Jessica's Rose Garden

[Lori Dee ✅]

Short range sounds like an antenna problem.

They are usually just a short piece of wire. I would check the connection for a loose connection or corrosion. Maybe you need a bigger antenna.

You could try using a longer piece of wire or install a satellite dish pointed at your driveway.
😆

[ChrissyRyan]

All of this stuff should have been checked and tested throughly by the servicing technician.

But good to check by you now Jess.

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

We have a wildfire about 14 miles north of our house. I don't think we are in any danger, but we're definitely going to watch it closely. Called the '24 Fire', it's over 2000 acres. In addition to the ground crews, there are two 'Super Scooper' planes dropping water, and a C-130 along with a twin-engine jet dropping fire retardant. There are also a few helicopters helping out. Unfortunately, the fire still looks impressive.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[Lori Dee ✅]

Great pics, Jessica!

You can see the southernmost fire to the left, the main fire in the middle, and another to the right.

[Paulie]

I've had a half dozen or so fires close to the house over the last 30 years.  It's tough to get to sleep at night with something burning that close by. Thing can change quickly when the wind shifts. 

Please keep us posted Jess.

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

The fire is now over 4600 acres. I still see some flames, but only a small fraction of what was burning yesterday. Containment is still being shown as 0%. The light winds are now out of the East, so it's blowing back over the areas that already burned. A cold front came through yesterday, which dropped the temperature over 20 degrees. There is still a lot of work to be done, but maybe the tide is beginning to turn.

Susan and I filed our taxes today, using some popular tax software. In addition to Federal taxes, we had to file taxes for two different states. We should be getting refunds from all of them, but I expect someone will complain and we'll either get a lower refund or need to pay a little. It doesn't really matter to me, I'll just be happy to close the books on last year.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[Northern Star Girl ✅]

  @Jessica_Rose
Dear Jessica:
    The wind is a big contributor to a wild fire spreading making it difficult to contain.
I hope that it stays a good distance from your home.  Unfortunately I am not seeing
that you will not be getting any amount of appreciable rain or snow in the near future.

    Regarding yours and Susan's Federal and State income taxes.  Congratulations on
getting them filed so early.
In my business, less than 25% of my clients have given me the paperwork for their tax filings.
Many of them are procrastinators and wait till the very last few days ahead of the deadline
filing date of April 15th.  I have two gals working for me now and can add another one if needed.

    Yes, when you wrote that you'll just be happy to close the books on last year... I can fully
understand your relief based on your planned and unplanned activities last year.

HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

[Paulie]

Yes, the wind it probably the greatest factor in the spreading of a wild fire, but it's amazing mow much a drop in temperature can go towards getting a fire under control.  I'm happy things are looking better out there.

I did my taxes today too.  This is about as late as I'd ever want to have it completed.  That 25% number shocks me.

 

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

The evacuation notice for the area closest to the fire has been canceled, but they warned the residents to be ready to leave if conditions worsen. There wasn't much smoke today, the active area appeared to be much smaller. Officially, the fire has grown to 7385 acres and is still 0% contained.

I usually have our taxes done by mid-February. We hired a tax preparer to do the taxes for my dad's estate. They needed the estate K-1 so they could prepare K-1 forms for the beneficiaries. All of the returns we sent in have been accepted. Now we just have to wait a week or two.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[ChrissyRyan]

What is that simplified tax postcard to be returned to the IRS?


It asks what you made last year, then informs you to send in that amount.

[Paulie]

Well that's kind of good news about the fire, wish it was better. 

Also, hiring a tax preparer for your dad's estate was probably a wise move.   

Take care Jess.

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

Christine, I think the billionaire club should all be using that simplified tax form! Most of them pay a shockingly low amount of taxes, if they pay anything at all.

The tax situation around my dad's estate was too confusing for me. His primary residence was part of an irrevocable trust, but the rental house was never added to the trust. Luckily, the title company we used to sell both houses understood the potential tax implications. We transferred the rental property into the trust before selling it. There were also some annuities, bank accounts, rental income, depreciation, and a host of other financial numbers to deal with. We used the same tax preparer that my dad used, so they were familiar with the situation. Their fee was also very reasonable (under $350).

Love always -- Jessica Rose