"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." ~George Bernard Shaw

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn


Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Public Service Announcement for all USA Taxpayers

This photo is blurry since it isn't the real thing- 
just like the scam phone calls from Jamaica. 
Read below:
NO JOKE!
Beware of Fake IRS Agents Calling

IRS Warns of Pervasive Telephone Scam

IRS YouTube Video:
Tax Scams: 
English | Spanish | ASL
IR-2013-84, Oct. 31, 2013
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned consumers about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, throughout the country.

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

“This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country.  We want to educate taxpayers so they can help protect themselves.  Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer,” says IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel. “If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling.” Werfel noted that the first IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via mail
Other characteristics of this scam include:
  • Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
  • Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
  • Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
  • Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
  • Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
  • After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:
  • If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue – if there really is such an issue.
  • If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4484.
  • If you’ve been targeted by this scam, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov.  Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments of your complaint.
Taxpayers should be aware that there are other unrelated scams (such as a lottery sweepstakes) and solicitations (such as debt relief) that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to be vigilant against phone and email scams that use the IRS as a lure. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information.  This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does not ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts. Recipients should not open any attachments or click on any links contained in the message. Instead, forward the e-mail tophishing@irs.gov.

More information on how to report phishing scams involving the IRS is available on the genuine IRS website, IRS.gov.
You can reblog the IRS tax scam alert via Tumblr.
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 02-Apr-2014

Sunday, July 27, 2014

It's Awww Monday July 28, 2014


Huffin' n Puffin cutie!
~~~~
Thanks to Sandee for Awww Monday!
~~~~


Magpie #230




 Berlin's Neues Museum photo 
provided by Tess Kincaid 

Nefertiti
Ageless beauty in the wrong city
Great Royal Wife
~~~~

Here's another interesting story about Nefertiti.
And you can go here to see more Magpie Tales
Have a great week!   

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Feline Friday, Six Words and Shadowy Shots July 26-27, 2014

Our little visit north continues on..... 


A rainy day drive as we go towards Portland in the Columbia Gorge
July 23, 2014


 How men dry their work gloves
July 23, 2014  


 Joe's oldest cat Cheech
July 23, 2014


Joe's other kitty Winnie
July 23, 2014 


 A bus ride full of texters
July 24, 2014


 Making 48 quarts of spicy dill pickles
July 25, 2014 


Saturday's Shadow 
July 26, 2014

Joe's fixing breakfast......
July 26, 2014
~~~~
Thanks to Steve for Feline Friday
Thanks to Cate for Six Word Saturday
and here's the link to Shadow Shot Sunday




Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Wednesdays Travel Notes


Russell and I are on a week long road trip.
Haven't done this for quite awhile!
We first drove to Bend....
here are a few random photos....


"Don't forget my treats!" 


There really should be a law!

 Deschutes Brewery in downtown Bend


Highway 20 rest stop near Riley, Oregon

Highway 395 heading towards Highway 26

We had to take a detour via Hwy 20 and 395
to get to John Day as Hwy 26 was closed
because of wildfires near Mitchell .....

.
 John Day's newest brewery


Russell with his smart phone

Tasty lunch and a glass of cider....
they were out of their wonderful IPA...

Great B and B in Baker City

Spent the night in Baker City- after a great visit
with our good friends. Today we'll be in
Lake Oswego for Portland's Oregon Brewers Festival!
~~~~~~~

Sunday, July 20, 2014

It's Awww Monday! July 21, 2014

Remember Lucy's baby deer from 
Well, here's some more adorable photos.
We love seeing the deer.

Mother deer in the early morning...
July 14, 2014

 Close up of mother deer
July 14, 2014

And....here's a cutie!
July 14, 2014
~~~~

