Saturday again 07/31/2021

            Allow me to start with this comment; I had composed the article for this posting and somehow I deleted it. Did it make me mad? Yep! Am I still mad? Nope! Did I get another cup of coffee in an effort to calm the ole senior Ford down? Yep!     Stuff happens!

            As stated above, I had completed a posting for today and I accidently deleted it. I am now attempting to again address the deleted topics.

            I have the XM radio playing the old music from the 50s, as I attempt to recreate the lost posting. I would like a cookie to go along with my coffee, that might help my memory as I attempt to recall what this ole Head had previously composed. 

            I give up, I can’t recreate the previous masterpiece, this will be different.

            The first photo is of a flower that is growing in the back 40.

             The second photo is of a cloud. Yesterday I was sitting outside, and as usual I was admiring the big fluffy white clouds. I began to wonder, if all the moisture from all the clouds all around the world were to fall to the earth, and if the humidity in the air was to also be deposited on the earth, would that have an effect on the sea levels? If so, how much? My ole mine works in mysterious ways.

              While walking this morning with the Tres I saw a couple things that caught my detention, I mean attention. One house had a large Texas Star on the front. The star was probably 30 inches across, and it was hanging on an angle, not upright. How did I know it was crooked, there was the word Texas!        How embarrassing! 

            Another house has two trees in the front yard and they have carefully removed the grass from around the trees, in a square area about 12 feet across /square. They have planted flowers in the area, the flowers look nice. The squares were probably at one time square with the street or the front of the house, but now there is a slight angle. If I can see it, they should be able to see it and correct the error.              How embarrassing! 

            Our next-door neighbors have sold their home, and will be leaving the area in two weeks. We will miss them, and the chocolate cookies that their kids occasionally brought me.

 

May you be healthy and happy!

Senior ole retired person who has kind of reconstructed this posting, Don the Ford

Saved money but 07/30/2021

            The title line states, "Saved money but", and I have the butt, I mean but. The but is, even though I saved money, I had to work, yes, I had to put effort into mowing the yards here at the Homestead. My ole senior body was covered in sweat; I was tired and I needed rest, after mowing both yards.

            Later in the day, I did a check of the sprinkler system. I ran each system (there are 7) for a minute or two to verify that the sprinklers were popping up as expected. I either need to mow the grass shorter, and I will not do that, or some of the sprinkler heads need to be raised and inch or so. Raising the heads is work and I don't want to do that.

            If I may, allow me to change the theme; A good friend sent me an email commenting on the grays that the grandkids and I has made. She was correct in stating the Gabi is the artistic person of the three.  

            Speaking of comments, the question came up about the line at the end of my emails. May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

            Where did I get that comment? Did I come up with it or did I copy it from someone else? In truth, I do not know, but I would guess that someone much smarter them me, someone who could read and write came up with that statement. I have used it for years and will continue to use it. Thanks for asking.

            I have nothing to do today, the grand kids are here until lunch time, then their dad will pick them up. Alex is feeling ok now, the stomach bug is gone. Both of the grandees have either a phone or a tablet in their hands at all times.

            MY first wife will go to town every Friday, she is a good shopper and she usually runs into people she knows (talks for a while). I just sit here at the Homestead, sad and lonely!

            I do read from the Bible daily. Lately I have been reading Revelation. I have decided to read it several times, as I usually learn something new each time, I read something. It would be nice if I could read like most people, but being dyslectic, the written word doesn't always go into my head correctly. Heck, there are times when I read a sentence several times before I get it right.   I learn best by hearing and seeing, not by reading.

            Anyway, I do like reading the bible and then thinking about what I read. That gives an ole senior retired person on a fixed income something to do! 😊

May your day be interesting!

Senior retired person with nothing to do, Don the Ford

 

A couple topics 07/29/2021

            Wow, the Ford has a couple topics for today's wonderful article. Let's start with the grays when in fact they are whites. Gabi, Alex, and I, each drew our versions of the Aliens. I think I can safely say, these aliens do not have the virus, as do some aliens from other countries. Gabi's is most artistic, Alex's is not of a gray, it is a Xenomorph, (Don't ask me, that's what Alex said it is) mine has a bow tie and hair, I have two photos, one displayed at the Ford's swing, and one in the berry bed #3. Enjoy.

