Africa dust is back 07.18.18

            It was a blistering summer afternoon with temperatures that reached 106 degrees. I, along with my sidekick Tres, ventured out of the Ford’s Homestead in an effort to enjoy a glass of Diet Coke on the rocks. Tres and I enjoy sitting outside and acknowledging neighbors as they drive past.

            This particular afternoon Tres and I couldn’t help but notice the normally blue sky was an ugly gray. The moon was overhead but it was almost indistinguishable with all the African dust in the sky. This dust caused us to consider, if the dust comes from Africa, then the air with the dust must also come from Africa. So, are we breathing African air? I live in Texas for a reason, I want to breathe Texas air, and not African air! Now we not only have illegal aliens crossing the border in to Texas, we have dust and who knows what else sneaking in from other countries. When does it stop?

            Tres was again lying in a shaded area of grass as I sit on the Ford’s ole rocker when we both looked up to the sky. What was it that caught our attention? It was the sound of a very large military helicopter flying over. This helicopter had two propeller blades and is big enough to carry very large loads, and it is very noisy. Tres watched it until it was out of sight, he gets his observation powers from me.

           

            They have now predicted that we may have highs of 108 Thursday and Friday of this week. They did say, “It will be a dry heat”, as if that makes us senior citizens feel better. I guess if I am going to mow the small amount of grass that is growing in the back yard, I had better do it early today. There isn’t much growing out back, but I should do some trimming.

            I have had a couple suggestions along the line of, “I would rather get an email for each posting rather than the two emails weekly”. One comment was, “I read the postings in reverse, not in order of posting”. If you have a thought on this let me know.

Mow early and beat the heat, that’s me!

Mower extraordinaire:             Don Ford

26th Birthday 07.17.18

            Before anyone asks, it was my wife of 49 years who had her 26^th birthday, “again”! Yep, July 16^th is the date my first wife was born. J

            I wanted to give her a swat for each year of her life, and even though that would have been fun for me, I knew my arm would have been hurting later. I gave her a dollar for each year of her life. Even though giving her the 26 dollars, will cause her to have to work longer hours picking up aluminum cans, I think she is worth it. 

           

            This morning a 7:00am I was in the back yard installing a sprinkler system for one flower bed. It seem to work as expected and now all I need to do is turn the water on and that area gets watered. There is a total of two heads on this system and I have a third, if it is determined that two heads do not cover properly.

         I needed to get that done early so I could cool down and stop sweating before I go to get my hair cut.

            Yesterday it was only 104 degrees in the Waco area. They are expecting temps of 106 this week. I guess you could say, “It is summer time in Texas”.

            As many of you in the reading public understand, I am considered as a, “Hot senior citizen”! It is just one of those things that I must put up with when I am around female subjects. If I could have my way, instead of being a Hotty, I would rather go back to the olden days when I was a teenager, and be considered “Cool”! This winter I will want to be a Hotty again.

            Yesterday I called a remodeling company and left a message explaining that we are considering a remodeling project, and would like a bid. They did not call back. Even if you have too much work they should call back.  Other contractors did call back.

Haircut, coffee, nap, what a schedule!

Relaxzation adviser:       Don Ford

Sky view not Sky King 07.16.18

 

            Tres and I, were sitting outside enjoying an adult beverage on Sunday afternoon. Ok, I was enjoying the adult beverage and Tres was just lying in the grass. I was sitting on the Ford’s old rocker, and the Tres was lying there in the cool grass. I had the sprinklers on a little earlier which cooled the grass. As he lay there, I noticed that Tres was looking up at the sky as much as I do. It was as if he was wondering what was up there. Now that I am aware of him observing the sky, does Tres take after me, or do I take after him? Good question!

 

            Before the wise guy comments, yes he is a German shepherd, and no, that does not mean I give him beer! Some of the things you people come up with!

           

            The week ahead is predicted to be hot, with the temps each day above 100 and the estimated high of 105. Sounds like a hot time at the Ford’s Homestead!

 

            I did pull some weeds from one of the front flower beds today, and I have a bunch to pull out back. I also plan on making a sprinkler for one of the flower beds out back, but I will need to remove the weeds prior to installation.

 

            What? Ok I will explain, sky view is what Tres and I do. Sky King is an old TV show that was shown on Saturday mornings when I was a little person. It was about a rancher who had an airplane and he always saved the day!

