Weather... 04.30.14

Weather…       04.30.14

 

                The weather doesn’t know whether to stay warm or cold.

                How did you like the use of the two words in the opening sentence?     

We have had days this spring when the temperature was 93, today the temp at the beginning of the day was 53.

                As everyone knows I would never complain, but I will comment on topics such as the weather. You might ask what the difference is between a comment and a complaint. The difference between a comment and a complaint is simple.

                A comment, is what “I” do, when I want to express my point of view.

                A complaint, is what “you” do, when “you” want to express “your” point of view.        

 

                Enough of the training session, I can’t always be the Maestro (from the Italian meaning "master" or "teacher) to everyone. 

 

                I have been up grading my security cameras here at the Ford Homestead. I had 5 cameras for several years and I have purchased an additional 4 cameras.

I have two comments, notice they are not complaints.

First comment; I purchased “one” BNC to RCA connector from Radio Shack and it cost about $7.00. It worked so I knew I needed at least 3 more. I went on line and purchased “six” of the connectors for less than $4.00 with free shipping. During the installation of the new connectors, I found that the one from radio shack is not a good tight connection like the less expensive connectors.

Second comment; I have set the cameras up to record when there is motion. Did you know that moving shadows made by trees will activate the motion detectors? In addition, the wind has not stopped blowing for several days.

 

I hope others do not Complain to you,

And listen to all your comments today.

 

Don Ford

 

A Rose by any other name... 04.27.14

A Rose by any other name… 04.27.14

 

                I received my instructions for the afternoon and they were, “get outside and water”. Not wanting to receive another beating, a severe tong lashing or even worse, no supper, I proceeded outside to water the flowers.

My present spouse will purchase flowers and then I am required to water them. It seems like a fair deal, isn’t it?

Anyway, first I went to the garden and installed the tomato rings that we had purchased this morning after we had eaten a nice Brunch. Installing tomato rings is a skill that not many can acquire, I have the skill.

I then watered the garden. About two minutes after I started to water the garden I remember that as a kid I was told never water plants that are in the direct sun. My garden is in the direct sun and the clouds parted as soon as I began to water. 

I then water the plants in both the front and back yard.

I took a couple photos of some of “The Ford Homestead Roses”, hope you enjoy them.

 This yellow rose is in my antenna tower.

They are wet because I watered, no rain.

Pretty and Pink.

 A group of red and pink.

Each photo is from a different flower bed.

 

I hope you have a “Rose” of a day!

 

Don Ford

The Name Game 04.27.14

The Name Game        04.27.14

 

                As I sit in the back yard looking at my newly built handicapped ramp, and as Alex tries to get my attention, I have been thinking about naming a kid.

Often, “new parents to be”, take months to pick the right name for their first child. These young “parents to be” want to have the perfect name in an attempt to not upset any of the grandparents or other family members.

This true story is about choosing a child’s name, but not the long version involving months of research.

I went to the dentist the other day for my six month cleaning. As I sat in the waiting room a fellow walked in and spoke to the receptionist. She ask his name to which he replied Jackie, this caught my attention. I have a brother named Jackie and this started me remembering a story my mother told me.

I had asked Mom why they named my brother Jackie. _{As a note; everyone calls my brother Jack.} Mom related that they had not picked a name, so they decided that each family member would write a first name on a piece of paper and put them in a hat. I wasn’t born at that time so I did not get to participate. My sister wrote the name Jackie and that was the name drawn from the hat. 

                As you can see, it didn’t take long to decide on a name, and who knows, it may have upset everyone who’s suggested name was not drawn, or not. 

                That being said, how did they decide on my name, “Donald”?

“McDonalds”, did not exist when I was born, so it did not come from a fast food establishment. For that one person that likes to make snide comments, yes I am older than “McDonalds”.

“Old McDonald”, did have a farm when I was born, so my name could have come from the nursery rhyme.

 

New Subject:

There are buds on the tomato plants in our garden and there are very small peppers on the serrano peppers. We haven’t received any rain so I must water today.

 

Have a good day, enjoy family and friends. 

 

Don Ford

Chapter 5 04.26.14

Chapter 5         “The best laid plans of mice and man…”

                I woke up Friday morning at the normal time. I get up at 5:46 each morning. I have often thought about why 5:46 instead of say 6:00am. I do not set the alarm clock so the time to get up was not something I decided on. Possibly it was preordained that I should rise every morning at 5:46.  The time I get up has little or nothing to do with this story.

                After my normal morning duties, I decided to revisit my ramp project.  The weather on Friday was predicted to be perfect for any outdoor activities. I had planned to have assistance with the last phase of the project. My plan was to have my son mixing the cement as I worked to keep it in place inside the slanted forms.

                I decided that I could not pass this perfect morning, I would attack the project myself. The cement bags were in the back of my Dodge pickup, and yes the Dodge pickup was able to haul all eight bags a total of 640 pounds of dry cement mix. I backed the pickup into the back yard, parking close to the shed.

