Yard work 04/17/19

            I have several projects here at the homestead today. Yard work, aka mowing, is the big one. We had two days of rain, and then two days for the water in the back yard to soak into the ground. I might be able to mow a large part of the back yard, there are some spots that are still too wet to be walking on. The front yard is ready.

            I will be taking a few days away from the computer, so no annoying post from me, for a while. J

            “Would you believe,” that I am experimenting with not having any computers and cell phones in my life, for a few days, just to re-live the olden days. What would I do without a cell phone? Do other people know that we still have a house phone? I would need to wear a watch to know the time. Wow, no emails and no text messages, how would I know what other people are thinking? Would I relax and meditate on the world around me, or would I go completely nuts? Maybe Grandpa would not just be Silly Grandpa, I could be totally Crazy Grandpa.

 

          Devices, are they necessities are addictions?

 

 

Signing off for a few days!

 

Silly / Crazy Grandpa; Don Ford

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Bad news 04/16/19

               Bad news comes in many forms, this bad news came from my DNA results. With all the red hair in the fords family I naturally believed we were more Irish than anything else. My DNA states that I am only 19% Ireland / Scotland. Heck, I guess none of the rest of it mattered. I don’t even feel like doing a Irish jig. Maybe I will not even have a second cup of coffee today, such a letdown.

            Maybe a nice photo showing some early morning sun shine will cheer me up. Photo to follow.

                                  

            The warmth of the morning sun, shining on the top of the kid’s ole fort, does warm my poor disappointed heart a little. 19% of me is somewhat happy.

            Is there anything that might perk me up after such a devastating revelation, only 19%...?

I knew my mom’s family was English, so I guess if you toss half the Wyatt genes (Mom) and half the Ford genes (Dad) into a person (me) and if your dads family was originally English, and they were kicked out of England and sent to Ireland for a couple hundred years, maybe 19% Irish is all one could expect.

            I have another photo that might help me feel happier, see photo below.

                                  

            Yes that does help, I see the pretty flower growing next to the work I had done last week at the new black berry patch. I am feeling much better now, I hope you are also.

Happy to be at least 19% Irish! 73% England

Senior one fifth jig dancer; Don Ford  

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Weekend report 04/08/19

            We enjoyed our 50^th anniversary supper with our son and his wife, Patrick and Karla. Excellent food, very good service, and free desserts. The manager of the restaurant offered us a free dessert in celebration of our 50^th.  As we sat there debating which dessert we should get, we had narrowed it down to two, the manager again came by and said, why not get both. Since they were free, we got both. A very good way to end a very good meal. The following photo should be titled, “Sweets for the sweetie”!

                                  

            Friday, I was able to get the red bricks set, in front of the new black berry patch. I wanted to get them in the ground before it rained, in hopes of the dirt around them settling, which would help secure them. I still need to finish installing the red bricks in the old patch. I can’t do everything at one time.

            We had the contractor return and do a little finish work, now my present wife is much happier. He also fixed a problem with the kitchen sink faucet, we are both much happier now!

Saturday morning, it is raining. We have not received the heavy rain they had predicted, but the day is just beginning.

            As the day progressed we had heavy rain and a bunch of lightning. The Ford’s ole rain gage indicated almost 2 inches of rain.

            My favorite wife and I got tired of sitting around so we jumped into the Ford’s ole Chevy, and went to the Harbor hardware store, where I purchased a hedge trimmer, and a female plug connector. I received a free flash light. I wanted the trimmer to attempt to clean up the Jasmine. I would like to basically even it out if possible. 

Sunday: well it is raining again with some lightning, the rain gage is indicating almost 2.5 inches. We headed out to have brunch at the cracker place, when I decided to try the one here in Hewitt, because I did not want to drive 12 miles in the rain and fog. Hewitt Cracker place appeared to be very busy, as all the parking spaces were filled. I then reluctantly headed out on the interstate for the other Cracker place. It was very busy, but they did have a parking place close to the front door save for us.

            When we were finished eating, our wait staff brought the bill. I had already place the tip on the table and I was not upset but I did explain that the pan cakes were not cooked in the center. She went to get me a cup of coffee to go and the manager reduced the bill by the amounts of our drinks (about $5.00).

            We left the Cracker place and as soon as we got out on the interstate we noticed flashing red lights. The fire trucks and police were there as there was a wreck. Traffic on the north bound lanes were backed up and being routed on the service roads for about 4 miles.

            I have a photo of the Tres and Charlie, hope you enjoy. The quality is not good, it was taken with the fords ole cheap cell phone.

            If anyone wants to donate a new EYE Phone, it would be appreciated!

                                              

            I will add another photo of the barrier I have put in place at the new black berry patch. Do not look at the flower that is blooming.

                                   

            The rain gage indicates 3.75 inches of rain this weekend.

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes for a happy 50^th anniversary!

Senior author; Don Ford

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April 5th 1969 04/05/2019

                        50 years

                        5 decades

                        Half a century

                     However we look at it, time has passed very fast!

              

Happily married to my favorite wife for all those years!