 

            Memory: this just popped into my head or should I say, a memory from years past just came to me. I was either three or four years old, we lived in a very small house in the country. The house did not have running water, and we got our water from a cistern. The cistern was located outside the house and my parents would capture rain water from the roof, through the gutter system. There was a lever that was one way when it started to rain, and when they thought the roof had been cleaned by the rain, they would turn the lever and the rain water went into the cistern. To get water from the cistern, there was a crank hooked to a chain, when the crank was turned it would pull the water up and into a bucket.

            That is not the memory that came to me, that is just some history about the living conditions 66 years ago.

            My memory is of a cat. I remember my mom had the ironing board set up next to the bed. It was afternoon and it was nap time for me. Heck I even took naps when I was a kid! Mom was ironing and I was on the bed when the cat got on the bed with me and lay close beside me. The cat began to purr, or snore, when I told mom the cat was making noise. She responded, “The cat is singing you to sleep”. I guess it worked!  

 

Memories, what would we do without them!

 

Memory-ologist:         Don Ford

 

^{It’s a word, if you don’t believe me look it up.}

Red and Green 07.15.18

            Is red and green only Christmas colors? For those people who never get outside their Homestead, red and green may only be Christmas colors. For those of us who venture out into the real world, walking through the woods and fields, or just sitting on the Ford’s Ole rocker, we experience many wonderful events.

            Yesterday, I had braved the extreme heat, when I made myself a cold drink with lots of ice in it, and then ventured forth leaving the security of the Ford Homestead, choosing to sit on the Ford’s ole rocker. From my vantage point I could see parts of the vast neighborhood, along with the road in front of the Homestead, when a nice looking SUV passed by. I did not recognize the vehicle, nor did I recognize the female driver. Being a gentleman I waved and the female waved back. The vehicle drove on down the road way, returning to the front of the homestead and to my surprise the vehicle pulled into the Ford’s ole drive way.

            A blond, or maybe she had gray hair, (it was white hair) which ever, this female subject, exited the SUV. It took me a moment, then I recognized her, she had lived in the house next to ours more than 20 years ago. We exchanged greetings and then I went inside to get my present spouse. My present spouse had been painting and was not happy that I disturbed her.

            My spouse of 49 years, who also has a birthday on July 16^th, came outside to visit. My first wife and this ex-neighbor “Judy”, along with our neighbor from across the street talked for a while. The discussion revolved around kids, grand kids, marriages, and many other family related subjects (bragging rights).

            It was nice to see Judy again, but her unexpected visit had nothing to do with the subject of this posting. In this posting I want to talk about the Colors Red and Green. Let’s see now, how should I start this commentary?

            It was a hot July afternoon, there was very little breeze, and the humidity was very high, making the afternoon, I guess the best word to describe it would be, “sweltering”! There were a few clouds floating lazily overhead, but they did not seem to provide any shade in the unrelenting heat. As I was resting in the shade of the Homesteads main building, I was aware of the presence of a Cardinal. This is not a religious commentary, nor is it a commentary about baseball, this Cardinal was a red bird.

            He, the red bird, was a male of the species, and I know this due to the fact, “the male is much brighter in color, one might say even prettier than a female”.

            This bright red bird stood out very clearly against the green background of the leaves on the neighbor’s tree. I reached for the camera, but it was too late he had moved. This wonderfully wild bird flew from the neighbor’s tree, to one of our trees. This bright red bird jumped from one limb to another as he came closer to where I was setting. Then I was surprised, as he flew from the tree to the bush which is next to me.

            I thought that was very odd, this bird was about four feet away from where I was setting. I slowly leaned forward to get a better look at him and he quickly flew away. At that moment I realized what this bird was doing, or at least what he was going to do. My spouse of 49 years had placed a bright red humming bird feeder, filled with a sweet liquid on the far side of this bush, and that was the exact location where the red bird had landed.

            It seems to me that this red bird has learned from the humming birds, that he can get a refreshing and sweet drink.  Is that evolution, or just a lucky guess on his part?

            Before that one person asks, it is none of your business how I know the liquid was sweet!

            A comment on a different subject, yesterday I wrote about the mocking birds after the cat Molly. Today as I sat here writing the above, I happen to look at the security monitors. I saw our dog Tres playing with something in the back yard. Then I saw the mocking birds buzzing Tres. Yep, one of the baby mocking birds was out of the nest, and Tres was playing with it. I went to the back door and Tres came inside. The baby bird was not injured and the parents got him or her into the flower bed. This flower bed has weeds in it which may help the baby hide. The problem is that Tres has a nose like a blood hound and he can, and will, track the baby. 

 

Get outside more, and you, may also taste the sweet things of life!

 

Don Ford

Birds and Cat 07.14.18

            As I sat on the Ford’s ole rocker yesterday afternoon about the 5:00pm time, I was impressed with the noise that two mocking birds were making. One would call out, then the other. I assumed that there must have been a cat around somewhere, or possibly a baby bird could have been down. I reluctantly got up from my ole rocker and walked over to the flower bed were they were making the noise. I could not see any baby bird or a cat.

            Returning to the afore mentioned location, I again sat down on the ole rocker and sipped from the Ford’s ole adult beverage glass. This ole glass (really isn’t that old) has Uncle Don engraved on it. Shortly thereafter, the birds again began making the same annoying noise. After a few minutes I again climbed from the ole rocker and meandered over to the flowers. I finally saw what the birds were making all the noise about, Molly was hiding among the four o’clock flowers. I have a photo but you can’t see the cat. Why would anyone take a photo of the cat when you can’t see the cat? Clicking will not enhance the photo.

            As I was messing with the birds and cat I noticed a couple cloud formations that I found interesting. One has a square hole in it, the other has a glow around it.

          

            I know, you don’t care about clouds, so don’t look!

Don’t let me cloud your mind!

Don Ford

Today is the day before 07.12.18

            I can say good morning to you this Thursday, July 12, 2018. As the title states, today is the day before, and I hope you know it is the day before Friday 13^th. That is all I have to say about this.

            It rained again yesterday and we again received about ¾ inch. We very much appreciate the Blessed Rain, about 1.5 inches in two days! There is a problem with the rain and that is, I can’t mow the yard. As you can see, even a nice thing like rain, may have some negative effects.

            What! Ok, I see what you are saying. It is the glass half full or half empty attitude, and I am taking a negative approach. You are actually correct (this may be the first time you have been right) and I will change my attitude.

            It rained again yesterday and we again received about ¾ inch. We very much appreciate the Blessed Rain, about 1.5 inches in two days! There is a blessing with the rain and that is, I don’t have to mow the yard. As you can see, a nice thing like rain, may have some positive effects.

            As you can see, even senior people like your journalist (me), can be flexible in their views.

            I need a cup of coffee, later dude and whatever the term for a female dude is. Dude-et?

            I am back, coffee was good.

            I have just remembered something that I, along with some friends back in the olden days did, which was supposed to be a joke, but it wasn’t! A friend of mine was getting married, he had a 56 Chevy. I and a couple other buddies decided it would be funny to place some Limburger Cheese on the motor. We understood the motor would heat up, the limburger cheese which had an aroma from well, would melt and make a terrible smell. They would be on their way to their honeymoon with the smell in their car.

            When they returned we learned that the smell was terrible! It was so bad that their clothes inside their suit case smelled like Limburger! What we thought would be a funny joke wasn’t a joke for the newlyweds. We were all about 20 years old, and did not make the best decisions.

In the above photo we see Gabi and Tres on the couch. What we don’t see is that Gabi was using her computer and Tres was watching, trying to learn how to play that game. Gabi is a good teacher and Tres is a fair student. Click to enjoy.

            A photo taken by yours truly. The leaf that is orange is dead or dying. I thought it was interesting so I took the photo.

Don’t leaf it alone, enjoy it all!

Photojournalist:  Don Ford

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They are all out 07.10.18

 

               All the boys and the adult are out of the cave, and that is a good thing. I am happy for the boys and their families. President Trump has announced his pick for the Supreme Court, and I assume he has made a good pick. Even when the news is good, I get tired of hearing the same thing over and over. For me once or even twice hearing the same thing is ok, after that let’s get to something else.

            Yes, I understand that the problem is mine and not that of the so-called news reporters. I should turn the TV or Radio to a different channel and then I would not continue to hear the same crock over and over. The problem with that is the BS that they have on TV is not the BS I like. Again you are correct, it is my problem. I have been watching my security camera screens a lot lately. As I look at them now there is no activity. Tres is laying at the back door awaiting an opening so he could re-enter the Homestead.

