Party time? 12/31/2021

 

                        Drive don’t drink!

           Drink don’t drive!

 

            If you party at home, good!

              If you go to a party where you have to drive, do not drive after drinking!

              Have a plan to get home after drinking, and that isn’t you driving!

              I don’t care if you are going two blocks away, do not drive after drinking! 

              Call for a ride!

              If you don’t drink, give others rides home!

 

              This is not funny, don’t drink and drive!

 

Senior retired person who is staying at home, Don the Ford

Smoking 12/30/2021

            Yep, I am talking about smoking, as in cigarette smoking. Now my mom and dad never smoked, but a lot of other people including family members smoked. Smoking when I was a kid was more or less considered acceptable. Heck, even the news reporters that were on TV smoked while they were reporting.

            What got me to thinking about smoking was, I was in the drive through at the Star coffee place. The vehicle in front of me had a lady who appeared to be at least in her 60s. I could see her face in the mirror on her vehicle. She had her window down and she was smoking a cigarette. There would be a puff of smoke come out of her vehicle window, then her hand would come out and the cigarette would be between her fingers. She would flick the cigarette to get the ashes off and when ready she would bring the hand back in the vehicle to get another dose of smoke and nicotine, and the hand would come back out the window, as she repeated the movements.

            As I watched the lady it came to mind, she was just burning up money by smoking cigarettes. As I understand it, a package of cigarettes can cost from $4.00 to $7.00 per pack. How many packs a day does an addict use?

            If a person uses a pack a day, at $5.50 per pack, they would spend $38.50 a week, or $154.00 in 4 weeks (aka month). Wow at that rate, they would spend $2,002.00 in 52 weeks.

            Now I have never been a cigarette smoker, yes, I tried them as a kid but did not like them. I, was addicted to chewing tobacco, so I know how difficult it is to give up nicotine. Nicotine addicts when they are feeling down, the nicotine brings them up, if they are stressed out, the nicotine brings them down, if they don't have any tobacco, they almost panic, they will get some.

            Stopping is one of the most difficult things an addict can do. Most addicts don't want to quit, and nothing you say can make them quit, so what I am writing will not cause someone to stop.

            If the user decides to quit, they should:

            Set a date,

            Tell everyone that you are quitting, having support from friends and co-workers is important. Family support is needed, but I believe friends and co-workers are more important.

            Understand you will be in the worst mood for a couple weeks, almost nothing will make you happy, knowing that ahead of time, might help you get through it.

            End of sermon.

 

            We received a gift from a friend, it is a mouse pad, and I have a photo. It is nice to have friends!

            Well, I need to get the hairs on my head, those that are still there, cut today. Why does it cost so much? They have a so-called discount for ole people, and that takes a couple dollars off the price. Ole people have half as much hair as young people, shouldn't that mean 50% off. Since it seems as if the US is heading for socialism, shouldn't the hair cuts be free?

 

            I just got a cup of coffee and I need to stop writing and start drinking. Wow, thinking of drinking, I have a bottle that I will open Friday evening, you might say I am celebrating the coming new year, but in truth, I am just celebrating that I have a bottle! 😊

 

Don't drink and drive!

Senior retired person who will celebrate safely at home, Don the Ford

Three more days 12/29/2021

            In three more days, we will be into next year, or will we? For the next three days we may look forward to next year, but when that 4^th day occurs, it will not be next year! The first day of 2022 will not be next year, it will be the present year, and next year will then be 2023! I just wanted to help you understand next and present.

            The weather was so nice yesterday that my favorite wife and I sat outside enjoying the late afternoon. As we sat there, we noticed that Molly was also enjoying the weather, photo to follow.

           I did get outside and do a little work. I watered the berry beds in the back 40, and the flowers in the Ford’s ole warm house, I have a photo from the back of the warm house, one might see some flowers blooming in the house.

              After lunch and a nap, I went out front and removed some of the leaves from the flower beds. Did I get them all, nope? I use the leaf vac to remove some and I use the leaf blower to move some out into the yard, where I used the mower to remove them. Photos to follow.

 

            It may be difficult to see but there was about 4 inches of leaves in the bed before I started removing them.

            I did get a suggestion from a friend and reader of my blog; he gave me advice on the correct fertilizer to use on the 3 berry beds. Actually, I have never fertilized these beds, and we have received excellent production of the berries, adding a fertilizer may increase the harvest.

            We haven’t had any real rain this month, I am running the sprinklers this morning.

            I guess that is it from the Ford Homestead, may we all have a good day!

 

Be kind and caring to all!

Senior retired person who needs a cup of coffee, Don the Ford

Odd ball cats 12/28/2021

            We have two cats, Charlie and Molly, and I think they are either odd, or they can’t make up their mind. As an example, this morning the Tres and I went out to get the paper, and as we exited the house, we noticed Molly near the front door. Tres did his normal business, urinating on some plant, then he retrieved the newspaper and headed for the door. I opened the door and Tres went in. I then turned and looked at Molly, she took a couple seconds to decide, then she came into the house.

            I ventured into the Ford’s ole office without a cup of coffee and I opened the door to the garage as the Tres likes to lay out there and look under the garage door.

            Flash; as I am composing this wonder filled article, Molly just jumped up on my desk wanting to be petted. She tries to not step on the key board, but she does leave some hair on the desk after I pet her.

            Finished with the petting, off the desk she jumps and out into the garage. I start entering data again when something caught my eye. I could see molly on a security camera; she was at the front door again. I guess she just can’t decide where she wants to be.

            Topic change; I am just a little upset this morning! I did go to each of the security cameras yesterday and clear away any spider webs. This morning, one of the cameras has two or three times as many spiderwebs as before. I will attempt this cleaning again today, and I will take some bug spray with me, that might stop them.

            Our grand kids will be here today, maybe Alex will want to clear the leaves from the flower beds. Maybe we should leave them there, we are supposed to be in the upper 20 Saturday and Sunday nights, and the leaves could serve as insulation for the beds.

            Money, one-hundred-dollar bill:

            Many years back, a one-hundred-dollar bill meant a lot more, and real people like me did not see them often. I remember one time back in the early 1980s, we were getting ready to take a trip to Missouri to visit family. We had gone to the bank to get some money for the trip. I had two, one-hundred-dollar bills in my wallet. I filled the van up with gas and went to pay, the attendant said he couldn’t make change for a hundred-dollar bill. Luckily, I had some smaller bills.

            Back in the 70s I remember an employee of HWI who carried a one-hundred-dollar bill all the time. If he was asked to pay for any food, he would pull the hundred-dollar bill out and offer to pay with it. Most of the time they would not take it, and ask for smaller bills. Often someone else would pay. I think he did this hoping he would not need to pay. There was one time we had eaten and they brough the bill, he pulled the hundred-dollar bill out, and the waiter took it. He seemed surprised.

            I will be happy to take any one hundred dollar bills you don’t need. In truth, I will be happy to take any money you don’t need.

            I guess that is it for now, hope we all have a safe and productive day!

 

Listen and learn!

            Think about the above statement, it is true!

 

Senior ole person who listens to his favorite wife, Don the Ford

Winter is coming 12/27/2021

                  Yes, I did have the TV on this morning and as I understand it, winter will be here this Saturday evening. The temps may get down to 25 degrees, big difference from 82 on Christmas day.

            Well, that is it for today, we here at the Ford Homestead have nothing to do and I have no plans.

Note, I said I have no plans, my first wife might have some plans which could allow me to have something to do.

            There are still some leaves on one of the trees, so I need to wait until they all get down before I begin to make the final leaf removal. That will mostly require getting the leaves out of the flower beds. Will I be able to get Alex here to do the work, I mean help me.

            I need to get off this chair and go out and clear each of the security cameras of any spider webs. I talk about it, and do nothing.

            Speaking of security cameras, I noticed that a neighbor had no lights on this morning, so I wondered if they had headed out to visit family. I simply went to review and observed them leave their home about an hour earlier.

            Also, I saw three cats at another neighbor’s house, when his motion detecting light came on. I don’t think any of the cats were ours.

            Yesterday was pretty much a day of rest here at the homestead. We did very little other than resting. A neighbor came over and we all sat and talked for a while.

            I did do some reading. Yes, I am still reading the bible daily, and I also have been reading from a book about revelations. The book explains a lot that I did not understand.

            My favorite wife and I did sit outside during the late afternoon. The weather was excellent, the neighborhood was quiet, the squirrels were active, and we were still resting.

            I am now ready to get a bowl of cereal, I need some food in my belly.

 

Have fun and be safe!

 

Senior retired person who has nothing to do, Don the Ford

Is it over? 12/26/2021

            Well, I think a big part of the holiday is over, but many of you will be returning gifts next week, and in a week or so I will be forced, I mean allowed, to remove Christmas decorations, after the first of the year.

            Our family was here yesterday and we all ate too much. Alex and I rode our bikes around the neighborhood, several times. I was glad that my bike had a motor and I did not need to peddle as much as Alex did.

            David and Patrick were able to get Gabi’s new desk from here over to their house, I did not need to do any lifting. Later in the day, I took Alex’s bike over to their house, so he will be out riding it today. 

            Later in the afternoon some friends (aka our adopted family) came over. We talked and ate a bunch. Topics ranged from politics to religion, heck we even reviewed security efforts at our homestead and at their homestead.

            Early evening, when it was only my favorite wife and I, she allowed me to help clean up and wash some pots and pans.

            It was already dark; the outside decorations were lit, when my first wife and I went out to the chairs on the driveway. It was very quiet as we reflected of the past two days and enjoyed a beverage. It is nice to have family and friends visit. My favorite wife noted, “It is a lot of work, but it is worth it having them here!”

            I will attempt to alter the topic at this time:

            I have a couple photos which I will attempt to display. First, I have a photo taken last evening as we sat outside. You may notice it was dark thirty.

 

            Yes, I looked up into the dark night sky and saw the leafless limb. Speaking of darkness, I do have a photo of the light that I have installed in the Ford’s ole shed.

           Don’t look at all the items in the shed, look at the light that is powered by the Halo. I have a photo of me and a portion of a gift I received.

 

            The scarf that I have on is part of a gift I received, and it isn’t coal. You may be able to read the name on the scarf. The scarf has nothing to do with me being Rev. Ford!

            Today, we are hoping for a day of rest, and playing with our presents from yesterday.

 

Bah humbug!

Senior retired person who says Thank You to Everyone, Don the Ford

It is that day 12/25/2021

            Well, we made it, and I will enlighten that one person, and we do know who you are, Christmas day is here! We will be having some very good food at the noon repast, there are pies and other desserts for after the meal and hope to enjoy lots of interesting conversations. That is today, let me provide info as to the gift receiving, I mean giving last night.

            Yesterday, we had lots of food, most of us went back for seconds. After cleaning the eating utensils and putting things away, we all gathered in the TV room and sang Christmas Carols. Allow me to correct that statement, we did gather in the TV room, we did not sing Christmas Carols, we did open Christmas presents. Everyone received nice gifts. Gabi got a new corner desk for her room, the desk is in a large heavy carton in the garage, she did get a photo of the desk in a package. We will try to get it to her house today.

           Alex received a Bike. I have had the bike in the garage for several weeks and it has been covered with an ole sheet, so he could not see it until Christmas. I decided to try and trick him, so I put the sheet over my bike. I wanted to see his face when he did not get his bike, it did not work.

 

            Alex rode the bike a lot that evening.

            Let's see if the Don received any thing. The Don now has a supply of peppermints at his desk, he also received some, Fudge candy, there may be a weight gain in the Don's future. 😊 The Don can now go back to the Star coffee place, as he received a couple gift cards, he also received gift cards to the Cracker restaurant, and a Visa card. 😊 Wow, it seems as if the Don has fared well this Christmas! 😊

            My wife noted last evening as I was washing some dishes, "it's a lot of work, but with the family here it is worth it".

