The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

9 reasons planting an awesome vegetable garden can improve your life

By Kevin Rodrigues, a developer-turned-blogger, blogging at Gardening Mentor

It’s your dream. You want to grow an awesome vegetable garden and reap the benefits. But, growing a vegetable garden is much more than just getting vegetables.

Sure you’ll be enjoying a harvest of wonderful food on your plate. But, planting a vegetable garden can improve your life as well. Your health and well-being will be transformed for the better. And, you’ll save some money in the process.

So, I hope you’re ready for the wonderful benefits of growing a vegetable garden.

1. You’ll start hating vegetables

Yeah, really. But only the ones that you buy from grocery stores. Once you grow your own vegetables, you’ll wonder how you could have eaten the store-bought ones. The problem with them is they’re grown for a profit. And growing for profit tends to compromise on the quality and flavor of the vegetables.

That’s because these vegetables are harvested days before they ripen, then transported across the country to a grocery store near you. And, the more time a vegetable spends on the shelf, the more it loses flavor and nutrients.

When you grow your own vegetables, you’ll harvest them when they are ready and not before. So you get to eat the vegetables when they’re the most nutritious and flavorful.

And, once you experience the awesome taste of fresh vegetables, there’s no going back to the store-bought ones.

Baby boomers think about life and health as spring approaches

Since I’m recovering from a compression fracture of one of my disks, I haven’t gotten out much in my yard yet. I did take a look Tuesday and pulled up about a dozen of those weeds that the seeds pop off of when they dry up. I also gingerly watered my three new arborvitaes, those tall thin evergreen trees that some people, including me, use to screen off their yards, using an empty quart yogurt container and making several trips.

However, it was too much. My back hurt. The good news from my doctor is that I should be able to work in my yard in June.

Since I’ve been inside so much, I have been able to accomplish something important. My income taxes are done. Take a look at my article on the methods I’ve used for preparing my taxes through the years and scams that could be coming your way as the deadline for filing tax returns, April 17, approaches.

Here are articles by our boomer bloggers as spring approaches:

Keeping on track with your goals by checking your progress regularly is a sure way to achieve what you want in life. However, Sue Loncaric from Sizzling Towards 60 had never thought to equate progress tracking with a New Moon, until she was introduced to her guest writer this week. Check out why the New Moon is the perfect time for fresh starts or taking stock of your goals.

Jennifer Koshak of Unfold and Begin tells us none of us have just one act. As we go through life, we change and adjust our “sails” as needed. Jimmy Dean is an example of someone who adjusted his sails several times. While our children and grandchildren might only associate Jimmy Dean with sausage, we remember that he used to be a singer and actor. What adjustments have you made to your sails?

Rebecca Olkowski of BabyBoomster.com, inspired by the Parkland students, goes back to high school to look at some of the classes we took that made us the baby boomers we are today. She’s also glad she took that semester of typing class.

Laura Lee Carter has spent the past week telling everyone who will listen why she loves living in rural southern Colorado, and why she decided to move there. Go to The Adventures of the New Old Farts' "Why We Decided to Stay in Colorado for Retirement" to learn more.

Tom Sightings of Sightings Over Sixty tells us that he's scheduled for a certain physical test – one that shall remain unnamed – which got him thinking about his health. So perhaps you, too, should check out some health-related issues and make an appointment to visit his post “A Few Reminders About Your Health."

On Six Decades and Counting, Meryl Baer wants to be young again, but not this time to avoid aches, pains, and wrinkles. She wants to be one young people demonstrating for gun control and have the energy, foresight, and idealism to believe people working together can change the world.

These articles make up the Best of Boomer Blogs #538. Be sure to visit these boomer blogs and leave a comment. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

Copyright 2018, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Ford recalls 1.4 million vehicles because the steering wheels might fall off

Photo: Bull-Doser

Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 1.4 million Lincoln and Ford cars in North America due to unsecured bolts that may let the steering wheel loosen or dislodge.

Two accidents and one injury have been reported because of the faulty steering wheels.

The bolts may loosen over time resulting in the steering wheel possibly getting loose or detaching from the steering column.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

To celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, I’m wearing the green ring and bracelet I bought when my daughter and I took a trip to Ireland in 2015. I sure loved our visit. When we flew into Dublin, it felt like I was coming home. It’s very green, just like the Seattle area where I live. The weather is similar – lots of rain.

