Greetings to you all!
Winter seems to be making a last, bold statement before we can have the warm temperatures come to stay. I did have a chance to hit some balls at the driving range last week. Temperatures are up again in the next few days, I hope to stay!
Less masks, restrictions waning, looks like a new normal is on the way, about a year too late.
The Market
Interest rates are on the rise, climbing into the 5% range. One of the few fixes for the spiking inflation is for the Fed to increase the Federal Funds rates. It has begun and I am expecting rising rates as a trend in the coming months. It does put additional pressure on buyers to find a home, getting squeezed at both ends as competition for few properties pushes prices upward and rising rates push payments up. Finding a property sooner rather than later is the play to make if it is possible. Concerns of recession are looming. I have little confidence in our government to make decisions that will help. So far, they have set us up for “stagflation” the dilemma we found ourselves back in the 70’s: high inflation, slow economy, higher unemployment. I am still hoping for the best as we remain quite busy. I am still believing the market will remain pretty strong for the year.
Prince and Princess Report
New Princess, Elisabeth, is doing great. I have had a few chances to hold her. It brings back so many memories of all the other grandkids as well as the days of our own babies long, long ago. We have brought out the baby toys packed in the attic. All of them old, harkening back to our first born. As Elisabeth grows out of them, we can say goodbye to them. Likely no more babies for me to spoil.
We dragged out boxes of toys that were tucked away in the attic. So many “new toys for Jimmy and Ben who are thrilled to have such a treasure chest of “new” toys. They all belonged to their daddy’s, so they are 30 years old. About 10 boxes and/or bags of “stuff” came out of the attic. Stuffed animals, Happy meal toys, Ninja Turtles, wrestlers, Legos, blocks and more. It was like Christmas in March. Ben and Jimmy are having a ball. They play so well together. Ben told his Mama at bedtime yesterday that he had so much fun he didn’t want to go to bed. Sleepovers continue for Jimmy and Rosie. Looks like the month of April we will have them Tuesday nights. Uma is already shopping for bathing suits for the kids. They are anxiously awaiting the swimming season. It is going to be a great summer!
Home Front News
The lawn mower is out for blade sharpening and adjustments.
I expect it back next week, just in time for the mowing to begin. The lawn was aerated the end of the season and the grass looks like it is a lot thicker. Already had a lawn service treatment.
Looking forward to getting in some bicycling. My Story bike is decked out with a mirror (I discovered I really needed it) and a holder for my Iphone. I added a tool bag to keep the tools that were sent with the bike. I am working on arranging for a 26 oz Yeti gulper. The engineering could be a problem. If nothing else, I can keep it in the insulated carrier bag, transferred from the Schwinn.
Shopping at the Refindings store I found “Nipper”, the RCA Trademark fox terrier. It was damaged, his right front leg had been broken and glued back on. Not a great glue job fix, but I mixed up some plaster and joint compound and patched it up. A little air brushing and it looks presentable. A nice addition to the Theater Man Cave. He stands about 13” tall and looks great overseeing my turntable.
Golf league is only a month away. No new equipment on the horizon, not that anything would really change my game. A youth elixir would be great, but I couldn’t find any on Amazon.
Until next month,