                                              

            I was invited to a free Steak lunch at my former employer last week. The company had a record sales year, and provided steak lunches for all employees and retirees. My invite came via email, the morning of the lunch, which did not allow enough time for me to change plans, so I did not get to go. This ole senior retired person missed out on some free food! ☹

            Maybe they just didn't want us ole retired people who are on a fixed income to attend. I guess us ole retired people can pick up some extra aluminum cans from the highway, and possibly have enough money to buy, "A can of Spam", to celebrate!  😐

            Let us get to another subject; I had planned to have Alex mow the back 40 today, but he isn't feeling well, heck he was throwing up a few minutes ago, he doesn't have a fever, so it is probably a stomach bug. We will keep an eye on him, and I will mow the back 40. He may feel ok tomorrow and he can them mow the front yard. Heck, I hope I don't have to mow both yards. That would be too much work for and ole person! 😊

            I already have had a second cup of coffee and I am almost finished with this article, post, note, comment, or whatever the heck it is! 😐

 

Be safe, nice and happy today!

                        Senior retired ole person on a fixed income,

                        who might get a can of Spam to celebrate a record year,

                                                Don the Ford!

Find new things 07/28/2021

            Well, I guess I am once again complaining. Yes, I may be the habitual complainer, but we all need to be something.

          What is my complaint this morning, it is the stuff on TV? Yes, I am commenting on the repeating of the same thing multiple times each day and sometimes continuing into the next day.

          The title line states, “Find new things”, and that to me means I need to break some old habits. One ole habit is, while here at the desk I keep the TV on. I guess the intent would be, if something interesting came on I would know about it. Heck, half the time I turn the sound off so I can constipate, I mean concentrate, on what I am writing.  I turned the TV off about 10 minutes ago and it is quiet in here.

          Why can’t it be quiet when I am trying to take a nap in the Ford’s ole recliner? I will enlighten you as to why. The TV in the front room is on all the time. Why do I call it a front room, it is not at the front of the house, possibly I should call it the family room as it is where the Tres, Charlie and Molly seem to gather! They defiantly leave their hair on the carpet, maybe it should be the hair room. My first wife usually vacuums the room a couple times daily.

          What? Nope, no one asked about me killing two people, and that is ok. Heck, I probably would not read all the postings if someone other than me was writing them. I kind of look at these as if they are my journal.

If you want to get off the mailing list let me know, I will not cry too much!

          The grand kids are here today, and I have a project if they want to participate. I have painted three gray aliens white, (being senior retired people, we can’t afford to purchase any gray paint) so if the grandees want to draw faces on the gray / white, we can maybe have a contest to see which of us can draw the silliest alien.

          I probably can’t break old habits, but maybe I can add a couple new habits which would make me feel as if I had found something new to do!

          Well, I guess that is it for now.

Find new things, Try one thing different today!

Senior retired person who will try to get at least one nap today, Don the Ford  

What's up 07/27/2021

            Well, we are heading toward the eye doctor’s office in Temple Texas this morning. Donna has an appointment. There is always a lot of traffic, and we are not sure where the doctor is located. Yes, we have the address, and the GPS will get us there, but which of the buildings and offices at that address, do we go to? We are going a little early allowing us time to discover the area.  

            I have two photos for the reading and or viewing public. The first is of a late riser. This morning while I was reviewing the back 40, I discovered one red new black berry. I don’t know why he or she is a late riser, but it is there.

                                                             

            I have a photo that I will share, it is of a project that is not yet complete. I need to get these fellows painted and then I hope that the grand kids might want to help by putting eyes, nose and mouth on them. Who knows, one of them might get a hat or cap. Have you ever seen a gray with a hat on? What if they had pants or shorts on? Wow, so many possibilities, if the grand kids will help.