My dad’s mom was Irish; her maiden name was Baylee. That’s her photo above.

We liked Dublin. It’s doing a good job preserving its historic buildings. We loved the art museums and learning about Irish history in some of the museums. My daughter Lisa enjoyed drinking Guinness, and we toured the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.

What are the best places to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day?

The first Saint Patrick’s Day parade didn’t take place in Ireland, but in the United States. Some say it was in Boston while others give New York the credit. Originally a Catholic feast day, Saint Patrick’s Day gained more recognition with a parade in the 18th Century and now it’s one of America’s biggest cultural holidays.

More than 32 million people in the U.S. claim Irish ancestry – that’s over six and a half times the population of Ireland. As this group grew over the centuries, so did American Saint Patrick’s Day traditions. Chicago, for example, is famous for dyeing its river green, while other cities are known for their big parades, pub crawls, or long processions of marching bagpipers. This year, Americans are expected to spend $5.9 billion or $39.65 per person to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.

What are the best places to celebrate the wearin’ of the green? WalletHub looked at Irish pubs and restaurants per capita, the lowest price for a three-star hotel, the weather forecast, and other items to pick out the top 200 of the nation’s largest cities for celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day.

Here are the top 20 from its list:

Facts and figures for Saints Patrick’s Day 2018

Have you ever tasted green beer? Some people like to drink it on Saint Patrick’s Day, but since I’m allergic to beer, I’ve never tried it.

I loved going to Ireland for the first time in 2015. My daughter and I visited County Clare where my grandmother on my dad’s side of the family came from. We were able to meet descendants of my Baylee, now spelled Bailey, in Kilkishen and Quin.

Spending

Americans plan to spend a record $5.9 billion to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day this year, according to a survey prepared for the National Retail Federation. That’s the highest level in the survey’s 14-year history, up from last year’s previous record of $5.3 billion.

Today is National Password Day

Yesterday was National Pi Day, which some people use an excuse to eat pie.

Today is National Password Day, a good day to review the passwords for your bank account, e-mail, and credit card accounts.

Here are tips from the Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau for making your passwords more secure:

SEC settlement strips CEO Elizabeth Holmes of her control of blood-testing startup Theranos

Photo: Max Morse for TechCrunch

Silicon Valley-based Theranos Inc., its founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes, and its former President Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani are being charged with raising more than $700 million from investors through an elaborate, years-long fraud in which they made false statements about the company’s technology, business, and financial performance.

Theranos and Holmes have agreed to resolve the charges against them, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday. In addition to a $500,000 penalty, Holmes has agreed to give up majority voting control over the company, as well as to a reduction of her shares which, combined with shares she previously returned, reduces her stake in the company.

The lawsuits allege that Theranos, Holmes, and Balwani made false and misleading statements in investor presentations, product demonstrations, and media articles in which they deceived investors into believing that its key product – a portable blood analyzer – could conduct comprehensive blood tests from finger drops of blood, revolutionizing the blood testing industry.

Have you started your income taxes yet?

My income taxes are almost finished. All I have to do is print out the forms and write out the check. It’s a relief. Since I have a writing business that involves keeping track of my expenses and mileage, it takes a long time to prepare my taxes.

For the past two years, I’ve used TurboTax. I used it several years ago, and I didn’t like it. The categories were different than how I added things up, and I found some parts of it confusing. However, last year, I figured I could call TurboTax for help when I got stuck.

In 2016, I had a bad experience with H&R Block. I couldn’t get an estimate from the receptionist on how much it might cost to get my income taxes prepared, nor could I get an estimate when I took my draft forms in and showed them to a tax preparer.

Baby boomers offer thoughts on life

Life is good when you’re not a baby boomer who sits around waiting for life to happen.

Sue Loncaric, blogging at Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond, says boomers in our blogging group offer thoughts on life from wise to wonderful.

This week, check out articles on South Carolina, travel tips, lifestyle changes that come with moving in retirement, an inspiring book, why we should keep trying and learning new things, how wallowing is part of grieving, the new Medicare cards that will be coming out, and gratitude.

Loncaric reports on these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #537. Click here to get the links to the articles. And, be sure and join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

Copyright 2018, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist