Marion's Retirement

[Maid Marion]

I got my health insurance bill for January 2026. It was $32 instead of $1200 because my income is below 400% of the poverty line in the USA.  This is why the ACA/Obamacare (they are exactly the same thing) politics is so heated in the USA.  I don't need much income because the house is fully paid up so I don't have to pay rent or a mortgage. Folks in my situation have been sold on making Roth Conversions so they never realize the opportunity for saving on health insurance.  This is known as target fixation.  Focusing so much on saving on taxes that they miss other opportunities.  If I was making Roth Conversions my income would be much higher.  A Roth Conversion allow you to pay taxes on investments now so they won't be taxed in the future, presumably at a lower tax rate.

If think you don't make enough money to pay for Healthcare in the USA,  you may actually qualify for free Heathcare Insurance. 

[Maid Marion]

Shopping on day before Christmas.

It was quite busy at Westfarms Mall at 9AM.  I bought  box of See's chocolate and two dark candy bars.

I bought a holiday ham, as they go on sale.  $10 for 10lb sliced bone-in ham.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Merry Christmas, MM!

Hugs!

[ChrissyRyan]

Happy new year Marion!


Chrissy

[Maid Marion]

I made mochi out of short grained sweet rice in the stand mixer and had it for breakfast on New Year's Day!  It is traditional for Japanese to pound rice and make it for New Year's Day.  I seasoned it with Kinako and sugar.  Mochi is sold either fresh or in shelf stable hard blocks called Kirimochi.  The Asian market only sells mochi intended for deserts, not the plain mochi eaten for breakfast.

[Maid Marion]

I finally got around to making crumpets as you can't buy them here in New England.
Something different to add to my breakfast menu now that Bay's English muffins are now $4/half dozen.

Measured my figure as 33-24.5-34 inches. My waist is little larger in the middle of winter than in the summer when I get a lot of exercise from golfing.  I find that in the winter I have cover my legs less than my torso when I sleep or else I'll feel cold, even under plenty of blankets.  It took a while for me to figure that out.

[Maid Marion]

I started drinking teas that don't need added sugar.  Green tea and fermented Pu Erh tea.
I've also found that because I buy looseleaf tea instead of tea bags, I can infuse the tea several times before tossing it in the bin.

[Lori Dee ✅]

My neighbor dumps his tea and coffee grounds in his compost pile to add to his garden area.
I think you have more plants to feed than he does! 😀

[Maid Marion]

Pruned my dogwood tree that was growing toward some low power lines.  Wore both rubber gloves and rubber  winter boots to be safe from electrocution. Can't be too careful! I used reduction cuts to discourage growth of the tree in that direction.

I made a ham cassarole yesterday to use up the holiday ham.  It was a fairly complicated recipe but I have enough experience cooking to know what to do.         

[Lori Dee ✅]

Hi, MM. I need some advice.

I have two rose bushes that I want to transplant. Currently, they are at the back of my house and only get the morning sun. They are beautiful, but no one can see them back there.

At the front, along my walkway, I tore out the Oleanders. They are pretty when they bloom, but the rest of the time, they are as ugly as homemade sin. I would like to move the roses there so they can be enjoyed, plus they will get the afternoon and evening sun.

When would be the best time to transplant them?

Currently, it is 18 degrees, and I am NOT going outside! We have temps in the 40s coming soon. Would that be good, or should I wait for warmer temps?

I hope to get them settled in and ready for Spring. But I don't want to risk killing them in the process.

Thanks!

[Maid Marion]

The best time to transplant roses is when they are dormant during the winter months.
They can be transplanted as soon as you can work the soil. 
If you transplant them during the winter they will take time growing roots before leafing out so there is little danger of them being damaged by a Polar Vortex during the early spring.

The roots should be as large or larger than the top growth being moved.
The top growth grows back quickly if you provide a good location.

Roses need both air and water via the roots.                                                                                                                                       

[Dances With Trees]

Thanks, Maid Marion!
My daughter decided to over-winter one of our rose bushes in our 'root cellar' (a small basement beneath our home). It's in a container.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Thanks, Marion!

I thought that was what you had told me before (a year ago, maybe?), but I wanted to be sure.

Looks like I will be moving them next week!

Hugs!

[Maid Marion]

I pruned a 15 old weeping willow today to keep it just fifteen feet tall.  It is planted far from homes in a spot that floods.
It took just half an hour to remove all the water spouts or vigorous new top growth that is growing vertically with a Japanese pole saw.

Filled the snow blower tank with gas in preparation for the winter storm.
I have a big two stage snow blower that I've used in really bad storms.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Marion                                                                                                                                                                 

[Maid Marion]

I'm learning how to make yeast bread.  Crumpets and steamed buns.
50g of flour will make two crumpets.


First hosting service is imgur.com
2nd hosting service is i.bb.co

[Maid Marion]

Getting my yeast bread cooking sorted out.  I realized I need to buy new leavening for my bread.  I measure out my flour with a scale.  The 25% humidity we have now means I need to add more water or use less flour.
Kneading bread is a good way to warm up before going outside to shovel snow!   Just made some pretzel dough and put it in the refrigerator for later.

 I learn faster by making just a little at a time, 50grams of flour.  Too little to for using the oven unless I'm cooking something else.  But fine for cooking on the range top, deep frying in a small 1 quart fryer, or steaming for fifteen minutes.

Marion

[Lori Dee ✅]

steaming for fifteen minutes

I had never heard of that! I assume it does not brown, but if it is done, that works for me. I do love pretzel bread. Doesn't need to be brown or tied in a knot. My mouth can't tell the difference.

[Maid Marion]

The Chinese name for steamed buns without fillings is mantou.

Steamed buns with a filling like pork is Bao or Baozi in Asian markets.
In Hawaii steamed buns with a filling is called manapua.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Steamed buns with a filling like pork is Bao or Baozi in Asian markets.

Now I MUST try this!

Thanks, MM.

[Charlotte_Ringwood]

The Chinese name for steamed buns without fillings is mantou.

Steamed buns with a filling like pork is Bao or Baozi in Asian markets.
In Hawaii steamed buns with a filling is called manapua.

Oh those Bao buns are yummy. I remember getting one as breakfast on the plane from Hong Kong to Xiamen when I was working in China. Bit into it to find a sweet pork filling!