New openings 03/20/19

            We here at the Ford’s homestead have opened our doors to more families. We believe in helping the migrants who have been coming into our area for the past month or two. Yesterday we open a duplex and a single family dwelling. I want to show you two recent additions at the Ford Homestead. Please review the following photos, then I will attempt to enlighten.     

                                   

            Above, we see both ends of the Ford’s Duplex. It was hung yesterday morning, so it will be a while before the birds trust it enough to check it out. You may notice that it looks a lot like the house across the street, as our artist was trying to emulate the neighbors homestead.

                                              

In the above photo (House #5) we are not sure what the Ford’s artist was trying to depict. One thought is, he was trying to capture, the charming appearance of silly grandpa (me).  

Be open to the migration of immigrants! 

Homestead artist; Don Ford

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Two items off the list 03/19/19

            Did you read the title line? Many of us “ole senior citizens” have lists, some call them a bucket list. I have no idea why they are call a bucket list, the items on the list are things that someone wants to do before their demise. The word demise, sounds better than death. Maybe when an item is marked off the list, the item is considered to have been placed in a bucket.

            Maybe you can google bucket list and let me know where the term came from.

            This soon to be well written article, has nothing to do with a bucket list, but it does have to do with a trash can list. Is bigger better? My list had two items marked off yesterday. Two items in one day, I am good. As I sit here viewing the list, I am wondering which item will come off the list next. I am wondering if I would be able to take two more items off in one day.  

            The two items that were taken off the list yesterday are, trimming the bushes in the back yard and trimming the rose bushes, also in the back yard.

What? I didn’t say I had a bucket list! You assumed I had a bucket list, don’t assume!

            Today I may have the oil changed in my favorite wife’s vehicle, and I may schedule a visit to the vet for the Tres. That would be two more things off my list.

            If I put an item on a list, I am more apt to remember to complete those items. Example, I needed to make an appointment at the dentists. Each morning and evening when I brushed my teeth, I would think about calling the dentists. During the day I did not think about calling. The other day I wrote the item on my list and I called that same day.

 

List not, if you don’t want to do it!

 

List educator; Don Ford

 

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Weekend reviewed 03/18/19

            Welcome to the weekend in review. We here at the Ford Homestead fell the need to inform the reading public of our fun adventures over our weekend. It is also our way of not bothering everyone on their days off.

            Friday, early in the morning I had reviewed the front yard and thought that I would like to  mow it, that is if the weather warmed somewhat. Later in the day I was awakened from my noon nap by the sound of a mower running. I was able to drag my ole senior body from the recliner, and stagger to the front door. Across the street I observed a neighbor mowing his yard. He had his hooded sweat shirt on, so I knew it was still cool outside.

            As I watched that ole senior person struggle with his mower, (most of the neighbors are retired), I became aware of the sound of a second mower running. Someone else was out in the cold mowing. It was our neighbor lady on the left of our house mowing the yard (she is not retired). If an ole senior retired person and a neighbor lady can stand the cold windy weather, then I should be able to also.

            To make a short story longer, I put a heavy long sleeved shirt on, along with a hooded sweat shirt. I proceeded to get the Ford’s ole walk behind mower out and began to mow the yard. The wind was blowing like crazy. I did get the front yard mowed but I did not weed eat or do any other outside work. I don’t like the cold weather.

 

            Saturday, it was decided that we would take our noon repast at the local Barrel restaurant. I had been given a Tee shirt by the manager with the condition that I would wear it. I put my long sleeved shirt on, then put the tee shirt on over the other shirt. We had a light lunch but the Manager wasn’t there. I asked for the second in charge and I instructed him to take a photo of me and my shirt. He said he would text it to the manager who had the weekend off. 

          Arriving back home, my present spouse wanted to paint a metal bench which sits in the front yard. I carried it into the garage and she did the painting. She then proceeded to clean out some of the flower beds. Later I helped pick up the stuff she cleaned out.

          I worked on a project for a bird feeder. I cut some boards and put them together. I commented that it was very ugly, my first wife agreed! That may be the first time she has ever agreed with me! No photo to follow.

          I then cleaned up the garage area and carried the metal bench back out into the front yard. All in all not a bad day.

            Sunday; I and my spouse of almost 5 decades are doing the DNA thing. As a note, my wife and I will be married 5 complete decades in April. For that one person who wants to know what a decade is, I suggest you may want to Google it. When you have learned what a decade is then ask your grandchild to multiply it times 5. The answer you will receive from the grandchild will enlighten you as to how long 5 decades is. If the grandchild explains to you that 5 decades is equal to half a century, you may again want to go to Google and ask what a century is. How time flies when you are married.

            At some point in the future I should know from our DNA, if I am related to royalty or not. Possibly I am related to Henry. I was called Henry by a friend when I was real young. It may be a real adventure. 

