December 31, 2023

            Well, this is the last one, there will be no more after this one. I think this happens every year at this time on the 31^st. Now that I am thinking about it, my sister Wilda, who is no longer with us here on earth, was born on January 31. Wow, born on the last day of the year.

            I am creating this blog posting on Sunday the 31^st, and I have no real plans for the day because my favorite wife has not yet informed me of things I might be allowed to do.

            I did put the small electric heater into the so-call greenhouse yesterday. I also put a light bulb in with it so we could tell if the power was on or not at the so-called greenhouse. If the light is on the power is on, but the bulb is way too bright. It is an LED bulb, and it was almost like having a spotlight shining at the back of the homestead. A small bulb will need to be installed.

            I also got the leaf blower out and blew some leaves in the back 40 yesterday. Now I started this just to have something to do. I thought I would attempt to push some of the leaves together in piles, and then, if I happened to be in a mood later, I could vacuum them. I have a couple photos but the first one is not too good.

            By the way, the red wire laying on the ground is the new 100-foot wire which powers the so-called greenhouse. We can see a pile of leaves along with the green house and the Fords ole shed.

            Now while I was moving some leaves around in the yard, I found it interesting that there would be a lite breeze coming from one direction so I would try to blow the leaves in the direction that the breeze was blowing. Then it would stop and a couple minutes later it would come from a different direction. Actually, the breeze was helpful, as I was not working only in one direction. I did pile some leaves up against the so-called greenhouse.

            My thought was that the leaves might provide a way to reduce the cold air from getting into the bottom of the structure. The ball is Tres’, he likes to catch it, and then he likes to play keep away.

            Speaking of Tres, he and I went out into the front yard as usual this morning, even though we do not get a newspaper anymore. This morning it was very quiet, the sun was not yet coming up, the sky almost completely dark and yes, I had a flashlight in my hand. As I stood there in the quiet, I heard one bird sound off from what seemed to be behind our property, the odd thing was, there was an echo of the bird’s call. I have never heard just one bird call out like that and then hear an echo off the neighbors’ homes.

            Change the topic: yesterday as my favorite wife and I were driving home from lunch I observed a person on a very nice motorcycle, and a thought came to me. I have been told that a new Gold Wing motorcycle now costs around $32,000.00. Now while thinking about that price, I then considered what it cost for our first house which we had built in Missouri. We owned the property, so that was not in the cost, the house had a full basement, it was brick, it was a small house with three bedrooms, one bath and an attached one car garage. This house was out of the city limits, and it cost us $28,000 and change. I am not sure of the exact cost, but I know it was $28,000 plus a few hundred.

            Wow, prices do change. I guess that is it for now, we hope you have a good day, do not drink and drive tonight as we want you to be safe.

Happy new year!

Senior ole person who will probably be asleep when the new year arrives, Don the Ford

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

December 30, 2023

            We would like to say good morning to one and all, and thanks to that one person (Bob) who noticed that the last posting was sent out earlier than usual. I am able to get them out early if I write them the day before, and then in the morning when I send it out, all I need to do is check the wording and spelling.

            Yes, I have started this posting on Friday afternoon. It is very cool outside and it is windy so I think we will likely stay inside this afternoon.

            Yesterday morning my favorite wife and I went to the Cracker store for breakfast and I enjoyed the meal. Our wait-staff was a female and she appeared to be pregnant. We used a Cracker store card that we got for Christmas, to pay for the meal. It is nice to eat and have someone else pay for the meal, thank you. After the meal we returned home for a while and then my wife headed out to go shopping.

I left the Homestead about 10 minutes after she had left, and I passed her van sitting on the side of the road not even a half a block away from our house. Yep, she was talking to a neighbor lady who was out walking her dog. I proceeded on while she continued her discussion.

I was heading to the Harbor store with my 25% off coupon, but I did stop at the Star coffee store to get a cup. Then I headed on into Waco and made it to the Harbor store. I quickly found the 100-foot extension cord and a male and female wire plug. At the cash register I learned that the 25% coupon would not work on the extension cord, they said if an item was on sale the coupon could not be used. Yes, that did trip my trigger, but I needed the cord so I bought it anyway.

I was not happy all the way home, but I am ok now, as long as I don’t think about it. Returning home, I did recover the two parts to the ole 100-foot cut cord, and I have installed the new 100-foot cord. I tested and it actually works. I also watered the flowers in the so-called hot house, and by the way it was hot as the sun was shining on the house. I hope to work with a small electric heater outside tonight or in the morning as I might put a small heater in the hot house when it gets really cold. I need to determine how to set the heater to come on at about 40 degrees and hopefully maintain a temperature above freezing on those cold nights. I think the warm air from the heater, and the fan moving the air around, might work better than the two heat lamps. 

The TV reminded me of an ole topic: they were talking about someone on TV whose last name was Hog. That reminded me of someone we called Grandma Hog, when I was a little kid, and I do mean little. I do not know whose grandma she was, she stayed at my Dad’s Brother’s house, which was next door to our house on Pine Street, in Smelter Ville, south of Cape Girardeau, Mo. What I remember about Grandma Hog is, she smoked a pipe, and I would sit on her lap while she smoked. I would have a small box of matches in my hand and if her pipe went out, I got to strike the match to light her pipe. I didn’t say it was healthy, I just said it is a memory from the olden days.

My favorite wife made tamale soup for our evening meal (Friday night evening meal, remember I am writing this on Friday) and the tamale soup is very good. Yes, there will be tamales put into the soup.

The only other thing I did yesterday was to change the air filter to the furnace, it is good to have less dust in the air.

That’s it for Friday, let’s see if I add anything on Saturday morning.

 

            It is Saturday morning and I have very little to add to this posting. I have had a trap in the bed room hoping to catch our cat Molly, but it was kind of a small trap, like you would use on a rabbit. I brought the larger version of the trap in hoping she would go into it easier. I put her food in the trap and she went in and ate but the trap did not trap her. I need to reset the part that trips the trap so it works with less pressure.

            Well, I guess that is it for the last Saturday post for this year, we hope you have a good day and as always be safe in all you do.

Cat Trap installer.

Senior ole person who has things to do but don’t want to do them, Don the Ford

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

December 29, 2023

            A couple more days after today and we will be in a different year. I wonder how many times I will make the date as 2023 instead of 2024.

            Ok, let me get started with yesterday’s events. Early yesterday morning I went out back and sprayed some weed killer on weeds. The other day I went out to the back 40 to toss some bread over the back fence for the birds to eat, and that is when I noticed several weeds in the back 40. Now these weeds fill the ditch behind the house but I do not like them in the back 40.

            After the weed spraying, I called Alex and asked when I should come to get him and his sister Gabi. He thought a minute and checked with Gabi to see when they would be ready. He gave me a time and I agreed. I called him as I was leaving the house, telling him I was on my way, and I called him again when I turned onto the street where they live. I sat in front of their house waiting on them for more than 10 minutes. I called Alex as I sat there and suggested that they might stay home, and I would go back to my house. They made it out to the vehicle and we headed out.

            I do not like to wait on someone when they know the time I am going to arrive. Even though I was not happy, I did go to the Star coffee place and got them both a drink, I had already had a homemade coffee so I did not get a coffee for myself.

            Back at the Ford’s homestead Alex went out to the shed and got the walk behind mower ready and brought it to the front yard. We discussed the procedure that I like to use when vacuuming, and we began. Alex went over the front yard one time and then he used the leaf blower to get more leaves out of a flower bed into the yard, then he used the mower again to vacuum those leaves.

            Lunch time came and Alex and I went to the Bush chicken place and got a meal for each of us. As I was eating my lunch, I received a call from Dave needing a ride home from work. I finished eating and headed out to get Dave. After dropping Dave off at his home, I returned to the Ford’s homestead.

            Alex and I decided that he would get the riding mower out and get it ready to mow, including checking the oil, gas, and adding air to the tires. He was going to mow the back 40 and I was going to do some finish type work out front. The front yard was looking good when Alex came to the front yard and said, he had cut a wire with the mower. He said he didn’t even see it due to the leaves in the yard. We walked back and looked at the cut wire, it is the 100-foot-long wire that provides electric to the hot house. I will need to get another wire, Luckly I have a 25% off coupon card for the Harbor store, I can use it today. I now have two short wires connected to provide the heat lamps power until I get the new wire.

            Well, the yard work went well, but I do have some additional leaves to remove from a flower bed. I appreciate Alex’s help; he is my favorite grandson! When I tell him he is my favorite grandson, he says, Grandpa I am your only grandson, he is correct, but he is still my favorite grandson!

            Topic swap; My favorite wife and I, did sit outside for a while yesterday afternoon. It was very cool but it was relaxing and quiet. We did not go out for supper yesterday; we were not hungry. We have decided to go out for breakfast this morning and then start the day off, shopping.

Our Christmas lights inside and outside are still on and will continue until the new year, then the power will be cut off.

Odd ball subject: I have some odd thoughts when I am lying in bed and this one is not only odd, but part of it is as old as me. In years past I use to have these initials (NARBNL) near my signature on my emails. Now there were occasions when someone would ask what they meant. These initials meant, “Not Always Right But Never Left”, for that one person who needs me to explain, that is a political statement.

Now as I was considering the above, another set of initials came to me from the olden days, (LSMFT). Now if you aren’t a senior ole person you will probably not know what LSMFT means, so I will explain. LSMFT was used in commercials on the TV and radio for years, it’s meaning is, “Lucky Strike’s Means Fine Tobacco”. Yep, it was use in a cigarette commercial.           

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

25% off coupon!

Senior ole person who wants a good 25% off all items, Don the Ford

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

December 28, 2023

            Good morning to you early risers, and good afternoon to both of you who sleep in. Not sure what all I will do today, I plan to have the Alex and Gabi here today, I know Alex will work, can I get the Gabi to work again? Last time they were here Gabi helped in the yard too.

My favorite wife usually makes some homemade Chicken Noodle soup for our lunch when the grandkids are here, but in an effort to let her rest from all the cooking she has done lately, we will go to the Chicken place and get our lunches there. 

            Yesterday’s events: My favorite wife went to rehab, and while she was there, I went to the Star coffee place for a cup. Then I went to the teller machine for our weekly stipend, after she got finished with the rehab, we went to the Wally world for two things, “shots and groceries”. After we had the shots and groceries, we then went to the HEB, for more groceries.

            I drove around the parking lot for a while hoping to find a parking spot close to the door, where my present wife had entered the store. I found a spot where I could see the parking spots in the handicap spaces, and I set there and waited for one of the cars to leave. When one of the cars left, I was able to move from where I was to the handicapped parking spot.

            We made it home and was able to get the groceries into the homestead. I was able to get a bite to eat and I was able to get into the Ford’s ole recliner for a nice nap.

            Let us alter the topic:  I was thinking about olden days when I was a child in Missouri. I can remember snow and the fact that we would go out and play in the snow. Yes, there was plenty of snowball fights, and we built snow men. I wonder how many kids here in Texas has never built a real snow man. Heck, we have been here for 44 years, and I remember only one real snow, where we had 7 inches of snow. We had a real sled and the kids in the neighborhood all seemed to want to ride on it. We also had a four-wheeler, and we would pull the sled around with the kids on it. I still have that ole sled in the shed.

            Now we do occasionally have snow, usually in the amount of an inch on the grass, but real snow is for you all in the north.

            I remember when I was a little kid and we lived in the country, it had snowed. Now my brother Jack had, somehow came up with a car hood, and we were using it for a sled. Hay a car hood worked good for sliding down the hill, but we could not guide it.

            I have another snow memory; I was a teenager and there was a nice big snow in Missouri. Several of us kids took our sleds and went to the golf course over by Cape Rock. Now if you are familiar with Missouri and Cape rock, then you know where I am speaking of. The golf course has a very long hill which came down to the road that was next to the Mississippi river. Us kids were going to the top of the hill and sliding down the hill on our sleds. I am fairly sure, if the people of the golf course knew we were there, they would have run us off.

            Another sled story occurred at work many years ago. We had snow here in Texas and we were at work. There were adults who said they had never slid down a hill on a sled, and they asked if we could take a sled from stock and at break or lunch go outside and slide down the hill in front of the building. We let them take a sled from stock and slide down the hill. Probably if the home office would have known, they would have had a fit, maybe even fired the manager, me.

            Life has been odd and fun. We hope you are having a good day and that you are being nice to others, while staying safe.

Ole sled rider.

Senior ole person who has memories, but can’t remember 10 minutes ago, Don the Ford

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

 

December 27, 2023

            Today is Wednesday and my wife has an appointment at the rehab center early this morning. When she gets done with that, she will then head out to get the needed groceries for this week. I often offer to go with her, but she usually says nope, stay at home. I guess I ask too many questions when she is shopping. We both want to get the latest Covid 19 virus shot, and she wants to get the RSV shot. Our pharmacy doesn’t give the Covid shot, so we may go to Wally world as they usually have the shots.

            Now let’s go back to yesterday: my wife and I were sitting outside while the sun was shining even though the temp was only 57 degrees. As we sat there on the Ford’s ole swing, I looked up, and what did I see? Before that one person says what did the Don see, yes, he did see the sky, and he saw something else. The red oak tree has the leave’s off it but the acorns are still there. Now I have a photo, but I don’t know if you can see all the acorns that are still on the tree.

            I was not only surprised as too how many acorns are still on this tree, but I was also shocked to know they will continue to fall. I did get up and go look at the other trees to see if they were still loaded with acorns, they are not. This tree has all these acorns on the south side, the other side which is up against the other tree doesn’t have any acorns, and the other two trees do not have any remaining acorns. Why does this tree have acorns on the side that is away from the other trees, is it due to the amount of sun light it gets?

            I hope to get my yard man Alex over here on Thursday to help remove leaves from the front yard. I blew a few of the leaves away from a small area with the leaf blower yesterday, and then I raked that small area just to see how many acorns I might get, there are a bunch, and that is part of the reason I looked up and saw the acorns in the tree.

            New topic: I noted in a previous posting that a friend left a handmade device that can be used to move heavy items like flowerpots. As I was sitting there reviewing the device, I noticed that it is missing a bolt. It is not a big deal; I will insert a bolt and it will be ready to use.

            Another subject: I have a photo of some clouds that was taken a couple days ago. In this photo of the cloud a person with some imagination may be able to see a hand, or at least fingers of a hand.

             I did say one might need some imagination.

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

To many acorns!

Senior ole person who needs his yard man Alex the Ford, Don the Ford

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

December 26, 2023

            Well, it is over with now, and today is hoped to be a day of rest. Family was here and we all enjoyed food, gifts and discussions. My favorite wife worked too hard trying to get all the food to the table on time, and I will admit, the food was good!

            As the day proceeded, Dave and his family went to their home, and I also drove over there with Alex’s workout bench in the back of my pickup. Dave and Alex unloaded it, and it was very heavy, then I headed back to our homestead.

            Arriving at home a friend, Keith, Karla’s brother was there, and he had brought us a new plant, along with a homemade device to move heavy flowers in pots from point “A” to point “B”. He also took all the leaves that we had in bags, he uses them as mulch on his gardens. There were some lively conversations for a while, then he headed for home.

            Patrick and Karla headed for their home shortly after Keith had left, so my favorite wife and I kicked back in the ole recliners for a short period of rest. Three friends arrived, actually most of our friends are more like family. We sat and talked for a while, there were gifts exchanged, and then food was eaten. I think everyone liked the black berry cobbler that my favorite wife makes. We had some good conversations with a few memories from the olden days brought up. Later, after these friends left, it was decided that we would sit outside for a short while.

            The weather was very cool, so we were only out there for about 30 minutes. as we sat there, we noticed the moon was coming up and it appeared to be a full moon.

            The reason I brought this up and posted the photo is to note that the moon seemed to be on the rise fairly quick. As you can see the moon is below the branches of the tree, but in less than the 30 minutes we sat there, the moon had risen up to the bigger limbs of the tree. It just seemed to be moving quickly, probably because we had the branches to compare where it had been and where it is.

            As we sat there on the Ford’s ole swing, someone came to the front door, and when someone comes to the front door the doorbell camera sends me a notification. I got up off the ole swing and walked to a place where I could see who was there. It was another friend from down the street, so she came around where we were, and after proper greetings, we all went inside the homestead.

            My present spouse and our friend sat and talked for a while, and I proceeded to indulge in some leftovers from the noon repast.

Later after the friend left and I had completed my evening meal, my wife of more than 50 years and I decided to clean up the pots and pans, get rid of any leftovers that we would not be eating later, and then, REST.

            As you may be able to see, we had a good day filled with family and friends. We hope your day was as good as ours, we hope everyone stays safe today, and if you can, be nice to at least one person, even if they are old!

Christmas is over?

Senior ole person who got too much, and is thankful for family and friends, Don the Ford

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

December 25, 2023

                        Merry Christmas to all and to all Merry Christmas.           

            Wow I think I said the same thing twice, so you don’t need to say it back to me as I have sent it to you and to myself.

At about 11:00 am on Sunday, aka Christmas Eve I staggered out to the ole trash can to deposit some unwanted items, and on my way back to the house I glanced at the free rain gage. I was a little surprised to see 2.00 inches of rainwater in the rain gage. Maybe I should not have been surprised as the back yard is standing in water, and it hasn’t done that since the drought started last year. Yes, I will attempt to present a photo of excess water.

             This water standing there, did not stand there too long, it is now absorbed.

            My wife suggested that the wet leaves on the walkway should be removed before any of the family got here, that would keep some of the leaves out of the house. I didn’t think the leaf blower would remove the wet leaves, so I used a broom. The broom worked but it was difficult, so I did get the leaf blower and surprise, it worked. After all the strenuous work, I took a break and sat on the front porch for a while with a glass of water.

            Dave, Claire, Gabi and Alex arrived first, then Patrick and Karla. My favorite wife was working too hard trying to get the food ready for us to enjoy. At some point we all started to fill our plates with things we liked. There were some good comments during the feeding frenzy, I do not remember any political comments being made.

            After a while, we all caried our plates back to the kitchen and deposited them in the trash as we were using paper plates. I was allowed to wash the silverware, bowls, pots and pans before we opened any presents. I think Alex was the only one in the group that did not get to open a present. Wow, my favorite grandson did not get to open his present! His present was in the garage, it weighs over 100 pounds and is a weight bench. Now he did have something in his stocking, which was not hung by the chimney with care, so he wasn’t completely left out.

            As for the presents I received, I got too much, but I am not complaining. I received a new shirt that has two Christmas scenes on it, I got gift cards for the Cracker store, and for the Star coffee place, along with some cash. Yep, this ole retired person felt like a real person with all those gifts. The above was yesterday, let us go to today.

            We are now officially into Christmas day; this morning Tres and I went out front as usual and to my surprise there are leaves piled up in front of the door. I guess the wind must have been blowing last night and piled them up there. It is cool outside this morning with a temp of 39 degrees showing on my outdoor thermometer. Our plans for today are to sit around and talk, eat a lot of good food, and sit around and talk.

            We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, please remember the original meaning of Christmas, and as always stay safe!

Merry Christmas!

            The Fords 

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

December 24, 2023

            Today is Christmas Eve, and that is all I have to say in this posting. Wow, this feels good, I don’t need to sit here in front of this ole computer and try to find words that would make me feel like a real person. Wow, can ole people feel like real people?

            Since I am not going to add to this blog today, I will consider this day as a day of rest for me. Now I could say the day of rest started yesterday when my favorite wife and I sat outside on the Ford’s ole swing enjoying the nice weather and quiet afternoon. Prior to being outside resting we had gone to town as my wife wanted to get a couple items from the store, and I suggested we could have lunch while we were out.

            We left the homestead and headed for the store before looking for something to eat. I dropped my wife off at the store door, the parking lot was full of last-minute grocery shoppers. I drove around the lot a little assuming that my first wife would get the couple items and be outside quickly. I then found a parking spot and waited, and waited, and waited! It was close to 45 minutes before she exited the store and called me to come and get her. I picked her up at the front door and we headed into town hoping to find something for lunch. We went to the deli and ordered some food. The lobster chowder was good, but the sandwich which we shared, (hafcies) was only fair.

            Food ingested, the dessert was ice cream which is free with the meal, and you have to fix it yourself, we started for home. On the way it was decided that since we were out and about anyway, why not stop at the cheep store (its name starts with an O) and see if there is anything we might need or want. I did get a short extension cord, and we left.

            Arriving back at home my favorite wife fixed a couple items for today, which we will enjoy when the kids and grandkids arrive. For Bob, a reader of this posting, we will have tamales along with several other items this afternoon before we open the Christmas presents. Wish you were here!

            I took a nap and when I awoke, the Tres wanted to take me for a walk. The walk was nice.

I did attempt to remove some of the fallen brown leaves from the two white Christmas trees we have in the front yard. Then I took a seat out on the ole swing and started my relaxing time. While I was relaxing, I was also observing the sparrows flying all around me and in and out of the bird houses. It is almost as if they were preparing their nests for the coming spring. I was surprised when I observed a bird that was half the size of the sparrows. It was a very small bird and I have no idea what kind of little bird it was. It was as small as a humming bird but it wasn’t a humming bird.

One other thought about birds; the other day when I was vacuuming leaves from the front yard with the mower, I found a dead baby bird that appeared to have fallen from a nest. Why would birds have babies this time of the year?

Wow, I am glad I have nothing to write about and I am able to just take it easy all day today on Christmas Eve. We hope you have a restful day; we hope everyone stays safe, and we hope Santa comes to everyone’s homes with lots of gifts.

Eve of Christmas!

Senior ole person who is happy to take it easy, Don the Ford

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

December 23, 2023

            As I sit here in front of the Ford’s ole and I do mean old computer, I can see that it is no longer dark outside but it is a little foggy. Now it is supposed to rain today and the temp this morning is 61 degrees, that seems kind of warm for Christmas Eve, Eve. Note: there are two Eves there.                    It is almost here, are you ready?

            Well, let us see what the Don did yesterday. Basically, the Don stayed at home all day Friday as the grand kids were out of school so I did not need to transport anyone anywhere. My favorite wife went to town and left me here all alone. I did get to do my usual reading from the bible, I am still in Revelations, and I did read from the book I have on revelations. I do find reading from the bible interesting and many of the stories, if one takes the time to consider what they have read, the stories can be considered as challenging.

I finished reading just a few minutes before lunch so I considered going to a burger place for a sandwich, but then decided to stay at home, and I had a chicken noodle soup from a can. Wow, what a lunch for a senior ole person.

After that filling lunch, I decided to set on the Fords ole recliner which can’t recline all the way due to a Christmas tree that is located behind it. I did take a somewhat resting nap. After the short nap, and it was short, I went to the shed and worked on making a wooden cover for the new power inverter. I want to fasten the inverter to the work bench, and the cover will allow me to place the heavy battery above the inverter, taking up less room on the bench. I did use the power from the inverter to power the saw which cut the wood and it worked as expected. I now have electric power in the shed for lights, fan and power tools, all due to a solar panel, a battery, and the power inverter.

Not sure what my wife will allow me to do today, I know she has a couple items she wants to make for the upcoming meal on Christmas day. Maybe we will go out for a real lunch like you real people have. That would be nice.

Different subject: I have not commented on one of our very nice neighbors who brought us a tray with homemade cookies, and candy. That was very nice of them, and the candy and cookies were very good. It is good to have so many nice neighbors!

Well, that is it for now, we hope you have a safe day in what ever you do, and we hope you share your blessings with others, that means be nice to ole people.

Christmas Eve, Eve!

Senior ole person who wants, not needs, a cup of homemade coffee, Don the Ford

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

December 22, 2023

            Hello from me to you, and that other person too. I know you do not know that other person, but we here at the homestead know who she is. 

            I am starting this posting on Thursday afternoon, since it is raining and we can’t sit outside, so the Don is writing, or I mean entering data into the Ford’s ole computer. When I arrived home a little while ago after dropping Alex off at his home, I checked the free rain gage and it indicated we had .25 inch of rain. Now today’s rain is what I consider, “One of those ole Missouri type rains”!

In the olden days when we lived in Missouri, we would get a rain that was light rain, it rained on and off all day, and at the end of the day you would wish that it would stop raining, but it would continue. That is the fine, slow, and useful rain which we were receiving yesterday. (Thursday). We are supposed to get more rain Saturday and into Sunday morning. They are predicting that Christmas day will be a dry day, and since we are here in Hewitt Texas, we do not expect to see a white Christmas.

My favorite wife had a very enjoyable time when she had lunch with her friends. She said they talked about many topics, and they caught up on what was going on in each person’s life. My present wife was happy when she returned home, so I know she had a good time.

I told Alex when I dropped him off at home, we would see him on Christmas eve. Alex and his family are going to their other grandmother’s home for the weekend, and should be here at the Ford Homestead Sunday evening, aka Christmas Eve.

We here at the Fords Homestead usually have a bunch of food to eat on Christmas eve and then if there are any presents, we open them that evening. I think Dave and Claire wait until Christmas morning to open presents at their homestead.

Well, I just looked at the security monitors and it must be 5:30pm as the outside Christmas decoration lights are all on. It is bright out front of the Fords Homestead.

I will stop for now and see if I have anything to add tomorrow morning, Friday.

 

Friday is here: it is Friday morning and I have nothing to add to this posting. I could say it is still dark outside this morning, it isn’t raining right now, and the day is supposed to be without rain. I do have a small plan for today, the rain has washed some of the leaves that were along the curb down the street, but there are some that are further away from the curb that are still there. I will take a broom and sweep these leaves closer to the curb and maybe they will also be washed away in the rain tomorrow.

My favorite wife usually goes to town on Friday, but she doesn’t usually let me go with her. I am thinking she might let me go today, as the traffic will be crazy, and if I went and did the driving, I could drop her off in front of the stores, she could shop and when she was done she could call me and I could pick her up at the door in front of the store. That is a lot easier than attempting to find a parking space with all the people who will be doing last minute shopping, park a half mile from the store and then do it again when you are finished shopping. If she leaves me here all alone, I will just sit around, be lonely and cry.

I guess that will be it for now, please have a safe day, please be nice to at least one person, please wrap my I mean all your Christmas presents.

Is The Don On the bad list?

Senior ole person who tries to be nice but messes up at times, Don the Ford

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

December 21, 2023

            Can you believe we are that close to the day. Wow, what day is it that we are close to? I heard them saying on the TV this morning that it is almost here, what is almost here? Us ole people can’t remember all the stuff that real people remember. Maybe I can Google it and learn what we are close to. Well, let’s get away from that topic and talk about something that is more interesting, me, and what I have done, or will do.

            I did vacuum more leaves yesterday from one of the Jasmin beds, I also tried to use the shop vac to pick up the acorns after some of the leaves were removed. The shop vac did pick up acorns, but it wasn’t as good as I remember it being in years past. It would get clogged up too easy, so I will not attempt to use it for that anymore. I have not decided how to proceed with the removal of the leaves from the Jasmin beds, I may attempt to blow them out of the beds on to the grass and then use the mower to pick them up.

            Now I did get the lawn mower out and vacuum the yard, I know that was not my plan, but I decided to do it anyway. I think there will be one more vacuuming of the front yard, as most of the leaves are off the oak trees. My favorite wife goes in for her MRI this morning and after that she goes to lunch with some of her friends. Since I need to get my favorite granddaughter from school about the same time my favorite wife and her friends are having lunch, I will not be allowed to attend. Yep, I will have another spam-wich (sandwich made of spam) while they have real food and fun conversations.

            I will need to get the Alex from school today also, and since he isn’t in High school with his sister, I am not sure what time they will get out of school. This is there last day for a couple weeks, there seems to be some type of holiday coming.

            I just looked at the security cameras and it is sprinkling rain. Wow, they said it would rain and they got it right this time.

            I do have news! There are now a couple packages under the Christmas tree. Now did Santa put them there, does that mean he will not come back on Christmas eve? Will we not get any more presents? I wonder what is in the packages? Maybe there is nothing in them and they are just put there to make it look like we will have presents under the tree this year.

            Well, I need to get going, we hope the presents under your tree are real, we hope you have a good day and enjoy the rain, we hope that everyone will stay safe today.

Leaf-ologists Don!

Senior ole person who hopes for a cup of coffee, Don the Ford

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

December 20, 2023

            It is still dark outside as I sit here at the Ford’s ole computer and attempt to add words to this soon to be uninteresting posting. Yesterday I did go to the bank, no I did not get any funding, I had a question and they answered my question. Then I went to the UPS store and dropped off two cartons (aka returns). I went to the Star coffee store to get a cup. I knew that my card did not have enough funding on it to get a cup, so I had a dime in my hand to pay the difference. I gave the person my ole gold card (they don’t issue the gold cards any more) and told her, “There isn’t enough on it for a cup”. She scanned it into the machine and said I owed her 6 cents. You would have thought she would have been nice since it is almost Christmas and forgot about the 6 cents, but she didn’t, and I paid her.

            What kind of work did the Don do yesterday? The Don was able to vacuum more leaves from another flower bed. I again got a ton of acorns once the leaves were removed, and now our ole red wagon is about half full of dirty acorns. I hope to vacuum some more leaves from one of the Jasmin beds today. Due to the vines, I will not be able to rake or sweep the acorns into piles and remove the acorns. I might take the shop vac out and remove acorns with it. Actually, I have used the shop vac in years past to remove acorns.

            The flower bed that I cleaned out on Tuesday, had more leaves in it yesterday when I was working on the other flower bed. The front yard is now covered again with leaves and should be vacuumed but I can’t do everything at one time.

            Different topic: Gabi gets out of school around noon today, I think Alex gets out at normal time, that means two different trips to school for the Don.

            Food topic: My favorite wife will have lunch with some friends this Thursday, and I was invited to attend, but if I am getting Gabi from school at noon, I will miss out on lunch. Well, I guess ole people can’t win them all!

            I will stop now, you should have a very nice day, please be safe when you are out shopping for my presents.

Leaf vac, shop vac!

Senior ole person who has to get started, Don the Ford

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

December 19, 2023

            Next week this time, Christmas will be over, and we still do not have any presents under the tree. In the past we have purchased presents and had them under the tree, but this year we have nothing. I had noted that we might rely on Santa to bring us some presents, but that he could not get down the chimney to deliver the presents.

            I know some of you were wondering why Santa could not deliver presents to us using our chimney and fireplace. Well in fact he could get down the chimney, but he would not be able to get out of the fireplace without damaging some of our decorations. Please allow me to provide a photo which will document what I have been saying, note; this photo was not taken when all the lights were on so it isn’t as bright as it is during the night. 

            I would hope you can see the items that block the fireplace opening. I will just need to leave a note, I guess on top of the house, asking Santa to use the back door. Wow, what a Christmas this will be!

            Allow me to alter the topic; “What did the Don do yesterday?” Yesterday morning I drove my favorite wife to the rehab center. She went in for rehab and I stayed in the Ford’s ole Chevy where I read from my book about the end time Revelations. Now, I first read a part of Revelations from the Bible, and then later I read from a book I have which attempts to explain about what I have read from the bible. I find Revelations interesting to read and for the believer, you don’t want to be around during the tribulation.

            Anyway, the rehab and reading done, we decided to go to the George restaurant for a late breakfast. Food eaten we returned to the Homestead where I saw large amounts of leaves in the driveway. These leaves were not there when we left and almost seemed as if someone had put them there.

            Well, I acquired the leaf vacuum and began removing the leaves from the driveway. It took a while. I then started on a flower bed. This process is not as easy as it might sound. First, I vacuumed an area of the flower bed which exposed all the acorns laying there. Then I used a small rake and an ole broom to get the acorns in an area where I could pick them up. Before anyone asks why the Don removed the acorns, he did not want to step on them pushing them into the ground, (aka planting them) as he was attempting to remove other leaves.

            The Don cleaned one small flower bed and it took a long time. The Don removed more than a 5-gallon bucket of acorns from this small flower bed, think how many he will get when he starts on the larger beds. Since the Don was getting acorns, caps and dirt, he tossed the acorns in the trash can.

            I hope to clear the leaves out of another flower bed today if it isn’t too cold for an ole senior person to be outside working. The front yard is again being covered with leaves from the oak trees, it will be nice when they have all fell from the trees.

            I guess that is it for now, we hope you have a good day, don’t work too hard, and be safe.

Relying on Santa!

Senior ole person who might get a cup of homemade coffee, Don the Ford

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

December 18, 2023

            Seven days, “7 days”, and it’s here. We here at the Ford’s homestead may have decided to totally believe in Santa Clause this year. You do not need to ask why; it is because there are no Christmas presents under the tree. Now we do have a fireplace but with all the decorations that are on and around it, I doubt that Santa could enter the house that way, so I will probably leave the back door unlocked on Christmas eve.

            Wait a minute, what if Santa opens the door and Tres does not know who he is? I guess we will need to secure Tres in the bedroom (shut the bedroom door) so he can’t attack Santa. Imagine Santa delivering toys to other houses and his red outfit all torn and ripped, there would be a lot of unhappy kids, and I doubt that he would leave any toys here after Tres greeted Santa as a burglar. Could we leave a note outside for Santa saying, “Please leave our toys on the back porch”.            Why do all these problems happen to the Ford Homestead?

            Swap topics: I was asked by a good friend and reader of this blog if I would post a photo of the Christmas decorations, photo to follow.

            It is not the best photo that I have ever taken, but it is ok for this posting.

            Another topic: we went to Gabi’s birthday party yesterday; she was 17 a few days ago but we celebrated yesterday. Ther were gifts and cake, and we all enjoyed the time together. There were some party hats and some of the hats were worn different than expected. Photo to follow.

                                                An angel attempts to look like a …?

            Different topic: I did removes some of the leaves from the Ford’s ole front yard yesterday. I think I have a photo to provide enlightenment as to the work I performed.

            The senior person that is seen in the photo is the Ford’s present yard man, and he has been working for zero pay. I can say he does a good job, and we would recommend him to any of our friends.

            Well, I need to get the day started so I will say have a good day, try to get my your presents wrapped and delivered, while being safe.

Ole yard man am good!

Senior ole person who needs to make a list of things to do, Don the Ford

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