Go to the Doctor's office 10/09/2020

            It is Friday morning, and I had to give the bad news to Tres, we are going to postpone our morning walk. The Tres, lay down on the floor and whimpered. Tres did not understand, I had an appointment to get a needle stuck into my arm this morning. No, not for dope, why do I even try, the needle is for a blood test. Just because some of you use dope, does not mean that I do.

            During this visit I weighed myself on their scales. They do not weigh you for a blood test. I usually weigh about 260 when visiting the vet, I mean doctor, but this time I weighed 250. Have I lost a couple pounds? 😊

            I am very tired of the political adds on the TV. I have voted and I should not need to be exposed to them any longer! One that I totally would eliminate if it were up to me, is of a Female person. This person was supposed to have been in the military, she states that she was shot through the windshield, she doesn't say if the bullet or glass hit her. She said she strapped herself to the skids of a helicopter and returned fire. If she had been injured, someone else would have put her on a back board and strap her to the skids.

            This same female has another commercial where she is on a motorcycle, her arm is covered with tattoos, she tosses her leather jacket at the coat rack and it hung itself. I am glad I have already voted, and not for that female subject.

 

            Change of subject; I did rake some of the acorns yesterday and may rake more today. I do not plan to get in a big hurry, but I would like to get a bunch of them raked up. One problem this year verses last year, the grass is taller. Taller grass is more difficult to get the acorns out.

 

            I need to go by the bank and see if they will lone me enough money to get some groceries this week. I also need to renew my license for the Ford's ole Chevy. I guess I will need to leave the ford's homestead and take a chance of getting the virus.

 

Have fun, be safe, help others!

 

Senior raker of the yard, Don the Ford

A steamy morning 10/08/2020

            It seemed like a normal morning here in Hewitt Texas, the Tres and I had completed our morning walk, and I had procured a cup of real coffee. I was able to drag this ole senior body out to the Ford’s ole rocker, on the Ford’s ole new driveway. It took several tries, but I was able to get my ole senior body into the Ford’s ole rocker.

            As I sat there, coffee cup in hand, I noticed an odd thing occurring. There was a little steam coming off the coffee cup. Could it be that cool in Hewitt Texas? Does this coffee know, we are supposed to have a record high this Sunday of 97, the record I believe is 94?

            Let us change the subject. During our walk this morning, this ole senior retired person found something. We had walked a couple blocks when I observed a round object laying on the black top. Now this object was a dark color, so it was difficult to see, but my keen eyes had focused on it. It was a penny! I carefully picked it up, and examined it. It was heads up, and everyone knows what finding a heads-up penny means! Wow, the rest of my walk was filled with wonder! What could this lucky penny mean?

            I had enlightened my favorite wife to the fact that I had found a lucky penny, assuming she would be happy for me. She said, I found a heads-up penny a couple days ago. All the excitement left me, as my favorite wife did not share my enthusiasm about my heads-up penny.

            Heck, I might as well give up on being happy, maybe I will take a nap and reflect on what that heads-up penny could have provided.

            Subject change; I often find some clouds interesting. I have a photo of a couple clouds, the first reminded me of, “A rack of ribs”. I may have been hungry when I took the photo, would you believe, us ole senior retired people, only get one meal a day here at the Homestead, and sometimes it is nothing more than some beans and a piece of dried bread. I don’t like the bread when there is mole on it! Photo to follow.

                                                           

            I have another cloud photo which I found interesting. As I looked at the photo, I could see something that looked a little like the face of a dog, can you see it? Photo to follow. 

                                                           

 

            Well, I guess I had better go, maybe I can find something interesting to do.

 

May your imagination be active!

 

Senior retired person with a vivid imagination, Don the Ford

Oddly enough 10/07/2020

            Before we get to today's topic, allow me to comment on the votes that we mailed in. We called the county office and requested these absentee ballots, they were not sent to us without our knowledge. The person at the vote registers office asked our names, verified that we were registered, double checked our address and then mailed the absentee ballots to us. These are the same ballots that military personnel can use to vote when they are away. The president uses the absentee ballot to vote.

            Someone asked if they are safe, I believe they are safe, I believe they will be counted. I have senior friends who will only vote in person, and I think that is ok, everyone should be comfortable in voting! We voted this way, believing it is safer for us.

            IT DON'T MATTER HOW YOU VOTE, JUST VOTE! 😊

 

            New topic, oddly enough this happens each year. The Ford Homestead is located near the bottom of a hill. Our street is 4 blocks long, we are in the 400 block. The three and four hundred blocks are the hill, the one and two hundred blocks are flat. Each year in the one and two hundred blocks, the trees turn colors earlier than at the bottom of the hill. Why is there a difference?

            As the Tres and I walked this morning I observed a couple trees that are turning red. One of the trees was an oak tree like those in our yard.

            I need a new rake so I can attempt to remove some of the acorns. I want one that has a plastic head, and we do have one, but it is too large (2 foot wide). The plastic rakes are better at raking acorns, but I want one that is about 12 inches wide. A 12-inch rake is easier for an old person to use.

            I tried to go on line at my past employer, but they have changed the website and I no longer have access. I guess I can go to the local hardware store and pay more for the same item.

 

            Well, that is what's going on at the Ford Homestead.

 

Be happy you are not on the Gulf Coast!

 

 

Senior acorn eradicator, Don the Ford

VOTE 10/06/2020

            We here at the Ford’s Homestead, encourage everyone to vote in the upcoming election, regardless of who you vote for. My favorite wife and I have voted! In the following photo, one may see the two envelops that were used to, “Mail our ballots”!

                                               

            I have another photo, and it has nothing to do with voting, unless you want to vote on your favorite flower photo.

                                               

            No real plans for the day, I did mow the front yard yesterday and may mow the back 40 later today. I might get the Ford’s ole Chevy inspected today; its license runs out this month.

 

no plan, no disappointment!

 

Senior nap-ologist, Don the Ford

More than one topic 10/05/2020

            The last topic will be political, our first topic is about sitting outside.

            I had gone outside with a cold drink, and was going to finish reading Revelations, which as some of you know, is the last book in the New Testament. As I sat there, I noticed a flower overhead, photo to follow.  Can you imagine how nice it is to have red blooms overhead?

 

                                                          

            A neighbor came over and we discussed many subjects, as we enjoyed the cool weather and our cold drinks. We were totally surprised by a squirrel. This squirrel first ran under my chair and back, I thought it was our cat, so I wasn’t paying much attention. Glen said, “Did you see that?” I looked, and there was the squirrel, it had come back, and was sitting in front of us flapping its tail. I waved my arms and told him to get. This little guy or girl defied me, and came closer. Photos to follow.

  

           As you can see, he or she was young and not afraid. Charlie was sleeping about 8 feet away and never knew the visitor was present. Charlie likes squirrels, not as friends but as a meal.

            A little later another neighbor came over and joined us in our highly educational discussions, and a cold drink. It is nice to have friends!

 

            Politicians do not understand real people.

              I have come to that conclusion, due to my own non-understanding of others. Here in the Waco area, they have several times now, given out free food to anyone who needs it. Now they show on TV, the drive throughs with people in cars and trucks that are much newer than mine, getting this food. My first thought was if you can afford a new vehicle you can afford food. Yep, I was being judgmental, without a clear understanding of the total situation.

              A person with a nice vehicle, a house or nice apartment, who loses their job, would still have the nice vehicle and house or apartment, but may not be able to continue paying for them. Free food will help.

              I, not having to pay for a vehicle, a house or apartment, was seeing things differently than the unemployed.

              I believe politicians have it so much better than real people, that they do not truly understand the needs of the people they are supposed to represent. Consider running for office and all the donations they get from rich people. They do not need to spend their own money on their campaign, it is given to them, so later they can give back to the rich people, money taken from you and I.

              Even a good politician, and I believe there are few of them, has such a different life, that they do not really understand real, normal, people. 

              I doubt that it can be fixed, even if we were to remove all the career politicians from office and replace them with new normal people. The new normal politicians would quickly change and no longer be normal.   

 

              I hope I have not ruined your day, with my thoughts about politicians! Heck, every now and then we must be allowed to complain.

 

May your day be fun, and safe!

 

Senior sometimes provider, of less than happy thoughts, Don the Ford

Saturday morning post 10/03/2020

              This story was written in March 2020, and it is fiction.

 

                  Was it murder?     

                                                      A short story by Don Ford              

              I have a short story to present to you, this short story could apply to co-workers, bosses, non-friends, and family members. I have chosen a family member for this story.

 

              Susan Caster, is a well to do older lady in her early 80s. Her husband of 47 years passed away over 12 years ago, leaving her his portion of a business in which he has stock worth over $50,000,000. The board of directors of the company offered her $5,000,000 immediately and then they would guarantee payments to her or her beneficiaries of $5,000,000, a year for the next nine years.

              Susan consulted with her daughter Angela and decided to take the offer, as she did not have any desire to be in a business, and being elderly, she just wanted to be at her home, and enjoy life. Angela and her son Robert lived with Susan in the 38 room mansion located on 300 acres overlooking Big Foot Lake.

              Robert was in his early twenties and enjoyed having a good time spending his grandmother’s money. There were times when nearly violent arguments would arise between Robert and his Grandmother, and these arguments were always over money and the fact that he did not work.

              There came a time when there was a virus spreading worldwide, and oddly this virus had little effect on the younger people but often would kill the elderly. All the government agencies were putting out information as to how to possibly avoid coming in contact with this virus.

              Angela was being extra careful to keep her mother more or less quarantined, Angela would order the items they needed, have them delivered, then she would do all she could to disinfect the items, before allowing them inside the mansion. Angela was continuously reminding Robert to disinfect himself by washing his hands and changing his clothes before he would go into the same room as his grandmother.  

              One night while out partying Robert learned that a friend had the virus. Now his friend was self-quarantined. Robert decided to visit his friend knowing that the virus doesn’t usually have much of an effect on the younger people. Robert and his friend talked, watched a movie and shared several bottles of wine, and Robert spent the night with his friend, sleeping in the same bed.

              The next morning Robert dressed and headed for his Grandmother’s home. Robert arrived but he did not wash his hands, and did not change his clothes before visiting with his grandmother.  During this visit Robert was polite, even handing her a glass of tea as they sat there talking. Susan was surprised that Robert was being so nice and she assumed he was going to ask her for money. The subject of money did not come up during their conversation. After about 30 minutes, Robert gave his grandmother a hug, which was unusual. Susan was still wondering why Robert was so nice to his grandmother, and she was very surprised that he did not ask for money.

              A few days after his nice visit with his grandmother, Robert tested positive for the virus and was quarantined in the guest house, a good distance away from the main house.

              A few days after Robert tested positive, his grandmother Susan was not feeling well, she had a fever and was coughing. Susan was tested and found to be positive for the virus. Susan died 10 days later.

 

Do you think it is the perfect murder, or just an accident?

 

            As stated earlier, the above story was written in March 2020, and it is fiction. I now wonder how the President of the United States got the virus. Most likely it was an accidental exposure from someone, or was it?

 

Stay safe, wash your hands, and mask up!

 

Senior author of odd stories, and still silly grandpa, Don the Ford

All Heck broke lose 10/02/2020

            Did you notice how I used the word Heck rather than Hell? One never knows who may read this posting, and I do not want to upset any one, so Heck is the word.

            Let’s see, how should I start. It was a cool morning here at the homestead… Nope, that is not a good start!

            Ok, I have another start; The CEO here at the Ford’s homestead (my favorite wife) came to me and said, “I will allow you to repair the toilet today!” She was so nice, allowing me to have something to do other than enjoy life. I reviewed the Ford’s ole toilet to see what I need for the repair, then I went through all my extra plumbing parts, hoping I had what I would need.

            Not finding what I need, I went to the hardware store and purchased said parts, to the tune of $18.00. Returning to the homestead, I decided to remove the flush lever, which was the main problem, as it would not automatically shut off the flow of water into the tank if one did not move the lever to the off position.

            I used the wrench in an attempt to undue the nut securing the flush valve to the tank. It did not unscrew as expected.         Photo to follow!

                                               

            The tank broke, now someone will need to replace the entire toilet. After I stopped crying, I ate lunch. When my belly was full, I tried to get a short nap but I was so upset I could not sleep. I jumped out of the ole chair and headed to the Home store to get a new toilet.

            I found a toilet, which I could not afford, and I tried to get if from the shelf onto the cart. This ole body almost could not pick up the box. I did finally get it onto the cart and purchased it using a piece of plastic.

            I pushed the cart out to the truck, and was almost unable to get it off the cart into the bed of the truck. This carton weighed close to 100 pounds and no one offered to help a senior person.

            Arriving at home, I went to the shed and procured my 2 / 4-wheel cart. I was able to drag the carton out of the bed of the truck onto the cart, moving it into the garage.

            I then decided to remove the ole toilet. Undoing the water line was the easiest part of this removal. One of the tank bolts would not undue. I decided to undo the bowl from the floor, neither bolt would unscrew, they were rusted. I had to use a hack saw to cut those two bolts. That is not easy for an ole senior person, on the floor, in a tight setting. I then used the hack saw to cut the bolt between the bowl and tank.

            I removed the tank from the house via the two-wheeler, then the bowl also using the two-wheeler.

            I then decided to call for help. I was surprised to learn that my son David was at his home and not at work, he came over. The two of us working together, were able to install the new toilet. Even with the two of us, it was not easy work. It looks good and did not leak!

            Without help, it would have been almost impossible for this ole senior person to have installed, the toilet yesterday afternoon. It would have taken me two or three times longer to get it installed. I know how to do it, my ole body doesn’t bend and move like it use to.

            Thanks to David for all the help!

         I will review all work again today, double checking for leaks.

 

            While walking this morning, a thought came to me about not being judgmental. I was mentally commenting to myself on the yards of others. I thought of a statement, “Judge not lest ye be judged"!

 

Judge not, but use good judgement!

                        Think about that statement for a moment.

 

Senior non flexible person with some sore muscles, Don the Ford

 

           

Sunny but cool 10/01/2020

            For my non-readers, I have a photo which explains some of the title line.

                                               

            Just in case someone doesn’t understand what the above photo is, I will enlighten. It is the sun coming up over some trees, I took this photo while in the drive through at the coffee shop this morning. It was also cool again this morning as the Tres and I walked (52 degrees).

            I have another photo, taken in the Ford’s ole garage.

                                               

            This lizard was sunny himself yesterday morning. Our lizards are many, some are brown like the one in the photo and others are green. The Ford’s ole cats like the lizards but not in a nice way. If they don’t have a mouse to chase, a lizard will do.

           

Hot coffee may kill a virus, masks do stop virus!

 

Senior real coffee connoisseur, Don the Ford