Even if you have your return prepared by "professionals" (of the seasonal-employment kind) ... ... I recommend getting a copy of the return and instructions and checking through it, to find whether there may be some deductions available that you've not been aware of. Or, if your preparer is a professional, make a date with her/him to meet at a later time in the year (maybe un-busy summer) to discuss some ways that you might alter your system somewhat in order to reduce your tax load. What's the difference between "tax-avoidance" and "tax-evasion", I asked the ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) coffee hour group at church in tax season last year, and one guy answered, "... about 2 years" (in the pen) and another "a couple of thousand" (fine). You've heard me say, "Learning how money works - an interesting hobby ... that pays well". Same for learning how the tax system works (slanted toward helping the wealthy). ole joyfuelled

I think I have decided on the vegetarian entree. I love the sound of Linda's butternut squash lasagna but I have all of this pumpkin puree so I went looking for a pumpkin lasagna. This one also includes Swiss chard. I'm thinking I might skip the green beans every pushes around on their plate because stuffing and mashed potatoes are more appealing. I'll add more chard to the dish as one review mentions it could use more. I will also add some rosemary as that sounds like a tasty addition. Pumpkin Lasagna with Ricotta and Swiss Chard 1 pound lasagna noodles 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for tossing 1 onion, finely chopped 2 pounds Swiss chard, stems discarded and leaves chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 3 15-ounce cans pumpkin puree 1/4 cup heavy cream Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg Pinch of cayenne pepper 4 cups fresh ricotta (32ounces) 2 large eggs, beaten 2 cups freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (about 6 ounces) 2 cups shredded imported Fontina cheese (about 8 ounces) 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the lasagna noodles until just starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Drain well and transfer the noodles to a baking sheet. Toss the noodles with olive oil to prevent them from sticking together. 2. In a large skillet, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the onion and cook over moderately low heat until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until wilted and no more liquid remains, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Season the chard with salt and pepper. Transfer to a plate and let cool slightly. 3. In a medium bowl, mix together the pumpkin puree, heavy cream, nutmeg and cayenne. Season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, mix the ricotta with the eggs, 1 1/2 cups of the Parmigiano, 1 cup of the fontina and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. 4. In a well-buttered, 9x13 inch ceramic baking dish, spoon 1/2 cup of the pumpkin mixture in an even layer. Arrange 3 or 4 lasagna noodles in the dish, overlapping them slightly. Spread half of the remaining pumpkin mixture over the noodles in an even layer. Top with half of the Swiss chard and another layer of noodles. Cover with half of the ricotta mixture. Repeat the layering with lasagna noodles, pumpkin, Swiss chard, another layer of noodles and finish with the ricotta mixture. 5. Cover the lasagna with foil and bake for about 40 minutes, until heated through and slightly firm. Remove from the oven and uncover. Preheat the broiler. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmigiano and 1 cup of fontina on top of the lasagna and broil about 4 inches from the heat until golden brown and crisp on top, about 4 minutes. Let the lasagna rest for 15 minutes, then cut into squares and serve. MAKE AHEAD The unbaked lasagna can be refrigerated overnight. Let return to room temperature before baking. Here is a link that might be useful: www.foodandwine.com

