October 12, 2025

                It is a good early morning here in Hewitt, we hope you are having a good morning too.

                Short details about yesterday: my favorite grandson and I got a cup (coffee for me, another type of drink for him) from the Star coffee place after I picked him up as we were heading for the Ford homestead.

                Our work for the day was to construct another end and a top for the soon to be "Manger" and then attempt to put them together. We did not need to have the saw as I had previously completed the wood butchering (aka sawing). We did need the drill and a couple wood bits. The drill was used by Alex to insert all the screws and there were many. The small box of screws cost almost $14.00. I did say to Alex that he was "just screwing around", he didn't think it was funny.

                We use large screws at least 5 inches long, to hold the ends to the back and the top on the ends and back. We drilled a small hole about half the diameter of the large screws which helped get the screws into the wood. We finished the manger, yes, we put it together, with the exception that my favorite wife seems to want it to be painted. photo to follow.

                The elderly person in the manger is me. We do have enough left-over pieces of wood that we can build some bird houses to give away.

                Work was done and the tools were put away, and we headed out for lunch. Lunch was good and I was able to get my favorite grandson home in a safe manner.

                Back at home and after a rest period I decided to dismantle the unit. Taking it apart was easier than putting it together. There are 4 pieces, and I will need to find a location to store the unit.

                I then watered all the potted plants in the front and back yards. The next-door neighbor was having an old deck removed from their backyard. In years past they had an above ground pool, and the deck was for the pool. The people demolishing the deck were making too much noise, so we sat on the front porch yesterday afternoon. After the restful period on the front porch, I came into the house and watched some of the three stooges.

                Today: Who knows, we may go out for lunch and after that, well we will wait and see.  

       I am now stopping, we hope you have a good day and please stay safe in all you do. Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow.

October 11, 2025

                It seems to be another good morning here in Hewitt, we hope it turns out to be a good day for you.

                Let us start with events from yesterday: my favorite grandson Alex and I did our wood butchering in the driveway. Alex did most of the sawing using the chop saw, and I provided some guidance. One thing we discussed was "measure twice cut once". I had a drawing of the project with measurements on it, but we were careful to examine the drawing and in a couple situations we altered the measurements. We did get one side, and the back completed, photo to follow.

                In the photo we see the work area that Alex and I were using, which is under the carport. To the right you can see the chop saw that Alex was using, in the center you can see part of the Manger, back and one end, and you can also see a few tools laying around.

                At this point we had decided to go for lunch, we put all those tools and woodwork away, drove into Waco and had a couple sandwiches, then came back home.

                My favorite wife and I sat outside yesterday afternoon, and a friend came over and sat with us. It was a good afternoon, and it was very quiet and very warm (90) in the neighborhood.

                Different subject: the other day I was in the front yard picking up debris when a vehicle drove down the street which I waved at, not knowing who was in the vehicle. It went to the end of the street, turned around in the cul-de-sac and came back. The vehicle stopped in front of me where I was working. There were two ladies in the vehicle, they rolled down the window, and one lady said your yard is very pretty. To that I said, "thank you, what about me", and she said you're pretty too, The other lady said well you make the yard look good. They drove away not knowing me and I did not know them. We do appreciate the comment.

                Today: we will again bring Alex over and he will help me complete the project. We will need to construct a second end and the top to the Manger scene. I have cut the remaining wood so there will be no sawing today just using screws and bolts to put it together. Hopefully in tomorrow's photo we will have a complete project.

                We will probably again go to lunch together and this time we will most likely take my favorite wife with us.

I assume that is about it for today, we hope you have a very good day and stay safe in all you do.

Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow.

October 10, 2025

                Good morning

                I will not need to take Alex to school today as they have the day off. Not another day for me to relax, I will get Alex and bring him to our house, and we will work on the manger for my favorite wife. I told him I would get him a drink from the Star coffee place this morning and buy his lunch if he would help me.

                Yesterday morning: I went out to the number two berry bed and pulled some more weeds and removed some of the dead vines, I worked until the trash container was full then I headed into the house for a quick shower.

                Later, I went out into the front yard and picked up some debris. There are always small sticks and clumps of leaves from the tree. I think the leaves partly fall to the yard due to the squirrels making nest and they occasionally drop them.

