Make up your mind 03.02.17

                As I sit here, cookie in hand, with a cup of coffee just to my right, I am considering, whether the weather, will ever settle down and be somewhat normal.

                Did you like the use of the two words that sound alike but have diverse meanings? Did you even notice? What, you have a question! I haven’t even completed one paragraph and you have a question!

Ok, one question and that is it!        Come on! You interrupted me for that question? The coffee was made here at the Ford Homestead. I did not drive to the coffee shop to get a cup of coffee. Remember, we are on a fixed income and driving a vehicle a mile down the road to get coffee, cost money.

                I was trying to seem interesting with my weather and whether comment, but the unnecessary interruption has cause that to be a mute subject. 

                The last couple days the weather has been, shall we say, very warm. Some believe the exceptionally warm weather is in part due to, “my warm personality”! In truth, I can’t take credit for all the warm weather, possibly half of the warm weather is due to nature.

                This warm weather caused us here at the Ford Homestead to think about the need to service the equipment used by the Grounds Manager. Maintenance could include, oil changes to the mowing equipment, sharpening of blades, starting and running all the gas powered equipment and so on.

                Our grounds manager reported back to us;

The walk behind mower will no longer pull its self, due to the hand operated levers being broken. This mower is only 6 years old, they should last longer than six years!

The weed eater trimmer, leaks gas, so we reluctantly placed and on line order for the gaskets. If the gaskets don’t stop the gas leak we will have no other choice than to purchase a new string trimmer.

The Poulan Pro string trimmer / pole saw, runs ok. The grounds manager prefers a string trimmer with a straight pipe down to the cutter, the Poulan has a curved pipe.

The riding mower has not been serviced as of yet.

                Yesterday a cold front come through the area, bringing winds and frigid temperatures. It only got up to about 60 yesterday and the same today, winter is back.

                We seem to want it to get warm and stay warm, but when it does, we will be complaining about how hot it is. Never satisfied should have been the title of this article.

May your day be, what you want it to be!

Don Ford

Impaled 03.01.17

                The curious title of this article, “Impaled”, could mean Stabbed, Pierced, or even Skewered. The last word skewered makes me hungry. Can you imagine a properly cooked stake (medium, pink on the inside but not bleeding) with a skewer of shrimp? Wow, if only I was not on a fixed income, my present wife and I could dine out, and enjoy a meal prepared by others! Those were the good ole days!

                Now let’s get back to the story at hand. I will insert photos below, which were taken this morning as I was trying to enjoy my meditative walking program. After viewing said photos I will ask you to consider a couple hypotheses. As usual, click the photos to enlarge.

             

                A senior citizen, probably a male, possibly 69 years old, out for his morning exercise program. He has his walking stick in hand, and has his worn-out walking shoes on. He has been walking for almost 30 minutes,  his old body which is in good condition for a senior, is straining to keep up the quick pace he has set for himself. He has been considering many things as he walks such as the meaning of life and how he is going to install the new side sprayer on the kitchen sink.

                Suddenly, and without cause, his thoughts shifts to an imaginary lady with almost nothing on, I mean, what could he have for an after walk snack. Consider, this senior citizen loses concentration and trips, falling face first into the sharpened limbs (refer to photos above). Would this old fellow survive? If he survives, will he be able to sue? What would be his fate?

                It would be worse if a child or even an adult was riding their bike along this street and fell into these sharpened spears! I believe the use to make traps in the jungles of Vietnam using sharpened stakes!

                These are on city property, but the city will not remove them (the city owns about 10 feet on both sides of all streets). They were planted there by a previous home owner more than 35 years ago. The city told the people who live there now they had to have them cut back away from the road, at their expense. The people who live there now, did not plant them and have not claimed them.

                As I understand it, if the city were to remove these from city property, other citizens would expect them to remove plants and trees from other city property too. The city does not want to start something like that as it might expand and be costly, even though they have spent millions on their new offices and a library.

I hope no one gets impelled!

Don Ford

Drone it 02.28.17

                NOPE!  I did not intend to say, “Darn it”! I wanted to clear that up before anyone could comment or ask a question. Part of this article is about drones. Most often we hear of the drone being used as surveillance of the enemy or to drop bombs on those same enemy’s. Sometimes we hear of a drone being flown too close to an airport, but our subject drones in today’s article, are just fun toys. 

