September 20, 2024

            Good morning to you and that other person too; and it is a good morning for me also. Today is Friday, two days before Fall officially starts, even though it will not feel like it. This morning, I get to go pickup Alex for school about one hour earlier than usual. Alex will be finishing a test this morning, that he did not finish Wednesday, which he did not complete due to leaving early for the football game. School starts at 8:25am I need to have him there at 7:30am.

            Well, the Don did work some yesterday and he was able to accomplish the tasks at hand.

First, the Don got his tools out and prepared for the work in his outside workshop. I have a photo for your enlightenment. In the photo one can see the small work bench, the small seat for the Don, the small tiller that was ready to be worked on, the small air compressor, and the water cup in the Ford’s ole wagon. You can’t see it but the power for the compressor is being furnished by the power inverter in the shed, which is powered by a 12-volt battery, which is powered by a solar panel. If we were real people with a regular income, we might be able to have a normal shop with normal sized tools and work bench, but being on a fixed income, we can’t have all the nice things you real people have.

            At least I was mostly in the shade during this work session.

I did get the small tiller out and remove the gas from it and I cleaned it up some and I got the unused string trimmer and removed the gas from it. The work wasn’t that difficult, but I was sweating due to the very hot temperatures.

That work completed I watered the plants in pots and the #2 berry bed. The other berry beds were in the direct sun, and I try not to work in the direct sun. 

After all the tools were put away, I went into the house and cooled off for a while. After the cooling session, I cleaned up some and prepared to go out for date night, aka supper. The food was good and the service was very good. Back at home we did sit outside for a while.

Plans for today: go out to my ole workplace and pick up an item I ordered and do little or nothing the rest of the day. I do plan to have the yard man Alex over Saturday to do some mowing.

Well, you now know all about me and my plans. We hope you have a good day and are able to complete all your plans in a safe and productive manner.

Outside workshop.

Senior ole person who needs to get going and get Alex, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

September 19, 2024

            Good morning to all, we hope your day is starting off well.

Today is Thursday, and since Alex played football yesterday, my favorite wife and I might get to go out for date night, aka supper, tonight.

I don’t think I did much of anything yesterday, I did go out to the front yard and consider how I would attempt to remove the acorns this year. I tried the roller for a minute and decided the grass is too thick to use the roller. I will likely use a rake and that will allow me to move a lot of the acorns into piles or to the street where I can more easily pick them up.

On another non interesting topic, I got another chigger so I have put clear fingernail polish on it. I guess the fingernail polish works and gets rid of the chigger, but dry fingernail polish on your body does not feel good.  

 We sat outside yesterday afternoon and friends from across the street came over to sit with us. We learned about their trip to Ohio and Niagara Falls and other places they went too. It is always good to have friends to drop by and visit. 

I need to keep my eye on the clock as I will need to leave in a few minutes and get Alex to school, hopefully on time and safe. I will be interested to learn how the game went yesterday. I guess I should head over to the other Ford’s homestead and get Alex now…

I made it back: Alex said they lost their game 0 to 6, and he got home at 10:00pm. He said a teacher asked him to come in early today and finish a test that he started yesterday, he had to leave early for the trip to the game yesterday, and did not complete the test yesterday. He said he had forgot about needing to be there early until about 10:00pm last night and he knew I was in bed, so he did not call me. I told him, in the future call me I wake up easily and go back to sleep fairly fast.

I did get a cup of real coffee after dropping Alex off at school this morning. The coffee was free and since my doctor suggested I stop drinking coffee, I only drank half of the cup.

I have a couple things I should attempt to do today, but as usual I might be distracted and just take a nap or two. We hope your day is fun, or at least interesting, or maybe not boring, and that you and I stay safe in all we do.

Thank You for reading this.

Senior ole person who don’t need a rest, but will take one anyway, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

September 18, 2024

            Good morning, did you see the full moon, it is a little closer to the earth and it looks very large.

            Tres and I went out front as usual this morning about 6:30am, were we talked with a neighbor from across the street. Our neighbor was carrying out some recycle items and was going to move the recycle bin to the curb when he remembered that it was not recycle day. He and I did talk across the street to each other, he asked if I knew the light over the garage door was out, I said I did, and I need to get a new bulb.

We have good neighbors up and down the street, but we do not get to talk with our neighbors very often. I think we probably don’t want to be seen as a bother, so we don’t call our go to their house.

            What events happened yesterday: sitting around in the homestead doing nothing but watching the TV, got to be very boring. Yesterday I went out back and decided to remove any dead stuff from the black berries thinking, I had done this before so there should not be much to remove. I also wanted to stay out of the sun as I worked. Well, I got started and found there were more dead items than I had thought. It took a while but I got all that I could see, and I also removed two sun flower plants that had been growing in one of the beds.

            During the process I had observed some deposits of Poopa-Loopa in the yard so I decided to attempt to remove it. As I worked on the Poopa-Loopa I noticed a few sticks in the yard from the recent heavy winds, so I removed them. 

            I have had a problem with a lock so I decided to replace it with another lock that has been locked onto the chain link fence for a few years. I found it interesting that I could remember where that lock was since I have not used it for years. I unlocked it and took it to the shed where I decided to put some oil on it to help it work. During the oiling process I thought, why not try some oil on the other lock that I was having problems with. Adding oil to both locks allowed them to work much better, so the lock that had not been working easily, is now working easily, so it got to stay in service. I think the other lock is now on the bench in the shed.

The other day during the short wind storm and rain, a big flower secured to a heavy wooden homemade stool turned over. I think the heavy flower and stool had been leaning some, which made it easier for the wind to blow it over. I need to work on that today. The wind also blew over a flower pot on the driveway too. We were thankful for the rain but not so much for the wind.

            Today’s events: Alex’s football game is moved up from Thursday to today. This is an away game near Dallas and we will not be going. We like going to his games but that is a long way for an ole person to drive for a game.

            I need to get the gas out of the tiller and the bent shaft weed eater, as they will not be used for a while. I don’t like to leave gas in a motor for too long as it can clog things up. I need to try and determine how I want to approach the acorns in the grass this year, in other words, “how to get them out of the grass.” Maybe I can con the grandkids to remove the acorns.

            Well, I need to get out of here and head to Alex’s house and get him to school on time and safe. We hope you have a very good day and stay safe in all you do.

Berry bush butcher.

Senior ole person who don’t work enough and then works too much, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

September 17, 2024

            I think it is a good morning, it was still dark when the Tres and I went outside at 6:00am, so I will wish you a good morning and hope the rest of the readers who do not get up early, have a good day.

            We did almost nothing yesterday which made the day seem very long. We did go to the post office with a package that they delivered on Saturday which did not have our address on it. It did have another address on it. The post office people looked at it and said it was address to us, even though we could not see the address. We asked who it was from, but there was no answer. We told them we were not opening anything that we did not know who it came from. They said they would return it to UPS if we wanted them to. We said they can send it back to whoever sent it, we don’t know what it is, and we are not opening it.

            We did go to the pet store and get some shampoo for the dog, it is supposed to help with flees, and we did give him a bath. I did go to the bible study last night and that was interesting.

            That is all for now, have a good and interesting day, and stay safe in all you do.

Hot day coming.

Senior ole person who needs to go get Alex for school, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

September 16, 2024

            We would like to wish everyone a very good morning. Did you notice that I added the word “very”, to the good morning? What, you didn’t notice, then you do not need to know why it is a very good morning.

            Tres and I went out front this morning as usual to review the front yard when we noticed our neighbor across the street from us putting his trash can out, yep, it is trash day. We wished him a good morning, and he responded with it is a good morning. He noted that we got ¾ inch of rain yesterday, in the surprise rain. I said I had not checked my rain gage yet.

¾ inch of rain in the free rain gage makes it a very good morning.

I did get a photo of a rabbit in the street before the sun came up.

            I didn’t say it was a good photo.

Yesterday’s report: we did very little. We did go to the cracker store for breakfast. The food and service were good. We stopped at Wally world as my favorite wife wanted to get some batteries for her CD player. Battery bought we headed for home. Back at home I rested for a while when my wife discovered that the CD player did not use “D” batteries, it used “C” batteries. Darn it we would need to go to the store again.

This time we went to the HEB and found a parking space not too far from the door. My favorite wife went in and left me sitting in the Ford’s ole Chevy all alone while she shopped. She was able to get the “C” batteries, and we returned home, where I again reclined in the Fords ole worn out recliner attempting to sleep.

After the short nap I felt like I needed to do something other than sit there so I decided to do my daily bible reading. It was very hot outside, but I decided to go out on the front porch and read. I did take the battery powered fan and sat it up so it would blow on me, I put it in low and it felt like I was sitting in front of and electric heater blowing the heat on me. I changed the speed to high and that help some, at least I was able to endure the heat with the fan on high. I did get my daily reading completed.

Later in the day my favorite wife and I went outside to sit, even though it was very hot. we had the big fan on and that helped, as there was little breeze. We sat outside as usual for about 1.5 hours, and during that “time out period”, there were clouds that came and went. I have a photo of my wife while we were sitting outside.

            You may have noticed she was not paying any attention to me; she was looking at the phone. Did you see she has two sets of glasses on.

I checked the weather bug on the phone and there was rain in the area, but it was going around us. When it was time for us to go in, I checked the weather again and it showed rain coming. We put things away and went into the house. It was just a few minutes later when it started to rain, and as you know, we got a very good rain, “3/4” inch.

I guess that is it for now, I need to go get Alex and take him to school. We hope you have a good day and please stay safe in all you do.

¾ inch of rain, very good!

Senior ole person who got Alex to school safe and on time, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

September 15, 2024

            We made it to Sunday, and I believe it is going to be a sunny day, so we wish you a good morning.

Yesterday was a normal day, we did the normal things. We went to the HEB in Waco close to the interstate and my favorite wife purchased some KT tape, which she was having trouble finding in other stores. (Yes, I called it HT tape in the previous posting.) We did go to the cheap store, and we purchased a couple items. We did sit outside yesterday afternoon even though it was hot. We quickly noticed that there was no air movement, that means there was not a breeze blowing at all. The leaves on the trees were not moving, it was dead air. We did have the big fan on and that helped by moving some air.

