Insightful 12/17/2019

            It is cold again today so I will need to stay inside and maybe have a blanket over my ole senior retired legs. Since I am inside and not working in the back 40, I have decided to write a short posting for the blog.

            Our grandson Alex is here at the homestead sick. He is covered up in bed watching the TV. He don’t have a fever but he was throwing up. We have placed a 2 gallon bucket by his bed just in case he needs it.

            As I drove Gabi to school this morning, she noted that she has a sore throat, and I could tell that her nose was stopped up by the sound of her voice. She said she can’t miss school this week, because they have final test in each class this week.

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            Would you believe; that someone from my reading public noted, “My posting yesterday seemed to be a list of things I would like to have for Christmas”. Would you believe, that thought never crossed my mind as I wrote that posting? J

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            Occasionally I review text from the bible. I have recently went through Revelations and do not understand it all. 

Revelations 4, 5

            And out of the throne proceeded lightning and thunder and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

 

            The comment, “Seven spirits of God” caught my attention. As my one reader should know, I wrote a short story about the beginning of time. In that story there is a spirit that links with 6 other spirits. In my story, this one spirit, made up of 7 spirits, becomes all knowing.

            I find it interesting, that I somehow came up with seven spirits, which joined into one all-knowing spirit. 

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            I guess the grandson is feeling better, he just came in here and wanted something to eat.

 

I am the seventh child, does that make me special?

 

Senior non-special child, who received my share of spankings; Don Ford

Missed a couple days 12/16/2019

            Let’s see, I think I failed to sit here at the pewter and right some words over the last couple days. It is difficult for a senior retired person on a fixed income to find the time to address the goings on around the homestead on a daily basis.

            We have had some very nice and warm weather the last couple days, so being outside was more fun than sitting here entering data into the Ford’s ole computer. Today it is cold outside, so I have decided to sit here and see if anything comes to mind.

            The most excitement came when I received a call that our daughter-in-law had been involved in a car wreck. It seems that she and Alex had gone to town to purchase a real Christmas tree. Leaving the store they needed to cross an intersection. The traffic light was green and she headed across the intersection when another vehicle decided to run a red light. The vehicle that ran the red light hit the front of the daughter-in-law’s vehicle spinning it around facing the opposite direction. The red light runner spun out of control and into the grass at the side of the highway. He must have been moving fairly fast.

            Claire and Alex were bounced around, Claire is hurting some today, Alex seems to be ok, we don’t know about the other driver. I am glad this red light runner did not hit the car at the driver door, things might have been a lot worse.

           

            A neighbor walked up to the Ford’s Homestead as I was again raking leaves from the yard, Saturday. We talked about a lot of things and the subject went to pecans. He has a few pecan trees, and he was talking about all the pecans that the trees produced. I noted that I had been cracking some of the cons using a pair of Channel lock pliers. He told me of a pecan cracker he has and he promptly went home to get it.

            Returning to the homestead he had the pecan cracker, some pecans and a tool used to get the shells off easier. The cracker is called a, “Nuti Budi Nutcracker” the tool is a “Baker Tool”. The nut cracker is two wood blocks with four wood dowels, very simple to make. It is easy to use and requires little effort. It works with the large soft shell pecans and the smaller hard shell cons. We sat there on our porch and cracked several pecans. 

            I was going to purchase the nuti budi nutcracker and the baker tool from www.pecans.com but the freight was $8.00. Heck that is almost as much as the baker tool. They offered me a 10% discount but being on a fixed income, one can’t waste money on freight. The items are small, and can’t weigh 2 pounds total.

 

            I tried to get a photo of a red headed wood pecker yesterday as I sat on the ford’s ole rocker enjoying a beverage. The wood pecker would be in plain sight, and when I would lift the somewhat smart phone to get a photo, he would go to the back side of the limb. That happened a couple times, I got tired of trying, also he flew off.

            Well I need another cup of coffee so, got to go.

 

May all your orders have free shipping!

 

Heartbroken senior with tears in his eyes due to freight; Don Ford

Friday 13th December 13th, 2019

               Well, the day has come, and my favorite granddaughter Gabi, is now a teenager! Teenager, I don’t think I need to say anything more.

 

            For some reason an old memory came to mind the other day about an incident when I was a volunteer fireman. Before I share that memory let me say, just because it is a volunteer fire department, that does not mean they are not trained and as efficient as a paid department.

