Spring break rain 03.08.2022

            As some of you know, we have an electric bike, I need to teach my first wife how to ride it. Being a senior retired person on a fixed income, if we purchase gas for the vehicle, will we be able to have food? If we don't purchase gas for the vehicle, how will we be able to get food?

            Now the electric bike has a basket on the front, and we could carry only a small amount. Gas for the vehicle, or eat food. Yes, I could walk to the stores for food, I could pull the ole red wagon with me. I estimate that I could get to one store about 1.5 hours, that is walking one way. The other store we use for food is even further away.

            I guess even you real people have a problem with the price of gas. 😐

            It is raining this morning, not a lot of rain yet, just a small amount. We do need one of those ole Missouri rains, you know, slow and easy rain all day, with no run off.

            After checking on and feeding the animals this morning, I decided to stop by a new café here in Hewitt, the name is like a flower, and I was going to get a couple breakfast tacos, but being an ole senior person I asked for a couple breakfast burritos. The burritos were good and I did not get in trouble from my first wife, thankfully, she was ok with the burrito. I also purchased a cup of coffee for 99 cents. The coffee was as good, larger, and less expensive than the coffee at the star coffee place. 😊

            The new store opens tomorrow here in Hewitt, I have saved up almost $3.00 for this grand opening! 😊 Don't tell my wife that I have all that money, she might want to spend it on something that I don't want.

            For that one person, and we do know who you are, this weekend, day light saving time begins. Since it is almost spring time, we spring forward in time. That means set your clocks ahead one hour. I guess it is a good thing I explain all this to the reading public, the so-called news, has only been talking about the invasion of Ukraine, and the increasing price of gas.

            Keep reading my posting, as I will not follow their stories, I will just write about things that you are interested in, me and sometimes Tres!

That is, it for now, I will attempt to write to you later, and make your life wonder filled!

 

Eat or gas, you choose!

Senior retired person who enjoys the rain, Don the Ford

Spring break 03.07.2022

            Yes, it is spring break and for those who made a break for it, you know, left the area for a fun filled break, they were lucky. Yesterday it was in the low 80s here and today it is supposed to be in the mid-50s with scattered rain, and the rest of the week is supposed to get worse! The smart people took spring break literally, and made a break from central Texas!

            We did not do a lot here at the Ford homestead yesterday, since it was warm, we did give the Tres a bath. After that tedious work, my favorite spouse and I made a cup of coffee and we both grabbed a cookie, then proceeded outside were we not only enjoyed the coffee and cookie, the weather was very nice. 

            While sitting outside it was impossible to not be aware of the birds. It sounded as if every bird in the area was making noise. I don’t know it they were all looking for mates or bragging that they had found a mate.

            Speaking of birds, this morning when the Tres and I walked out front (no we do not get the paper any longer, but we still go outside for a moment) I was aware of a small sound coming from one of the bird houses that hang on the front porch. it sounded as if there was a baby bird making a little noise. I would think that the birds would not have babies this early, but it sure sounded like a baby bird.

            I just looked at the camera monitors, and it is raining. Wouldn’t you know it, I will need to go out in the cold and wet weather this morning to feed the animals. Speaking of that, yesterday afternoon the cat that is afraid of me, decided he would rather eat than be afraid, yep, he came and ate with the other cats. 

            Cold wet weather, heck all I will be allowed to do is stay inside, take naps, drink homemade coffee, and try to not watch TV. Maybe I will be able to do some reading today. 

            Well, I guess I should get going, those animals will not feed themselves.

 

Enjoy your spring break!

                        Even though it isn’t spring yet.

 

Senior retired feeder of the animals, Don the Ford

Working on Sunday 03.06.2022

            Did the Don work on Sunday? Oh my, did he actually become involved in a labor setting on a weekend? Wow, we are learning a lot about ole senior retired people. Possibly the Don had forgotten what day it was, maybe thinking it was Wednesday, and that might be why he was laboring on Sunday. Heck ole people might forget what day it is, but have you noticed, they don’t forget to eat.

            The Don’s labors this Sunday was feeding and checking on a few animals. I think the first day on animal care is the most difficult. There is a handwritten note informing the ole senior retired person, how much to feed and when. I will be taking care of these animals during spring break. There are three cats along with several other animals and fish, and one of the cats hid when I came in this morning. I can’t blame him; he does not know me.

            After I checked on and did the morning feeding, (yes there is morning and afternoon feeding, along with activating and deactivating some lights) I headed for the gas station to procure some gas for my favorite wife’s vehicle.

            Speaking of gas, my first wife and I were out and about yesterday, and as we drove, we were noticing the prices of gas in Waco and surrounding area. The highest price we saw was $3.99, and the prices varied from $3.99 to $3.49. We noticed some stations had two prices for regular gas, one for cash, and one for charge. In most cases, the charge was 10 cents higher for charge than cash.

            We have a new store opening Wednesday this week in Hewitt, we plan to get there and get a couple items, maybe being a new store, they will have some free stuff. 

            Back to today, after getting gas for the present wife’s van this morning, I did go to the Star coffee place and got a cup of overpriced coffee. I have enough on my ole gold card to get two more cups, then I will be done. Note: today star coffee was not very good. 

            Topic change; I did get my new pants yesterday and they are very nice, although I am not yet understanding why they say they are for dancing in a ballroom. My spouse of more then half a century has suggested that I should get a couple more pair and then I should not wear them when I was working in the yard, painting, working on a lawn mower or any other project where I could get them damaged or stained. I like that idea.

            I have a to do list here on my ole desk, there are 5 items listed, and I have done one of them. I guess I should keep it where I can see it, maybe I would get more of the items checked off the list.

            I have a photo of the Tres taking up room on the floor. He is a lazy dog taking it easy with one of his toys.

                                                 

 Share your happiness!

Senior retired person who needs a cookie, Don the Ford

Get here today 03.05.2022

            Yes, it is supposed to get here today. It, is a package, you know, when you order something, and they ship it to you in a package. Surely you have ordered something and received a package from some carrier, haven't you?

            I thought all you real people knew all about ordering items. I ordered a pair of jeans from a company, which my son Patrick had recommended. He said they are comfortable whether you are standing sitting or even squatting down. I went to the web site to read about these pants, and they noted that these pants have areas that will stretch. I don't understand why they advertise them as ballroom pants, I am not going dancing! Anyway, they should be here today.

            Next week is spring break for the schools in our area. That means I will not have any reason to leave the house. If I don't have a reason to leave the house, then I will probably be allowed to do odd jobs around the house. Trust me, there are plenty of odd jobs to do, and since I am odd, they will be my jobs to do.

            I did clean out another flower bed yesterday, and yes there is a photo.

            I had completed the task and was in the process of putting the tools away, when I noticed I had not cleaned out the round rose bed. I had intended to clean it also, but since I was putting the tools away, I said the heck with it, I will do it another day, little Donnie wants to play.

            I do have some weeds growing in the back 40, so I might need to check the ole riding mower out and then buzz off the weeds. The grass is not yet growing, so I don't need to mow all the yard. I will need to do some work in the front yard with the new flower bed, and I do mean work!

            Maybe I will be able to talk my spouse into taking me to town today, one of the burger places has two fish sandwiches for $6.00, we might be able to afford that.

            I guess I will terminate this activity (for that one person that means, I will stop entering data) and proceed to a different activity, known as, "Getting a cup of coffee." 😊

Smile, it helps!

Senior coffee enthusiast, and one-time nice guy, Don the Ford

Did he work too hard 03.04.2022

            Maybe the question should be, has he ever worked too hard? But before we get into that subject matter, lets cover the so-called newspaper. This morning the Tres and I went out to the front yard looking for the newspaper. I had been told that it would probably not be there, due to the fact that the fee they want us to pay, “Is just too much!” When it came time to renew the subscription, my favorite wife had determined that, “It was just too much”. Ole retired people are the people who read the newspapers, and we can’t afford them.

            Speaking of cost too much, I was able to get into Waco yesterday and purchase a bottle of adult beverage. I will probably not be able to buy another, as the price has gone up about $3.00. I assume that in the near future I will be drinking water at happy hour, if we can afford the water.  

            Today is my favorite grandson’s birthday, he will be 12 years old.       

            Now, let’s alter the topic again; I want you to see how difficult it is, for an ole senior person to work at the ole laptop. I have a photo which will tell the story.

                                               

            Yep, that is Molly taking it easy and expecting me to rub her back.

            What? I show you a photo of our cat laying on my desk trying to get my attention and keeping me from being the creative genius we all know I am, and all you see is the can of sardines! I give up, I might just sojourn from my endeavors to enlighten the reading public.

            I will attempt to enlighten one more time; what did the ole senior retired person do yesterday in the back 40? He removed dead vegetation (aka ground cover flowers) and leaves from the trees, from one flower bed. Then he raked them into one long area, and using the walk behind mower, he first mulched the dead vegetation, and second, he vacuumed them up. The ole person did not take a photo of the area before the work but did take one after the work was completed. There is no sardine can in this photo!

            I guess I need to stop now and get ready to take the Alex to school.

Pray for Ukraine!

Senior retired person who works but not too hard, Don the Ford

A watcher 03.03.2022

            You are correct, I am a neighborhood watcher, but the title line is not about me watching you. Before we get to far into the title line, lets review what I did yesterday.

            This ole senior retired person, worked his ole body to a point of needing a 10-minute rest, and a cup of coffee. You are correct, that is a lot of work, and it is amazing that a senior person can still work that much!

            I was allowed to trim the rose bushes yesterday. There are 13 bushes of various sizes, if I counted them correctly. And I trimmed 12 of them. One of the bushes was very small and in truth looked as if it were dead. I decided to leave it alone, and if it comes back this spring, I will consider trimming it then.

