have been self employed that I didn't get a stress headache or stomach just thinking about going. I have even threatened to quit self employment and go get a job because tax time was so stressful! Not this year, I think I finally got a handle on it. I probably shouldnt say that, then something else will pop up but this year I had it laid out for the tax preparer and all she had to do was enter the figures, hit the right button at the bottom and it all popped out the printer! I made Terry some spread sheets for each day of the week with headings like, Gas, Maintenance, Bought Logs, Sold Ties, Sold Lumber, Paid help, etc. Every night when he comes home he has to fill that out and at the end of the week I add that info to my Monthly Expenses and Income spread sheet and by the end of the year I add up each months income, subtract the expences and there you go. That seems like a lot of work for what little we made but we got back a nice piece of change this year, mostly because of Sis and her earned income credit. This time of the year I always wish I had about 6 kids, but only if I can give them away after tax time again. We wont be going on vacation with our refund, that is for sure. Just will be able to get caught up in outstanding bills with it but I thank the Lord that we can do that much!

Seen any of these lately?

Terry came to Bea's and picked us up this morning. Church has been called off all day so I vacuumed the living room floor, straightened the kitchen, messed on the computer for while and took a little nap in the chair. Sis went out to play in the snow with the dogs for a while and apparently left a few of them outside because I can hear them squealing to come back in. Their toes must be cold.

Terry went to the shop to try and sell something but there have not been alot of people stopping in this weather. It only takes one though, to have a good day. Somebody stopped late in the day last week and bought $250.00 of junk furniture to repair. Can't beat that.

I am looking forward to enjoying a nice quiet evening at home.

I can't hardly wait for my iris to start blooming again. I aquired a few more colors last year so it should be a pretty site. I thought this was such a pretty picture, much prettier then what is outside my window right now! You can have the snow, I'll take the pretty iris.

Well, guess what! It thawed out to 32 degrees and I heard the sound of spraying water under the house. This time it is under the kitchen sink and we will have to dig a wiggle hole under the foundation and the ground is frozen so I don't know how soon we'll get this one fixed. This is really getting old!

Wow, it is warm in here tonight! We shut the door to the bed room and hung a blanket over the kitchen door and that leaves the woodstove to heat the just the living room. You could strip naked and be warm in here now but I think I'll pass on that. There is a small heater in the bedroom and a gas wall heater in the kitchen so it won't get too cold there but it does cool off significantly.

Anybody tired of winter yet? It has been under 20 degrees here for more than a week. I think 40 degrees will really feel good.

Okay, I'm awake now!

Meet the newest member of our Zoo. It is called a Degu. Don't ask me to explain what that is, you have a computer, look it up. It is hard to explain. She is friendly but very fast. I am always afraid she will get away from me and if she ever does get away we probably can't catch her. She eats basically what the rats do, just without the sugary stuff.