"I know everything" (c, Sandy Pruel's tatoo, "Golden Chain") no, really, I read too much of these articles, and I usually know ahead too, because of high end magazines etc. Complaints already began,and subway tile is going bye bye, and wood stain is back-but pretty, new wood (sorry Becky.,still taken with your different,new brass))..well nice wood is always nice, whenever if you ask me, and I have favorite wood stains that I prefer-which in darker camp would be walnut and teak, and in lighter camp, unstained cherry, maple and white oak (quarter sawn) They show quite a bit of plywood used lately-and I agree sometimes the beauty of material is being exactly what it is ,not trying to mimic anything. I'd love to have stained kitchen, and would have it under different circumstances. I also adore combo of wood plus color. I'm like that since I was 25 and saw it for the first time at some friends' house. was something made in Spain. I got hooked ever since. I have it too, just not in the kitchen. Kitchen was too small to be visually chopped too much. So the wood is floors. Of course I wanted to do butcherblock too. Didn't happen. And my tiles were supposed to be patterned but didn't happen. Well I have there plants and ceramics and whatnot so still it's a warm kitchen. The tones and colors will get richer-they already did. White already's out of big favor, but I love white anyway, when it's applied right, well I love all the colors-for me they just need to be on the warmer side, mostly. So no matter how many people will love navy and all sorts of blues-I'll admire it in other people's houses, but will keep my own blues to small quantities. Unless I find myself in a very cool teal house. Or something. I don't change whatever works, never ever-I adjust. If something beautiful and works with the house-it stays. Greige will still be in-how else folks will bridge between old and new? Most people simply can't afford it. Will be warmer greige. (thanks for that because all the listing with Tuscan tiles and cool gray walls seem so, so very sad. House looks like it's been beaten..against its will) Luckily for me because as you all know I'm a big lover of greige and taupe..they make me special calm kind of happy, they always did. I probably prefer all things a bit muddier and murkier. Though I do love scarlet, and cobalt, and emerald..but so much depends on the surface. Jewel tones beg for depth and richness. As if they were jewels. So yes, velvet..and glass..and very good paint..plants of course! ok I overexcited myself lol. Of course jewel tones are in. Again, for several years already. I love so many colors and have them all too, and the more colors one's got, the easier it is to sneak another one, so all their corals and terracottas and marigolds and greens-I have them all, and more. I do love certain pastels(pink!!), and I love red..I guess because they become me and uplift me-I color my hair red for the past ten years..and I love black and white,..and I like plants and books..and fabrics and prints..and wallpaper already is in again for years and they already say "no, actually we love wall murals better" like it can't be that person loves all of it. You can love everything-and it will whether work in your place or it won't. It's okay, one can love at a distance too. Or if to listen to them-one just has to choose between gallery wall and big art, like it's impossible to like every art in many forms..or one has to choose which plant to love-fig tree out, succulents out, some pampas grass in, like pampas grass is "fresher"-no, I love plants, they're living things, our contract with them is different, and it sounds mighty stupid to me when some are "in" and others are "out"..if it grows in my house under my care it's in. Same with art-I don't buy anything that I want to get rid of. And it takes me years to collect it. As for different tiles-I'm a huge tile lover, I'm a tile junkie you might say. Tile junkies have to pay..like, a lot. So it is what it is. Can't splurge everywhere. Even my compromises were costly enough. And I like handmade tiles. And backyard hardscaping still awaits me. Will be thousands even if I severely restrict myself. It also depends on a house of course, and ours is styled Spanish Ranch, so I have this element of "noblesse oblige" when I decide on tiles. Would it be mcm-I'd choose different tiles-and have huge fun too. In short, everything that they say is now in-it's already in, and it's been in, it's just they didn't proclaim it before, and not everybody's paying close attention, or looks everywhere for inspiration, etc. Terazzo is in(thanks goodness. even though I've nowhere to apply it. brings back happy memories), and many cool things. I swear that was supposed to be a very short post..don't know what happenned. Maybe coffee. Ah. I love coffee color too. I drink mine with cream. Lots of it. So that's a happy color to me. A result of strong coffee plus lots of cream. Maybe it's tan?

SAVE THE DATE!!!! Here is the important information!!!! Our spring sale is just around the corner and we always have such beautiful plants etc to sell !!!! And reasonably priced!!!! Sure hope to see some new faces! You won't be disappointed!!! Rosie Michigan State African Violet Society African Violets, Gesneriads, Supplies, Terrarium and Fairy Garden Plants Saturday, April 4, 2020 Matthaei Botanical Gardens - in the large room this time 1800 Dixboro Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 10 am to 3:30 pm Free Leaf Propagation workshop at 10:30 am Sorry, we are unable to accept credit cards. Cash or Checks only.