Planting

Greetings,

Since the yard is a big mud pit and the tractor won't start (without a jump) and I was gettin' antsy about gardening, I went out and bought a bunch of seeds to start (and some more to plant when the ground dries out). So here is how much gardening adventure begins with a bunch of seeds, eight-packs and some potting soil. So far I've got lettuce, onions, kohlrabi, turnips, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil and chives/garlic started. By the time they need to be transplanted, the ground should be a little closer for cultivation. I've got big plans!

(Help! my hand is caught in the jaws of a potting soil monster!)

Some of the veggies I plan to grow.

A little update on vehicle performance to please the numerically and automotively inclined. After 10 months of ownership and 21500 miles (its at 107500 now), the Benz continues to carry us wherever we wish to go with little complaint. Winter took its toll on the fuel economy and body with the car now averaging 23.35 mpg and having developed some small rust spots around the wheel wells and the drivers side door threshold. At that mileage rate (with fuel costs averaging 2.929 from 91/93) the car costs about $.125 per mile for fuel, $.113 per mile for repairs etc, and $.152 per mile for payments on the loan. All of that adds up to exactly $.39 per mile for the all in cost of running the vehicle, which seems low but its due for a tuneup (Benz's need periodic infusions of cash to keep them happy, so ~$500-1000) and for insurance at the end of this month. Those will certainly bring the cost per mile closer to the IRS deduction rate of 55 cents per mile. But the numbers don't lie, a working-class couple with no children can afford a newish Mercedes if its bought used/pre-broken-in.

The truck, oh the truck, how I wish I would have bought a bigger one! After 6 months and 6274 miles of driving, the truck has averaged 14.47 mpg and (at an average fuel cost of $1.968 for 87) $.131 per mile for fuel. Repairs and maintenance have been minimal at $.06 per mile, while loan payments come to $.39 per mile! which brings the truck's all in cost to about $.59 per mile which will be even higher soon as I plan to put a lift kit on it, new tires, and a plow (and pay new insurance...). In the final analysis, the truck is (per mile) way more expensive than the Mercedes, but it is a necessary tool for my carpentry business, otherwise I'd probably drive a little honda or something (I ran the numbers on adding a 35 mpg or so honda civic to the fleet and even saving $4/day on fuel it doesn't even come close to making financial sense).

Anyway, I find it incredibly interesting to see where all the money goes.

----W----