                                                           

            Well, that is it for now, hope you have a safe day!

 

May all your grays be friendly!

 

Senior retired person who is gray, but not a gray alien, Don the Ford

Plans, who has plans 07/26/2021

            Actually, the title line is a question, "Who has plans?" If getting a cup of coffee in a couple minutes, and then flopping in the fords ole recliner is considered as having plans, then I have plans! 😊

            I did get the jig saw out yesterday, just in case I had the motivation to do something today, and if I do, I could cut some wood. As the reading public should know, I mean those in the reading public who actually read, I in the past, made a gray alien. In truth it is a white alien, I did not have any gray paint. 😐

            I have made a larger pattern of the grays, and I have the board from which I could manufacture two aliens. If I had some money, (hint for a donation) I would get some gray paint along with a big black magic marker. The grays have black eyes and I could use the marker for the eyes, nose and mouth.

            Yesterday, we did go out for a late lunch with Patrick, Karla, Dave, Claire, Gabi and Alex. The food was good, the conversation was excellent! I have a photo which was taken prior to the food being served. You might notice that Gabi's hand is moving, it was in the process of striking her brother. Brothers often need a little physical contact, (hit with a fist) in order to keep them focused.

 

            Topic change, aka, comment from the Don!

            Have you watched any of the Olympics? Have you watched any of the female athletes in the so-called Beach volleyball? I am a male subject, and when females show almost all their body parts, I will look. Just because I will look, does not mean I agree with the way they dress. Come on, the male athletes do not dress that way, and the females should cover up some of their body parts. 

            Well, I guess it is time for the coffee and maybe some fruit! I hope I; I mean you, have a good day!

Do something you like today!

Senior retired person who needs some sort of motivation, Don the Ford

Sunday Morning 07/25/2021

            On this Sunday morning we will review Saturday with three photos. Each photo is worth many words.

                                                           

               What could be better than a diet Coke?  Need I say more?

May your soda be good!

Senior retired person who can still afford a soda, Don the Ford

I didn’t need a shower 07/24/2021

            Ok, that one person is just dying to make a comment about me and not needing a shower. That one person may be correct when he says, "The Don needs a shower most of the time!" I am an ole senior retired person on a fixed income, and I work twice as much as most real people. That being almost true, I need more showers than real people.

            Yesterday, Friday, July 23, 2021, when I was finished with the back yard mowing, I did not need a shower. If you will allow me to continue, I did not need a shower but my favorite grandson did need a shower.

            Alex mowed the back 40 and I observed. Alex is learning to use both mowers in a safe manner. As he learns more, he will need to mow closer to the flower beds, and maybe even use the string trimmer. 😊    Let's see photos.

    

            The back 40 looks good!

            I broke my own rule and went on Face book yesterday. I am kind of happy I did, as I was able to get a photo. The photo was taken I believe in the 1980s, and was of a flood. What caught my attention was, in the photo was the church that we went to when I was a kid.

                                    

            In the olden days, we lived about one block from this church. We see two windows on the side of the church, my mom always set by the first window. In the summer time they would open the windows during services and there would be air coming in the window, making it cooler, (no air conditioning in the olden days). All the buildings in that part of town have been demolished, due to the fact that the area floods easily. Ok, I think there is one building still down there, get off my case, I haven't been there in several years!

            If I may, allow me to move to another topic:

            Yesterday afternoon I was able to drag my ole body out of the homestead and venture into the back 40. My goal for that venture was to water the black berries and any flowers in flower pots.

            I was required to drag the Ford's ole hose 50 feet to the #3 bed. After a couple minutes of watering, I then moved to the #2 bed, which was another 50 feet away. It was a lot of work, but this old person finally reached the #2 bed. No, I did not rest after all that work, I just began watering the berries. I was getting close to completing the #2 watering process when I saw a ripe black berry. Wow, I had assumed all the black berries were done for the year.

            I bent down to see the berry and to my surprise there was a second berry. The two berries were large, and I called to my favorite spouse to come and see. I reached into the vines, and pulled the two berries from the bush, that is when I saw three more berries. Wow, 5 large black berries. Photo of berries to follow.

