July 31, 2023

            Monday morning has been a productive morning. Tres and I went for a walk and we both enjoyed it, returning home I was able to water all the flowers and some of the grass in the front yard, before the sun rise. Yep, we got an early start, and I got a photo of a flower.

            What’s new in the neighborhood: several mornings while I am watering the flowerpots, I have heard a chicken off in the distance. I now assume that someone has a few chickens possibly to get eggs, and maybe some chicken tenders.

When the Ford’s lived in Missouri we were outside the city limits, and we had various animals at various times. There were dogs, ducks, turkeys, chickens, rabbits, a pig and we even had a pony for a while. Now I tell you this to explain that any time our boy Patrick would go out in the yard, if the chickens were out of their pen, the rooster would come after Patrick. That same rooster attacked me one time, and those spurs being poked into my leg did hurt.

We got rid of that rooster by giving it to my mom. Now we lived south of Cape Girardeau and Mom lived northwest of Cape, also out in the country. We visited their farm a couple weeks after we gave them the rooster, and we found out that the rooster had attacked mom, and he no longer existed.

Let’s see what we did if anything Sunday: as usual I watered the flowers front and back, I did cover the riding mower with the tarp before the sun got too high up. I worked on the Sunday blog and then I suggested that we might go out for breakfast and then we would not need to cook a dinner. My favorite wife agreed. The food was ok, but it could have been hotter.

Back at home we watched the Girls Midway Softball team play. When I say we watched I mean on TV. Midway won Sunday’s game, and will be playing in, “The Girls Little League Softball World Series” tomorrow morning. We wish them good luck!

With nothing to do midafternoon Sunday, I went outside and picked up sticks and leaves from the front yard. Pick-up-sticks was a game we use to play as kids, now I do a different version of pick-up-sticks, it is to get out of the house, and since the front yard is shaded in the afternoon it isn’t too bad of a job. There was a slight breeze which made the project more enjoyable.

Happy time yesterday afternoon: we did spend some time together as we sit outside for a while enjoying the extreme heat.

Neighborhood update: one neighbor returned from a 2-week vacation on Sunday, and another neighbor is leaving on a vacation on Monday. Does it seem like the neighbors are trying to avoid us ole retired Ford’s? Maybe they have money…     

Well, I guess that might be it for now, may you have a nice day, and may you stay safe.

Adult version of Pick-up-sticks!

Senior ole person who will try to be nice to someone today, Don the Ford

 

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

July 30, 2023

            We made it to Sunday, and we have one more day this month before we get into August. The main thing about August would be, it is summertime, and it is hotter than, well it will be hot.

            I had noted yesterday that I had increased the run time on most of the yard sprinkler areas. This morning after the sprinklers had run, when the Tres and I went out front, I noticed the bird bath that I had failed to put water in Friday, now had water in it. It was almost full, so that means the sprinklers are putting down plenty of water.

            Speaking of Tres, we did go for a walk early Saturday morning. I think he enjoyed it a little more than I did.

            Yesterday morning while I was watering the flowers in the pots, I decided to water a couple areas that were not getting any water from the sprinklers. I had, years ago made a couple portable sprinklers. Now these portable sprinklers were good because I could put them anywhere that the hose would reach. The photo is of the tall portable sprinkler, which is almost 5 foot tall, and yes there is a short one which is about 2 foot tall.

            The block is used to keep the sprinkler upright.

            Let’s see if we did anything Saturday. My favorite wife and I did get out of the house for a while, and I was allowed to purchase a couple lunches for the two of us. We then went to a store to get a couple items, but we did not get all we wanted, so we went to another store and still did not get all that we wanted. Old people can’t have everything they want, like you real people who have money to spend.

            We were worrying about the friend whose husband is on hospice, my first wife had tried to contact her three times, and she did not respond. When we were returning home from town we dropped by her house, and we learned that her husband is on hospice in the hospital. Donna talked with her for a few minutes and then we headed for home.

            Different subject: I have a photo of the ceiling above my ole recliner and I thought I would share it with you only, I am not asking others to see this photo.

            Sunlight shining through some crystal providing me with an inside the house rainbow.

            Swap topics again: we did sit outside yesterday, and it was hot, I guess that isn’t news to anyone here in Hewitt. We did not have anyone come over to enjoy the heat with us ole retired people.

            I guess that will be it for this version of “the Don’s Day at the homestead”. We hope you have a good day and always be nice to ole senior people, while you are being safe yourself.

Over 100 again!

Senior ole person who did not get a real cup of coffee yesterday, Don the Ford

 

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

July 29, 2023

            Morning, we hope you are doing well today, and that today will be a special day for you. As usual I have no real plans for today, as all the yards are mowed so nothing there to do.

            Yesterday actions: With this exceedingly hot and dry weather, I have increased the run time on most of the sprinkler areas. Yes, it will add to the water bill but it might keep some of the grass and plants alive.

            I and Tres went for a walk at about 6:30 yesterday morning, the heat wasn’t too bad at that time. Returning home, I did water all the flowers in pots and the black berry beds, but I did forget to put water in one of the bird baths.

            That walk completed, I worked on the posting for yesterday. That is about it, I sit around the rest of the day doing little or nothing. Yes, that is a boring life, no I did not venture forth to get a cup of real coffee. In truth, the coffee that we are now using here at the Ford’s homestead is not too bad, heck I kind of like it.

            Olden day thought; I was thinking about the heat that we have been experiencing here in Texas, and that there was a lot of heat when we lived in Missouri. Now when I talk about heat in Missouri, I must also refer to the humidity too. There was more rain in Missouri than here in Texas, and there was a lot of low lands that use to get flooded by the Mississippi every year. So, 90 plus degrees and 80% humidity is difficult to deal with.

            Now I said all that, to talk about the fact that my entire life of living at my parents’ home, we never had an air conditioner. Heck, when we got married and built a house it did not have an air conditioner. Poor people would have a window fan. Now that is a fan placed in a window and it blows air out of the house. Then you can open a window in another room or two, let’s say next to your bed, and there would be air coming in, due to the window fan pushing air out.

            My favorite wife and I sat outside yesterday afternoon and it wasn’t too bad, we had the fans running. We usually have a friend on Friday who sits outside with us. We know that she has a fractured bone so we don’t expect her to visit here for a while.

As we sat out yesterday the neighbor lady, her grandson and his daughter came over for a short visit. The girl’s name is Paisley, and she is very pretty, she is smart, and will be in the second grade this year. As we talked, I informed her that I took her dad on his first motorcycle ride when he was a kid. Paisley asked where did I take him, and I said up and down the street in front of the house. Her dad noted, that was about 30 years ago. Time flies!

            Claire is recovering from the covid virus, and now it seems as if Gabi has it. We are hoping that David, Alex and Brice do not get it (Brice is Gabi’s boyfriend).  

            Well, I guess that is it for now, we hope you have a good day, stay cool and be safe.

Covid not gone away!

Senior ole person who might need to take Tres for a walk, Don the Ford

 

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

July 28, 2023

            Good morning to you, we hope you had a good night’s sleep and are ready to read my posting. I will attempt to have a couple photos for your / our enjoyment. Let us get started looking at what the Don did yesterday. As usual, he did very little.         

The Don made a short plan for the morning hours which included going to the teller machine to get the weekly stipend. Now while the Don was out getting funding for the week, he decided to go to the coffee place and get a real cup of coffee. Returning to home the Don worked on yesterday posting while he enjoyed the real coffee.

Posting completed I went out to waterer flowers in pots, but there was one slight difference, I needed to move the big flowerpot and the rack it sits on back to the location where it was previously located. My favorite wife had us move it, (Dave and I) and now I, an ole senior person, am attempting to move it back to the original location. Photo to follow.

            Big and heavy, I used the ole red wagon and when lifting I used my legs to do the work. I used to train new staff in proper lifting, so I know how. The photo was taken after it was moved back into its original location.

The move completed I began the process of cleaning the yard, first I picked up the Poopa-Loopa, and then the debris. I thought about cutting some pecan tree limbs, but they have pecans on them, so I left them there. When I mow, I have to drive under them.

I then procured the walk behind mower and mowed all the areas that are difficult to get to with the riding mower, and as I have said this in the past, it reduces the amount of string trimming. Riding mower brought out, I checked the oil, added gas and put air in the tires. I then mowed the remainder of the back 40.

I then thought about trimming with the string trimmer and I thought, I could wait and do it later, but I decided to get it done since I was already working and tired. Part way through the trimming I had to add string to the trimmer. I put in 3.5 hours of work in the back 40.

All the work done, I was allowed to eat a light lunch and then take a shower.

Later in the day I received a call from Dave to pick him up at work, Claire was called in to work, even though she has the virus. Claire is the only person at that workplace that can do the month end work.

My favorite wife and I went out for supper at the Georges restaurant, the food was good, and the service was even better. Back at home after supper we sat outside for a while. No one came over to visit with us ole people, so we had to come up with our own topics.

I have a couple photos from yesterday, we hope you enjoy. The first photo is of me, or at least my shadow against the shed.

            The second is of sunrise on Thursday morning as I was driving home from the coffee place. There was a lot of dust, it was the Saharan dust which increased the red sky.

Retired but still a yard man!

Senior ole person who needs a break, Don the Ford

 

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

July 27, 2023

            We are now here at Thursday again and I am thinking about all I did yesterday. I walked the dog, watered the flowerpots, read the bible and sat around. Heck, I did not even leave the Ford homestead one time, Dave had their vehicle since his wife was home with the virus, so I did not need to go get him from work. Oh, Claire is said to be feeling much better now, the doctor gave her some medicine which helps. Dave does not have any symptoms, so he went to work but was required to wear a mask when he was around anyone. The grandkids are still ok, and we hope they do not contract the virus.

            I do need to get outside early morning one day this week and mow the back 40. I don’t want to get the yard man Alex over here while the virus is in their house. I guess that will give me something to do.

            Yesterday we did sit outside during the happy time even though it was 102 degrees. The fans and shade make it possible to be outside in the afternoon. There is a butterfly that hangs around all the time. The plant is known to us as a butterfly plant, and certain butterflies are said to come to it and lay their eggs on this plant. The eggs are supposed to hatch, and the worm is supposed to turn in to a butterfly. We don’t know if any of those butterflies are in this area, but the one that is here, is here all the time. Photo to follow.

             Today is Thursday and we normally go out for supper on Thursday, we haven’t had the discussion of where we will go, but there will be good food wherever we go. I usually go to the teller machine to get our weekly stipend on Thursdays, maybe I will be allowed to get a real cup of coffee while I am out and about.

            We learned yesterday that a neighbor’s husband is on Hospice, we are keeping them in our prayers. 

            I guess that is it, another short uninteresting posting. We hope you have a more interesting day and as always, please stay safe!

Pray for rain!

Senior ole retired person who might be mowing the back 40 today, Don the Ford

 

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

July 26, 2023

            Good morning, it will be another hot and dry day in Hewitt Texas. Here in Hewitt we need a couple things, one is an area wide beneficial rain fall, and two is TV with less or no commercials. I often wonder just how many people buy things after seeing something on TV. Now I do admit, that seeing a really nice-looking hamburger with all the fixings can make me want to get a burger to eat, but I do not think about the burger joint that presented the commercial. If I needed a burger, I would go to the nearest burger joint, or to a favorite burger joint, if I had one, which I don’t.

            Update; the group lunch went well yesterday, we had 6 people present this time, the conversations ranged from retirement to grand kids. I enjoyed it and I think everyone who was present enjoyed the time together. With my belly full, I was happy to get home and get in my ole recliner for a short but well-deserved nap. 

            Tres and I did take another walk this morning; we did get to talk with a neighbor for couple minutes. I still need to get outside and water the flowers in the flower pots before it gets too hot.

            We learned yesterday that Dave’s wife Claire has the covid virus. We are not sure what that means for Dave Gabi and Alex, but probably some quarantine time.

            Well, I guess that is it for now, we hope you have a good day and stay safe.

The flower pot man!

I need to get started; ole people take too much time not doing…Don the Ford

 

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

 

July 25, 2023

            What does the Don get to do today? Normally I would say nothing, but I might get to have lunch with some of the fellows from the bible study group at the George restaurant today. We are supposed to meet there at 11:45 for lunch, yes, we have to pay for our meal, but we do have some good conversations.

            Tres took me for a walk this morning and we broke our normal schedule. I usually water the flowers first, then come to the old computer and sit here for a while, and then it is too warm for a walk so I kick back and do nothing. This morning we went for the walk first, then watered the #2 berry beds, (all beds now watered) then repaired a flower pot, I helped my favorite wife put the sheets on the bed, then I got something to eat, and then I came to the ole computer. Normal schedule today is out the door.

            I did go to the doctor yesterday and she said I was looking good. She actually said it a couple times, I was not sure if she meant I was looking healthy, or if she was hitting on me. Then she told me she would see me next year, so I now assume she was saying I was looking healthy, darn-it!

            My sister called me from Missouri to tell me about the funeral of one of my nieces. She said the minister who did the service was named, “Donnie Ford”. Yes, back in the olden days I was also called Donnie, and he is 75 years old. I remember Donnie Ford, we actually lived on the same street, “Pine Street”, back when we were young kids. I believe his real first name is Donnie, my real first name is Donald.

            A little later I received a call from a nephew of mine, his name is Paul, he is only 3 months younger than me. That means my mom and my sister were pregnant at the same time. Paul was telling me about the Funeral also.  

            My favorite wife and I did a dog washing yesterday afternoon, and Tres seemed to like it. He does smell a lot better now.

            We did not get to sit outside yesterday afternoon, so I watered two of the black berries because they were at that time in the shade. We need some rain in the worst way.

            That’s it for now, we hope you have a good day, and always be safe.

Dog cleaners!

Senior ole person who is ready for lunch with the group, Don the Ford

 

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

July 24, 2023

            Well, we got through the weekend without too many problems, and today I go to the doctor for my annual physical. I did the blood test last Friday and the results have been provided to me already, I seemed to have done good on all of them. I believe she will suggest that I lose a couple pounds, they always say that.

            Yesterday my favorite wife made us a real good lunch and I even had seconds. After the noon repast all we were doing was sitting here at the homestead, doing nothing other than listening to the TV. I did finish reading Joshua in the Old Testament. With nothing to do I suggested that we might go get a cup of real coffee and a glass of Ice Tea. We were just tired of sitting here in the house and wanted to get out for a while. Poor ole Tres had to go outside in the heat while we were gone.

After getting the drinks we decided to go to a store in Waco to get something that our friend who had a fractured bone needed. We were able to procure the item and we delivered it to her, at her son’s house. We only stayed a little while as we needed to get home and let the pot hound in out of the heat. 

Returning to the homestead we were once again in the lazy do-nothing mode. We sat around in the air-conditioned house until about 5:00 when we headed out side to get away from the TV. A good friend came over and visited for a while, he is moving to Mississippi this week, so we will not be seeing him for a while. We had some pleasant conversations and we hope he gets everything packed up properly and has a safe trip getting to his home town this week.

Good luck Bob!

This morning: I took a shower so I would be kind of clean when I go to the doctor for my physical. I, not being very smart, decided to water the flowers before it got too hot. It was actually only 72 degrees this morning and that felt good as I started my work. By the time I had completed the watering project my ole body was sweating, so why did I take a shower before going outside to work? I guess ole people just can’t plan ahead.

My wife allowed me and David to move a very big and heavy flower pot, and the stand it rests on, about a week ago. She was told that it may not have been getting enough sun light so we moved it. We are now being allowed to move it back to where it was previously located. No rest for the ole people.

Well, I guess that is about it for now, we hope your day is delightful and please be nice to at least one real person, and one ole person. Safety is important, please be safe.

Shower after working!

Senior ole person who would like a cup of real coffee, but… Don the Ford

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

July 23, 2023

            Hello to you, my favorite reader, you can read, can’t you?

            Well, it is Sunday and I have completed the watering of the flowerpots for this morning. During the process I observed a flower blooming and I thought, I should present it to you my favorite reader.

             I again have no plans to do anything today, but I can tell you the few things that happened yesterday, if you are interested.

My favorite wife decided to get out early yesterday and start before the sun was on the flower beds, she pulled weeds. Our trash can is about halfway full of weeds now. Toward the end of her weed pulling, she dug up a flower and we placed it in the pot with some fresh dirt, which I later was allowed to water this freshly potted plant.

Later in the afternoon I ran the sprinklers in the front yard again, for 4 minutes each system. As they sprayed water, I checked the heads to see that they were spraying properly. I found one small area that seemed to not get any water. I should take the weed eater and trim around a few of the sprinkler heads where the grass is getting almost to the top of the head.

While I was running the sprinklers the neighbor who was working on his air conditioner again, his grandson who might have been 3 or 4 years old came over. He was bear footed and was walking on the hot cement driveway, he ran to the shade of our garage where I was standing. We talked and then he decided to go get his feet wet around the lawn sprinklers. I said to him that his grandpa was working on the air conditioner, he said he did not have a grandpa, he has a papa.

That neighbor put water misters on his air conditioner yesterday hoping to help cool the unit in the afternoon sun. He is considering getting a new unit.

We sat outside in the heat for about one hour yesterday afternoon, it was just the two of us. My favorite wife got a phone call and she talked with that person most of the time. I think it is good that you and I can be there for friends when they need some attention, or just to talk. While she was talking on the phone, I did get a photo that I will attempt to share. The photo may require just a small amount of imagination.

 

            Look closely and you may be able to see a cloud that looks a little like a dog. We could use some rain, but that is a dog cloud, and not a rain cloud. 

            Well, I will stop for now, we hope you have a good day while looking at the clouds and be safe.

Don the cloud viewer!

Senior ole person who hopes you enjoy the day, Don the Ford

 

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

July 22, 2023

            The weekend has made it here at the Ford’s homestead, and we have nothing to do, that is nothing that we want to do. My first wife is out in the back 40 pulling weeds from a flower bed.

            Friday events: I had an appointment to provide some blood to the doctor, my physical is next Monday. Now when I give blood, they tell me to not eat anything from midnight until after the blood is withdrawn. I ate supper on Thursday night at about 6:00pm, my blood giving was 15 hours later. Yes, I did eat a little after the visit with the blood person.

Back at home, I went outside and spread some dirt that we had purchased to put on a couple areas of the Jasmin vines in hopes of encouraging it to grow a little faster. While I was spreading the top soil, I noticed some debris in the yard so I decided to pick it up, after I watered in the top soil.

As I removed the debris from the yard and noticing that it really needed to be mowed, I decided to see if I could get the yard man Alex to come over and mow the front yard. Alex and family were going to town to see if they could get him some clothes for school. Yep, it starts the middle of next month.

            I decided that it would only take about 30 minutes total to mow the yard so I decided to do it myself. First, I had a couple glasses of good ole cold water, then I head out to get the mower. The mowing went well, the front yard is almost totally in shade, so that helps a lot. That done, I was able to drag my ole body into the house and cool off with some ice cream.

            The dogs’ chews that we ordered for Tres to hopefully help with his itching and digestion arrived. He thinks they are treats, yep he likes them.

            Yesterday afternoon at about happy time, we usually have a friend or two over to sit and talk about nothing, and about everything. The lady who usually comes has been in an accident and has fractured a bone, so she was not able to come, but our neighbors from across the street did come over. I was able to position fans which provided some air flow even though it was 104 degrees. We all enjoyed the conversations and time together.

I did try to use the water mister yesterday, prior to the neighbors coming over, but my favorite wife said she could feel the water hitting her so I removed the mister.

I guess that will be it for now, we hope you have a good day filled with happiness, please stay safe.

Temporary lawn man Don!

Senior ole person and it may be coffee time, Don the Ford

 

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

July 21, 2023

            Another Friday and still too hot to do anything outside. The front yard could stand to be mowed but I don’t want to get out there and do it, and I don’t want the yard man Alex to work in the heat either.

            Let us see what happened yesterday: My favorite wife and I went to Wally world and my wife wanted to get her hair cut. The hair butcher was open when we arrived, so my first wife went in and got in a chair. The hair stylist (aka hair Butcher) started on her and offered me a chair. I sat there a couple minutes when I heard a cat making noise. The hair butcher said, “The cat is in the ceiling,” I think she said it has been there 2 days now.

            Then a fellow came in and asked if he could get his hair cut. Now his hair looked like he had not had a haircut for several months, and he looked like he has not combed it during those several months. He began to talked to me, and I, being a nice person, responded to his conversation. He continued to talk the entire time we were there. Hair butchering complete, we headed out into the store to get some potting soil.

            That project completed, as we were heading for home, I remembered to stop at the teller machine to get our weekly stipend. Back at home we had a quick lunch and then took a nap as I pretended to watch TV.

            Later in the day I went outside and removed spider webs from the security cameras. The spider webs are not seen on the cameras during the day light hours, but when the cameras turn on their night vision, we can see the spider webs. I just used a broom and swept around each camera.  

We had a mouse in the house and I had seen it at one time. Now our cat is able to open the door from the office to the garage if it isn’t shut tight. There have been times when we walk into the office and the door would be open, and we did not know how long it was open. We assume that is how the mouse got in. We got some mouse traps and strategically placed them. The next day we had a dead mouse. Now we left the other traps in place just in case there may be more than this one mouse.

We went out to supper at the cracker restaurant last night, the turkey and dressing was good and filling. Arriving back home we did sit outside in the heat for a while, even though it was 104 yesterday. We let the Tres come out with us, and I have been putting a bowl of water with ice in it for him to drink. Tres likes Ice water, and I do too!

With this heat, I am planning on either increasing the amount of time the sprinkler system runs for each section, or I might let it run as usual, and then about noon set it up to run a second time. It is hot and dry here.

Well, I guess that is it for now, we hope you have a good day and please stay safe.

Hair butcher!

Senior ole person who needs to get outside this morning for a minute or two, Don the Ford

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

July 20, 2023

            I haven’t done anything that was not covered in yesterday’s posting, except that I must have gotten up earlier than usual as Tres and I went out front and the sun wasn’t even close to coming up. It was also too early to water the flowers so I am here at the computer entering this information.

            My favorite wife and I did sit outside yesterday afternoon again, this time it was only 105 degrees. Yes, it was hot but the time we spend away from the daily routine and TV is good for us. We talk about many things and basically relax.

            I ordered a book for the next bible study, and it shipped from San Antonio, that is here in Texas if you weren’t sure. Leaving Texas, it went to Memphis TN. Now that is a long way away from where we are located. Then it left Memphis TN and came back to Waco Texas, and was then delivered to our house. One would think they would just put it on a truck and deliver it here in Texas. That is a lot of flying for my book.

            I just checked the security cameras and the sun might be trying to come up now.

            Our plans for the day is to go to Wally world this morning and get a couple items, maybe my present wife might get her hair cut, and then get back to the homestead.

            Well, I think that is it for now, hope you have a good day and please be safe.

Daily plans?

Senior ole person who needs to go water the flowers, Don the Ford

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

July 19, 2023

            Howdy, we hope you are doing well today. I guess I am doing well, I haven’t done much of anything yet today. Well, I did allow Tres to take me for a walk early this morning, we cut the walk short because there was another person walking their dog coming toward us. I know Tres makes a big deal out of seeing another dog walking (barks like crazy). During the walk I found something on the street, photo to follow.

 

            That screw in someone’s tire would not be good.

Returning to the homestead from the short walk, I did sweep the sidewalks and front porch, then I did water the flowers out front and refill the bird baths with some fresh water. My ole body was about to give up due to all this strenuous work and walking, but I was able to drag myself out to the back 40 and secure the hose, yep, I watered the berry beds and the flowers out back and I refilled the bird bath and dog water bucket.

Finally, I was allowed to come inside the Ford’s residence and warm up a breakfast sandwich, get a glass of milk and sit here at the computer attempting to make my ole body write this posting.

Yesterday presented as follows: 

I did get a breakfast burrito yesterday morning, then I decided to stop getting the breakfast burrito from the place where I normally get it. The one I got yesterday had bacon in it, and the bacon was like chewing rubber. I also purchased a cup of real coffee, and this cup was like the previous cup from the star place, it was not real hot, I like it to start out with hot.

            I did water the flowerpots yesterday that needed it, some were watered by the sprinkler system, which save me from doing the watering. I did finish the rope light install yesterday morning, now we have the flashing lights at night in the carport.

            It hit 106 degrees again yesterday, and even if I had some kind of project I will not go out and try to work in this excessive heat. Now I just said that, but we did still set outside with the fans blowing on us in the excessive heat.

It was too hot to expect any of our friends to drop over, so it was just us enjoying no TV and no commercials. I get super tired of the commercials, and it seems as if there is more time spent on commercials, than on the program that is supposed to be showing. When I have the TV or radio on and the commercials comes on, I turn the sound off. Basically, the commercials last for 3 to 5 minutes, and I doubt that the news or program last that long before the next commercial. Since I pay for the TV service, I should not have to watch the commercials.

Some of the TV shows have a giveaway at the end of the program, “that is just a commercial”! Some of the so-called news programs have guests and they often have a book that they have just wrote, and, “that is a commercial”!  Yes, I am complaining!

It just came to me, if I still had a motorcycle, I would not be riding it in this excessive heat. Consider, a rider has a helmet on, a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to keep from getting sun burned, and yet the sun is baking them as they ride.

Well, I guess I will stop for now, if you don’t want to receive these emails about these postings, let me know and I will take you off the mail list. If for some unknown reason, someone wants to be on the mail list, have them let me know and I will put them on the list.

Have a good day, be nice to the elderly, and stay safe in everything you do.

No work, no rain, not cool!

Senior ole person who hopes for rain and cooler weather, Don the Ford

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

July 18, 2023

            Welcome to Tuesday, at least I think it is Tuesday, you know how ole people are, our brains are so full of ole time information that we don’t have much room for now days information. For some of us ole people, if we change up what we normally do one day, it makes the next day’s schedule seem like a different day.

            What did the Don do yesterday after he watered the flowers in the flower pots, and after he let the #2 section of the sprinkler system run for 5 minutes? Well, he kicked back for a while in an effort to allow the water from the #2 sprinkler system to soak into the ground. The Don had plans to pull weeds from an area of the Jasmin bed, and if the ground is wet the weeds come out easier.

            The Don had completed his rest period and was ready to head outside when a neighbor arrived at the front door. The neighbor had some items from his garden, and a birthday card for my present spouse, so we invited him in. We sat and talked for about an hour, all the while our pot hound Tres was jumping on the back door wanting in. Tres knew we had company and he wanted to get in on the conversations.

            After some interesting conversations with the neighbor, he returned to his home and I went outside and began to pull weeds. It was about 10:00 and I was in the shade for the most part, but it was still hot. I did a pretty good job of weed pulling.

            Later in the day I packed up some vegetables to give to Dave when I picked him up from work. I assumed he would get off about 2:30 but he did not. It was almost 4:00 when I took the vegies out of the cooler bag and put them back into the refrigerator, and that is when Dave called wanting a ride home. Yep, I had to get the items out of the ice box and put them into the bag again, then go get Dave. I wonder if any young people know what a real ice box was.

            My favorite wife and I did venture outside about 5:00 even though the temp had hit 106 yesterday, and as we sat there a neighbor came over to wish my first wife a belated happy birthday. Then a few minutes later another neighbor stopped by to also offer a belated happy birthday. There were some lively conversations among the ladies, while the Don was making some hangers for the $7.00 rope light that I was going to hang in the car port.

            After the friends left, I began to hang the rope lights, with the help of my first wife and a ladder. They are hung but I still need to do a couple things to complete the project. The lights are on either side of the car port under the roof, and at dark they begin to flash. They flash all night and go off when the sun comes up. Yep, they are solar powered. Why do I like these rope lights, I don’t have a good reason, I do like to think the people who see them flashing, might be wondering why they are there.

            Well now you see that we have nothing to do here at the Ford’s homestead, we hope you have some things to keep you busy and please stay safe.

Provider of light!

Senior ole person who needs a break, Don the Ford

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

July 17, 2023

            We are starting another week of triple temperatures forecasts, even though yesterday was the first day in a while where we were below 100, AKA 99 degrees, for the rest of this week we are said to be above 100, with the possibility of breaking some records.

            I don’t have a lot to put in the post today, I have already watered the flowers in the pots, and carried the trash out, I may work on the rope lights for the car port today.

            We celebrated my favorite wife’s birthday yesterday, she was 37 years old (x2) and we all went out to lunch together, the food was good the service was a little slow, but none of the restaurants seem to have enough wait staff. It is always good to have lunch or dinner with all the family! I have a photo of a cake we enjoyed.

            As you might be able to see, there was a few birthday cards in the back ground.

            Well, I might get out and pull a few weeds today, but other than that, I do not have any real plans. We hope your plans are all good, and that you are nice to at least one person today. Try to be productive and safe in all you do.

Professional weed eradicator!

Senior ole person who needs a break before he starts his work, Don the Ford

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

July 16, 2023

            This is my favorite wife’s birthday, Happy Birthday Donna, since today is her birthday, she can take it easy all day, and she will not be required to pickup any aluminum cans, Happy Birthday!

            Yesterday: I had a bowl of cereal before heading off to Dave’s house to haul limbs to the dump. In Hewitt they have limb and trash day on the third Saturday of each month.    We hauled off 2 loads of limbs and then Dave come to the Ford homestead with me and we repositioned a large flower pot and the bench it sits on.  

            I then found it necessary to wash my ole body, so I was allowed to take a shower. I did smell better after the shower. Once I was clean and smelled better, my favorite wife allowed me to take her into Waco to get a bite of lunch. The place we went to is now making hamburgers, so I decided to try one. The hamburger was too large for a normal person to bite off a piece to eat. I guess it was ok, but I will not get the too large hamburger again.

            Leaving the sandwich shop we headed for the Harbor store; remember I had a 30% off coupon for anything under $10.00. I bought two rope lights and saved $6.00. leaving there we headed for home where I was allowed to take a much-needed nap. I usually take a nap before I start reading the bible, for some reason reading for more than 30 minutes makes me sleepy.

            We did go outside about 5:00 pm to sit, even though it was over 100 again. I did position the fans which do help somewhat. A friend came over to sit with us and shortly after she arrived, her son and his wife arrived.   The son and his wife only stayed a short while as they had plans. After about an hour or so of B S-ing, (B S-ing means interesting conversations) the friend who stayed decided to order a pizza. The pizza was good.

            Odd note: I was talking with a neighbor who had his water heater start leaking earlier this week, he replaced it, then yesterday his air conditioner had given up, but he got it fixed. I noted that he was having some bad luck and he said, “that aint nothing, my cell phone has quit working!” Wow, could it get any worse than not having a cell phone that worked?

            Today: we are expecting Patrick, Karla, Dave, Claire, Gabi and Alex to come to the homestead and we will go out to lunch to celebrate Donna’s Birthday. Karla’s dad may also go out to lunch with us.

            Well, that is all that is going on here, we hope you have a good day and as always, please stay safe.

Come on rain!

Senior ole person who needs a break, maybe a cup of homemade coffee, Don the Ford

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