It Only Snowed Once This Week

Last weekend I made a quick trip to Corning. I could say I went to help my mom, which I did, but mostly went to visit with my Connecticut sister and her husband, and to have my brother help with my taxes. I filed them in late January, but because of the inheritance and the K-1 form, I needed to file an amended return. I understood very little about the changes, but my taxes are now done. Again. We had a nice time visiting (4 siblings this time) and mom is always pleased to have company.

My youngest sister's new house backs up to the cemetery and her back yard has a gate into it. So we went exploring and found our great grandmother's grave. She lived with my Dad and his parents when they came over from Sicily. She died when my dad was 15, and she used snuff.

We are unsure who this child was, buried next to great grandma. Maybe a cousin of my dad's?

This week at home has been quiet for the most part. The renovation team cleared out Tuesday evening with a plan to finish the job when the glass enclosure is ready to install (2-3 weeks). The vanity and shower fixtures will also wait until that time. The vanity was damaged in shipping and another one had to be ordered. So that gives me time to paint my room and the trim that was installed. The project is 1/3 over budget because I kept adding things - flooring the entire 2nd floor, closet system, crown molding in 2 rooms, marble edging on the shower, etc... I told Ken not to let me add another thing as my funds were depleted. Right on schedule though, my brother let me know the final large disbursement from Auntie's trust was on the way. Whew! 

It seems March is a tough month to get the biking challenge done. I remember last year getting my March ride in on the 31st and I'm repeating that this year, although I've doubled the number of rides per month to 2. I made a plan in my head for today's activities, but just before I got started painting, I remembered that I had one more bike ride to do in March. I checked the weather and it was doable, so I set off and rode 11.5 miles in 47 degree brisk winds. I finished just before the rain set in, so I have all day tomorrow to paint as its going to be a long rain event. Luckily, I planted 70 onion sets this morning so the rain will water them in nicely.

On the bike ride, I was looking around for something to take a photo of when I realized I always look for the prettiest things which isn't a fair view of my town. Today I decided to look for the most ugly, post industrial, and decrepit views in town. I found a few. 

Post industrial gloom.

This place has looked like this for 25 years. There was a sale pending sign last fall, but no action so far.

This is the cleaned up version of this property. I stopped to talk with the elderly owner a couple years ago as we had gardening in common. The mounds and piles of gardening paraphernalia (junk) have recently been bulldozed and the house is empty. A bit sad.

2023 Biking Challenge (1000 miles and 2+ rides per month)
Jan: 1/8 - 18 mi, 1/29 - 12 mi

Feb: 2/14 - 14 mi, 2/15 - 16 mi, 2/20 - 21 mi
 
March: 3/21 - 14 mi, 3/31 - 11.5 mi
 
Total distance: 106.5 mi