My favorite wife played a couple CDs as we sat outside, the music was music that reminded me of church music from the olden days. It brought back a lot of ole memories.

What are the plans for the Fords today: not much. We might go for breakfast this morning and hope to get there early enough to not need to wait in line to be seated. I also need to get outside and water the flowers that are in pots.

            I have a couple photos with one question.

            The first photo shows how much help I get when composing these postings, that is our cat Molly laying on the desk, and she wants to be petted all the time. The second photo is of the big fan, and it was running yesterday providing air for us as we sat outside. The question is, “why can we see through the fan as if there are no blades, and why doesn’t the fan appear to have a solid circle and we not be able to see through it?” At what speed would it need to be moving to appear to be a solid circle instead of fan blades.

            Ok, I will stop for now and go water the flowers in pots. We hope everyone has a good day and that everyone stays safe in all they do.

Lazy cat helper.

Senior ole person who gets little help in anything he does, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

September 14, 2024

            Good morning to one and all, yes even you, we hope all have a good Saturday and a good morning. We did nothing yesterday. I did finish watering the flower pots that did not get watered yesterday afternoon due to the Football game.

            I did follow my favorite wife suggestion to tighten all the bolts on the swing. All but two needed to be tightened and the two that did not need tightening had lock nuts on them. I did get on the ground several times to get to the bolts, and now I have chiggers. Fingernail polish applied; I hope that takes care of it.

Completing that work, I went to the shed an got a ladder which I brought to the driveway. The light over the driveway has not been working properly, I put the ladder up by the light which is about 12 feet above the drive. I climbed the ladder and replaced the PE control. Pe control in my hand I climbed down.

I re-climbed the ladder and removed the light bulb. I decided to take a photo of the info on the bulb so I climbed down, and took the photo.

I then climbed the ladder again to replace the bulb and it broke, with the glass in my hand and the base in the light. I then climbed down again and got a pair of pliers to remove the base from the light.

I climbed the ladder again and removed the base from the light. Then I took the ladder back to the shed and I decided that I would not climb back up to the light again. I will ask Dave or Alex to climb back up the ladder and replace the bulb, when I get one. I am 77 years old and I do not need to be on a ladder that high.

We went outside to sit, and our friend came over, and this time she brough her bible. We had some lively discussions about Revelations, she gave me her thoughts and I gave her mine. I think we agreed toward the end of the discussion.

Well, I don’t have any big plans for today, we will likely follow our usual schedule and go into Waco for lunch, stop at the cheap store and see if we need anything, and we might go to a store and see if we can get some HT tape. My wife has been having trouble finding it, I assume they are out do to all the schools and the athletics. HT tape is for pain and athletes who have strains and other pain, they put the tape on and it relieves the pain. It works on non-athletes too.

I have a photo taken this morning when Tres and I ventured into the front yard.

           The photo shows a bright, soon to be sunny morning. We hope everyone has a good Saturday and that we all stay safe in all we do.

Clouds be bright.

Senior ole person who needs a break from the computer, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

September 13, 2024

            It is Friday the 13^th, we hope that does not take away from you and I having a good morning.

Plans for today: get Alex and Gabi to school on time and safe. Back at home I might check and tighten all the bolts in the swing that we use when sitting outside.

I might get on the ole ladder and replace the PE control, that turns the light over the driveway on and off, and while I am up there see what size bulb is in the light. It is blinking so it could be the bulb or control.

I also need to finish watering the potted plants, I was watering them yesterday when my favorite wife informed me it was 4:20, and we need to get ready for the Football game, so I did not get done watering.

A few minutes ago, I looked at the clock that is on the shelf above my computer and it showed 7:15, that meant I have 15 minutes before heading over to get the kids for school. Then I looked at the Alexa that sits on my desk, and it indicated 7:35am. Surprised I grabbed my phone and looked at it and it was 7:35, I was late. I called Alex and headed for their home. I did get them to school on time and safe. (The clock on the shelf needs a battery, or is it, Friday the 13^th.)

Yesterday’s events: The freshmen game ended with a score of 14 to 8, Midway won. Alex was on the offensive line in the third quarter when midway made their first touchdown for the year. After the game we went to a local restaurant to get a late supper, we drove around the parking lot looking for a spot close to the door, we found none, after a couple times around the lot we decided to head for home. At home we sat outside enjoying each other’s company.

The neighbor’s grand kids were outside, the girl who is maybe 8 years old was trying to learn how to ride her bike. Her little brother who might be 4 years ole has a bike and it had training wheels. I went over to ask their grandmother a question as to how her husband’s bumper got damaged, when the little boy came running to me and gave me a big hug. There is nothing better than an unexpected hug.

I have a flower blooming photo, for my enjoyment.

             I thought the single yellow bloom against all the large green leaves made a good photo.

The rest of my evening was spent in bed sleeping.

Well, I guess I will stop for now. We hope you have a good day and that everyone stays safe in all we do.

Friday the 13^th.

Senior ole person who has a couple things to do, will he do them? Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!