                I thought about something as I was attempting to remove debris, but I am not going to comment on what I was thinking. When things are going well and then we start bragging about them, everything changes, and the good things go bad. I will not comment about the lack of acorns in our yard this year because if I do, they will somehow start showing up and we do not want that to happen.

                Subject change: I had noted in an earlier post that the wood for the manger was behind our truck. I have a photo for that one person who wanted to know how the wood was behind the truck. Yes, I did blur the license plate from the photo.

                I have not shaved for a few days as I and considering some facial hair.

                Well, I will attempt to stop for now, we hope you have a good day and please stay safe in all you do.

Wood butcher Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow.

October 9, 2025

                A good morning to you from us and I do not need to get Alex and take him to school today or tomorrow.

                I just observed one of our neighbors leave her driveway I assume going to work. Something I have noticed every time I see her drive out of the driveway she stops at the end of the drive and turns her turn signal on then she leaves the driveway.

                Enough about that, let us review yesterday: after getting my free cup of coffee and dropping Alex off at school I came home and finished my post. Finished with the computer work I went to the vet and paid too much for heart worm medicine.

Then I headed out to go into downtown Waco to get the tag for the pickup. On the way I stopped at the cleaners and got my clean clothes, then I drove all the way into Waco.

Arriving at the tax office, I walked into the building and noticed that there were few people there, normally when I checked in, I would be given a number and told to sit down and wait. That did not happen. I went directly to the counter to pay my money, got the tag and left the building.  

                Leaving the tax office, I had decided to stop at the home store and get some wood for my favorite wife's manger replacement. After loading the wood onto the Ford's little pickup, I headed home where I was able to make my ole body unload the wood from the pickup. The wood is now on the driveway behind the truck and that is where I hope to bring a saw and some tools and manufacture a new manger.

                I was able to do my bible study homework and rest a while before washing the pot hound. Yes he needed to be washed and he seemed to like all the rubbing he gets during the washing.

                Everything was completed; we sat outside yesterday afternoon in the warm summer air (91 degrees). As we sat there, I saw our new neighbor cleaning his truck, so I went over and introduced myself.

                Today's events: I may pull weeds from the blackberry bed and after that who knows. I do have three photos I will share with you. One is another sun rise, another is the trees before the fall weather arrives and the leaves all turn brown, and the last is the fence at the ditch behind the house with the ole solar powered lights installed.

       Well, I guess that is enough for today, we hope you have a good day and that we all stay safe in all we do.

Photographer Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow.

October 8, 2025

                Good morning to you, we hope your day is starting off as expected. No, we do not know what you expect.

                I have just returned from dropping Alex off at school. Yes, I did get him there safely and on time yes, we did have some lively discussions about things like the moon which we could see this morning even though the sun was shining. As I was going to pick up Alex I saw a really pretty sunrise I actually stopped on the side of the street and took a picture of it. The problem is I can't send an e-mail from my phone so I can't get the photo from my phone onto the computer to show you the very bright and pretty sunrise.

                Yesterday's events recorded by me: my favorite wife and I did go to town and on the way, I stopped at the bank and got a couple dollars.

At the store we wanted to see if they had the glass ready for us, we had ordered it about 10 days ago. They did have it. This glass is for a picture frame we have that was broken and my wife wanted to replace it.

                We then went to a different store where I purchased some air filters for the air conditioner and wasp spray. Alex had noted that we have wasp nests, that is two nests on the back patio, and we need to get rid of them.

                Back at home I did water the berry beds as we haven't had any rain, and I watered the flower pots too. That completed I did back the van out of the garage and set up a folding table. I used the table to take the picture frame apart and place the new glass into it. Then my favorite wife and I did install the picture into the frame. I should note that the picture is actually a puzzle that was put together by my favorite wife several years ago. We completed that work and I carried the picture (24 inches by 36 inches) into the front room, we have not positioned it on a wall yet.

                That work completed I did fill the garage refrigerator with bottled water as our yard man Alex drinks them during working hours. Then I installed the air filter and also put some bleach into the pipes that drain the water from the air conditioner.

                Finally, all the work was completed so we sat outside and enjoyed the quiet afternoon even though it was 93 degrees. Yes, there was a breeze, so we did not need the fan.

