Happy New Year! Not sure about you, but I feel like I just celebrated 2021 and here we are in 2022. I developed some new skills during covid. I learned how to make George Washington's favorite drink that he never left home without-Cherry bounce. We were introduced to it while at an event in Raleigh as it is known as the official drink of Raleigh (I learned this in my guidebook). It is made from bing cherries, a little sugar and a bottle of brandy. It ferments in a big glass jar for 8 weeks, each day for the first week you shake it, then for the remaining 7 weeks you shake it weekly. Once it is ready, you pour it over ice and enjoy. It has become a tradition for us to make Cherry bounce to serve at Thanksgiving. Helpful hint-be sure to prepare more than you think you will need as everyone loves this drink. Hey, if it's good enough for our first President... I learned about the keto diet and now have an awareness of carbs, sugar and inflammation that I did not have before. I practiced lots of tai chi, meditation, hunted for minerals and rocks at Graves Mountain and planted a Korean Pear tree and nut trees (Hazelnut) at the farm (thanks to the gift of trees from Mark Miller). Mark also gave us a kaffir lime tree which we are enjoying in our Atlanta home since Atlanta gets too cold to have a citrus tree planted outside. Kaffir lime leaves are used in Thai cooking and have the most wonderful fragrance. The leaves can be purchased at Buford Highway Farmers Market if you are curious.
What's next? Tax season is officially here and I am triple vaccinated and ready to go! I have been providing tax services for many of you for 31 years and handling investments for 25 years. It has been a pleasure watching many of my client’s children grow up, graduate from college and start their own families. Back then, we kept crayons and coloring books at the office to entertain the kids and now kids come in with a tablet or iPhone to entertain themselves.
Every year I look forward to catching up with you all and finding out about what you have been doing, celebrating your success and helping with any tax damage control when needed. Whether we meet in person, over Zoom or talk on the phone, I am happy to help you. By now you should have received your organizers and your appointment time. If you haven't and you would like to schedule an appointment, please call the office at 770-396-6556 or email Caroline at CarolineC@ClementsFinancialServices.com.
Not sure how many of you had weddings cancelled because of Covid. Out of 4 kids we have 2 who had to postpone their weddings. My daughter Allison was able to finally celebrate the big wedding (I had already paid for it and could not get my money back) she had dreamed in December after having her Covid safe wedding in her backyard with 10 guests. My stepson Nicholas has not been able to set a date for his yet. Originally, it was scheduled in Maui until a quarantining period of 14 days was mandated!
Below is a pic of Allison and Cory, our sweet granddaughter Marlee at the wedding and my wife Dawn. Stay well and as always, thank you for being my valued client.