            I was able to make temporary trellis for two of the bushes. Now that I am thinking about it, my dad and mom liked rose bushes, but dad did the planting and caring for them. Also, Cape Girardeau, our ole home town, was known as a city of roses.

            In an effort to shorten this rose story, I did fill half the trash container with parts from the rose bushes, and I did trim a couple other plants (without permission) which added to the trash.

            Yesterday about 10:00am I had decided to go into Waco to purchase a bottle of adult beverage, and on the way, I decided to stop for a cup of coffee at the star place. There were about 5 vehicles ahead of me, and it took about 20 minutes for me to get the cup of coffee. When arriving at the window I learned that the price had increased from $2.64 to $2.86! Either price is too much. Now I do not buy the gift cards for the star coffee place, and I will not go there after the ole gold card I have runs out. Super slow service, and prices that are too high!!!

            Note, I was so upset about waiting in line and then paying more, that I did not go to Waco for a bottle. Now you see how us ole retired people are treated.     

            Now let us change the topic; after dropping the Alex off at his house yesterday, and making it back to our home I decided to sit outside for a while. A friend came over and pulled up a chair. We sat there and talked for a while then my favorite wife came outside and joined us.

            Our discussions covered many topics, including the state of our country and the invasion of Ukraine. As we sat there exchanging ideas, I noticed that we were being watched. This was not a person, and may have been a ghost. I do have a photo to help the non-believer, to become a believer.

            He or she has the appearance of being almost a skeleton ghost. He / she did not say anything, it just floated around in the sky watching us.

            Now you know what happy hour at the Ford’s homestead is like. No, I did not have too much to drink, I told you I did not go to Waco and get a bottle!

 

Are you a watcher?

 

Senior retired person, who might go to Waco for a bottle today, Don the Ford

 

Elevated by me 03.02.2022

            Yes, I do want to elevate your day, but before I do allow me to explain something about My favorite wife’s operation cancelation. The cancelation was due to, one of the two doctors who work together, to perform the procedure.

            In short, both doctors are required to meet with the patient prior to the operation to explain all the good and bad things that may happen. One of the doctors had not done that.

            One doctor met with us 8 months ago, prior to the first cancelation. Before the second doctor could meet with us, the virus took all the rooms, and the operation was canceled.

            We met with him yesterday, and when he walked into the room he began to apologize. He is the reason for this second cancelation.

            Now let us get back to elevating one’s day. Yesterday, when my present spouse and I went to meet with the doctor, we had to use an elevator to get up to his office. My first spouse and I were the last two to entered the elevator, and it was full.

            Now most people when they get into an elevator will face the door, I don’t! Being last in, you can stand there facing all the other people in the elevator. Trust me, you get a look from those whom you are facing. When the door closed behind me, I said with a big smile, while wearing a mask, something to the effect, “Does it seem odd to have someone facing the wrong way in an elevator? I got a couple laughs and a nod or two.

            The doors opened and we exited the elevator. Yes, I am silly grandpa, and proud of it! If you can’t have fun, don’t do it!

            I need to get ready to take the grand kids to school this morning, I guess we are on a normal schedule until they do the MRI scan, and set a new date for the operation, if it is needed.

            The weather is good today, so I might get outside and see if I can do some yard work, nothing to strenuous, but enhancing the beauty of the property.  

 

Happy Texas Independence Day!

Senior ole retired and silly grandpa, Don the Ford

March has started 03.01.2022

            This morning, as we marched out the front door to procure the so-called newspaper, I noticed that the lawn sprinklers had been operating. Now, the day before, (for that one person that is yesterday) I had run the lawn sprinkler system in the manual mode, with the time for each system to operate at about half the normal time. I was wanting some moister on the lawn and in the Jasmin.

            Being an ole senior person, you know, one of those ole people who don't know what day it is without looking at a calendar, I left the system control in the manual mode. The system will operate on schedule, in the manual or automatic mode. Tuesday morning at 4:00 is a scheduled watering time, our yard is nicely watered.

             I must have had water on the brain yesterday, I also watered the black berry beds and the flowers in the hot house. When I opened the door to the hot house the sun was shining, and I checked the thermometer which is inside, and it read 110 degrees.

            Let's see, where was I, oh I remember, as we marched outside to get the so-called newspaper, we noticed that the paper was not there, darn it! Then, around the corner came a vehicle which I recognized as our paper delivery person, aka paper boy. Well, he is a fellow so I guess I can refer to him as a boy. Tres did pick up the paper and take it into the homestead.

            Anyway, as he drove by, he tossed the paper out of his window, and I heard him say, "Good Morning".

            Topic change; I did ask my cell phone when the average last day for a freeze here in the Hewitt area is, and it told me March 15^th. Now that don't mean it will not freeze after that date, but it is a good date to start thinking about spring and outside work. There seems to be plenty of that outside work.

            This ole retired senior person needs a cup of coffee, so I will leave you now. 😊

 

Fill your day with kindness!

Senior retired person who is kinda nice, sometimes, Don the Ford