            Those berries are super berries! I then drug the hose across the back 40 to bed #1. All the berries were watered and would you believe I was able to crawl back into the homestead, but I could not get in the ole recliner, I just lay there on the floor?

Happy Saturday!

Senior ole retired person with super berries, Don the Ford

Front done back today 07/23/2021

            Yesterday, the Alex mowed the front yard, I did the trimming. Today I plan to put, “The Alex”, on the Ford’s ole riding mower in the back 40. I have previously trimmed around the fence and flower beds, that will allow him, while learning to mow, to not get too close. Later he will be required to get close.

            Theme change; as I was working in the sun yesterday, I had my ole cowboy hat on. I decided to get a couple photos showing the old hat, and hopefully encouraging you to donate toward a new hat for, “the Don!”

   

                                

            This hat was new many years ago. It keeps the sun off, but it tells anyone who see it on me, that I am a retired senior on a fixed income. Real people have new hat, it would be good to be like real people.

            I have another photo, and in this photo, I show you how difficult it is for me to put together these wonderful postings. In the following photo you will see that I can’t get close to the desk to work.

                                   

            Alex is out back getting the mower ready; I need to get out there too.

Mow not, enjoy the day!

 

Senior retired person who isn’t mowing today, Don the Ford

Nothing new today 07/22/2021

            I hate to tell you this, I have nothing to write about today. Ole senior retired people just sit around and do nothing all day. Ole people wish they had something to do but we don't! ☹

            My pot hound Tres and I went out to get the paper this morning and while Tres was checking the yard out for any strange smells, I was looking around the neighborhood. I saw the Oak tree in the neighbor's yard, it is full of green leaves. There was what appeared to be a small group of bright red leaves in the center of the tree.

            I thought that was very odd, trees should not be showing fall colors in the middle of summer. After a very detailed viewing, I found that there was a small hole all the way through the tree and the red that I was viewing was from a tall bush on the other side of the tree. Yep, I could see all the way through the Oak tree. Maybe I have X-ray vision, my middle name is Ray!

            Altering the topic; we have a neighbor who is out of town this week and as I was setting at the Ford's ole desk, when through my X-ray vision (aka security cameras) I noticed a vehicle in his driveway that I did not recognize. We had been told that his daughter would be taking care of things at their house during this week. I walked out of our house to get a better look, as the vehicle was backing out of the drive way. The vehicle turned to go up Oklahoma Ave when it stopped and the window on the passenger side rolled down. It was the neighbor's daughter and she called out to me so I would know it was her. I gave her a thumbs up, and returned to my desk, again with nothing to do but sit around.

            Shifting topics; my ole whisk broom has been worn out for years. I attempt to use it to remove grass and other items from my clothing and body parts before I enter the homestead, but it isn't very effective. This whisk broom is made of straw like material, like a larger broom. I asked my favorite spouse to purchase me a new whisk broom, which would clean my clothes and body parts more efficiently. 😊

            Returning from town she gave me the bad news, the store she was at, had whisk brooms, but they were all plastic, even the sweeping parts. The employee told my favorite spouse, they no longer get the ole type whisk brooms. ☹

            Being a resourceful senior retired person, I went on line and found said item for $5.50 each. I ordered two of them! They will be here tomorrow, and they are shipping free! 😊

            Altering topic again; yesterday my favorite grandson went out and drove the riding mower around the back yard. He was practicing to be able to mow on Friday. I may get out in the yard and do the trimming today which makes the mowing much easier for the grandkids on Friday.

            My confession; Yesterday I killed two people! Now before you get too excited, allow me to splain, Lucy. I had started writing a story a few years ago and the name of the story was, "Hell on Earth". Back then I stopped writing the story as it seemed that it could actually happen.

            After re-reading the part that I had previously written, I decided to give the story a finish. Yep, I killed two people, yet, you don't know why!

            Subject change; I do not need a cup of coffee this morning, I have one here on the desk as I create this wonderfully well composed article for the Blog posting. Heck, with nothing to do, I may just get in the Ford's ole recliner and kick back for a while. 😐

 

Real people have things to do!

Senior author and almost novelist, of the Ford's homestead, Don the Ford

Ditch it or not 07/21/2021

            Ditch it or not, that is the question. I have ditched it ever since we moved here, although none of the other neighbors do. The city has weed killer sprayed on the ditches early in the growing season, and it knocks down the weeds for a short while. When they come back, that is when the weeds come back not the city, I take over.

            I have a couple photos of the ditch again, (the 2 previous photos were from 07/12/2021) before and after shots of the back side of the ditch this time. We had a somewhat cool morning with clouds keeping the sun at bay. I attack the weeds using the battery powered string trimmer. The first battery had been used some so it didn’t last too long. The second battery did good and I got the weeds knocked down. The wood fence in the second photo, is about 4 feet inside their property line, and I do not cut their weeds.

 

            It had rained the day before so there was water back in the ditch.

            Let’s get to today, Wednesday: the grand kids are scheduled to be here today, what could be better than that?

            I have no real plans for today other than to have some of that home made Chicken soup for lunch. I might work on another gray alien today, maybe I can get the grand kids to help.

            Wow, I was just hit with an urge to get a cup of coffee, I need to go, goodbye!

 

May all aliens be Gray!

 

Senior retired person who may have made a political comment, Don the Ford

What could be better 07/20/2021

            Yes, the title line does bring up a subject that even you like. I know that you will enjoy the wonderful photo that I will add to this soon to be well written, and published, Blog Post. You are right, my blog posts are more interesting than the so-called news, and the professional quality photos are much better than those in the Play Girl Magazine.

            Actually, I have two photos to add to this posting, and I must admit, one of the photos is not real good. As the Tres and I walked this morning, we came to a cross street where I saw something amazing. The sun was rising and it was just above the horizon. It was a bright red ball that I could look directly at, without hurting my eyes. There was fog in the area and I assume that was filtering out some of the brightness allowing me to see the sun. I tried to get a photo of the morning sun, but my camera could not capture what I was seeing.

            I did get a photo of the sun peeking through a tree, it isn’t real good but I took it and I posted it.

 

                                                          

            Now let’s see the photo that the title line had questioned you about. This photo was taken as a selfie, yes, it is of me, and I was sitting in my ole rocking chair near the garage door. There is a blooming bush above my head, so I knew that you would want to see me and the blooming bush! The sun glasses are different from those the president has, I believe he gets his free, as a retired senior person, I have to pay for mine. Actually, I did not purchase these glasses, my favorite wife bought them for me!

 

                                                          

            One might ask, what is this handsome senior person going to do today? He has planned to go to the ditch behind the Homestead, and cut the weeds on the other side of the ditch. Let’s hope he can keep the chiggers off him while working. I have found many things in the weeds of the ditch like baby rabbits and snakes. Luckily the snakes are usually grass snakes. 

            Well, I have had my second cup of coffee, and I am watching the rocket take the 4 people into space. Well, they are back on earth, I need to get to work.

 

May your weeds stop growing!

 

Senior retired person who works way too much, Don the Ford

It almost rained 07/19/2021

            On this Monday morning, and yes, I am writing this on the same day that I am posting it, it is supposed to rain. The Tres and I decided we would head out for the morning walk and take a chance that we could get wet. We started down the street and after about half a block we noticed that the street was wet. The wet part went a couple hundred feet down the street, and then it stopped. Oddly, the rain had occurred in a small streak, leaving the ford homestead completely dry.

            Our neighbor next door to us is selling their home and will be moving back to Washington State. The thought of Washington State brought an old thought to mind. Back in the mid-60s I spent several months in the State of Washington. I was at Fort Louis being trained to do some military things.

            One of the other trainees wanted to go into Seattle since we had the weekend free. He knew of a place where we could rent motor bikes and we would be able to ride around in Seattle and see the sites.

