Recreating a Garden

Recreated Shade Garden

There is an area near the driveway which provides total shade. Grass refuses to grow there and we also have an ugly green Baltimore Gas and Electric distribution box sitting on some prime lawn real estate. The box is ugly. It has always been ugly. Add to that are two other utility related boxes that need to be softened. I wonder why they don't consider the location of utility services when they build out communities?

For a couple of years now, Chris and I have maintained a shade garden in the area. We enjoy the hostas. So do the deer. 

This year we decided to "take it up a notch." Enter a new retaining wall and some flowers. We removed some of the grasses that we used to try to hide the utility box and cleaned up the lines.

We are still planning to place a fern on the big box to soften the lines a bit more.

Springtime. Gardening. Flowers. Preparation for the Summertime!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 1, 2017

1. May has arrived with the promise of the flowers ensured by the April rains.

2. Happy May Day, a holiday celebrated by most of the rest of the world, but not the United States. 

Electrical Issues
April 29, 2017

3. Who would have believed it, but a faulty extension cord cost me over 8 hours of electrical troubleshooting. I did get familiar with a lot of electrical devices in the house.

4. The deer around our neighborhood are fearless. A couple of them came into our yard yesterday, in broad daylight, to sample the plants in our garden.

5. It is getting more dangerous every day to fly it appears. A Delta Airlines pilot hit a woman to break up a flight. 

6. I was able to get the lawn mowed today. It has become a weekly activity again! Yay!

Headlines

7. After hard-left turn under Jeremy Corbyn, Britain’s Labour Party on course for historic defeat - The Washington Post

8. As Economy Grows, North Korea’s Grip on Society Is Tested - The New York Times

9. Trade deal needed before Brexit payment, says May - The Hindu

10. Helium in Crisis - Chemistry World

Quote for the Week

"I remember the old story about a businessman who after many years of dutifully keeping the records and documents required by the Federal Government in his particular business, and with the files really piling up, he wrote the Government asking if he still needed to keep all the old documents. And a letter came back saying, 'Well, it's okay, you can throw away any papers more than 8 years old provided you make copies of each one of them first.'"

Ronald Reagan

Remarks at a White House Briefing for Members of the Young Presidents' Organization, April 13, 1988

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Good-bye April

Another month of the year 2017 is about to occur and the year will officially be 25 percent complete. 

Our Lilac Bush

It is hard to believe how quickly the time is passing. The birds of Spring are singing in my ears where just a short month ago it was gray and cold with almost no birds calling to fill the air with song. 

Lilac Close-up

The trees surrounding my yard are still filling out, but I can say that all of my friends have returned for another season. I realize how much I had missed the green.

The lilac bush is finally in full bloom; filling the air with its sweet and unique scent. 

Thus far, my allergist seems to have managed a miracle and my allergies are under control and I am able to enjoy the Springtime without being drugged into submission.

Sitting on my back deck, with the birds, surrounded by the flowering plants of Springtime I am reminded that these are the best days. I savor them and I need to remember them, especially during the dark days of the Winter.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On the Deck

In celebration of a beautiful morning and before I hit the golf course, I am sitting on my back deck enjoying the sounds of nature, interrupted by the noise of civilization.

Through the Screen
My Very Green Backyard
April 29, 2017

The trees are leafing and the green has fully returned to my backyard sanctuary. The birds are busy chirping and I hear at least six different calls simultaneously. I wish I was better at identifying birds from their calls. 

Cutting through the sounds of nature, however, are the passing jets flying out of BWI screaming to make altitude and get on their way to their destinations. Additionally, the sound of trucks in the warehouses occasionally drown out the birds songs. 

Despite the unwanted noise, I still enjoy the sounds of life and the rebirth of Spring. 

I just wish, sometimes, that I lived further away from the noise of civilization. But that written, I also need to enjoy what I am blessed with and appreciate my own backyard.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Taxes

I am not a fan of taxes.

It seems that everyone has a new tax plan. I like hearing that at least some of the plans are to reduce taxes.

How can that be bad?

Having just made it through another tax season, the wounds to my personal bank account are still very fresh. I welcome plans to reduce taxes.

I am patriotic and I pay my taxes, but I know that I would be stimulating the economy more if my tax bite were lower.

Why do some people believe we need more taxes anyway?

I was encouraged by the recently proposed tax reduction plan. Sure, it may not make a lot of sense given that we have a wall rivaling the Great Wall to construct, but if the government can get by with less, I'm a big supporter!

Simplifying the tax structure may actually increase revenue by ensuing that everyone pays their fair share and that the highest per capita earners do not get away paying less than middle income earners.

My Take: Let's reform the tax structure and require government to live within its means.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Different Kind of Competition

Jax at 24 Game Competition
April 26, 2017

I attend a lot of sporting events. It is evident from my posts. The events range from professional sports to youth sports and I participate in in two sports on a regular basis: racquetball and golf. 