            Now let me share the memory from days of ole.

            It was a summer night when we received an alert of a grass fire. This fire was in Waco’s area but the person reporting the fire called Hewitt, we were dispatched. Waco fire was also called and dispatched. This grass fire was near houses. The Hewitt truck pulled up and we pulled a red line (red line is a small hose used mostly on small fires) and started spraying water. The Waco truck arrived and they also pulled a red line, their firemen move the red line to the fire. The Waco firemen were not getting any water to spray, and they were looking back at the firetruck.

            Each truck operator not only drives, they also are in control of the truck during the fire. The operator of the Waco truck had not opened the valve that supplied water to the red line. One of our volunteer firemen ran over to their truck and pulled the valve sending water to the red line.

            Wow, who would have thought, a volunteer fireman was more on the ball than a paid fireman!

 

            Different subject.

            I received a thank you card from a person I use to work with. On the card was written, “Hi Don, Just wanted to say thank you for all the support and encouragement you gave and provided to me early in my career. I would not be where I am today without it!”

            It is very nice to receive a card with that type comment on it, although I haven’t seen him since we worked together and I have been retired for 8 years.

            Maybe he watched what I did and said, and learned what not to do and say!

            Always remember, we are always influencing others! 

            What will your influence be?

 

            Another subject:

 

            My spouse of half a century has canceled the newspaper delivery as of the end of this month. What will Tres do without a newspaper to pick up each morning? Will we still need to go outside each morning? Did my first wife even consider her puppy dog Tres, when she canceled the newspaper? How will this influence the Tres?

 

Positive or negative, we/they are being influenced!

 

Senior influencer both positive and negative; Don Ford      

True stories 12.12.2019

            As I sit here on the Fords ole office chair, I am thinking about a couple stories that are true, and at least one of the stories is unusual. Where do I start? Let’s start with Friday 13^th.

            Tomorrow is Friday 13^th, and yes I have a good friend who might stay home from work on Friday as he sees the day being worrisome. But this story is not about Dalton I mean my friend.

            Our granddaughter, and might I say my favorite granddaughter, has a birthday on Friday 13^th.           If I may continue, Gabi will be 13 years old on Friday 13^th.             Wow, becoming a teenager on Friday 13^th, how much better could it get. She thinks it is a good thing and brags about the Friday 13^th birthday!             

                                                 Happy birthday Gabi!

            Next story, and it was funny to me.

            As I opened the door so Tres and I could go outside to get the morning paper, I noticed our cat Molly was at the door wanting in. Not wanting to be stepped on by a huge dog, Molly moved away from the door as Tres went out. It was still dark but the sun would be up in a little while.

            As I stepped out the door I noticed light coming from the neighbor’s home. They evidently now have a night light over the garage door. Tres went about his usual activities, smelling of everything, and watering some things. As he worked his way around the yard I noticed Molly at the door wanting in. I opened said door and she went in. I then saw Charlie coming up the street from the neighbor’s house.

            Tres also saw Charlie and decided he would go escort Charlie back to our yard. As Tres approached, Charlie began to run, and Tres followed. I was still standing at the door when Charlie made the turn from the street to our sidewalk. I quickly opened the door and Charlie went past me into the Ford’s Homestead at full speed. I quickly shut the door and Tres came to a sliding stop. Disappointed, Tres hung his head and walked out to get the newspaper. 

            Changing the topic again:

            I asked Alex what he wanted for Christmas, the following is his response. Alex wants a full size corner desk for his room. He also wants an office type chair so he could comfortably sit at the corner desk. I asked him, what could I get him for Christmas. He quickly stated, I want a one thousand dollar desktop computer for my new desk. He went on to say a desk top is more powerful that a lap top. He explained that he would use his lap top when they went somewhere but he would use the desk top at home.

            I explained that a thousand dollars was a lot of money. I didn’t tell him it would take more than a year for his grandma to collect enough aluminum cans to pay for a desk top computer. Maybe some rich member of the reading public, could get him the desk top, no one at the Ford Homestead is rich!

Christmas, what a fun holiday!

Senior poor retired person; Don Ford

           

It rained 12/11/2019

            As the informative title line states, “It rained”, I have statistical information that we received ¾ inch here at the Ford Homestead. We needed it and we appreciate it.

            I have been informed that I will be allowed to return to the Ford’s ole shed and find a small Christmas tree, (about 18 inches tall) that was mistakenly stored away, by me. Evidently, this small tree is to receive some very small decorations.   I hope I can find it.

