What's the Old Saying? Death and Taxes? Today It's Day 1 of Taxes After-hours

It's my first day off of the week and it's (relatively) warm ... only -3F (-21.6C). We'll be heading back to double-digit negative temps for the rest of this week and through Monday, but  after Sunday we'll start crawling our way back out of this Arctic freeze. Frankly, with temps like this, all I want to do is stay in bed with the covers pulled tightly around me. That's not going to happen, though. I have knitting to do and a house to clean, errands to run and groceries to buy. It's actually going to be a very busy day today, and we get to top it off by a visit after-hours to our accountant for our corporate income tax return preparation. 

We have to pay income tax twice because we're 
self-employed. We get to pay corporate income 
tax, and we get to pay personal income tax. We 
also have to donate double amounts for Social 
Security withholding tax. It's a joy being an 
independent small business owner. *sigh*

It was actually a terrible year for business - COVID, you know. We were closed for seven weeks, and our business on average has been down 50%. Still, we got into the first round of PPP loans and also received three different grants from the State, the County and the City. Those kept us in business, but it also means we're going to show a profit for the year and will owe tax on it. Sometimes life's really not fair. 

We don't have our vaccine yet, not even an appointment 
to get it. Chickie set up an appointment at a local 
pharmacy for April (I think), even though they don't 
even have the vaccine yet. I'm assuming I won't see 
my vaccination until summer sometime. It's rather 
amazing what a total mess one tiny virus has made 
of the entire world. 

One of my online friends mentioned that she preferred a turned rim on her winter hats, that they kept her warmer. I absolutely agree, and was already planning on making the rim of the Fair Isle hat a double-thick turned border. It's easy enough to do, and I prefer that type of rim to a winter hat also. I don't just wear hats for fashion, in winter, they better be keeping my head warm too. I'm still studying the pattern to figure out exactly how I want to alter it for my own preferences, but a double-thick bottom band is essential. 

The beauty of making things myself is that I can change things 
to meet my personal style choices. The bottom of this hat 
is what I'll be changing, for sure. I prefer a double-layered 
brim for warmth in our super cold temps. That's easy enough 
to do. I'll try to work some swatches today since I'll have 
the machine set up to finish my first sweater. 

I don't really have a lot to say today - I'll blame the cold. I'm going to plug in my pictures, call this a "done deal", and get myself a nice hot cup of tea. Have an excellent Wednesday and I'll be back tomorrow. Remember, please be kind, stay safe and wear your mask.