Last evening I attended my first math event. It was the Anne Arundel County 3rd Grade 24 Game Championship. Jackson was one of two students representing his local elementary school at the County-wide finals. 

Jax in Action
24 Game Competition

Sadly, due to traffic, I was a few minutes late, but let me set the scene when I arrived at the Annapolis Senior High School gymnasium. There were ten tables with four children at each table with a proctor looking at cards using the four numbers on the cards to mathematically total 24. The crowd in the stands, which were full, was absolutely silent. There was no noise. I was a bit eerie walking into a full gym in silence with every eye looking at me wondering why I was late. 

The game progressed much like a chess match. I love to play chess--I do not like to watch chess being played. It can be like watching grass grow.

As the game progressed we really could not tell how Jax was doing. It appeared he was doing great, but after two rounds of the scheduled four round competition, Jax did not make the cut. But overall he did very well. 

It was an interesting event, but it definitely was not a spectator sport. 

Congrats, Jax! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friends don't Tax Friends

Lumber? 

The U.S. is about to start a major trade war with incredible tariffs over lumber? Really? See the article Trump slaps first tariffs on Canadian lumber. 

It was all over the news yesterday about the tariffs ranging from 3 to 24 percent on lumber from Canada. My thought is don't we have enough trouble in the world without picking a senseless fight with one of our closest friends? 

And who is going to pay? 

The American consumer, of course! Our prices will increase while dollars are exchanged by businesses and governments. 

I find it incredible that lawmakers do not realize that businesses do not pay the tariffs--the consumers do! Duh!

Whose prices go up? The consumers prices do!

I do not understand this at all. 

Allegedly, Canada has a high tariff on U.S. dairy products, but wood and milk do not mix. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Two is Too Many

Ethan with Broken Thumb
Thursday, April 20, 2017

I just have to comment today about my Grandson, Ethan. He just turned 12 less than two weeks ago and apparently in honor of his recent age change he has decided to do something that few people attempt or even think about. 

Ethan with Second Cast
April 24, 2017

Ethan has managed to break bones and get a cast on each arm in less than one week. It takes a dedicated person to be able to accomplish a feat of such magnitude. 

Here is the story. 

Last Thursday, Ethan was playing basketball and took a ball off his thumb. It hurt. And in the end it was broken and required a cast for healing and stability. Not too big a deal.

Then, over the weekend he was playing and managed to fall, catching himself with his good arm. Needless to say, the arm hurt and after a trip to the orthopedist, he had another cast. 

I guess you could say that Ethan is "armed and considered dangerous!" To himself!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 24, 2017

1. Today is the last Monday of April. The journey into Spring continues although it seems as if April only just began.

2. The rainy weekend washed out Saturday baseball and allowed for alternate activities.

3. The Orioles have the best record in the MLB. They continue to play well even though they lost yesterday.

4. It is five more days until the next weekend. Why am I thinking about that already?

5. Having a connected home could be a problem according to a New York Times article titled Here is Hoe to Fend off a Hijacking of Home Devices. 

6. I played golf yesterday, it was cool outside, but great to be out on the course.

Headlines

7. Showdown looms as Trump demands funding for wall on U.S.-Mexico border - The Washington Post

8. France's election reveals a new political divide - The Washington Post

9. Syria changed the World - The New York Times

Quote of the Week

"The developing world has been told that it's necessary to give up freedom in order to achieve progress. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Ronald Reagan

Remarks to the International Forum of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, April 23, 1986

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Happy the Rains Came

Circular Stairway at
Creek's Edge Winery

Yesterday's rain completely changed my plans for the day. 

The day was scheduled to be devoted to baseball with the annual GORC parade in the morning and another game for the GORC 10U Intramural Dodgers in the afternoon. Both events were canceled due to the wet conditions. 

The cancellations meant that the day suddenly became a blank page waiting to be filled with unscheduled activities. The first was the obligatory springtime trip to the landfill and recycling center. There is always an accumulation of junk that needs to move along and Chris and I managed a truckload yesterday. We were on our way to the dump by 8:30 AM which was the time the parade was supposed to form.

On the way home, we stopped at Home Depot and did some shopping. Being Springtime, there is always yard work that needs to be done and in this case we bought some grass seed to fill in the holes in the yard. We also priced a new smoker as our old rusted one had just been delivered to the metal recycling area of the landfill. 

Now the afternoon, what to do for the afternoon on a rainy day. Visit wineries, of course, was the answer. We hit the road and headed west to visit Big Cork, where we had a wine club distribution to retrieve. We enjoyed a tasting at the winery and then decided to find a winery we had not previously visited. After some work on the cell phone, the decision was Creek's Edge Winery about 30 minutes from where we were, but somewhat on the way back home. 

I will be writing up a full review in my wine blog, but visiting Creek's Edge was a great choice for the afternoon and we spent a few hours watching the rain fall and sampling some very nice Virginia wines in a magnificent and relaxing atmosphere.

I'm happy the rains came. Chris and I enjoyed a great unplanned day!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD