The beginning 09.29.17

                Although it is the end of September and October is about to begin, that has nothing to do with this article. It has been raining, thank goodness, we have received just a little less that one inch that we badly needed. That being said, the rain is about to end and clear weather is about to begin, but that also has nothing to do with this article.

                As a senior retired person, I have developed many quirks, one of which I shall present to you in this posting. For some reason, I have developed a dislike for the beginning, even though I have written about how all things begun (which includes the universe and everything else, you are right, no one read it), I still have a problem with some beginnings.

                I find it interesting that I have no problem with the middle, truthfully the middle grabs my attention for some unknown reason. Possibly, you may have the answer to my question, and I will be happy to listen.

                The problem is this, I like to watch old TV shows, but there are a bunch that if I turn the TV on and the TV show is just beginning, I will turn the channel. If I turn the TV on and the same show is in progress, I will sit there and watch it. I can’t understand why I have a problem with the beginning of these shows and not the middle.   Thoughts, other than, “I am old”?

 

                A different subject.

                As I stood on the Ford’s old drive way waiting on “The Gabi” to arrive, I again heard the sound of the wood pecker, pecking on the aluminum cover to the street light. This bird has been on that light pecking most mornings, for some unknown reason, for about a week or so. This is not unusual, this bird or possibly other birds peck on this aluminum light most mornings, why? 

                I wanted to refer to this bird as an, “Aluminum Pecker” but I thought, that term, “Aluminum Pecker” could be misunderstood.

 

May all things be normal for you!

 

Don Ford

Work not lest ye be tired 09.27.17

                Boy, is the above title true!  I was tired yesterday afternoon, cause I had to work! Was I again forced to work? Nope, it was voluntary, so I can’t complain. 

                Yesterday, at the end of my noon nap, I decided to go to the home depot and purchase some wood in an effort to get the Ford’s hot house ready for the coming winter event.

                I had previously worked out a bill of materials for this project, but being careful, I took the list along with my pencil out to the job site and reviewed my needs. Final list in hand, I proceeded to the store. I observed a female putting some wood fence planks on her cart. I then changed my mind and acquired a couple of the planks, instead of 3 each 1 X 4s. I then loaded 7 each 2 X 4s on to my cart and headed to the checkout.

                I carefully loaded said lumber into the bed of the Ford’s Chevy, and headed for the Homestead. Arriving at the Homestead, I unloaded said lumber and carried it to the work site. After that I had to take a break! 

                I didn’t again return to the job site until after picking the Alex up from school. Grandees headed for home, and I went out to the job site, with a hand saw that was my dad’s. After considering the amount of work involved I decided that a hand saw would be too much work for this retired senior person.

                I acquired the 100 foot extension cord from the shed and connected it to the outlet. I then procured the reciprocating saw from the shed. At this point the work started. I had to remove all the items that I have stored in the hot house along with the pool ladder. I used the reciprocating saw to remove 50% of the plastic steps from the pool ladder. That accomplished I relocated the ladder into the hot house.

                I then measured the 2 X 4s and cut them with the reciprocating saw. The fence planks were the correct length so no cutting needed. I then place the 2 X 4s in their proper location. Photos to follow.

   

Above two photos viewed through the open door. Photo below viewed from the back side after I had relocated all the stuff back in the hot house.

                During this entire project I had been watching the sky as there was a chance of rain.

                Completing the work I headed for the old rocker to rest with a diet coke. I turned the fan on to provide a breeze in an effort to cool down.

                When I sat down on the old rocker, I checked weather bug and there was rain all around Hewitt. I then looked up at the clouds and thought, “God, you can let it rein now”. I had no more than completed that thought when I felt a drop of rain. It began to sprinkle immediately after my statement, or was it a prayer? Whichever, there was sprinkles of rain.

Maybe one of these have been watching me.

May your day be blessed!

Don Ford

               

Bed for the dog 09.26.17

                My present wife worked several nights, in the dark, along several highways, to pick up enough aluminum cans so she could purchase her dog “Tres”, a bed.

                There is a small problem, now that she has the bed. The problem is, Tres is not the only one to use the bed. The following photo is proof of possibly an illegal use of, “The Tres’ Bed”. Click on the photo to enlarge. It is, “The Alex, in the Tres bed”.

                There was also a sharing of this bed, photo included. Can you say having fun?

                Alex had walled the bed in with pillows from the couch and two foot stools. Tres’ ears may be saying, he is not sure.

If you can’t have fun, don’t do it!

Don Ford

Relax and enjoy the weekend 09.25.17

                I am sure you have over the years learned various methods of relaxing and enjoying a weekend. This weekend our oldest son and his wife along with two friends, came to the Ford Homestead to visit. They had plans to go to the stock car races Saturday night. The husband of their friend has a race car, and was racing Saturday night.

                Everyone knows that eating is one of the best ways to relax during a weekend, so we all went to George’s, a local restaurant, to partake in an evening, I mean afternoon repast. There was lively conversation on various subjects. The subject of Tres, our 49 pound 5 month old puppy came up several times.

                You know me, I like to tell “True” stories, so I told one about Tres, which goes like this. It was dark outside and I was sitting in the Ford’s old recliner trying to watch TV, when out in the back yard this dog started barking.

                Now you should know that Tres, even though he was just a 5 month old puppy, has a voice like a full grown dog. He is very loud when he barks. He is as loud as the full grown part Sheppard in the next door neighbor’s yard. As I tried to relax from the long days labors, I heard a dog barking. I sat there hoping he would stop but no he did not. I got the look from my present spouse, and I knew I should attempt to pry my tired old senior body, off the Ford’s old recliner, and call Tres into the house. 

                It took several tries for me to get up, but I was able to drag my tired old body over to the back door, pushing the door open I stepped outside and called out to Tres. Tres has a bad habit of ignoring me when he is playing, or barking at someone. I called out several times, each time my feeble ole voice was louder than before. As you might imagine, I was becoming more upset each time Tres ignored me. The barking had to be bothering the neighbors, it was bothering me. What was he barking at?

                I considered using a baseball bat, if and when I would get hold of him, to teach him to stop barking. Madder than a mashed cat, I looked back through the door to show my disapproval of Tres’ actions to my spouse of 48 years.

                Surprise, surprise, Tres was looking out the door at me! It was the neighbor’s dog that was barking, Tres was inside the house. I did not feel the least bit foolish!

                Back to relaxing over a weekend, as I was sitting on the Ford’s old rocking chair Saturday evening, diet coke in hand, I became aware of another way of relaxing. Charlie was showing me his way of relaxing, photo below.

I hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as Charlie!

        

Don Ford

Fall my Donkey 09.22.17

                Yesterday, was Thursday September 22, 2017, it was 99 degrees in Hewitt TX. Unfortunately, it was not a record high for that day, but we found it very hot for the day before fall’s official start. Today, the official start of fall, it is only supposed to be in the mid-90s.

                Why did I use the word donkey in the title? Well, some of my readers are sensitive to certain language, and you know I am also sensitive to my reader’s needs. If Donkey don’t seem right for you then use one of the synonyms for donkey which are, ass, jackass, or jenny. For the one person who is not familiar with the terminology jenny, in this setting the term jenny refers to a female donkey, and not a woman.

 

                As usual I took the granddaughter to school this morning, and as usual I observed something that I find interesting. As I was attempting to exit the school parking area in to the heavy traffic, there was this motorcycle mixed in between the cars and trucks. There was a driver for this motorcycle and a passenger. The fact that the passenger was a female has nothing to do with this story. The passenger was looking down at the cell phone in her hands and I could see her thumbs moving so I know she was texting. I had never seen a person text while riding on a motorcycle. Dumb Donkey, or what other synonym you prefer!

                I guess I will stop with this wonderful writing and take a look at my dash cam. It was the cheapest I could find and it has served me fairly well for a couple years but it seems to have some type of problem so I will attempt to find the problem.

 

May your day be safe and relaxing!

 

Don Ford

Tres' dog house 09.20.17

                My spouse of 48 years has been working overtime picking up cans from the side of the roads. She has also been going through trash containers where she finds many sellable items. This isn’t easy for her as she has been told to not bend over due to her eye operation. We have given her one of those senior citizen grabbers so she can pick up things without bending over. 

                She was able to work overtime and earn enough to get a dog house for the Tres, photo to follow.

As you can see Tres is inspecting the new dwellings.

                Who is that in Tres’ house? Alex was asked to go inside in an effort to show Tres that he can also go inside. You may have guessed it. Tres went inside while Alex was in the house. Yes it was a little crowded but Tres now knows he can go inside.

                Previously I had tossed some of Tres’ toys inside hoping he would go in but he didn’t. Alex is a good teacher!

Teachers come in all age groups!

Don Ford

Get Ready 09.18.17

                We had a few days of fall like temperatures so I did a little outside work. I removed all the collection of tools and other junk I had placed in the Ford’s warm Hot house. There had been weeds that grew during the fall and winter months, so when the flowers were disseminated through the grounds I went inside the hot room and sprayed weed killer. Those weeds perished, but were still inside the building. I removed them and now the inside of the building is more or less clean. See photo below, click to enlarge.

                If you have looked at the photo, you may have noticed that I have an old above ground pool ladder installed. There will be some modification to the ladder and then it will be used as a shelf for storing flowers in pots this winter. I will remove the bottom steps and then the third from the bottom steps. There will be boards place on the remaining top and lower steps. These boards will be attached to the steps.

                It has been determined that 17 flower pots with flowers (properly trimmed) can be placed on the ladder shelves and the floor under the ladder.  There will be side shelves which allows for an additional 20 flower pots. 37 flower pots in total may be placed in the small hot house and I will still be able to water each pot during the winter months. 

                Fall will come to Hewitt this Friday, it is supposed to be a cool 93 degrees, I am not sure when it will get to your home.

                If we are able to afford the wood for the shelves in the Hot house I will take another photo and post it for your enjoyment.

May your day be blessed with much kindness!

Don Ford

Nicotine addiction 09.15.17

                I was meditating the other day, when it came to me that I should, one more time comment on nicotine addiction. At a later date I will elaborate on the reason for my meditation while sitting in the rocking chair on the driveway.

The decision is totally yours, we can’t help you make the decision, if we could we would!

The date to quit is Oct. 1^st. That means after midnight September 30^th, you will stop!

This will be one of the most difficult things you have ever done, or will ever do!

Begin now telling family, friends and anyone who will listen that you are quitting on October 1^st. If you are not willing to tell others that you are quitting, then you are not quitting!

Tell yourself repeatedly that you have the will power and ability to quit! Be positive about the fight you are facing, (it is a real fight) and that you will quit. 

Enjoy your tobacco as much as you like until midnight Sept. 30^th.
 

You have a strong will power, use it! Again, this is the most difficult thing you may ever do!

If you don’t want to quit then don’t try! Trying will not get you there, Quit means Quit, not try!

Your friends and family will be checking with you daily, starting Oct 1^st, to see how you are doing. You must tell others you are quitting, their support is so important!
 

There will be prayers offered daily by friends and family for your success! 

You will be madder than a mashed cat for several weeks! You may literally want to hurt someone, you will likely have a tendency to rudely state your opinions on everything, to anyone. Try to limit that type of speech to your family and friends.

 If you are not a nicotine addict but you know someone who is, feel free to print this out and                 hand it to them.

Want to talk, I am here!

Don Ford        

Would you believe 09.14.17

                I have a photo that may convince some of you that it has happened. Some of you may not believe my photo and may want to suggest that, “I did not take the photo”. I took this photo!

                The photo was taken in the waiting room at the hospital! There was a very large photo on the wall, and I took a photo of it.

Fall is coming!

Don Ford

Off schedule 09.13.17

 

                As I have so eloquently stated in the past, senior’s citizens do not like to be off their normal schedule! That being said, we have been off our schedule for the last 3 days, and it is not fun!

                We were off schedule the last few days do to cataract surgery. Donna had surgery on Monday, the surgery took about 20 minutes and we were there from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Most of this time was spent in the waiting room doing nothing!

                Donna had a follow up appointment yesterday and since she complained, she had another visit today. She is doing fine and back to normal, although she can’t lift over 10 pounds and can’t sleep on her right side.

                Anyway, we are back on normal schedule now! J

 

Enjoy being on schedule!

 

Don Ford

Magic Howl

                           Magic Howl    

                                         Chapter 1

                                                                 by Gabi Ford

            A long time ago, there was a young wolf pup whose name was Ice. This young wolf puppy was different from other wolf pups. When she howled, ice would appear around her, and that is how she got the name Ice.

            Young Ice had been abandoned by her parents, because they did not like the ice that appeared when she howled.

                                                           

            Living alone, Ice was exploring the area which was snow covered. One day, she was walking through the deep snow when she found a hole in the snow. She investigated to see what might be in the hole, where she found several eggs. Ice looked at the eggs and decided to take one of them with her. What would she do with this egg, she thought, I guess I will play with it, since I have no friends to play with?

            Ice would use her mouth to toss the egg into the air, and it would land on the snow. She would run and get the egg and toss it into the air again and again, until she became tired. Ice decided to rest for a while with the egg lying beside her in the snow.

                                               

            Now Ice had not thought about who had left the eggs in that hole, or, that whoever left the eggs there, might return. As Ice rested in the snow, she suddenly felt this pain in her back leg, something bit her back leg! It hurt so bad that she tried to get up and get away, but whatever bit her, was holding on. Ice was surprised to see, an alligator, holding on to her back leg.

            The mother alligator let go of Ice’s leg, picked up her egg, and returned it to the hole in the snow, which was her nest. 

            Ice limped off in pain, wishing she had never found that egg! Ice walked through the snow covered forest and through a field where she saw a cabin.

            It was a small cabin and she did not see anyone around. Would she be able to find a place to rest, and let her leg which still hurt from the alligator bite, get better? She carefully limped up to the cabin and she still did not see anyone. As she walked around the cabin she saw this hole in the wall. It wasn’t a big hole, but it was big enough for her to get through. Ice carefully crawled through the small hole and she was now inside the cabin.

            Ice had never been inside a cabin before, she carefully looked around and she saw something that she had never seen before, what was it she thought? It was warm, and this thing was popping and making heat. Ice did not know that it was a fire in the fire place, but she knew it felt good to be warm. This little wolf puppy named Ice, snuggled up in front of the fire place and quickly fell asleep. 

Blessings 09.07.17

                I have thought about this and have come up with this theory. When you do something to help someone or others, only wanting to be helpful or friendly, not expecting anything in return, it not only gives you a good feeling to be helpful, but you will feel blessed, even more than they were. 

                I find it interesting that when I do something that I think of as being helpful to others, I usually get more out of it than they do.  

                Help others, aka being a blessing to them, and you will be blessed even more than they were!

                That is enough from Rev. Ford, let’s get to something interesting.

                This morning the same female person (at least I think it was the same person, it was very dark but she had the same light as before) was out walking in the dark. The moon was still full and it was very white and bright not like yesterday when it was a rusty red color. I noticed that I could see my shadow from the light of the moon as I walked.

                We were walking toward each other on the same side of the street. We were coming to a corner, I arrived first and I acknowledged her with a wave of my hand. I turned and began walking down the street. I did not see her turn but I could hear someone walking more or less behind me, but on the other side of the street. Arriving at the end of the street I turned and started back down the street. The female person whom I assume was trying to avoid this male person, cut across the corner house’s front yard. I thought it was a smart move on her part, to avoid coming to close to this senior person.

                I want to present you with a photo of Charlie. Charlie finds interesting locations to rest as you can see. Click to enlarge.

May you also have a comfortable place to rest!

Don Ford

In the dark of the night 09.06.17

                It was 6:00 am on a Wednesday morning, I was preparing for the morning walk, the weather was a cool and dry 68 degrees, the sun was still sleeping and there was a full moon with a slightly red appearance, I secured the Tres on his leash and we ventured out to the street. I was surprised to see a bright light near the end of the street and it was moving our way. I had a flash light in my left hand and the leash in the right hand. As the light drew closer, I could see the person walking was a female subject. As she passed I greeted her with a, “Good Morning”, her reply was, “Yes it is, and it feels like fall weather”. Tres was not as friendly as I was, he felt he had to bark at her (good boy).

                Walking in the dark in our neighborhood is not a problem, but I do try to be aware of my surroundings. I tried to get a photo of the reddish colored moon but it isn’t too good. You can see how dark it was during my walk. Click to enlarge.

                I have said it before, X marks the spot. Click on this photo of a killer moth and you should be able to see the X on its back, which means it is a killer.

                                   

There may be some info in this article that is not totally true, but who cares.

Have a safe day, and be nice to someone!

Don Ford

It's over 09.05.17

                I am almost done with it!

                As I sit here with all these thoughts in mind my focus move from the key board to the TV to my right. There was a commercial on and you know how I dislike commercials. I have often said, “Commercials do not cause me to want to purchase anything”! There may be a slight variance in that statement. I have now seen two commercials that have caused me to want to purchase their products.

                This morning there was a commercial that showed various types of cooked shrimp. I am not sure who the sponsor was, they may have the word Red in their name but that is not important. Those shrimp looked so good that I would have purchased them if I could have! I like shrimp!

                There is another commercial that has me wanting to buy their product, they have a half pound roast beef sandwich with cheese. These sandwiches look so good I want one.

                The title has nothing to do with the comments about food, I do intend to continue eating and I don’t want any comments about me and my weight!

                It’s over, has to do with the swimming season here at the fords homestead. The grand kids came over yesterday and swim. When they left, I began draining the pool. I syphoned water from the pool which allowed me to water the black berries, roses and other plants.  Today I plan to remove the pool.

Everything has to end at some point!

Can you say, “Excited to be going to school”, do they appear to be excited!

Speaking of excited, Tres seems to be as excited as the grandees!

Don Ford

Labor Day Holiday 09.04.17

                Please take a moment and consider the title to this soon to be well written article.

                Have you considered the title and the meaning of those three words?

                As indicated in the title, this holiday is for labor. Possibly in the olden days the holiday meant something to most people, as most people actually labored in their daily work. Now days most people do not labor in their work and if they did there would be no need for all the so called gyms. When people labored they came home from work exhausted, they did not need to go out and exercise!

               If I am wrong, and I am not, the holiday is only for laborers. I am ok with that but I have a question! When are they going to have a holiday for retirees? Why do the labors get all the good time off? Retirees need a holiday and I have an idea. Your so called government needs to make a holiday for all retirees and it would be like this; if the retiree has reentered the work force he / she would get the day off, if the retiree has not reentered the work force he / she would get a day at work!

                I can see some of you like my idea! 

                Those of you who sit at a desk all day, are basically on holiday all the time anyway, so I don’t think they should make a holiday for you.

                Your thoughts on this subject will be discussed in an upcoming posting.

Happy holiday to all the laborers!

Don Ford

Is it here 09.01.17

                Look closely, has it started?

                During my walk this morning, I almost froze. I guess I will need to find a jacket to wear during my morning stroll. It was only 64 chilling degrees this morning, the sun is coming up much later now that it is here, or, almost here.

                Today is Friday, I do normally have the Ford Homestead’s grounds manager manicure the lawn on Fridays, or, in his absence, I must do it. Well, I will not be mowing today as it is usually done. I worked both Wednesday and Thursday to get the Homestead property up to neighborhood standards.

                This week, when our front yard was being mowed, both neighbors on either side of the homestead were mowing their yards! It was the first time that I can remember all three yards looking as if they were manicured at the same time! 

                Now that I don’t have to mow, I have a day to relax and enjoy no work!

                What? You want to know what it is! Did you look at the photo? Can’t you see the brown leaves in the green grass that have fallen from the tree? This is a sure sign that fall is here! If it weren’t for my excellent observations and comments, some would not even know when winter arrives.

Look around, you might see something interesting!

Don Ford