As we’re approaching the end of September, the nights are definitely now cooling down, but I’m still exceptionally thankful we’ve not yet had even a light frost, and only because I have peppers, tomatoes and watermelons still ripening. Speaking of watermelons, just this morning I delivered a very large, along with three smaller ones to a group of people who seem to’ve fallen in love with their taste. I mentioned to one of them, how many of our end of the season veggies and fruits, always seem to taste even better than the new crops. I guess I’ll have to be creating an additional garden area next Spring, just so I can gift away all the more.
My early morning appointment was to meet with a painter at a home that’ll be coming on the market soon, just he could get started with several small areas in need of paint, and since I didn’t have much else on my list, I decided to take a few cleaning supplies with me and do a little touch-up cleaning, so while he was doing his thing, I was doing mine, and as chance would have it, we both finished about the same time. I’ll have to meet him there one more time, just so he can place the finishing coat, and then hopefully it’ll be ready to list.
Once I got back to office, I figured it best to stop agonizing over paying my real estate taxes, and just sit myself down and get the check written out and delivered over to the County Treasurer’s Office. As a number have mentioned, and I fully agree, the bloated checks we have to write every year, is one of the best examples of a small city willfully wasting their residents’ hard-earned money. Just today, a woman asked, “Why don’t they give a detailed accounting as to where it all goes.” Well, that’s all they give are percentages, which means absolutely nothing to the average citizen. I know for a fact, there’d be people protesting in front of City Hall demanding a number of resignations, if only they knew to what extent our tax dollars have be thrown to the wind, and especially the 2+ million dollars David Rachie’s been given and still no hotel. If I were our City Administrator, I’d be downright embarrassed whenever having to give my so-called ‘progress report’. As far as I’m concerned, everyone in management positions in City Hall, need to have their jobs evaluated, just to make sure they’re not being overly-paid for what little productive work they do. Yes, it’s another classic example of meritocracy’s parasitic dark side.
When I walked up to the clerk to pay my taxes, I couldn’t help saying, “Now if it were anyone but you waiting on me, I would’ve become quite the naughty monkey by saying everyone in our City and County governments are grossly overpaid and underworked.” She got a laugh out of it, along with teasingly agreeing that I’ll probably be eating cat food meatloaf for the next couple months, until I manage to make up for such a great financial loss. Taxes and death are the only two certainties in life.
By the time I got back to office, it was approaching the hour where I had to meet up with some buyers to look at 1015 N. Carolina, so off I headed, just to make sure I had all the lights on and doors unlocked before they got there.
The showing went very well to the point where they were asking me about financing, so I directed them to go and visit with several lending institutions. I did encourage them to think about it, and if they’re still interested, they should look at it one more time before making an offer, and only because I believe a home either looks better or worse the second time thru.
They were very much impressed with the size of the fenced yard, which would make a fabulous garden area, and especially since there aren’t a number of trees blocking the sunlight, and thank goodness there are no black walnuts growing there and poisoning the soil within their drip lines.
Since it was nearing the Noon hour, I took a trip out to a groceteria to pick up a few groceries, and while there, I noticed they had potted Spruce trees for sale which were priced at $29.00 each which I thought to be a fair price. If they’re still available this weekend, I’ll have to buy several to replace two that didn’t make it thru last winter. As most know, evergreen trees need a great amount of moisture the first two years after being planted, because they have to get their tap-roots deep enough to provide the water they need. They sure looked plenty healthy. The tag said they were grown in northern Michigan which is a good thing, because that means they’ve definitely become winter-hardy.
Speaking of winter, I just read today where this El Nino is likely going to cause us to have more snow this winter, which I’ll not be liking one bit, but I have to keep reminding myself that our water tables have dropped and we need the moisture. Ok, I’ll go along with it as long as the snow melts off in a day or two. Maybe we’ll even have a winter like we had about five years ago where the ground never froze hard all winter. I definitely remember that because I was able to get my signs in and out of the ground without using a hammer and blow torch.
After I had all my office duties taken care of, I decided to go back to my work area and start shelling the many cobs of black popcorn I grew this year. Of course I became possessed again because I only planned on working on them for about a half hour, and wouldn’t you know after a good two hours, I had them all shelled, so if you’re wondering what tonight’s photo is, it’s a large bowl of shelled popcorn which must weigh a good seven pounds. I’ll definitely have to be gifting that as well because it would take me years to eat all of it. I actually have more than enough left over from last year’s poor crop, so this year’s bumper should put smiles on a few faces. Having popped and eaten it, I dare say it definitely has a slightly different taste, but still very good–especially when loading it up with real butter.
A very dear friend of mine who recently passed at the ripe old age of 101, would have popcorn as her evening meal every Saturday night, and her corn had to be popped in an iron skillet using Irish butter. After she went to assisted living, three or four times I would pop some just like she wanted, and then deliver it to her. I would always make a big batch, and every time I would say, “I hope I didn’t bring too much.”, and her answer would always be, “Don’t you worry, I’ll have it eaten.” Yes, she was quite the dear one.
While at the Post Office, I happened to run into Steve Swift who was the long-time owner/manager of Marshall and Swift Cleaners which was directly across the street from the Post Office. We had a very nice chat, and I couldn’t help saying, “Gosh I miss having you across the alley from me.” Of course at the time, I was told they really didn’t have anyone in their family who wanted to take it over after he decided to retire, so it ended up getting sold. He did mention that there’ve been a number of his past workers who told him it was the best job they ever had, which I believed. Since I’d not see him for a good four or more years, I must say our little chat, ended up being the highlight of my day. I was glad to find him looking good and fully enjoying his retirement.
Tonight’s One-liner is: Don’t take the bull by the horns, take him by the tail; then you can let go when you want to.