                My first drone was big and difficult to fly. My second drone is smaller and much easier to fly. The smaller drone’s controls have three levels of flight, “Beginner, intermediate and advanced”. I enjoy playing with mine and so do the grandees.

                Alex has a birthday on the 4^th and our birthday present to him will be a drone. He don’t read these posting so it does not hurt to say what we have bought him. 

                Below is a photo of my two drones.

                                 

Yes they are on the hood of the Ford’s Chevy, it made them easier to see.

                Now let’s talk about me! In the following photo one can see an image that proves that Mr. Ford (me) is just a shadow of his original self. You know when people go on diets and lose a lot of weight, they often appear skinny and sick, just a shadow of their original self!

                               

                To explain, I have not been on a diet, but the photo is a shadow of myself. It was taken accidently when I was attempting to turn the camera, in the somewhat smart phone, off. Even my accidental photos are of a professional grade.

May your day be filled with thoughts of me!

                                                ^{No comments from you!}

Don Ford

Paparazzi 02.27.17

                Before that one smarty pants asks, yes I know what a paparazzi is. If I may continue, before you ask, “No I did not know how to spell it, I have spell check!

                Why do all my wonderfully informative writings, have to start in such a stressful manner? If you are going to always be this cynical, why do you read these pages of great literature? I do my best to inform the uninformed, not expecting to receive accolades, but it would be nice to not be questioned at every statement!

                I am going to get a cup of coffee and reflect on this unnerving and stressful situation!

            Would you believe that three hours have now passed, my coffee has been consumed, and I have been able to reduce my stress levels by going outside and setting in front of one of the Ford’s Rose Bushes? Would you also believe, as I sat there, meditating on the brightly colored rose, all my anguish disappeared and peacefulness came into my being? Rose photo below, click to enlarge.

                                               

                I would not believe it either, I just wondered if you were that gullible. No I didn’t know how to spell gullible!

                Let me get to the subject of this story before it is time for me to take a nap! I was surprised the other day as I was returning from the Ford’s green house when several paparazzi’s began taking photos of me. They were not asking any questions, just wanting to get some photos of yours truly.

                Would you believe, the Ford’s Security team confiscated their cameras and ejected them from the Homestead with a stern warning! ^{I would not believe it either, I just wondered if you would.}

                Below is one of the photos from that day.

                                                                    

                I must admit, I am very photogenic, and I know you will want to click to enlarge!

                Why would you comment on the security cameras? Only people with mischievous thoughts, would be looking for security cameras.

May you be believed, and not questioned, by the uninformed!

Don Ford 

                 

02.24.17 It never changes

                I am sure some of you agree with the title of this brilliant article, while there are some that believe things do change. Obviously, one would need to understand the subject matter of this title, before one can make a judgement as to the validity of the statement.

                Let us ponder the statement, “It never changes” for a moment.             

                Hay dude, that means stop reading, and think about the statement! I try my best to present thought provoking ideas to this audience, and what happens, you read without considering what you have read!

                I should just quit writing and allow the reading public to exist with the other “Low information people”, but as with Rush, I feel the need to impart a clear understanding to one and all (that even includes liberals)!

                When I make the statement, “It never changes”, I am referring to the actions of kids (aka children). I knew I should explain that the term kid was not referring to a goat, although human kids do sometimes eat like goats.

                Kids now days have their tablets, cell phones and computers, to which they are almost permanently attached, but they do still have the mischievous nature as evident in the following photo. In this photo we see the subject, our son Patrick, posing for a photo. We also see our grandson being mischievous.

 

I am correct, it never changes! Kids will be kids!

Stay a kid at heart, it is more fun!

Don Ford

02.23.17 Mowed down

                This morning was unlike any other of recent history. The sky was gray with winter like clouds swirling violently, the frigid winds caused a horrible chill to go through my body. My entire body was shivering and my teeth were chattering as the ice pellets fell all around me.  I tried to work my almost frozen body, back to the Homestead...

                Now that I think of it, it may have been somewhat different. I had, a few days earlier, sprayed weed killer on the weeds that were abundant in the shady parts of the back 40. Since a few days had passed I thought I would attempt to start one of my two weed trimmers. I knew the one I like to use, was leaking gas, so I would not be able to use it. The other is a dual use unit, which may be used as a pole saw, or a weed trimer.

