Garden work 01.25.17

                Yep, our Grounds Manager was out working in the garden spot yesterday morning.

                It was a cold windy morning when he started his chores, we allowed him to have his coat, hat and gloves on during this work period. It was windy on Monday and the wind was out of the north. Today the wind was blustery out of the south. The prognosticators were saying that this cold windy weather would last all day with temperatures not exceeding a frigid 78 degrees. 

                Our grounds Manager was expected to remove the fence wire that was used last year as a place for the gourds to grow on, and the fence wire that was around the mulch bed. Then he was supposed to remove the tomato rings. That completed, he gathered up the stims and other items that would not easily be tilled in to the ground and placed then in the trash container. (I do not want to hear any comments about the gourds, when I was a kid I heard the comment many times.) 

                Finally, after hours of difficult work in those frigid temperatures, the grounds Manager was able to return to the Homestead hoping to warm up and clean up. Surprisingly enough, he had brought some onions from the garden spot. Photo below, click to enlarge.

 

                We are expecting the grounds manager to return to the garden spot this afternoon, after a short nap, and we hope he can get the old (very old) weed eater to run, and then he should clean all the old dead grass and weeds from the area.

                There is another photo in this wonderful article, and although there are trees in the photo, the thing I was enjoying at the time of the photo was, the wonderfully blue sky!

 

                Our grounds Manager was able to clear the garden area and it is now ready to be tilled for the first time this year. Our grounds manager suffered no ill effects being out in the weather and the frigid 78 degrees did not hurt him, he actually seemed to enjoy working, for a change! Photo of garden spot to follow.

   

Photo on the left is the garden spot, on right is from one of the security cameras here at the Ford Homestead, which also shows most of the garden spot, upper left corner of photo. 

                What, questions! Always it is questions, you better be glad I like to instruct and inform! Ok, what are the questions? Aha, ok, oh I see. The questions are, “What were the comments I heard as a kid about gourds, and why the security cameras”.

                There are three reasons for the cameras, the first has been stated in an earlier posting. My so called office area is small and has no windows. Originally I purchased a single camera and connected it to the TV in my small so-called office. This provided the effect of having a window as I could see what was happening outside.

                Later, seeing how well one camera worked I decided to install others and a recording device. These cameras help with security.

                Lastly, we are able to use the camera system to keep an eye on the Grounds Manager, so we know if he is working or napping.

       The comment I heard as a child about gourds was, “Donnie Ford with a head like a gourd”. Satisfied?

May your sky be clear and garden weed free!

Don Ford

Miracles 01.24.17

                That title gives me an opening to explain my view of, “what is a miracle”? 

                As I see it, the most common definition of a miracle could be, “an immediate change in the situation that one is praying for.”

Example, in the Bible, a lame person is prayed for, and he immediately got up and walked.

Example, when Jesus was on a boat in a storm, and he said, “Peace, Be Still”, and the storm stopped. 

                Those are two excellent Biblical examples of an, “immediate miracle”!

                I believe, although less dramatic but more often occurring, there is another type of a miracle. Someone has cancer or other disease, and they receive prayer. The immediate part of this miracle is, their body’s normal healing functions (for lack of a better description) “are switched on”. The body immediately begins the process of repairing itself (healing). After a period of time, the cancer or other disease is gone, the body is healed.

                Faith is important in healings!

                I also believe that prayer can be answered by using, “God sent advice”, and that advice could be, “get some help”. A person prays for a healing, let’s say there is and infection in this person’s arm. They pray for the healing and the answer to their prayer is, “go to the doctor”. If one has an infection in their arm, and they know that going to the doctor and getting a shot, would provide the healing they want, they should do it. God provides people with knowledge and abilities, I believe he expects us to take action on our own, when appropriate.

                We shouldn’t expect God to do everything for us! God gives you the knowledge to make good decisions and the ability to follow through with those decisions. Sometimes it is up to us to assist in making some of those miracles happen.

                One’s faith, plays a big part in any miracle, whether the miracle is immediate, or happens over time. True faith is the answer to miracles. Faith is positive thinking or positive attitude.

All things are possible, if only you believe!

Don Ford

Ragged Flags 01.20.17

                We are getting a new President today!

                I just went outside and put the American Flag up on the flag pole. I wanted to fly the flag today, as I think any American who has a flag should fly it today.

                My flags are in good condition and I will not fly a flag that is not in good condition. It does irritate me when I see people and institutions who fly flags that are damaged. Possibly, I am a little bit too observant when I am away from my homestead. I have seen schools, businesses, and private home owners, flying tattered flags. One such American Flag at a business was missing the top two stripes.