            I need to make a trip into town today, as I have ran out of my adult beverage. I just hope we have enough aluminum cans to sell at the junk yard, so I can have money to purchase a bottle…

            The leaves have cleared off our trees in the front yard, so at some point in the near future I will make a last attempt at removing said leaves from the yard and flower beds. Then the real work begins, as I make a third attempt at raking the acorns from the yard.

            There are hundreds of white wing doves in the street this morning eating the crushed pecans from the neighbor’s trees.

For success, be safe, productive, and cooperative!

Senior retired typist: Don Ford

               For that one person who does not know what a typist was, it was a person that used a type writer to put information on to a sheet of paper.       I do my best to inform the reading public of historical topics.

82 - 42= 40 12/10/2019

            I would like to start off with a comment about phone calls. We here at the Ford Homestead received several calls Friday and Saturday. The calls were all robot calls saying they were calling from Apple. These robots did not wait for my phone to beep at the beginning of the calls so we do not know what their first few words were, but what we heard was something like, if you want to talk to an apple representative press 1 now, if you want to make a payment press 2 now.

            Now we did not answer any of the 9 calls all saying the same thing, as we here at the Ford Homestead do not answer calls from names or numbers we don’t recognize.

            There was one little problem with this robot call. Being retired senior citizens on a fixed income, we can’t afford, and do not have, any apple products!

 

            Allow me to change the subject for a moment please.

            Yesterday here in Hewitt Texas it was 82 degrees! Today here in Hewitt Texas it is predicted to reach a high of 42 degrees, that is a 40 degree drop, also  it is raining!

 

 

            One more subject:

            I have a dental appointment this morning for a cleaning. I don’t know if you do what I do or not, but before going to the dentists I brush my teeth a couple times and with more effort. I want them to think I do a good job of taking care of my teeth. I will address this appointment with the lady who make these appointments. I want to know if six months ago when she scheduled this appointment, if she knew it was going to be cold and rainy today? Does she just not like ole people, and wants to see them get wet and cold?

           

 

            Another subject just came up.

            My spouse found a small leak under the kitchen sink. I will check that out when I return from the dentists. Senior retired people never get to rest.

 

            I checked it and the garbage disposer is leaking and needs to be replaced.

 

 

May your day be warm and dry!

 

Senior workaholic; Don Ford  

Couple days 12/08/2019

            I will attempt to remember what has occurred over the last few days.

            Let’s start with Friday. Our oldest son Patrick came from Pflugerville TX, (which is next to Austin), to repair our grandsons laptop. The computer had been dropped which broke some of the plastic parts. Patrick had ordered parts earlier and attempted a repair to the unit, only to find that he needed another part. Patrick arrived at 10:30 Friday morning and he worked on that lap top for 3 hours. He did not get that much patience from me. The computer now works!

            Donna and Patrick went out to a late lunch at about 2:00 and I went to get Alex from school.

            Saturday my present spouse went to the grocery store and I went to the back 40 to attempt to mulch some of the leaves. I started the riding mower and used it to blow the leaves into a smaller area, where I would later use the walk behind to mulch. I tried something and it worked. I used the rider to blow the leaves at the back fence. As I moved closer and closer the leaves were going through the chain link fence, out into the ditch behind the house. Photo to follow.

                                   

First photo is showing after the mower blew the leaves through the fence. Second photo is looking over the fence.

                                               

            Saturday continued; Donna and I went out for a quick lunch, she had a couple items to get at the grocery and we went to a big store to look at a back massager. It cost way too much but it does make an ole retired person’s back feel good!

            Returning home I was allowed to finish the back 40, it looked good. I then headed for the front yard and the plan was to remove the leaves that covered the yard.

            Alex was here at the homestead and he helped me by using the leaf blower, where he blew leaves from the street into the yard so I could vacuumed them with the walk behind mower. I finished at 4:30, after getting all the tools and mowers put away.

            I had been on my ole feet all day, and I was super tired. I made a drink and sat down outside to rest. I had taken one sip from the drink when my spouse of half a century came out and informed me, I could go to David’s house and get shoes for Alex. She wants to take photos and all he had was flip-flops. I did as requested, leaving my drink on the table by my ole rocker at the driveway.

            Returning home with the shoes, I again headed for the rocker and drink. As I enjoyed the drink it came to mind that I needed to clean the back seat of the fords ole pick up. Tres leaves hair on the seat even though I have a seat cover.

            As I was cleaning the truck seat, friends came to our house. I was allowed to sit and talk which felt very good. My other half and a neighbor were taking photos of the grand kids around the Christmas trees and then around the decorations outside. I was allowed to get involved in this process also.

            After our friends left I then went back to the Fords ole pickup and finished getting the dog hair off the back seat. This cleaning was necessary as we will all go to brunch on Sunday.

            Finally, I was allowed to open the new back massager and place it on my ole recliner. I should say, it works well!

            Sunday, my spouse, Gabi, Alex and me went to brunch at the barrel restaurant. As soon as we walked through the door one of the managers said, “Your cap hasn’t made it here yet”. I ask for a free cap every time I go in. We all ate and the food was good except for one thing. A small piece of plastic like something that came off a plastic bag was in the sandwich Gabi had. We pointed it out to the manager and received apologies and reduced bill.

            We dropped the kids off at their house on our trip home. Arriving at home, I was able to get a short nap. After the nap I went outside and sat on the Ford’s ole rocker. A neighbor lady came over and talked for a while. My present spouse ventured outside and talked with the neighbor for a while. Donna had a wash going inside and was also making cookies for the Christmas holiday. It was suggested that I could be cracking the pecans while I rested on the Ford’s ole rocker.

            I am good at taking suggestions, so I continued to rest while cracking the pecans. I secured about a quart before I became too tired to work. I was allowed to eat the smaller pieces as we like to keep the whole half of a pecan.

            In summary, see the photo below.

                       

            Tres is a ham and wanted to be in the front row. Thanks to our neighbors for taking this and several other photos. We are blessed with a good neighborhood, good friends, and the grand kids.  

Hope everyone had a safe weekend!

Senior hansom model for photos; Don Ford

Leaf 12.05.2019

            Ok, I don’t have anything special to write about today, and I am not going to explain that I cleaned all the leaves up that were along the curb yesterday. There is no use in presenting that type info to you, I know it is boring. I suggest that you stop reading this right now and go do something productive!

            Wow, everyone left but you and you are still here. Possibly you need to get a good hobby or start doing your job, reading these posts are not going to make you any money, and sitting around reading things like this means you are not getting any exercise. Obviously, reading is not good for you!

            OK, since there is still one person reading this, I will try to keep it short so you have time to do something productive.

            My wife allowed me to do something that was just a waste of time. She said I could sweep the leaves from the front porch and side walk. She enjoys allowing me to do things that mean nothing. I procured a broom and went to work. As I was strenuously pushing and pulling that broom, my back and arms were hurting, there were tears welling up in my ole eyes, and that is when I came up with the topic for this article.             The topic is, “Leaf”. 

            I do understand that most of you will not understand at least a part of this soon to be, wonderful article. Before that one person asks, most of you have servants doing all your work for you, and as such you have never experienced the problem that I have.

            What, you say you don’t have servants? Who mows your yard, who brings you food at a restaurant, who cleans you house weekly? You have servants, and that is why you have never swept leaves.

            I have swept leaves many times in my life, and every time I swept them, there is always one leaf that your broom can not move. You sweep over this leaf and it just lays there while all the others are moving. For some reason this leaf becomes a challenge to you and your broom. You sweep over this leaf and it don’t move, then you sweep the other direction, but nothing happens. Now that you are livid you take your foot and kick at the leaf. The first kick missed and you try a second time but you kick harder.             It moves, but you are not happy because, you have just spent 4.5 minutes with this one leaf and you still don’t know why you could not sweep it.

            Leaf. There is another type leaf and I wonder who named it. For those of you, “Well to do people”, you likely have a dining table that has a leaf or two in it. Who decided to call a piece of wood a leaf? That wooden leaf name is so dumb, one might think I helped name it.

            There is a leaflet, which is a printed sheet of paper, sometimes folded, containing information or advertising and usually distributed free. Why did they put Leaf in leaflet?

            Just to let you know, if you look up leaflet, there are other meanings.

            Anyway, as I said, I don’t have anything special to wright about, so I am just going to get a cup of coffee and sit around, although I could move all the boxes and other decoration items back to the shed, but that sounds like work, and this ole body needs the rest.

Get a hobby, do your job, stop reading blogs!

Senior word analyst; Don Ford