 

Work hard today, and you will be tired!

 

I will not be tired today: Don Ford

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Grandkids 03/15/19

            The grand kids took my favorite wife and a friend, along with her grandson to the movies yesterday, they said they had a good time. I wasn’t invited to the movies, so, after a period of tear filled crying, I pulled my self together and I went out and trimmed the bushes on the north end, the west side, and south end of the house.

            Later in the day, I put another bird house together. I had the parts cut so I put them together and made house #5. Yes I am numbering them. I plan to ask Gabi to draw some designs on the outside of the house. She is real good at drawing, hopefully she will do it without requiring pay. I will post a photo of the house if she will apply some designs. Before you ask, I have another house that Alex can put designs on, if he wants to. 

            I was out in the Fords ole shed yesterday, and I found something that I had forgotten I had made. There is a photo of the object. I made the dominos and the container years ago, out of ole wood from an old porch swing we had. When you are on a fixed income, you make do with what you have. Click to enlarge. 

                                                     

            Yes the container and dominos are setting on the Fords 10 year plus, old computer. Just look at the dominos, forget the back ground.

               Would it bother you if your 9 year old grandson corrected you, explaining that you used the wrong word? He then tells you the word you should have used! What the heck are they teaching these kids in school now days?

               When I was 9 years old, I was not interested in the English language, all I wanted to do was play Cowboys and Indians. Don’t get all upset over the word Indians, I have a friend who is of Native American heritage, and he uses the name Indian.

               Now that you have diverted me from my original subject, if you will allow me, I want to get back to, “Correct use of words”! The same 9 year old grandson who corrected my use of a word, followed up with no, no, no, that isn’t the correct word! That is when my educational back ground kicked in and I explained, “The plural for no, no, no, is, Nose”! Nose is the correct word to use in place of, multiple nos. it may be spelled either way, no’s or nose.  

               Would you believe that both of my favorite grand kids did not agree with me!

Should Grandkids be seen and not heard? J

Senior grandparent; Don Ford

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The back forty 03/14/19

               In this soon to be article of distinction, I will enlighten the reader as to something I misunderstood. Yes, I know what you are thinking, can Don really misunderstand anything. It is seldom that I admit not understanding, but today I do.

               We have had a bunch of rain today, the Ford’s ole rain gage is indicating ¾ inch. Our back 40 has water standing in the low lying areas. Our pot hound went to the back door and I opened it. He looked out and seeing the standing water, he refused to exit the Homestead. I, being a kind person, went to the front door and allowed him to exit. After smelling everything, he decided to fertilize the Jasmin.       

            When he came back into the house, he went to the garage. For some reason he seems to enjoy laying on the cement floor looking under the slightly raised garage door. I went to the office area with a cup of coffee where I turned the TV on. As I sipped the coffee I heard what sounded like thunder. My first thought was, the rain is turning into storms! We needed the rain, but not storms.

            The thunder kept going and I realized, it was not thunder I was hearing. It was a rocket test. Sometimes the tests are 5 to 10 seconds, while other times they are 30 seconds long. The long test has a tendency to shake the house. That was my misunderstanding, it wasn’t thunder, it was a rocket motor.

            Later in the day, let’s say about 5:00pm, this senior retired person was sitting on the Ford’s ole rocker near the garage door.

            I have seen several new rocking chairs that I would like to have, but those chairs are $150.00 each, being on a fixed income, new is out of the question.

            As I sat there in the ole worn out rocker, I looked around where I noticed a glass with an adult beverage in it. The day had turned into something nice. The sky was clear and blue, not a cloud to be seen. As I continued to survey the area I looked up at the flag and it was being blown by a stiff breeze, photo to follow. You may say the pledge if you like!

                                                                                         

I pledge allegiance to the Flag…!

Senior Flag pledger: Don Ford

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Olden days photo 03/13/19

            Yesterday, was Tuesday, we did not have the grand kids, so there wasn’t much going on here at the Ford’s Homestead. It was a damp day, with fog that lasted most of the day. With the fog there was a drizzle, causing everything to be damp. Everything being damp, also dampened my ambitions for the day. Even though there are a couple patches of weeds in the front yard, which need to be sprayed with fertilizer weed killer, all I want to do is stay inside where it is warm and dry.

            Since I was inside the Homestead, I decided to turn on the Ford’s ole computer. I received a photo from the past. The photo is from more than 50 years ago. It is of a friends parents, “Paul and Pat Talley, I am between the adults, and another friend Bruce Bennifield. It is amazing how handsome I was, when I was young.

                                               

            Bruce, the young man on the right, back in the olden days was known as Benny, short for his last name Bennifield. I believe the photographer was Steve Talley, the son of Paul and Pat. The Talley’s lived out of town in the country.