                Come on people, if you can’t afford a new flag, then don’t fly a damaged flag!

 

                This is my flag, but the photo was taken during the summer months.

God Bless America!

Don Ford

Safety first 01.19.17

                It was about 50 degrees this morning so I decided to have my morning walk. The air was damp but there was little wind which made the walk somewhat bearable. I followed my normal path for this walk, completing 4 laps. Each lap requires me to walk east on Arkansas Street.

                Arkansas street is one block long with the only distinguishing feature some ugly bushes that were planted about 35 years ago, by the then resident. He moved away many years ago and no one has taken care of these eye sores since then. It should be noted that these eye sores are planted on the City right of way, and no one takes care of them. Photo to follow.

 

                As you may see, the somewhat open area is where dead bushes are located. There is some litter in these bushes and there are hiding places all through these bushes. These eye sores would be an excellent hideout for kids playing in the area, or a bad person.

                My biggest concern with these eye sores is the safety of any pedestrians walking on this street. As you will see in the next photo which is taken looking east, anyone walking in that portion of the block facing traffic (as they should, to be safe) would be unable to step off the street onto the curb to avoid an oncoming vehicle, due to the eye sores (aka bushes).

                I, along with other pedestrians, find this portion of this street objectionable, due to the unsafe situation (bushes) on one side, and the barking dogs behind the wooden fences on the other side of this street.

                Let’s see if I can get this in the hands of someone who cares. 

May your walks all be safe and enjoyable!

Don Ford

Play day 01.17.17

                Yesterday was a holiday and many people, but not the retired senior citizens, had the day off. You hadn’t thought about retired people never getting the day off, had you! On any given holiday, a retired person continues doing the same things they always do. Let’s change the subject before I become upset and begin to consider getting a part time job.

                Let’s talk about play day yesterday. The grandees were here as school was out. Alex and I went shopping, Gabi didn’t want to go so she stayed and kept granny occupied. After our shopping excursion, Alex and I went outside where he challenged me to a kick ball game. Needless to say, I won! The final score was 5 to 2.

                He then wanted to play hide and seek. He had a bright orange shirt on which made it easy to see him. At one point he was hiding behind the big tree. I walked through the yard talking to myself (so he would know where I was, not because I am old and senile) I acted as if I did not see him. As I walked all around the yard he stayed hidden on the opposite side of the tree, from me. 

                When I walked around the shed I stopped making noise. I leaned up against the shed being very quiet. After about 30 seconds of quiet, Alex called out Papaw where are you? I continued the silence treatment. He called out again and I said nothing. I could hear that he was getting closer and finally he looked around the corner of the shed. I said you found me, now it is your turn to hide. He looked at me as if I was a, “silly senior citizen”, as he began explaining that he was hiding, and I was supposed to be looking for him!

                I asked him, why was I hiding, and why did you find me, if you were supposed to be hiding? He said, let’s do it again and you look for me. I was forced to close my eyes and count to 10 as Alex ran for the front yard. Yes I cheated and I peaked, how else would I know where he went.

                Seeing him run into the front yard I decided to cheat again and I went through the house to the front door. Alex was hiding behind a chair on the front porch, so when I stepped out of the door and said I found you, he explained that going through the house was not fair.

                Alex decided that we should get the drone out and let him fly it. He is somewhat wild when he flies the drone but for a six year old he does good. We flew it until the battery ran down and it needed to be recharged. We also decided he would fly the drone when his dad came to pick them up. 

                It was about then when he wanted to be pushed on the tire swing. It should be said, he will not push me but he will let me push him. After about 10 minutes of swinging him, I explained that I was tired, he decided that we should get something to drink, and we sat in the chairs near the garage door resting and drinking.

                Alex’ attention changed from drinking to wanting to play checkers. He and granny got the checker board out and I procured the checkers. Granny advise Alex during the first part of the game and then she returned to the house to check on Gabi. Alex and I finished the game one on one. I don’t like to admit it but he actually won the game, fair and square. The game got to a point, where ever I moved, he would jump me.

                Dave came to pick the kids up and he parked along the curb. Alex and I got the drone out and Alex was flying it. At one point he flew it into the side of his dad’s vehicle. He then flew it all around our heads and then into the front wall of the house. It was about then that we stopped flying the drone.

                I have the feeling he will be wanting a drone for his birthday.

All in all, a nice play day!

Don Ford

               

Trying 01.16.17

                I suggest you may want to skip reading this posting, it isn’t interesting but the photos are good!

                You may have heard the old saying, “you can’t teach an old retired senior citizen new tricks”. As true as that statement may be, this old retired senior citizen is attempting to, (key word is, “Attempting”), if not learn, maybe re-learn something. 

