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Looking for spring signs in Ireland, it seems to be autumn since last July

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I love this post, Fran, especially your beautiful Kitchen Winder quilt. I used to do quilts but didn't get along with my machine. And my quilter friends didn't appreciate my hissy fits. Now a knit. It's easier to make a fast retreat with a knitting project instead of packing up a machine, fabrics, and other stuff.

As for the tax advise, my husband did the work sheet on the standard deduction for "married filing together and over 65. When you check the appropriate boxes on the worksheet, it guides you to the amount you quality for, which could be $30,700. Apparently it's a relatively simple worksheet.

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I love, love, love my sewing machine, a Juki 2200QVP Mini. It cost $1,000 (but I got it for less in a promotion) and only sews straight stitches. But how easy it is to use. You don't even have to clip threads; it chops them off at the needle. It can go like 1,000 stitches a minute, useful if you are making curtains. Once I tried it at the store, I was sold.

That said, I hand piece most of my blocks. It's so much easier to get points to line up that way. You just ease them into place.

The IRS had online worksheets in place in some states, likely including yours. Oregon doesn't have them yet.

But I have little time to sew or knit. I have a huge pile of books to tackle, and I am writing.

I love your work, too.

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