            Subject change; today is Wednesday and we do not have the grand kids again today. It is raining this morning so we have another wet day. I guess I will never be able to trim the bushes and clean the flower beds. When it gets hot I like to stay in out of the heat. Wait a minute, I don’t like the cold either. I don’t like cold, hot, wet weather, do I like any weather?

Stay consistent, like nothing, like everything, you choose!

Senior complainer; Don Ford

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Two new Homesteads 03/12/19

            It was the first day of, “Spring break”. I think spring is broke, because it wasn’t like spring yesterday. The day was cool to cold, and there was no sunshine. The grand kids were here yesterday and I had a project for them.

            They each put their own bird house together, and added some decorations. Photos to follow. Yes I hit my finger with a hammer while instructing proper use of the hammer.                                                                      
                                                                                  

            Alex put a Bat on his house while Gabi put a heart at the door, a flower on one side and a Bee on the other side. I don’t know if they are going to keep them or give them as presents.

            They both used a hammer, screw driver, a battery powered drill, and a battery powered screw driver. I did the clean up and put away, after the project was completed. 

            It was fun, but I made a couple mistakes, maybe I am not a good teacher of kids. Maybe showing what not to do, is as good as showing what to do!

            Before that one person asks, yes the dog in the back ground does have his leg hiked up, and yes he might be watering the tree.

Try teaching, you will learn more than the students!

Senior instructor of wood projects; Don Ford  

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Weekend in review 03/11/19

         In a previous posting, I had asked if anyone had caught the error in the posting before that. A good friend who lives in Indiana commented that she had not seen the previous spelling error, but there was a spelling error in the title line from Fridays post. She was correct, Thanks!

         Today is Friday March 8, 2019, I left the homestead and proceeded to the Wally world where I purchased two quarts of oil. I then went to the Star Company and got a cup of coffee. After all that strenuous effort, I was able to make my way to DIB and pick up my retiree order. Finally, I returned to the homestead where, instead of taking a nap as I should have, I proceeded to change the oil and oil filter in the Ford’s ole riding mower.

         Completing that task I then mowed the back yard. After mowing, I then prepared to go to school and pick up Alex. I arrived at school and acquired my usual parking space. Being a tired ole senior, I only played a few games of solitaire before leaning back in the seat of the Fords ole Chevy, for a nap.

         Eventually Alex and I arrived home. I then went back to work placing dirt on the grooves that are still in the yard from last year’s sprinkler system install. The dirt is placed in the grooves in an effort to level they yard.

         Completing that task at 5:00pm, (we all know what happens at 5:00pm), I proceeded to the Ford’s ole rocker with an adult beverage in hand. For some it is happy time, for me it is rest time!

            There is no rest for the wicked, and none for the retired senior person!

                                                Could they be the same?

            Friday’s activity info completed, I will attempt to, “articulate on paper”, the events of Saturday.

            My first wife and I went out for lunch. Food was good, and our server was a delight, she was as aggravating as I was!

            Alex was honored at 2:00pm today for turning 9 years old. There was a large birthday cookie in the place of a cake, the cookie people got the number wrong, it indicated Alex was 4 years old. Candles and the customary singing of happy birthday occurred. Yes there were gifts for the birthday boy. Later Alex and friends went bowling.

                                                 

            When we returned to the Ford Homestead my present spouse did not allow me to have a nap. Instead of a nap, she encouraged me to help wash the dog. It was 82 degrees outside but the water from the hose was kind of cold. He smelled better and we played after the bath. Tres would toss the ball and I would go get it. I am good at retrieving the ball!

            We have already set all the clocks forward one hour.

            I participated in an adult beverage at 5:00pm, non-daylight saving time. 

            Saturday activities completed, I will attempt to, “enlighten on paper”, the events of Sunday.

            My favorite wife and I went to lunch, and after returning to the Homestead I changed clothes, yes I have more than one set of clothes! To continue, I decided that since the weather was cloudy, I would head out into the back 40 to weed eat the back yard. That job completed, I decided to head out into the ditch behind the Homestead. The problem with the ditch is, the City has not kept the drainage open, and we have nasty stagnated water standing in the bottom of the ditch.

            It is difficult for an old person’s ankles, running a string trimmer while standing on the side of the ditch. I had to refill the string one time and add gas twice. The entire work load (back yard and ditch) was almost 4 hours. There was two short breaks with gator aid. In the following photo, you can’t see the standing stagnated water, as the cut weeds are floating on the nasty green scum. There will be mosquitos.

                                              

            It was 5:00pm (new time) when I staggered to the Ford’s ole rocker on the drive way. I indulged in an adult beverage. I hope you noticed, I staggered prior to the beverage.

Seniors should be smart enough to not work that hard or long!

Master string trimmer operator; Don Ford

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