                Today possible events if I get done with this posting: go to the vet and get the heart worm pills for the dog, go into Waco and get the tag for the pickup truck, get some boards from the home center so I can attempt to build a manger scene for my favorite wife's Christmas decorations, stop at the cleaners and pick up some clothes, return home and unload the wood.

                I still need to do my bible study homework. When will I get some time to take a nap?

Well, I will attempt to stop for now, we hope you have a very good day and please stay safe in all you do.

Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow.

October 7, 2025

            We are starting another good morning here in Hewitt, and we hope it is a good morning where you are.

            I am attempting to remember anything that I or we done yesterday. I did have problems with my email so I hope that is solved. I did get my hair cut but since my gold card for the star coffee place is short on funding, I did not get a cup from the coffee place. My favorite wife and I did sit outside for a while before I headed off to Bible study, it was a very warm but breezy afternoon. Bible study was good we all shared our thoughts.

            When we left the Bible study last night the Moon was very bright, I guess we can say we had moonshine last night.

I am having a problem with the email on the phone so I will need to find the correct password or create a new one.

            I need to get Alex and take him to school this morning so I will say have a good day and be safe in all you do.

            Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

October 6, 2025

            We hope you are having a good morning; I am not.

            The day has started ok until I came to the computer, and it needs some type of sign in. I tried the sign in but got some odd responses so I decided to try the other email, yes I have two on this computer and in the past had others.

            The email I am attempting to use is the one with the bad address for the Blog. I will attempt to put the correct address on the email when I send it.

            All that said I don’t have any photos for the viewing public. My favorite wife and I did go out for lunch yesterday, the food was good but we did have to wait to be seated. After eating we headed for home and did almost nothing the rest of the day. we did sit outside a couple times yesterday as there was nothing interesting to do inside the house. Sundays are always quiet in the neighborhood; our neighbor had another fairly large limb break off a tree in the back yard as we were sitting outside.

            I have placed some of the old solar powered lights on the fence along the ditch and I wanted to get a photo after it got dark but I forgot.

            Different subject: I do not need to take Alex to school today, his parents are off work as they have been celebrating their 22^nd anniversary this weekend.

            I should go out back and pull more weeds from the number 2 berry bed before the sun begins to shine on it, and I should get my hair cut today. My favorite wife has me working on a plan to re-build the Manger seen for this Christmas. The old one was falling apart so I got rid of it and now I am working on a plan for a new one, never no rest for the ole people.  

            I will stop for now and see if I can get this to the blog sight and then get an email to you. Have a good day and stay safe in all you do.

Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow.

 

October 5, 2025

                Looking outside it appears to be a good morning here in Hewitt, Texas.

                We had a very nice day yesterday; our Yard man Alex and I went to the star coffee place to get a cup before we started working yesterday morning. There was a very pretty flower along the drive through which I took a photo of. Yes, it is blooms on a cactus type plant.

Arriving at the Ford homestead Alex mowed and trimmed our front yard, and did a very good job of it. While he was trimming and mowing the front yard I got on my hands and knees out at number 2 BlackBerry bed and pulled a few weeds out. I also cut out some of the dead vines that are in there, but I did not get them all and in fact, I got very few of the weeds because I only worked at it for about 20 minutes. Early morning the sun is not shining there so I can do the work but when the sun starts shining on me, I simply stop working.

                My yard man Alex pointed out the 2 wasp nests on the back porch and also reminded me that we have not purchased a new spray can of wasp killer. Photo of one of the wasp nests to follow. It may be difficult to determine how large that nest is, but it is as large as my fist.

                After all the work was completed, I did take a quick shower due to crawling on the ground and then we headed into Waco for lunch. Our lunch was good as usual, then we headed over to the cheap store where my favorite wife purchased a couple boxes of batteries, which were on sale. We dropped Alex off at his home and we returned to our own home where I took a nap.

Later in the day we did sit outside on the front porch and for a while there was a nice breeze. We later moved to the swing set near the driveway and a friend joined us for some lively conversations. The conversations were not about politics, but they seemed to be about our families even back when we were kids (that is a long time ago).

We have no big plans for today, we will likely go out for lunch and after that who knows.

Well, I should stop for now, we wish you a good day and we hope everyone is safe in all we do.

Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow.