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It is time for Random 5 Friday
1. It bugs me to no end when I email a business to ask a question and they do not reply. I often wonder why even have an address if they are not going to handle the email responsibly.
2. I have got to say it again: I am ready for summer. Or spring at least. I can not wait to be able to sit on the front porch and to have ripe tomatoes from our garden. We at least got above freezing today!
3. I am almost through reading Hiking Through: One Man's Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail by Paul Stutzman....I always enjoy reading personal accounts of through hikers. When I am done with it, I have about decided to start Grass of the Earth by Aagot Raaen. It is the biography of Norwegian homesteaders in North Dakota. I have read it before and will probably read it again. It just sort of suits this time of year.
When it is this time of year, I wonder how our ancestors survived the winters. It was a lot of work just to keep warm. Much less do the work they had to do. They didn't have heat and light and water at the flip of a switch. And think of the clothing we have now. All the special blends and fibers just to help stay warm.
4. I am the most indecisive person there ever was or will be. Just ask my husband. Most times I know what I DON'T want...just hard to decide what I do want. He can ask me where I want to eat...I may not know where I want to eat, but I know I don't want to eat at McDonald's. (Don't mind breakfast there...and I like their french fries) We will decide to get out and go somewhere just to get out...I may not know where I want to go, but I know I don't want to go shopping.
5. With the amount of money we spend paying taxes, our streets should be paved with gold. Here in Indiana we pay federal taxes, State Taxes, property taxes, and we pay taxes on our vehicles each year when we get our license plates. Say we have to pay $350 sales tax when we buy a car, we pay that when we go get our license plate. Next year, we pay say $325 when we get our license plates renewed...and it just gradually decreases. The tenth year I think it is $49, and that is what we pay each year thereafter. Of course a trailer is another $35 or more...and I think when we had a dog, it was 3 or 4 dollars for each dog.
So, I was wondering, what all kind of taxes does your state have?
To read more random thoughts, please check in at A Rural Journal.
That is a huge mushroom! I've never seen one like that.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at your #4. I am like that, too. It's easier to decide what I don't want. :-)
In Virginia, we pay federal and state income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, and personal property taxes (on our vehicles). We pay a fee to renew the registration our vehicles every year, too, and pay for an inspection once a year. It adds up, but I do think we get a lot for our taxes (public safety, infrastructure, law enforcement, schools, etc.).
Oh my, those mushrooms are gorgeous. I did a whole quilt about mushrooms. That is how much I like their textures and shapes.
ReplyDeleteI just read on Yahoo today that California has the highest sales tax. I am not complaining because teachers get paid a little better out here than in many other states. We have all kinds of taxes on gasoline that other states do not have as well.
We have one of the highest sales take and gasoline tax and while we pay lots of other taxes each piled on top of another we don't have a State Personal tax as some other states do. We used to have a high license renewal but
ReplyDeletevoted to have a lower flat fee. Which we now have. So say your renewal is 45 dollars the state piles all kinds of taxed on it---strange one too--until you will pay 100dollars. But we say ok because it is better than 350.I could go on and on so I QUIT!!! Strange.
Huge mushrooms. Fried in good 'ol butter sounds good. MB
"Wow!" on the mushrooms! Very cool.
ReplyDeleteI was dreaming of garden carrots today, myself. We have a ways to go here in our neck of the woods, though.
We've met & been acquainted with some Norwegian homesteaders in North Dakota, it's a fascinating land & life they've endured. I may have to look into that book.
Here in MN our taxes go as follows:
Federal & State Income tax
Property tax
Sales tax - 6.5% on everything except clothing & grocery food.
Our vehicle licensing fee is similar to yours - on all autos, atvs, boats, trailers, even our kayaks. What gets me is we pay the 6.5% tax on a new vehicle, then pay the license fee every year - hundreds. and then if we sell that vehicle used, whoever buys it has to pay tax on it again, no matter how many times it's sold.
A vehicle changing hands can generate a lot of tax money.
Some cities have an additional city tax added to the state sales tax.
That's an interesting question -I've heard some states are much different, and I think they've got a good thing going!
Oops - I forgot the gas tax & others hidden taxes like it.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a mushroom that big! Hmmm...taxes are a sore point here. We have about the same as you do. And when you buy a house, thinking what the previous owners paid for property tax, boy is it a surprise when you get your first bill. It is usually doubled! No kidding. They eat us alive with taxes here in NC.
ReplyDeleteThis morning is 38 degrees and it feels balmy in comparision to what we have had lately! :)
ReplyDeleteI just posted last night about pioneers and snow..there is a book excerpt and recommendation if you are interested in that sort of thing :)
Our taxes here in Nebraska are some of the highest in the nation -- so I can definitely relate to your statements.
ReplyDeleteAmazing mushroom!
Good Morning, Rose ... I love your quilted header ... especially on a frigid morn like today's! Thanks for sharing a bit of life with us!
ReplyDeleteWow! That is a mushroom! Amazing. I thought everything was taxed is some way or another -- ptuii! I'm with you, I know what I don't want to do. I can relate to your number 1. I used to volunteer at a museum. We did all our correspondence by email and do you think they would answer the volunteer email??!! Nope. After 10 years there, I gave up and waved bye.
ReplyDeleteYou are brave than I am to eat wild mushrooms. I'm too afraid that I might not identify them correctly. I would like to take a guided tour with someone to learn which ones are safe to eat and which ones are not.
ReplyDeleteTexas has sales taxes, and very minor car taxes/inspection fees. Way less than the property taxes we were gouged in Kansas most of my life. Another benefit to Texas, is NO STATE INCOME TAX! YAY!
ReplyDeleteWow, those are really big mushrooms. I started following you today. Hope you'll come visit me, too.
ReplyDeleteWe have Federal and State income tax, Personal Property tax, Automobile tax when licensed, gasoline tax (I'm sure every state has that), taxes on our telephone bill, probably taxes on our toilet paper and we just don't know it. LOL. But we don't have a sales tax in Montana (yet).
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you showed those mushrooms, they are amazing, i have seen very small ones but never any like that. ditto on 1 and 4, same as you...
ReplyDeletehere in Florida, we dont have state tax but we pay 7 percent sales tax on everything, and we pay 20 cent per gallon tax on gas, when we buy a car it is 450 to get the tag and 7 percent tax. but our tags only cost 69 when we renew.
they do all that instead of state tax becuase we have so many that come and live here for 3 to 6 months, this way they pay taxes to keep us going. they get us one way or the other. tax is not our problem but insurance in the sunshine state is killer, home and auto
I can relate very well to No. 1 and No. 4! Drives BG nuts when we go out to eat and it takes me too long to decide...I also don't want McD's!
ReplyDeleteOur taxes are about the same as yours...too many, too high...except our car tax is paid at the end of the year and is called personal property tax and is paid with our real estate taxes by the end of the year. We even pay a tax on our riding mower! The car tax is based on the value of your car. Tags for the car are a set fee every year. Of course when you buy a car you pay a sales tax and no matter how many times a car is sold, when it's bought that person pays a sales tax. Taxes, taxes, taxes...and just think of the taxes paid on the lotteries. Also, the federal & state income taxes held out of BGs pay checks are astounding. I often wonder why the government can be so broke with all the taxes they collect until I remember how they spend it!
A fine and somewhat disturbing post. The latest I cloud find for Washington state tax totaled 59%. That is usually hidden and most are not aware of the obscene total bite out of income.
ReplyDeleteDang!
ReplyDeleteThose mushrooms are huge ... didn't know they were edible!!!!
Ummm....I think I'm the most indecisive person on the planet. LOL
Connecticut stinks....we have the same taxes as you do. It kills us every year to dish out the large amounts of money towards property and real estate taxes.
We keep threatening to move! LOL
Have an awesome weekend!
diane @ thoughts and shots
This mushroom is a giant ! Enormous !
ReplyDeleteI am also longing for spring, although we had no snow, this grey and cold weather gets on my nerves.
Don't talk about taxes ! We also pay for everything even for garbage !
do you know the companies - number phone? give them a call. ( :
ReplyDeletesorry to hear that ... i totally agree. companies should be available to you when you need help & understand. so silly. hope it will work out soon.
spring - me so ready!!
i would love to walk the Appalachian trail it is my dream. i have had many i am slowly marking them off my list - but you see i am a woman (duh??) & i wonder who i could get to go with me ... what to expect & all that jazz.
i think i have gotten more indecisive as i have gotten older. making decision use to be easy. or easier as a young person.
my hubby would so agree with you on taxes. can you imagine the roads of gold. we have terrible water & electric prices this year. i try very hard not to use water ... only necessary. they tax you on DOGS & CATS ... really? that sounds wild!!
My daughter is indecisive like that. Knows what she doesn't want be it is like pulling nails to get her to say what she does want.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh I have never seen an Oyster Mushroom that size. I've never eaten them either. The only ones I recognize and eat are Shaggy Manes and Morels. I don't like the Puffball ones much or the Coral so I never eat them.
ReplyDeleteTaxes...Yikes! Now that's a subject that rubs everyone the wrong way. Here we have 8.5% Sales Tax, No tax on food though.
I don't know what other taxes there are but I know there are plenty to go around.
I'm ready for Spring too. If you visit my post you'll see why.
Wow, that's mushrooms! It seems for me, that in States all is bigger thand in Germany ... ;-)
ReplyDeleteI have nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award. Details can be found here:
http://maschas-buch.blogspot.de/2014/01/liebster-award.html
I hope you accept this award :)
How do you know which mushrooms are not poisonous??? I'm sure that Roger knows the difference....
ReplyDeleteSplatter the name and address and your details trying to contact them, of that business all over your blog and Facebook --and send them a copy. THAT will get their attention.
Our problem about favorite things and places is that we go to the same place over and over.. We have our fav's --and sometimes we SHOULD try new places/things... Oh Well.
I don't like MacDonald's either --but then again, I don't care for MOST fast food places like that. I do like Hardee's.
About all of our taxes, it's all tied up in huge salaries and benefits for Washington employees... Sad, isn't it?
Hugs,
Betsy
Holy Moly - I've never seen a mushroom like that! I'm interested in the book you're reading - are you enjoying it? My daughter is considering an AT through hike, I'm wondering if she would like the book. I hear you on the taxes thing. We do a similar thing in Massachusetts on our cars - we call it excise tax - fun fun, but then we are called "Taxachusetts"...
ReplyDeleteThe taxes for our cars is similar here in Iowa. It decreases. I remember when I lived in Kansas, though, I wondered all the time how anyone could afford to have a car at all. It was preposterous!
ReplyDeleteHi, wow i have never seen mushroom that is so huge. no # 4is kind of familiar with me, i am hungry but dont know what to eat. Our governmnt just started with good and service tax GST and many not happy.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you! Can't wait for winter to be over...and I live in the mild Pacific Northwest. Chloe sent me a FB msg yesterday which said:
ReplyDeleteWho are we?
Women!
What do we want?
We don't know!
When do we want it?
Now!
I laughed, so typical! Have a terrific weekend. :)
Holy Toledo that's a gigantic mushroom!
ReplyDeleteI e-mailed a business about a product they were advertising on TV. Do you know, it took them 3 months before they replied to me, and then they didn't really answer my question!
I don't mind the winter so much as I do the subzero temperatures. I can also do without freezing rain/ice.
I'm guilty of #4, too! ;-)
Have a safe and warm weekend ~
Lindy
Wow those are huge mushrooms! I like mushrooms but have never been brave enough to eat wild mushrooms, my luck I would get eat the wrong kind.
ReplyDeleteHere in SD taxes there is no state employment tax and taxes such as sales, road and vehicle taxes are less than in many other states. Not sure how property tax compares, but then we don't have a huge population to need a lot for our state infrastructure.
when my husband asks me what I want for dinner I too am more apt to know what it is that I don't want. Take comfort, you're not alone!
ReplyDeleteRose, thank you for sharing this link with me (all these years later!) Mushrooms are new to us and I've never thought about trying to identify the many that grow in the wild here. We might have a few nice edibles if I learn to identify them!
ReplyDelete