Don Ford

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April 4, 2019 04/04/19

               Nothing new except, there is a very light rain this morning, which we need. It is supposed to be 88 degrees this afternoon, wow, summer is already here!

            Yesterday I did work on the black berry expansion, old patch. Yep, I was on my knees praying that someone would come and do the work for me, or maybe I was on my knees digging a trench for the red brick barrier. I will attempt to work on this again today after the grass dries out.

            If I ever get the barrier installed, I will then need to break up (loosen) the ground, removing the grass and weeds.

           

Have a good day!

 

Don Ford

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Another situation 04/03/19

            I was on my way to get the oil changed in my pickup, when I decided to stop at the star coffee station. I pulled up, rolled down the window and placed my order. I pulled forward stopping behind a GMC Yukon. This vehicle was huge, and the operator had her window down.

            I was listening to oldies on the radio when I noticed, I could hear the female voice from the Yukon. I not only heard her voice, I could hear the person she was talking with on the phone. This lady spoke very loud and she had the volume of the phone turned up very high.

            It is hard to believe, someone in another car was talking loud enough that I was able to understand what she was saying, over the sound of my radio!  WOW, someone talking on the phone instead of texting!       That is unbelievable!           

            Do People still talk on phones?

                                   

A photo of the back 40 after it was mowed yesterday. It is supposed to be in the 80s this week.

Try talking with someone today, face to face or by phone!

Don Ford

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Female driver 04/02/19

            Did you notice the title line? As the title line indicates, I will have a short comment about the driving abilities of a certain group.

            I had ventured from the Fords homestead in an effort to change my appearance. Yep, I went to the hair shop with the intention of getting all the hair, at least, what’s left of it, on my head, cut. I was surprised twice during this visit. First, I was the only customer there on a Monday morning (April Fun Day). Second, they had raised the price again.

            I left the hair shop with almost no money, but I did go to the coffee shop. There were only a few cars ahead of me so, I thought I would get through the drive through fairly quick. Nope, I was wrong. I think they had some new employees which helped cause the slow down. As I sat there the vehicle behind me decided to bump into me.

            I thought, “Crazy person”, as I got out of the Ford’s ole Chevy and walked back to her vehicle. I first looked at the rear of my vehicle, and the front of hers. I have a trailer hitch, which I had thought of removing, but now I am glad I did not. My vehicle was ok, hers was slightly damaged. I approached her and she, seemed to reluctantly roll the window down. I asked if she was ok, she said yes. She asked if my vehicle was ok, I said yes, but your bumper is scratched. She seemed nervous, so I again asked if she was ok. She again said yes so I went back to my vehicle.

            I pulled forward and placed my order. I thought she would stay several feet away from the back of my vehicle, after hitting me. She was right on my tail gate again. I pulled forward and when I stopped she again pull almost against my tail gate again. “Female driver!”

 

            I have a bunch of things to do today. I should make a list. I need to get the oil changed in the Ford’s ole Chevy as I may need to go to Missouri soon. There are several outside jobs (the weather is supposed to be good this afternoon), and other tasks.

            Employed people work all day long, a retired person’s work, is never done!

 

Rest while you can, there is no rest after retirement!

 

Senior non-rested person; Don Ford

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It is my day 04/01/19

            It is April first and that makes it my day. There is a name they use for this day, and it isn’t, “April First day”. I know what it is, “April Fun day”, let’s all have fun today!

            The following two photos have nothing to do with April Fun day, the work was started a couple days earlier, when it was still warm spring time. If you don’t live around here and you don’t know, it has turned back to cold weather again. I turned the air conditioner off and turned the furnace back on. It was so cold and windy yesterday, would you believe, I refused orders from the boss to go outside and work in the yard.

            Back to the two photos, I have decided to expand the ole black berry area and define the new area. Photos to follow.

                      

            In the first photo one might see that we have begun to enlarge the area available for plants by a volume of 2.25. That means, if you multiply the area of the original patch by 2.25 you will get the area of the expanded patch. (P x 2.25= EP) 

            In the second photo one might notice that the solar panels need to be washed. Usually a good rain takes care of that, but with all the yellow pollen falling, and the only moisture we have receive lately was in the form of a mist, the panels need to be cleaned. Also, our grounds keeper has laid out a beginning barrier for this new black berry patch. For that one person who might ask why the small cloth pieces are tied on the wire, could it be for the dog so he don’t run through the wires, or more likely, possibly for me!

            I went out in the freezing weather (50 degrees with a breeze) and dug holes for three cacti type plants. Prior to the planting, I had removed a stack of fire wood, (at least that is the original reason for the wood), which had laid there for several years. Many bugs and some lizards were displaced and the wood that had contact with the ground, well it wasn’t wood any more. That is where the cacti are now located. Photo to follow.

                                     

            Not pretty but they are planted and hopefully they will grow.

            This week on Friday, my favorite wife and I will celebrate 50 years of being married. 5 decades, or one half a century, time flies when you are having fun!

            Well I guess that is it for now, I hope you had a good weekend, and have a safe coming week. Don’t fall for any of the April Fun Jokes!

May April be full of fun and happiness!

Senior grounds keeper; Don Ford

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