80 pound bags of cement are very heavy, especially to a retired person. I found that I could move them to the edge of the tail gate without lifting, where I had positioned the wheelbarrow. I then cut the end of the bag off, the dry cement began to fall into the wheelbarrow. As the bag emptied (became lighter) I moved it closer to the edge until empty.

I was able to do each part of the project without causing any ill effects on the outcome of the entire project.

This morning (Saturday April 26^th, 2014) I ventured into the back yard to remove the forms from the cement ramp. The following two photos show the project.

Yes I did replace the dirt around the ramp prior to taking the photos.

After my second time of walking up the ramp I decided I would rather have a step. Walking down the ramp is ok for senior citizens but walking up was not comfortable. The cement blocks on the left is my step and will be used when I am not pushing something into or out of the shed.

                I have pushed the wheelbarrow with 100 pounds of left over dry cement in it, up the ramp without any problems.

                The End

 

                On another subject; my neighbor was working in his garden pulling weeds, so I, not wanting to be outdone, decided to do the same. It should be known that my yard is mostly weeds this year, but my garden did not have weeds growing in it.  My garden has Bermuda grass growing in it rather than weeds. Grass grows in the garden but not in the yard, just my luck.

 

I hope your day is weed free.

 

Don Ford

Chapter 4 04.22.14

Chapter 4         “The best laid plans of mice and man…”

                For the one person that closely reads my articles, I have changed a word. The word “mouse” has been changed to “mice” in the heading following the Chapter indicator, starting in Chapter 3.

            Well, Easter has come and gone and I did relax and enjoy the family. There was the typical Easter egg hunt in which I came in third place out of the three egg hunters (grand kids are fasted than old retired people).

                Monday morning I decided to begin again on my project of a ramp into the shed. As usual I take some quite time in the throne room each morning. The throne room is usually quiet, you can adjust the lighting to fit your mood and no one bothers me during my meditation.

                As I sat on my throne I was considering my approach to the ramp at the shed. I must remove the metal from the bottom of the door before I can proceed with any other work. I have purchased two of the saw blades needed to cut the metal. I pondered the idea of getting the extension cords and stretching them across the yard to power the saw. That sounds like extra work which a person of my age and being on a fixed income (cost of the electric) does not need.

                Suddenly the throne room was filled with an aroma, this aroma may have helped me with the thinking process. I reckoned, there is an alternative to the electric saw. Tin Snips; I have a pair of tin snips that were probably my dad’s and they do not require electric. Another problem solved in the throne room. Once the paper work was complete, I headed to the back yard for some physical labor.

                Arriving at the shed I observed some flora that was blooming beside the shed. I reached for the trusty camera and took the following photos.

In these photos we see flowers growing under the solar panel and along the shed.

 

These roses are not near the shed but I thought they were pretty. They were gifts to my present wife several years ago from her niece Donna Rea. These rose bushes are about 6 feet tall and as you may be able to see, there are red and pink roses.

 

                I began the work of cutting the metal from the door. The tin snips did work or should I say the tin snips cut the metal and I did the work.

                After successfully removing the metal I began to place the plywood for the form. This required me to be on my hands and knees for an extended period of time.

                I have now placed the form for the cement and I have started to back fill. I have determined that if I am to be successful at the venture I will need help with the cement. I assume I can make a somewhat dry mix and probably be able to control it but I will need someone to mix the following batches as I smooth and try to keep the cement on an angle inside the form.

                I woke in the middle of the night last night thinking about the ramp and in this semi-sleeping state I considered that the cement ramp may be too much work. I lay there considering the amount of cement needed and… zzzzzzzz

 

                The garden is doing well, we thought we were going to get rain yesterday so I did not water. There was no rain, I will water today.

 

I hope your day is filled with smiles.

 

Don Ford

 

 

Chapter 3 "The best laid plans of mice and man."

Chapter 3         “The best laid plans of mice and man…”

                How to proceed or, forget the project was my conundrum.

If I continue I would need to alter the shed door which would allow me to be able to open and shut the door once the ramp is in place. Opening and closing the door seems like an important part to this project.

If my decision were to forget the project, I would think of myself as a quitter and I would not have my handicapped cement ramp.

Obviously, I have but one choice. I must see this project through to fruition (I also like the word fruition, it is spelled like it sounds). 

Needing to update my plan, I acquired my camera from the desk drawer and proceeded to the shed. Arriving at the shed I opened the door and took several photos of the door inside and out before the camera batteries went dead. Is the batteries going dead an omen; should I defer this project for a few weeks?

Over the years I have developed a strategy of taking a few photos and then heading for my computer. I can sit in my easy chair and review the photos which most often provides ways to update the original plan. Today was no exception.

I have learned that the door frame is smaller than the metal that covers the frame. In my update plan I will remove a protective piece of metal from the bottom, then cut about 4 inches of metal from the bottom of the door. I will reinstall the protective strip which will cover all sharp edges. Below is a photo taken by yours truly, showing the amount of metal that will be removed close to the bottom of the 2 X 4 bottom of the door frame.