            Well, we went, and we rented the motor bikes, and we did see a part of the city. The sites were interesting but one of the sites was creepy. We were heading across a big bridge when I noticed that the road was not made of cement. We were on a metal roadway, that I could see through. Imagine if you can, you are riding on a motor bike, on a bridge, and you can see through the road at water that appeared to be several hundred feet below.  

            Just for a second, I almost panicked. Then I settled down and enjoyed looking down through the road way at the boats and water below. I believe that the bridge was designed to open for large ships to get through, aka a drawbridge.

            Topic change; as the Tres and I walked this morning we saw a limb fall from a tree. The wind was not blowing but the small limb fell onto the person’s lawn. Why did it fall, we don’t know? That was all the excitement we had during this walk. 

           

Have a safe and enjoyable day!

 

Senior dog walker and one time motor bike rider, Don the Ford.

Sunday 07/18/2021

            Yesterday, Saturday, was kind of a boring day here at the Ford homestead. It seemed as if all I wanted to do was to eat. I wanted to go out to lunch, but decided that I did not want to drive anywhere, so I stayed home.

            My spouse went out in the back 40 and pulled weeds, in the heat of the day. I went out and raked up the weeds that she pulled. I also cut down a bunch of small limbs that are growing on limbs where they should not grow, due to the freeze we had.

            One good thing that occurred Saturday, I took the Ford’s ole trailer that was filled with limbs and scrap wood from me and David, to the dump site. I normally go early, basically at the starting time 7:30, but I went at 9:00am. There was no one in line ahead of me! There were vehicles being unloaded but I only waited about 2 minutes to be unloaded. This was the easiest and quickest dump day I have ever had.

            I did get to watch the three stooges Saturday afternoon, after I cooled down from working in the back yard. Watching the Three Stooges might tell you how boring my day was. The three stooges are on for two hours Saturday afternoon, starting at 5:00pm. They show the same programs quiet often, and you might truly need to be in happy hour mode, to watch them.

            Following the three dudes (aka stooges), there was an ole Mummy movie on, and I watched it. Wow, exciting ole movies, exciting day!

            Since you did not ask what I had planned for today, I am not going to tell you that I again have no plans for Sunday!

            The price of everything has gone up so much that ole retired people, can’t enjoy things like going out to eat, as you real people are able to do. Poor ole people just sit at home and do nothing. If we could just be real people for a while, we would feel as if we were alive again!

 

            Do you feel sorry for me? Did it work? Are you going to send us donations so my favorite spouse doesn’t need to go out in the heat to pick up aluminum cans? Do you know how hard it is for her to find these cans? People are not littering as much as they use to, so it takes twice as long for her to get the same number of cans. When she is picking up the cans, she is not here cooking food for me.

            For that one person, do not toss your aluminum cans out on our lawn, unless they are in a plastic bag!

Sunday is fried chicken day!   

^{If you can afford it!}

Senior retired person who will try to keep busy, Don the Ford

Yard is mowed 07/17 2021

            The Tres and I went for our walk early yesterday morning. There were people out mowing their yards at 6:30 am. I guess they were trying to beat the heat, just as the Tres and I were, in the early morning walk.

            Alex mowed the front yard yesterday, after he finished that, we went to the back yard and did some training on the riding mower.

                                               

            Both Alex and Gabi took turns on the mower. They were learning to shift, back up and drive close to things without hitting them.

            They seemed surprised when I increased the motor speed, and showed them how to engage the mowing blades. All their driving and backing to that point, was without the blades turning. Now with the blades turning, there was some circles and figure eights, mowed in the yard. I told them that since they were learning, mowing in circles was ok, but when mowing to cut the grass, we want to use straight lines.

            After they left, I finished mowing the back yard.

            My wife went to breakfast with Neva, a neighbor and good friend. They did not take me with them, I had cereal here at the Homestead! 😐          I have a photo taken while they were at breakfast. They had fun, I had to work. ☹

 

                                                            

            Birthday over, gifts and flowers received, it was a very good day! 😊

Thanks to everyone!

Senior retired person who is both retired and tired, Don the Ford