                I purchased a TNC (terminal node controller) sometimes called a radio interface. This device will allow a ham radio operator to communicate using various digital methods. In short, using your computer through this radio interface (TNC) you can send and receive messages without ever talking. One such method is CW, which means. “Continuous Wave”, it uses Morris Code.

                I did learn how to send and receive Morris Code many years ago. In the olden days one had to be able to receive at least 13 words per minute in order to get an Advanced Amateur Radio License. I did not like using code then, or now. Using the TNC, I can receive message in code and read it on the computer screen. I then type a message into the computer and it is sent in code through my radio.

                I actually have an old TNC, it is only about 23 years old, and so I decided I might want to get a newer one. It was supposed to come with all the wires, power supply and instructions. There was several wires and all but one worked. Since my computer does not have a 9 pin connector (RS-232) I had to go to the radio shack to purchase a wire that is USB to RS-232. It cost about one third the cost of the TNC.

                The software that came with the TNC is free and has no instructions. I am trying to learn to use the software without any help. It is all trial and error, lots of errors. I have kind of learned how to use it on CW and have some success with one other mode. It is slow going.

                The manufacture has a software package available, which they sell for 150 dollars. That software is double the price of the TNC. Nice way to treat a customer.

                I need to contact one of the hams that use these type devices.

                I went to a club meeting last year and was going to rejoin the club. I did not make the next meeting do to unavoidable situation. Not one person from the club tried to contact me to encourage me to return, I guess they have better things to do. There are other clubs so I may need to look into one of them. When you are a club member you have lots of associates to learn from.

Two photos that have nothing to do with the above posting, but they are interesting.

 

Interesting that the aliens needed a square hole in the clouds to see what I was doing.

Look at the clouds, is there a tornado?

Have an outstanding day!

Don Ford 

Good Morning Friday 13th, 2017

Why do I like to walk in the morning, look at the photo and you should understand. Click to enlarge!

 

Look around and you might see something beautiful.

                I am aware that today is Friday 13^th, but I do not want to dwell on that. Friday the 13^th, has not been an unlucky day for me, but some see it as a huge problem waiting to happen to them.

May today be better than most!

Don Ford

Early dawn hours cont. 01.12.17

                It was a dark damp morning when I turned the corner, never suspecting that I would be…

The truth is, I am always cautious when walking through this street, in pre-dawn hours. There is a street light at the west end of the street but the light is mostly blocked by a live oak tree. Live oak trees, for those of you who do not know, have leaves all year round, thus they can block light year round. This street is one block long, and there are wood fences (6 foot tall) on both sides of the street.

                On one side of the street there are huge bushes easily 20 foot tall. These were planted there many years ago by a previous owner of the house. These unsightly bushes are not only ugly, with a couple dead, they seem to be a repository for trash such as beer cans that need to be disposed of as people drive by.

                These bushes also present a couple safety hazards to anyone walking on the street.

                First, when one is walking on the north side of the street, which is proper as a pedestrian should walk facing traffic, they would be unable to step off the street upon the curb, due to the bushes which hang over the curb. In this situation the pedestrian would be in front of oncoming traffic.

                Second, it would be easy for someone to hide in these bushes, and there in lies part of my concern for a morning walk. The cane I carry is not only for protection from a stray dog, but could also be used against a bad person. To say it is dark and scary on this street prior to dawn, would be an understatement. Yes, when walking in pre-dawn hours I usually carry a flash light.

                I believe I had noted earlier that it was a damp morning, even though it had not rained. The wind was blowing at least 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph causing leaves and small trash like paper to blow everywhere.    

                This morning as I was walking along this street for the second time, I heard a noise! It was coming from the right side of the street and it sounded as if someone was climbing over the wooden fence. I could see something large, even though it was dark, at the top of the fence. It was way too large to be an animal! In one hand I secured the cane as a defensive weapon and at the same time I activated the flash light. 

                It was a trash bag that was caught on a tree limb and the wind was moving it around rubbing it on the fence, which made the sound of someone or something crossing the fence. See photo below, click to enlarge.  

                I had to wait until there was enough light to get the photo, it was very dark when the event occurred!

                No, I am not a chicken, but I am careful!            

Be prepared, I was a boy scout! _{The motto of the boy scouts is, “be Prepared”.}

Different subject: our youngest son has a birthday today! He must be 21 years old! He can’t be any older as that would make his mother and me older, and we are not! I guess he could be a little older than 21, maybe if you double that amount you might guess his age.

Happy Birthday Dave!

Don Ford