 

Accomplishing the above, I will be able to continue with the original plan to install the cement ramp.

I have worked with cement in the past but it has all been in a flat or level form. This time I will attempt to lay the cement in a form that has a 12 inch drop in four feet, from the back to the front. I believe I will need to work with a more dry cement mixture.  

The weather person is calling for possible showers over the next 4 days, which includes Easter weekend. During this period of time I hope to rest and relax while enjoying family and friends.

Note:

The small garden is looking good with no ill effects from the almost freezing weather. The only problem with the garden came from me. As I was trimming the weeds along the edge of the landscape timber, I backed into the solar panel attached to my shed, causing the string trimmer to cut the tops off about 4 onions.

 

Don Ford

The best laid plans of mouse and man. 04.16.14

 

Chapter 1        

                Bing the master of the Ford Homestead of Hewitt, TX (my spouse of 45 years does not read these articles, I can say what I want without fear of retaliation) I thoroughly plan all my projects.

                In order to remove my tiller or the generator from the shed I use two eight foot 2 X 8 boards with ramp hardware on the ends. I would like to have a permanent ramp in place, made of cement. That would allow for easy egress from, and entrance into the shed. Also I have stepped out of the shed a few times and kind of tripped over the cement stepping stones.

In the above photo there are two stepping stones remaining. The one closest to the shed is a flat rectangle shaped cement block while the other was a bag of cement that got wet and hardened. I have previously removed another cement bag step. As you may be able to envision, a retired person (aka senior citizen) living on a fixed income should not be stepping up and down on these type stepping stones.

For that one smarty out there, that has come up with the idea that I want to install a handicapped ramp, you are wrong, “there will be no hand rail, so it can’t be certified as handicapped” (at least not initially).

Back to my story after that rude interruption. I decided to build the ramp and I made plans on how to build the form using plywood, see below.

These are difficult to see.

They were done in pencil.

I bought the plywood and precisely cut the pieces. It helps to be a master wood butcher. I went to the shed and began the work first removing one of the cement bag stepping stones then excavating the dirt. After about 45 minutes of back breaking work, I discovered that the door would not close with part of the form in place.

                You may be able to imagine how dishearten I was, all my planning and I had not considered the door may not operate properly.

                Discouraged, I removed the incomplete form and replaced the dirt that I had excavated.

A lesser man would have had tears in his eyes and just gave up completely. Not me, I held my head high as I “sauntered” to the house. (I believe that is the first time I have ever written the word sauntered).

I decided to have my noon repast and think about my conundrum (I also like the word conundrum).

 

 

Chapter 2         “The best laid plans of mouse and man…”

                After a light lunch and a few minutes of listening to Rush Limbaugh I decided to go to town and see if I could purchase a few items. I had a list of 4 items;

·         Saw blade for a reciprocating saw

·         A reel to wind an electrical cord on

·         A DVR with 4 security camera for the Homestead

·         A bottle for the occasional happy hour

I arrived at the store and observed that there were only two cars parked on the lot with a few cars parked in front of the store. I assumed that there would be few customers shopping which makes me happy as I do not like to shop in crowds.

                I enter to store and there were people everywhere. The checkout lanes had people waiting in line. I continued on with my shopping experience walking swiftly to the saw blades. I reviewed the offerings and decided they were too expensive.

Moving on, I went into the electrical department but they did not have the reel I wanted.

Proceeding to the security camera aisle the bin for the DVR with cameras was empty. There were too many people at the checkouts and there were no other employees visible, so asking for help was out of the question.  

I thought, possibly I would walk around and shop for a few minutes and some of the customers might leave. Everywhere I went there was someone trying to look at the items I was. There were even female customers in the hardware store, there should be a law…

I, discouraged for a second time in one day, decided to leave. Dishearten, I crawled into my pickup and started for home with the thought of stopping at the package store on the way. After a couple minutes the package store was in sight but my vehicle would not turn into the parking lot. I continued my trip home with nothing to show for the trip.

There may be additional chapters if I can get over all the discouraging events.

 

Don Ford

 

What the heck? 04.15.14

 

                I know it is tax day, the deadline for some people to pay their income tax. Yes there are a few of us that continue to pay for others to have 50 inch TVs and Obama cell phones.

                I learned that today is not the final day to file if you are going to get a refund. Yep, your government will allow you to file late if you are getting a refund. Isn’t that nice of them.

 

                Taxes is not what I want to comment on today. My topic is, “Spring”.

            Spring has sprung, Fall has fell, Winter is back and it is colder that heck.

                I have switched between the furnace and air conditioner several times and last night I again turned the furnace on. This morning it was 34 degrees at the Ford Homestead, my small but stylish garden was shivering in the cold.

                I shouldn’t be complaining because it will likely be in the mid-90s in the next couple weeks and I will obviously want to complain about that.

 

I hope your day is warm, or maybe you get a warm smile from a friend.

Don Ford