New residents 01/31/2022

            Most of the residents in our neighborhood have been here for several if not many years. Yesterday, after my first wife had left me, (she went shopping and left me home alone), I decided to venture forth from the Homestead, to see if I could procure a, “free cup of coffee” from the star coffee place. I had enough stars to get a cup free.

            Arriving back at the homestead, I parked the Ford’s ole Chevy and proceeded to the Ford’s ole rocking chair on the Ford’s ole driveway, where I placed my behind, and sipped on the free coffee. Life is good when the weather is warm, and I can sit outside. Photo to follow.

            Free coffee in hand, hat on to keep the sun off my ole head, and a smile indicating that even though it isn’t happy hour, one can still be happy.

            As I sat there, I noticed a couple who appeared to be moving into the neighborhood. As usual, I was observing what they were doing, but I tried to make it seem as if I was not interested in anything they were doing. The big ole sunglasses make it easier to observe but seem as if I wasn’t observing.

            It took about 15 minutes to consume the free coffee, and during those 15 minutes, I saw enough of this couple, that I decided to get my camera and take a photo. I did notice that they seemed to be watching me, as much as I was watching them.

            Having observant neighbors might be a good thing, that may keep the thieves and other bad people away. I did get a photo of one of the neighbors and I will post it.

            I find it odd, that no one wanted to live in the above house, when it was out in the back 40, but I move it to the front yard, and in two days it is occupied. Maybe no one wanted to live by the outhouse out back. Anyway, we welcome the new neighbors!

            Having little or nothing to do as I sat in front of the Ford’s ole computer yesterday, I decided to try on one of those good masks, the ones that actually provide protection. Getting it on is a little more difficult than the soft masks, but once you have it on it is comfortable. Photo to follow.

            I am demonstrating the proper use of a mask, and all you can see is the cowboy hat and a drawing of me hanging on the wall!             Why do I even try?     The hat is mine, the drawing was done by a fellow who worked at the New York distribution center, where I use to fill in as manager.

            The weather is nice today, enjoy it, the cold weather is coming again!

 

Love your neighbor as yourself!

            For that one person, the above comment is from the bible.

Senior retired person who provides free housing for some neighbors, Don the Ford

A nice day 01/30/2022

            I will say, “it was a nice day yesterday”. Patrick and Karla came to visit, and we went out for a nice lunch to celebrate Patrick’s birthday. The food was good, and the service was also good. The lady that waited on our table, like to joke with me, and she noticed that I was wearing a Micky Mouse watch. She had a newer version of the Micky Mouse watch on.

            Back at home, after some decent conversations, we had the birthday cookie, photo to follow. The cookie has become a tradition here at the Ford’s Homestead.

 

                                                          

            Yep, we did get a piece of the cookie, and yes, they took the cookie with them when they left. They also took the rabbit traps, as they will need to catch some cats that hang out around their house, to get them fixed.

            I did get a nap later in the afternoon, which allows me to not get sleepy when I am reading the Bible. I do often get sleepy when reading.

            The weather was good yesterday afternoon, so my favorite wife and I went outside for a while, you know, to sit and talk. Well, I sat there while my first wife talked with a friend at the curb.

            I have no plans for today, it is supposed to be very nice and warm today, so possibly I will be able to get outside and walk the dog.

            We hope you have a very nice Sunday!

 

Rest and relax!

Senior retired person who is good at resting and relaxing, Don the Ford

It’s snowing! 01/29/2022

            No, it isn't snowing here in Hewitt, TX, it is snowing on the north east coast. I hope all of them got prepared for this storm.

            Guess what, we have plans for the day! Ha ha, we get to do something other than sit at home, nothing to do, having the TV on, and not watching it. Senior retired people just don't have fun things to do, like you real people do.

            What? Don't get in a hurry, I am composing this article, and I will decide when I want to enlighten the reading public.

            Now I am ready! Our son Patrick had a birthday yesterday, he is now old enough to drive "or" have an adult beverage, not both at the same time. Patrick and Karla are coming up today and we will go out to lunch to celebrate his birthday.

            Dave, Claire, Gabi and Alex were going with us but Alex having had the virus kind of change that. We will take Alex and his family out next Saturday.

            Topic alteration; what did the Don do yesterday, other than sit around? To be honest, not much. I did, after lunch go out and water all three of the black berry beds, and then the flowers in the Ford's old kind of warm house. The wind was blowing, and it was not comfortable standing out in the open, with cold water flowing through the hose. Yep, ole retired people are tough! 😊

           After completing the watering task, I allowed myself to go get gas in the Ford's ole Chevy, and then a cup of hot coffee from the star coffee place. Later in the afternoon I went and picked up Gabi from school.

            Let's convert the topic; almost every time I am working outside, I hear a plane that sounds like Sky Kings plane. Now depending on one's age, a person may not know who or what Sky King was. Back when I was a little person, Sky King was a TV show about a rancher who flew an air plane. The plane was a twin engine plane, and the sound it made is the same sound this plane that flies over the homestead makes. Yep, that is another ole memory.

            Maybe you should not get old, there isn't much to do for ole people, when the weather is cold.

            Well, I guess that is it for now, I think I will watch some ole black and white cowboy TV shows this morning.

Hope you have things to do!

Senior ole person, finely with something to do, Don the Ford

Friday again 01/28/2022

            Here it is, Friday again. Where did the week go? I did nothing all week, wow, a week of nothing!

            I did get to go pick up Gabi at school yesterday afternoon, and I did go out in the back 40 yesterday afternoon and worked on the outhouse. I know, most of you real people do not have an outhouse, we do. Being on a fixed income, we can't enjoy all the nice things that you real people have. The work wasn't too difficult, I just needed to replace some screws that hold the house together. I have a photo of the outhouse.

           After inserting the screws, I did add some bird food. It is difficult for ole senior people to do all this work.

            I just thought, I did properly install the bird residence in the front tree. That project required me to carry that big ole ladder from the shed to the front yard, climb the ladder, install the hanger, attach the bird residence, tell myself I did a good job, carry that heavy ladder back to the shed. There is no rest for the elderly!

            I did move a camera to the area near the Ford's ole shed, where I have seen birds hanging around, on the ground. I hope to see what they are doing, and why they would be hanging out there.

            My favorite wife and I did go to the lawyer yesterday, we signed some papers and paid them some money. I did present the lady with the scrap wood bird house, she said thanks, and then she said, "You aren't as bad as people say"! I am not that bad, nice. 😊

            My first wife allowed me to go to the star coffee place for a cup after leaving the lawyer.

            Speaking of coffee, my favorite wife took me to the cracker restaurant for supper last evening. We both had a breakfast for the meal, and yes, we had coffee. The meal came with fried apples, so that was basically our desserts.

            Now, as you can see, I, being a senior person, have nothing to do.

Have a blessed day!

Senior retired person with nothing he wants to do, Don the Ford

To be delivered 01/27/2022

 

            So, does that title line mean the Don is to be delivered, and if so, delivered from what? Wow, now that I have considered the word, "delivered", the thought came to me that we no longer have, "Paper boys", who deliver our newspapers. Heck, most of us don't have a newspaper.

            Now before that one person begins their ranting about me using the term paper boy, and not using paper person, I don't care that someone does not like any terminology which has a word describing male or female, that person can use any terminology that they like, and I will do the same.

            Now back 65 years ago, when I was a "Children", my friend, who was a boy, had a paper route. I would often help him deliver the papers, even though I did not get paid. If you are old enough you might remember how the paper boys folded the papers, and they would throw them at the front of the house, as they rode by on their bike, yes some of the paper boys walked as they delivered the paper. There were times when they had to roll the paper and not fold it, because there was too much paper to fold. I can only assume there may have been some paper girls at times, but I never knew of one.

            The title line has nothing to do with paper boys or delivering newspapers.  It had to do with me, planning to deliver the scrap wood bird house to the lady, and yes, my wife will be there. Yep, we are scheduled at the attorney's office later this morning, to sign some papers, and that is where the lady who gets the scrap wood bird house works. We may be required to pay some money too. 😐

            I did work out in the back yard yesterday; I was able to move a little dirt and I placed a couple cement blocks, so that I could have the hose reel sit on them. I also descaled the coffee maker yesterday, and it seems to be working properly now.

            Our son Dave has his vehicle in the shop today, so I might need to go pickup Gabi from school this afternoon if he doesn't get it back in time.

            I probably need to check the bird food and see if they need more food. The scrap wood outhouse, which is where I put most of the food, is leaning. I need to put a longer screw or two in it to keep it from being destroyed. The squirrels get on the feeder and eat the bird food. Tres caught one of the squirrels the other day and was attempting to eat it. Yes, it was dead, and we did get it away from him.

            Well, I don't have anything else to present at this time, so I might get a cup of coffee, and relax in the Ford's ole recliner for a while.

Calm down, you will be happier!

Senior retired person who is not delivering newspapers, Don the Ford 

Bird residence 01/26/2022

            If anyone would have read some of my previous postings, they might know that I had recently built a bird house for a lady friend, yes, my wife knows her. I had placed the new bird house on a hanger in a tree just to get it out of the way until time to deliver it.

            Now we all know how observant ole seniors are, and I am no exception, I noticed a bird entering the new house, checking it out. I then thought of keeping the bird house, as a residence, allowing said bird to claim it as a homestead.

            Well, I was in the back 40 doing some work yesterday, when I decided to take a bird house, that had been hanging in a tree for a while, without any birds taking possession, and bring it to the front yard. I had to climb up a ladder to get to the bird residence, which seemed to be about 20 feet high, and I carefully removed it without falling to the ground. I do have a photo of the ladder, tree, and residence.

            If one looks closely at the residence; they might see that the wood dowel that goes just below the hole in the front of the residence is missing. Actually, it was on the ground just below the residence. I took this residence and reinserted the wood dowel with some glue, and then relocated it in the tree where the free scrap wood bird house had been previously located.

            Now I have a bird residence in the tree, which we will keep, and I will still take the free scrap wood bird house to the lady on Thursday. It is amazing how things work out here at the Ford’s Homestead. 

            Subject change; I did take the Ford’s ole Chevy to get the oil changed yesterday. I did learn something during the process. They asked me to get into the vehicle and start the motor, which I did (they do not get into the vehicle). When the motor started a message popped up stating that the hood was open. Now I had never seen that message before, the hood was wide open and easy to see, I think that would be good if it works with the hood mostly closed, but not secured shut.

            Not good news; Alex our favorite grandson has tested positive for the virus. He has been home bound Monday and Tuesday, and will need to stay home from school the rest of this week. He can return to school next Monday. At this point the rest of the family are symptom free. He and his family have had both shots. Since his sister, “Gabi”, has had both shots, she can go to school but she is required to wear a mask. Gabi and Alex have been wearing masks at school all this year.

   May my day be filled with Love and Kindness, ok, your day too!

 

Smile at least once today!

 

Senior retired person who is on a different schedule, Don the Ford

It seems foggy 01/25/2022

            Did you even see the title line, he asked? Now the first thing that probably came to mind was, the retired ole senior's brain must be foggy this morning. Well, that is true, his ole mind is always foggy, but that is not what the title line was addressing. It is foggy outside this morning and the fog is due to the nice rain we had yesterday.

            Speaking of rain, the Waco airport received ¼ inch of needed rain yesterday. Here at the Ford's Homestead, the rain gage indicates ½ inch of rain. I noticed that the rain and freeze control unit had the sprinklers shut off. Wow, it works, even after this ole senior person adjusted it.

            Well, I did not take the grand kids to school yesterday, as Alex was not feeling good. Yep, that messed up my ole senior person's schedule for the day. With nothing to do I decided to attempt to get new windshield wipers for my first Wife's ole van. The cheapest wipers cost more than $22.00. My present wife will now need to go out at night to go through neighbor's trash cans, and hopefully find some aluminum cans to sell, or we will not be able to eat this week. I brought the wipers home, and I installed the first one. It was too easy; I should have known there was a coming problem.

            The second wiper did not want to stay on. It was as if the metal part was too big. Heck I even read the instructions. I gave up and put the old wiper back on.

            Then, a few minutes later, I again attempted to install the new wiper. They say, doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result, is a sign of insanity, or, "an ole senior person who is silly, not crazy"!

            As I had tried several times, I finally heard a snap, did it lock in place? Wow, I am not insane, I am just a silly ole grandpa! 😊

            If you keep trying the same thing over and over, expecting a different result, sometimes you get it! In other words, ole senior people can be lucky too!

            I did drive all the way into town yesterday and made a purchase of an adult beverage.

            Well, I don't get to take the kids to school again today, so I could go to the star coffee place and get a cup of real coffee.

 

Be safe, happy and blessed!

 

Senior ole retired person who is silly, not insane, yet, Don the Ford              

Bird sanctuary 01/24/2022

            Back in the olden days, when I was a little children, we lived out at the edge of town. Down the road from our house there was a bird sanctuary, it was across the road from my friend’s house. To get into the sanctuary we had to cross the creek, and climb over a big hill, then we went down the other side of the hill, where there was a pond at the bottom. We never seen any people other than us kids in the sanctuary. We did swim in the pond at times.

            But the title line is not about the olden days. The bird sanctuary I am referring to today, is in our back yard. I was sitting on the Ford’s ole rocker with a cup of coffee in hand when I started noticing birds flying over me. After several groups flew over, I decided to turn around and see what was going on in the back 40. It looked like a bird sanctuary, there were birds everywhere. I guess they were after the bird seeds and after the water in Tres’s water pan.

            A little later I decided to turn the sprinkler system on, and it only took a little while for the birds to come to the front yard. There must have been close to 40 black birds getting into the sprinkler water. It has been dry and the birds need the water too.

            The following comment has nothing to do with the bird sanctuary, but I made a bird house Sunday. I had enough scrap wood to make one house, without having to purchase anything. I made it for a lady who works at the lawyer’s office. I have given her bird houses in the past, and she said they were all full so she needs another. Photo to follow.

 

             Maybe I ought to leave it hanging in my tree, and you are correct, I do nice scrap wood carpentry. 

            I also swept the garage out after building the scrap wood bird house. The floor looks a lot better now. 

            It is supposed to rain today, if we don’t get enough rain today, I will let the sprinklers run Tomorrow.

            I talked with a neighbor today, I asked if he was ok. He said he was and asked why I was asking. I noted that he came home on Friday and parked in his driveway different from usual. I said we did not see you come or go Saturday, so I was worrying about you. He noted that he did not feel-good Friday when he came home, and he did park different than normal. He said he has been resting all weekend. He said he didn’t have the virus.

            I need to get ready to take the kids to school, and a coffee would be good.

Come on rain!

Senior retired creator of wonderful, scrap wood bird houses, Don the Ford

New shades 01/23/2022

            My favorite wife took me to town, where she used her store money to purchase me a new pair of sunglasses, aka new shades. Yes, I like my new shades and I should have said thanks. Oh, by the way, my first wife did get a new pair of shades too.

            I have not commented lately on the blue lights, and there is a reason. They are no longer on. I guess someone got tired of seeing them or paying the electric bill.

            Now as to the clock in the garage that started on its own, and was on day light saving time, it operated for a little more than a week and then stopped. I did put a new battery in it, and it now works, and it is on the correct time.

            I did get the Micky Mouse watch working again, a new battery seems to have put it in motion. I find at times it is difficult to see Micky’s hands on the watch, I guess my eyes are as old as me. 

            My favorite wife and I went to a Mexican Restaurant for lunch yesterday. The food was ok, but not as good as expected. It seemed as if they failed to put enough spice on the food. I guess restaurants can’t find good cooks.

            Everywhere one looks, one sees signs which state, “Now hiring”. I suggest that these signs be band. Almost every business is now hiring, so I recommend, the only signs to be displayed should be, “No help needed”! If that happened, the people who make the now hiring signs would be put out of work, then they would need a now hiring sign. I guess we can’t win.

             Tres and I went out to get the newspaper, it was not there. As I looked around, I saw a single star in the morning sky. It was basically in the eastern sky. I don’t remember seeing anything that big in the eastern sky. I assume it may be a planet rather than a star. I have a poor-quality photo of said light in the sky.

                                                           

            No, it wasn’t an airplane, it was not moving!

            Change is good? I have brought the computer into the front room this morning. It is warmer and the ole recliner is comfortable. It is not as easy to enter data into the ole computer while sitting on the ole recliner. So, is change really good?

            We have nothing to do today.

Nothing is not fun!

Senior ole person who will do almost nothing today, Don the Ford

Could not decide 01/22/2022

            My first wife went to town yesterday, she had $50.00 store money to spend, and she could not decide on anything she needed, or wanted. She must spend this store money by the 29^th. She has said I can go with her to the store, and maybe I might get something.

            Since you did not ask, I will tell you; I did not do anything yesterday other than stay inside. Wait a minute, I did go out and put some water in the bird bath and also put some more bird seeds out. Then after all that work, I was still able to get my ole body back into the house for a short nap.

            After dropping both of the grand kids off at their schools, I decide to try the teller machine, and I was surprised that they were not working on the machine. I was able to get our $5.00 stipend. 

            Yes, I went to the star coffee place after my visit to the teller machine, and wasted 15 minutes in the drive through to get a small cup of coffee. I have a request on my computer, to tell the star coffee people what I thought about yesterday's visit, I might just do it. 😐

            I must take a potty break and get a cup of coffee; you can do the same.

            Ok, I am back and yes, "everything came out ok," and the coffee is also, ok.

            Bat Man is on the old black and white TV shows this morning, I don't usually like Bat Man. A Popeye cartoon usually comes on after Bat Man, and I watch Popeye.

            I just looked up at the security monitors, and the birds are enjoying the bird food, aka seeds, that I put out yesterday. The squirrels also share in this bird food. On another monitor, the birds are either fighting over, or having fun at a bird house on the front porch.

            The sun is now shining, I can turn the heat lamp off in the old flower cold house.

            Well, the coffee cup is empty, so I need to stop entering data.

 

A sunny day just for you!

Senior retired person whose wife might buy him something today, Don the Ford

Too cold to do anything 01/21/2022

            To me, it was too cold to do just about anything yesterday, and today will be the same. I did get the grandees to school safely and on time yesterday, thank goodness the Ford’s ole Chevy warmed up for the drive.

            I had hoped to stop by the teller machine and get our $5.00 stipend yesterday morning, after dropping the kids off at school, but as usual, they were three people at the teller machine, it was open and I had no access. I have noticed that they do this almost every morning, I guess they are restocking the machine with money.

            I did mess with my ole computer yesterday, I moved some files around. I also went through some old notes, by that I mean, notes on paper. Yes, ole retired people can still use a pencil and paper. I was looking for a plan for a bird house. I was impressed with what I found, there was 5 different plans, for 5 different bird houses.

            I found plans for other things such as, the time out meditation chair. That reminds me, a couple days ago when the weather was nice, there was an adult and two young kids riding their bikes down the street. As they rode by, I heard one of the kids say, “There is the time out chair”. That made me happy, someone saw, and acknowledged my work.

            As to the plans, I have old plans for many things, even the kids ole fort, which was built years ago. Maybe I don’t throw things away.

            We kept the heat lamp in the cold house, on all day yesterday. We do plan to turn it off today as we are supposed to have some sun light today.

            Did my favorite wife and I sit outside yesterday afternoon, nope, but we did go to the restaurant for a small supper yesterday. The food was pretty good, the service was kind of slow, they did not have a lot of servers working when we arrived. We were almost done eating when a couple were seated about 6 feet away. The female was coughing occasionally, so my favorite wife and I masked up and headed out.

            I had a gift card that we had used once before at the Cracker store, so I used it to pay for the supper. The card still has 17 cents left on it.

            I need to start thinking about getting ready to take the grandees to school this morning, I will warm the ole truck up before they get here. Kids don’t notice the cold as much as us ole people do.

            I do have plans for the day, I hope to stay inside!

Cold, this too shall pass!

Senior retired person who wore that old sweater most of the day, Don the Ford

Is it cold? It is! 01/20/2022

            It was so warm yesterday, that I was working outside, and I took my shirt off. Yes, I also had a T shirt on, and I did not take it off. Before you ask, I was replacing a sprinkler head.

            I did go into the Home Store and purchased a 90-degree sprinkler head, which cost $4.95. You are correct if you are thinking, he spent all their stipends for the week.

            I also worked on the device that shuts the sprinklers off in freezing weather or raining weather. I had never worked on this, the contractor installed it and I had no idea how it worked. I took the unit apart and found I needed two batteries. My present spouse got a couple new quarter sized batteries when she was in town yesterday. As I took the unit apart, I found a bunch of very small spiders inside.

            I was able to clean the unit, install the two batteries, and put it back together. For some reason, it would not connect to the receiver which controls the sprinklers. I even read the instructions and they were not a lot of help. I took it back apart, I took the batteries out, turned them over, and replaced them. Guess what, it now works, the batteries were in backwards. The instruction book did not state how to put the batteries in.

            The device is on the utility pole, don’t look at the dog, and there is a close up of the unit.

            Note: I just checked the sprinkler system, and it is automatically turned off, due to freezing weather, the control on the utility pole actually works!

            Before you ask, I did feed the birds yesterday, knowing they will need all they can get, to get through this freezing weather. My favorite wife purchased another bag of bird food yesterday! We try to help them as much as we can.

            Topic change: I have a question for you, “Which is heavier, a pound of cotton, or a pound of Gold?” Take a minute and consider what you were taught in grade school.

            Back in Missouri, while in grade school, I learned that a pound of cotton is heavier than a pound of Gold. For that one person, a pound of Gold is 12 ounces, and a pound of cotton is 16 ounces. Who knew that ole people from Missouri were that smart? 

            I will go out into the freezing weather and start the Ford’s ole Chevy. I will attempt to get it warmed up before we head for school.

            I have a sweater on that has been in my closet un-use for many years. No one but me would wear a good-looking sweater like this, from the olden days. I also have a pair of red long underwear, that I use to wear when riding the motorcycle in the winter months, no I don’t have them on now.  Photo of me in sweater to follow.

           You may be right; I make anything look good!

 

Stay inside today!

Senior retired person who is an “Insider today”, Don the Ford

Not a politician 01/19/2022

            The title line might indicate that I have a political comment to make, I don’t have, but it is a comment that can be political. Wow, then do I have a political comment? Wait and see!

            Yesterday, I commented on schedules being back to normal, whatever that means. I did get the grandees to school on time yesterday. And returned home to be with my favorite wife. As we sat there in the TV room not paying any attention to each other, the TV was on, which block normal communications. Suddenly, the phone rang and my wife answered it, then she handed it to me. Who would be calling me at 9:30?

            Reluctantly, I took the phone and said, “hello”. A female voice said, “good morning Don”. Who would be calling me and starting out with a comment like, “Good Morning Don”, only some one who wanted something!

            This female voice continued speaking, while my wife who was sitting across from me, was giving me the stare. The female ask a question, can you come and see me this morning at 11:00? My wife, who was still looking at me could not hear this female asking me to come and see her.

            I thought for a minute and then I said, yes, I will come at 11:00. I immediately got out of the Ford’s ole rocker and headed for the shower. I would need some clean clothes too. I was cleaned up, had the clean clothes on in about 30 minutes.

            Yes, you guessed it, the dentists wanted me to come for my teeth cleaning at 11:00 yesterday, instead of today at 9:00.

            When I arrived at the dentist office, I informed the female at the desk, “This early appointment caused me to have to brush my teeth a day earlier than planned!” she looked at me and said, “Well, I am glad we called you”!

            Ok let’s change the topic; yesterday as the Alex and I was driving home from school, we were having lively conversation. Alex noted that he was a thief and he had stolen a lot of money. I said you can get in trouble for being a thief. He said he has killed numerous people, and I noted that he could be put in jail for that. He said he could make a lot of money doing those things (I hope you know he was talking about computer games he plays).

            We had the truck radio on and there was a comment about the president, so I said, maybe you could be a politician, and Alex responded quickly and with a loud voice, “NO I would never be a politician!”  That caused me to first laugh that he was adamant about politics, then I thought, even kids don’t want to be politicians!

            Well, that is it for today’s lessons in life, have a good day!

Theft, murder, politics!

Senior retired person who enjoys talking with the grandees, Don the Ford

Almost got there 01/18/2022

            Almost got where? We will get into that later, but first I would let you know, that we are back on the normal schedule today. Wow, I just thought, normal schedule today, it changes tomorrow when I go to the dentist. Yep, it has been six months since my last visit. They seem to always be glad to see me, I guess they need my money!

            Yesterday, the weather was nice enough to allow me to get outside and work. Well, I call it work. I raked more than two thirds of the yard, trying to remove as many acorns and acorn tops as possible. In doing so, I also get any dead grass or leaves that were there. The trash container is now half full of debris. I have a tool that I have used for years, and I have even posted a photo in the past. A neighbor came over and talked to me and he commented that he liked the tool I use.

            The tool is an ole trash can that use to be in the Ford’s ole kitchen many years ago. This tool, has a flat side, and when laid down on the street or in the yard next to debris, one can use either a broom or a rake, to push the debris into the tool. I prefer using a broom to push the crap, I mean debris into the tool.

            I have a couple hours work today to complete the raking, and I need to replace a sprinkler head. As you can see, ole retired people work more than those who are still employed.

            Subject change; as I was completing my overwhelming workload yesterday, I was carrying rakes, broom and tool from the street to the garage, when I noticed something on the driveway. It was a penny, and it was heads up!

            Many years ago, when my favorite wife and I were starting life together, if we found a penny heads up, it always seemed to bring us good luck. I do not care if you believe in good luck or not, the heads-up penny worked for us.

            I do have a theory about the good luck if you are interested, if not stop reading now!

            Ford’s theory: “If one believes, anything is possible”! Where have you heard that before? A believer, finds a penny, and they believe it will bring them good luck. Maybe they needed a new chair. Believing that the penny is good luck, they make efforts to get the new chair. In other words, they start working toward the need, believing they have good luck on their side.  Believing, causes them to work toward their need.

            Believing and being positive about anything, makes life better!

Be positive and believe!

Senior raker of the yard and storyteller, Don the Ford

Grand kids here 01/17/2022

            The grand kids will be here today, so that usually means, “Chicken Noodle Soup”! as I understand it, Alex likes the chicken noodle soup, so Granny makes it for us. I like it too, but Alex is the key to getting the soup.

            Yesterday, the weather was fairly nice, so I went out and raked some of the debris from the front yard. There are so many acorns and acorn tops in the yard, that just walking in the so-called grass is uncomfortable. I plan to possibly rake more today, after it warms up.

            Due to the warm weather, and the fact that the sun was shining brightly, my favorite wife and I took a couple cups of coffee, and went out to the ole driveway, were we relaxed and enjoyed some quiet time. 

            Well, I guess if you are a Cowboy fan, you did not have a “Fun Day yesterday”. Now I am a naturalized citizen of Texas, and as such, all Texas citizens are required by law, to watch at least some of the Cowboy’s game. When I turned the TV on the score was 10 – 0. In a short period of time the score went to 13 – 0, then 13 – 7. At that point I thought they might have a chance. As the game progressed, I stopped watching and began watching “Funniest home videos”, it was much more interesting.

            The funniest home videos lasted one hour, then I switched back to the game and watch the last minute. The Boys lost!

            We had pork chops for lunch yesterday, and I had them again for supper, they were good both times. After the evening repast, I am allowed to carry any trash out to the trash cart. While I was in this process, I noticed that the moon was full, so I took a photo.

            The view of the moon is looking down the Fords ole driveway. After taking the photo and wishing I had a phone with a better camera, (we could afford either pork chops, or a new camera, we chose pork chops) I then pushed the trash cart down the drive and placed it on the curb of the street.

            I kind of assume the grand kids might want to take me to the star coffee place this morning and let me buy them drinks. If so, I will need to warm up the Ford’s ole Chevy.

May your day be blessed!

Senior ole person who needs a coat and coffee, Don the Ford

Sunday or Fun Day 01/16/2022

            For that one person out there, and we all know who you are, it will be a Fun Day. Yes, that one person likes football, and there are football games on today. For the rest of us, we will be home alone, maybe with a cup of coffee, and we will stay inside because it is cold outside, we can watch some black and white TV shows. You should not expect a visit, or even a phone call, from that one person, they will not be able to pull their body away from the TV during Fun Day. 

            There was a photo of me in a previous posting. I was asked by a reader if I was ok, this person noted that I looked like I did not feel well in the photo. I explained, I am 74 years old, that’s why I look that way, I am ok.

            I was watching the 3 stooges yesterday, that is something I usually do late Saturday afternoon. They usually have 6 shows in the two-hour period. The first and the fourth were basically the same. They evidently had cut some small parts out, and put a couple different comments in, hoping to make the fourth seem to be a different story, it wasn’t different. Feeling as if I were let down, I then turned the TV off and went into the other room with tears in my eyes. Heck, when you think about it, every one of their TV shows were basically the same, they get hit in the face, poked in the eyes, and there are pies that get thrown.

            Yesterday, I was allowed to leave the homestead for a few minutes, I needed some gas in the Ford’s ole Chevy, and I got a cup of coffee from the Star coffee place. As I started for home I was mentally complaining about the price of their coffee, although I do not consider getting a cup from there, as spending my money, since I usually receive a gift card or two and use them to purchase said drink.

            On the way home I stopped at the local chicken place and got two small chicken meals which cost almost $20.00. Do you know how long it takes for me to save up $20.00? It takes a long time. Yes, the chicken was good, and there was enough left over that I had it again for supper.

            Topic swap; my present wife has been looking for some 15-watt light bulbs. You know, regular bulbs not the LED bulbs. She has been commenting on not finding them, so I decided to help. I went on line and ordered her some 15-watt regular bulbs, they will be here Tuesday.

            The wind was blowing super hard yesterday, there were limbs blown down in the neighborhood, not here at the Homestead. Now I had put bird food out in prep for the up coming cold weather. One of the feeders is hanging on a rope which is about 10 feet down from the tree limb. The wind was blowing that feeder around like crazy. I assume that most if not all the seeds were knocked out on the ground. This morning, I have seen Tres go out to that area, and run the black birds off. Tres don’t like the black birds for some reason.

            Well, I wish there was something to write about, but there isn’t, so I got to go!

May your coffee be hot!

Senior retired ole person who needs a hot cup, Don the Ford