Magpie Tales #229 Crime of the Century

Grocery Store of the Past
posted by Tess Kincaid

Stores of the past with
 Uneven wooden floors
Soft luminescent lights
And tiny grocery carts
That wiggled and jiggled 
Full of edible delights
Unlike today's chemistry
Monsanto masquerade 
Danger lurks in GMO bites
~~~~~~
Saunter over HERE to read more!!
Thanks Tess!

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Six Words and Shadowy Shots! July 19-20, 2014

Pausing to enjoy a friends garden....

Andi's Flower Garden  July 17, 2014
Mt Shasta California

We are in a severe drought, 
but some gardens survive so beautifully.
Take a peek here and here for more
Six Words and Sunday Shadows!
And for heavens sake enjoy your day! 

Friday, July 18, 2014

It's Feline Friday! July 18, 2014

Here's some Feline Friday photos:

Sebastian and Jaspurr

Our good friend Malia is fostering
Jaspurr and his sister Iris





Lucy really wants outside !
July 17, 2014

It's baby deer time and Mom is not too
far away. I'll post more photos Monday!
Meanwhile hop on over Feline Friday!
~~~

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Baby Elephant Plays in the Ocean!

Today's post is dedicated to 
Stephen Hayes of Chubby Chatterbox fame!
Yesterday he posted this very poignant
story about a very mis-treated elephant.
Here's how all elephants should be treated!
Unfortunately I am not able to load the video
so just click on the link below! Well worth watching!




Youtube video of Baby Elephant playing

Monday, July 14, 2014

It's Awww Monday! July 14, 2014

Mt Shasta Parade
July 4th, 2014

These two were so fun to watch
during the parade. 
~~~~
Thanks to Sandee for Awww Mondays!

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Magpie Tales #228

Image provided by Tess Kincaid


Once new and fresh
High hopes for the future
Worn by threadbare decisions
 ~~
Step lightly
Don't tread on me
These are not the stairs to heaven
~~
This week's image was a challenge.
You choose which one you like.
Meanwhile step over here 
and read what others write.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Saturday Six Words and Sunday Shadow Shots! July 12-13,2014

It's  Carnavale time in Weed, California!!

The Ferris Wheel Awaits...


A View From the Top!

Looking Down

Fire Dancers! Yow!
~~~~
Summertime and we're being lazy!
Click on 6 or Shadows to see more!

Friday, July 11, 2014

Meowf! It's Feline Friday! July 11, 2014

Our good friends and neighbors
add two more cuties to their menagerie!
They have chickens, goats, sheep and a dog. 
They also have a full time veggie garden
for our local Farmers Market.
They have added two kitties to keep down the mice-
plus the kitties needed a new home!
Have a great weekend! 

One of two new kittens
July 8, 2014

Here's the other cutie pie!
July 8, 2014

~~~~

Monday, July 07, 2014

It's Time for Awww Monday! July 7, 2014

Patient Mother with Twins
July 7, 2014

These two cuties and their mom were
dashing around our front yard this morning-
fawns are hysterically funny when they
run in circles and literally hop,skip and
 jump all at once. So cute. We love them!
 Thanks to Sandee for Awww Mondays!
~~~~~

Sunday, July 06, 2014

Magpie Tales #227 The "How to" Duo

Tintype circa 1860's

There once was a thief called Jess
Whose crime wave was a terrible mess
Along came these two
Who showed him how to
Rob banks and have fun with finesse!


Sacramento California
June 20 2014

~~~~
Thanks to Tess Kincaid for Magpie Tales !
Have fun whatever you do!

Saturday, July 05, 2014

Six Words and Sunday Shadows July 5, 2014

The heat is definitely turned on!
Summer is certainly here, but there are 
still cool corners in our home.

Cornered Shadows June 27, 2014

Studio Shadows June 14, 2014

~~~~~~~~
Click on these links to see other Shadows and Six Words !
And for goodness sakes have a lovely day! 

Friday, July 04, 2014

It's Feline Friday and Happy 4th of July!


Happy 4th of July! 


My Little Video Atempt with Lucy
July 2014

Thanks to Steve of BFDude for Feline Friday!
~~~~o~~~~