 

            I was talking with a friend yesterday, when he told me of an unsafe situation where he worked. After our discussion I began thinking about unsafe situations that I have experienced in the olden days, in this setting the olden days was back in the early to mid-1970s. One thing that popped into my head was when I was a lead person in receiving. We had just returned from break and I got on my forklift (a three wheeler, aka a TW) and drove out into the trailer that I had been unloading. I was about mid-way in the trailer attempting to pick up a pallet when the trailer began to move. That is an odd feeling to say the least. I stood on the break peddle and I mean stood on it to keep the lift from moving. 

            The trailer moved about 30 feet from the dock and then stopped. The driver casually walked back to the rear of the trailer to shut the doors. He was surprised to see me in the trailer and he apologized, then back the trailer back up to the door. I stayed on the lift until he came inside and assured me he had chocked the trailer. The driver was there to get an empty trailer, he hooked up to the wrong trailer and you know the rest.

            If he had pulled away from the dock as I was either entering or leaving the trailer, both the lift and I would have fell about 4.5 feet to the cement drive below. That would not have been good.

            Another unsafe situation that I recall, this one did not involve me but did involve a fork lift. This was a larger lift, a four wheel lift, which had driven into the trailer and picked up a pallet. This was one of those trailers that set lower to the ground and when entering or leaving the lift had to go down into the trailer and up to get out of the trailer. All of our operators had unloaded this type trailer and even though it was not easy we could unload or load them.

            This particular trailer had not been chocked, (chocked means wheel blocks to keep trailer from moving) and when the operator with a load attempted to back out of the trailer the lift was exerting a lot of pressure as it attempted to back up hill and out. The trailer moved away from the dock, and the dock plate stayed on the trailer. Our lift had the back wheels on the dock plate and the front wheels in the trailer and there was a gap between the trailer and the dock. The operator was standing on the break peddle calling for help.

            We had the driver to slowly move the trailer back against the dock and we were able to get the lift back in the building safely. I think we established a rule that we were not to go into a trailer unless we had ask the driver if he had chocked the wheels, or we personally look to see if they were chocked.

 

            Let me relate one other unsafe act that I was involved in, and then I will shut up. It was inventory time and I was on a lift. One of the female employees said that she needed to count the boxes on a pallet that was on the top of the rack. I had an empty pallet on the forks of my lift so I told her to get on and I would lift her up so she could count. Back in the olden days we lifted people up like that fairly often.

            She reluctantly got on the pallet and I raised her 15 feet above the floor and moved her as close to the pallet as possible. She was so scared that she could not let go of the forks back rest, and she could not count the boxes. I brought her down. I then did the safe thing and brought the pallet down and she counted the boxes at floor level. No one was hurt but it was stupid and unsafe.

 

Be safe in everything you do!

 

Safety instructor:        Don Ford

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It rained 07.08.18

                                            

            What else do I need to say? Let me start with it rained! As you know I have commented about needing rain for quite a while now. I was in the back yard adjusting the settings on the sprinklers, (I now have all but one spraying in the right directions) when it started to sprinkle. There was some thunder so I moved inside the garage, where Tres and I observed the rain. One of my rain gages is located where I can see it from inside the garage, I was surprised that it had a half an inch in about 15 minutes.

            Tres watched it rain from the garage along with me, but he did not venture out into the rain, Tres had his bath yesterday. At the completion of the first rain (hoping there will be more as I write this posting) one rain gage showed over ¾ inch where the other gage showed and even ¾ inch.

            I then remember that our sprinkler system has a rain detector, and should shut the system down if we get a 1/2 inch of rain. I checked, it worked, and the system is shut down. J

            Oddly enough, I just looked at the security camera monitor and the drive way is 50% dry. That shows you how hot and dry the cement is or was. Looking at a different camera we usually have some water standing out back after a quick rain, there is no standing water! This was a blessed rain, and is a good beginning.

            I am going to the front porch with a root beer and I am going to sit there and enjoy the day. While on the front porch I called David and asked how he liked the rain. He said it had only sprinkled at his homestead. He is probably a mile and a half from our homestead. I thought the rain we received was an area wide rain but I was wrong. It is sprinkling again and I hope it sprinkles all night.

Thanks for reading my rantings!

 

Amateur ranting person:   Don Ford    

Professionals get paid

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