                                    We here at the Ford homestead wish you a,

           Very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 12/24/2021

            Well, what can I say? Today is the day that we get some good food and also get to open gifts. Tomorrow we get some good food but no gifts.

            My favorite wife is making some pies this morning for the Ford’s meals. There will be too much food but we do not complain about too much, do we?

            Our sons and their families will arrive this afternoon, I think they try to wait until I have had my second nap of the day, before arriving. We all sit around and talk for a while, then we eat, and then we open presents.

            They are saying we will be in the low 80s this afternoon, and mid to upper 80s tomorrow. I guess that means there will be no white Christmas, again.

            I don’t have any photos for today, but I do need to get a cup of coffee, so that is it for today, yep, a very short posting!

 

Happy Christmas Eve!

Senior retired person who wants a cup of coffee, Don the Ford

So close, are you ready 12/23/2021

            Today is Christmas Eve's, Eve, R U ready? When I ask if you are ready, I mean, have you bought a present for me? Here at the Ford Homestead, there are very few presents under the tree, in part due to large presents that can't be put under a tree, and in part due to being retired people on a fixed income. My favorite wife is heading out today to complete some purchases for the stocking stuffers, and a couple food products. She is also having breakfast with friends, and I am not invited! ☹

            Let's discuss something other than a gift for me; yesterday I allowed my favorite granddaughter to update the aliens in #3 berry bed. We had used black markers on the aliens and for some reason some of the markers were fading. She was able to get two of them touched up before her dad came to pick them up.  Photo to follow.

            The one on the right is Gabi's, the center is Alex's, and mine is on the left. You are right, we are all artists.

            While my favorite granddaughter was updating the aliens, my favorite grandson was riding around the yard on the ole riding mower, I mean, he was mowing the back 40. We got several things done and I did not need to work. 😊

            If any of you have read previous posts, and if you understand that the battery on the ole mower has given up, you might be considering how we got it started. It is known as having a Halo, (Not the Halo around my head, even though it is there) the jump starter Halo.

            I still need to replace the florescent light fixture that is in the shed, with a light bulb. I plan to use the halo to power the light when needed, the Halo has a light on it like a flashlight, and again I plan to use it to jump start the ole riding mower.

            As I sit here in front of the ole computer, I can hear crows making noise outside. I have seen and heard more crows this year, than ever before. Heck, that being said, we see buzzards in the streets eating squirrels a lot this year. I actually am kind of glad the buzzards are there; they help keep the streets clean.  

            Nothing!         Sorry, I thought that one person, and we all know who you are, was going to ask, what I was going to do today, and the answer would be, Nothing! I do have another photo I will share with you, if you have a moment to share with me.

            It is a red rose, and the color is very pretty, but my ole cell phone camera will not capture the color as it should. Yes, the phone was held on an angle when the photo was taken, the photographer, who has taken a photography class in the past, is ole and you should not be critical of an ole person's attempt, at artistic photography.

            Subject change: thinking of the true meaning of Christmas, please consider.

            Mary was in her last month of being pregnant, she is placed on a donkey and had to ride for who knows how long. She gets to Bethlehem and the only place they can find to stay is a stable. In a stable, also known as a barn, there were animals. Time came for delivery, and she has a baby in the stable. They wrapped the baby in some cloth and use the manger for a crib. Then shepherds are told about the birth of Jesus, and they came. There was three men who were known as being wise, who followed a star to Bethlehem. These three presented the baby Jesus with gifts.

            I challenge you to take the time to consider all that! In your own way, think about all those things. It will help you enjoy your Christmas!   

 

Enjoy giving!

Senior retired person who is a believer, Don the Ford

Are you ready 12/22/2021

            If you are asking, "Ready for what", then you are not ready! Are we ever truly ready? I guess some of us might be ready, you know, those of us who have no plans to do anything, they are ready for nothing!

            Am I ready, I had no plans so I thought I was ready, but I was proven wrong? Yesterday, I was messing around in the Ford's ole garage when Alex came out. Alex then began raking and later using the leaf blower, blowing the leaves around in the front yard. Well, since Alex started this process, I felt that I needed to be involved.

            We also recovered the walk behind mower from the shed, and Alex began vacuuming the leaves from the front yard. Alex was able to get the area between the drive way and the walkway vacuumed before his father came. Then I was allowed to finish the vacuuming of the front yard, and I put all the tools and mower away. Never any rest for a retired senior person. 😐

            I have a plan for today. I hope to have Gabi touch up the aliens in the #3 black berry bed. These aliens are made of wood and painted white. We drew faces on them with black markers, and some of the black marker is not dark any more. Gabi likes to draw, so I feel sure I can encourage her to do this for the Homestead.

            Alex was wanting to get the riding mower out and mow the back yard. After looking at the back yard there is some winter grass (aka weeds) growing. If Alex is willing to help me pick up the debris, sticks and dog poop, then I might put some gas into the mower and let him have fun. He mows the yard but I believe he sees it as, just riding around on the mower for the fun of it.

            My favorite spouse, has been telling me that she still needs to do things like, make some pies for Christmas eve and Christmas day. We open presents on Christmas eve and there is food available before the gifting. 😊

            The grand kids should be here in a few minutes and I need to get the recycle bin out to the curb. The recycle bin is full of corrugated from the Major Award!

            Let's all be careful, even if we have received all the shots. Evidently, none of us are 100% sure of not getting the virus. I suggest that we wear the masks even though we don't like them, and stay a safe distance from none family members. Do all we can to be safe, and still enjoy family and friends.   

Please think safety!

Senior retired person who wants everyone to be virus free, Don the Ford

A Christmas story 12/21/2021

            This is not about the Christmas story that we see on TV, even though I do have a small lamp in my ole office, which is similar to the lamp in Christmas story. The lamp is getting old, and the leg doesn’t light up as it did in the past.

            Let us see how this Christmas Story begins;

            It was a normal December day, just a few days before Christmas, when I received a Major Award! In the photo below, we see a large carton that came to the Ford Homestead, and it has a Major Award in it!

 

            When this Major Award arrived at the Ford’s Homestead, in this large carton, I thought, “There could be anything in that carton!” I ask Alex to help me open this Major Award. Alex had to first cut the tape, and then we pulled the top of this large carton open. Wow, looking into the large carton we saw huge amounts of corrugated wrapping and also bubble wrap. We pulled piece after piece of this Major Award, out of the large carton, until finally the large carton was empty.

            Then our team, that is Alex and me, began reading the instructions to see how we could put this device together. Actually, we looked at the photos in the instructions and were able to put the Major Award together. I have a photo of the Major Award, and we will not be placing it in the front room window!

             My favorite wife and I sat on the new chairs which we like, and we both enjoy the new table, it is good to have received a Major Award! Ole retired people who can’t afford to buy gifts, are blessed with, a Major Award!

            I got a Major Award, not a lump of coal, like you are getting!

 

            Allow this ole retired person to alter the topic please:

            This story is about being comfortable, and it all occurred last night. Imagine if you can, being in bed, laying on your side, your pillow is placed perfectly under your head. It was a cool night in the homestead, and you have the cover pulled up around your neck, you are all snuggled in, but you are awake. As you lay there in total comfort, all snuggled in, the ole clock chimed 2:00pm.

            As you lay there, you think about yesterday, when you and Alex were working together in the garage, and that it was very enjoyable. Then you again think how could you feel so good.

            Another thought came to mind, it is supposed to be freezing outside right now. Then it occurred to you; did you turn the heat lamp on in the flower house?

            No, you did not, you forgot! Are you going to get out from under those warm covers and away from that comfortable pillow to turn the heat lamp on?

            You probably lay there in total comfort for another few minutes’ thinking, a couple more minutes will not make a difference at the Flower house. Then, comfort aside, you force yourself to evacuate the most comfortable spot that you can remember being in, to walk in to the TV room and turn on the heat lamp in the flower house.

            You are a good person, giving up a warm and most comfortable bed to provide some heat for the flower house.

 

Stay in the comfortable spot!

Senior retired person who has a Major Award, Don the Ford

How many days? 12/20/2021

 

            My favorite wife talked me into setting outside yesterday afternoon late, so with diet coke in hand, I went forth (for that one reader, and we all know who you are, went forth means, I went outside). As we set outside with our sweat shirts on, we were wondering if the people who drove by were thinking we were silly to sit out in the cool weather.

            We got into a discussion about, what day was Christmas on. For some reason I had Sunday in mind, and my smart wife knew it was Saturday. Wow, it is a day sooner than expected! I hope everyone is ready!

            Speaking of being ready, I hope to go to the past employer today and pick up my Christmas present (the table and chairs I won at the Christmas party, if you would read all my postings, you would know what I am talking about). I hope the fords ole pick up can handle the extra load. If I get the Christmas present from work today, I will attempt to get a photo and share it with you tomorrow.

            Let's see if there is something you might be interested in. The Grand kids will be here today since school is out for the holiday. I need to find some work for the grandkids to do, you know, so I don't have to do it myself.

            We were going to take Tres for a ride on Sunday evening, allowing us to see some of the many Christmas decorations around the Hewitt area, but we just forgot. We are now rescheduling for tonight, lets see if we forget it again. It seems funny to me, we forget many things, but we do not forget sitting outside with an adult beverage. How are we able to remember that? 😊

            We had talked about attempting to get a photo with Tres dressed with some Christmas type attire, if he will let us put it on him, and if he will sit still. Maybe the grand kids can help.

            I just got an announcement on the Alexa screen stating that my order is out for delivery. The Alexa is a part of the robot takeover that is coming!

            Christmas seems to have two meanings now days, with gift giving the most thought of reason. We all should remember that Christmas' original reason is, the birth of the baby Jesus. Think about that, and share your thoughts of the original meaning of Christmas, with others.

 

True meaning is important!

Senior retired person who gets a gift from his previous employer, Don the Ford

Party time 12/19/2021

            Yes, it was party time. Last night we attended the past employer’s Christmas party, we wanted to see some old friends. In fact, we did not know most of the people who were there. There were still a few staff members there, that were hired during my time with the company. It was good to see those we knew.

            There was a karaoke machine playing music, and a few people were getting up and singing. I say that to point out that it was too noisy the entire time we were there. I found it difficult to hear what anyone was saying. It would have been good if it was much quieter, heck, I found it difficult to hear my favorite wife speaking, and she was sitting next to me.

            They were going to give some gifts away, an employee or a retiree could put their name in a hat for a drawing. They announced that they were going to draw the first name for a prize. I jokingly said, they will draw my name first and everyone at our table laughed. Well, they drew my name first and everyone looked at me. I thought they were kidding at first, but they weren’t, I wone a table and two chairs for the lawn. Ha ha, I have a Christmas present and it isn’t coal!

            If it would have been quieter at the party, we would have enjoyed it more. Noise isn’t good when ole people are trying to talk.   

            Well, there isn’t much planned for today, we have all the presents that we planned to get purchased. There is one gift coming tomorrow, at least it should be here tomorrow. I even ordered an item for the shed. In the past I had a battery in the shed and the solar panel kept it charge. The battery has given up, so I have a different solution for a light in the shed, it is a halo.

            The halo will have a couple uses, one, it has a flash light, two, it can power a light up to 65 watts in the shed, three, it can jump start the dead battery on the ole riding mower. The Halo cost about the same as a battery for the mower, and it has other uses. It can also be used in case of a power outage at the Homestead. We have another Halo in my vehicle and also one in my wife’s vehicle, that can also be used in power outages.

            I didn’t need to be good; the company gave me a Christmas gift. Santa can…

 

Coal or a Gift?

Senior retired person who got a Christmas present, Don the Ford