                I started with the dual use unit, but it would not start. I cleaned the spark plug, heated the plug, put new gas in the unit, and I made my arm sore trying to start the unit! Where is the Grounds Manager when you need him?

                Giving up, I went to the other unit and tried to find the leak. It would start but only run a couple seconds and then stop. I could not stop the leak.

                Discouraged and tired I was ready to give up. Being on a fixed income I knew our budget would be blown to heck if I was forced to purchase another weed trimmer. I did not want to see my present spouse putting in extra hours on the side of the highways picking up aluminum cans. Have you looked at the road sides lately? Too many people have stopped littering, that said, there are not as many aluminum cans to be found.  

                I tried one more time with the dual purpose unit and it sprang to life. I attached the grass trimmer and began knocking down those weeds that had been previously sprayed. As I worked I decided to trim along the fence and around all the structures in the yard. It now takes longer to trim the back 40, than it does to mow the back 40.

                I stopped working, swept the grass off me, so I would not litter the Fords Chevy, when I went to go get the grandees from school.

                Returning home I climbed aboard the Fords riding mower and mowed the back 40. It looks somewhat better but not perfect as the good grass hasn’t started growing. There are leaves that I should have picked up but are now just chopped up. The following photos show the enormity of the back 40. Click to enlarge.

 

 

                Before that one person asks, yes the fort is bullet proof and can be used as a defensive structure in the case of an invasion!

Donations in the amounts of $25 or more, for a new weed eater will be accepted at our web site!

Lawn mowers are more fun than, snow blowers!

Don Ford

02.22.17 Cactus

                This article is a follow up to the 02.15.17 posting.

                Luckily, our grounds Manager was back at the Homestead when it was decided to try and move the cactus. The weather prognosticators had predicted rain for that evening. The cactus would need to be moved now or wait several days. This time they were correct, we received an inch of rain.

                The grounds manager quickly found that it is difficult to work with a cactus that had sharp needles, along with the rose bush that was next to the cactus which has numerous thorns. Needles and thorns were awaiting their opportunity to penetrate the grounds manager’s body. We now know he bleeds red!

                He carefully pushed the shovel into the ground at various points around the cactus, attempting to loosen the ground without damaging the roots. This work wasn’t easy for the old grounds manager, but after many minutes the cactus was loosened. Our grounds Manager then called the head chef to come outside and help him. She, using a long handled shovel, was able to leverage the plant with a large amount of dirt attached, high enough for the Grounds Manager to get two hand holds.  He was able to lift it from its place in the ground and place it in the wagon. Would you believe the cactus and attached dirt ball weighed 80 pounds? Me neither, but in truth, it was heavy. He carefully transported the cactus to its new home.

                                                                                           
The cactus can grow as large as it would like in this new location. We have seen this type cactus locally, as tall as 6 foot and also that wide. Finally our grounds manager seems to have done something right.

 

                A rare photo of our Grounds Manager. He has his hat and sun glasses on and he is wearing his Best Shirt, street gangster style. For that one person who does not see it, he has only one button activated and it is the top button. Click to enlarge the photos.

Be careful in sticky situations!

Don Ford

02.21.17 Hot and sweaty

                As I look at the title of this article, I now realize that some of you have gotten the wrong idea. The words, “Hot and sweaty”, do not apply to some bed room activity. Some of you have minds that are always somewhere they don’t need to be! You should read more of the article before you develop a hypothesis of what the story is about!

(I find it amazing that I can spell hypothesis, but I only get the word dosen’t doesn’t right less than half the time.)

                Today’s tale has to do with me doing the grounds manager’s work, again! Yes we allowed him to have the weekend off so I had to do any necessary work. Necessary work can be defined as, “work designated by the Homestead CEO and financial officer, Mrs. Ford”!

                Mrs. Ford had work she wanted to do inside the Homestead, so she assigned me work to do outside. Do you think this was her way of telling me to get out of the house? She dosen’t doesn’t have to be subtle with me, she could have just said, “Get out”, and I would have obeyed went outside.

                I was assigned to trim the bushes behind the homestead, as we do every year. We attempt to keep them at about a 10 foot level and away from the roof shingles. I put my long sleeved white shirt on, which has many signs of injuries from the thorns here at the homestead. I also put the gloves on and my old western straw hat, which has been shaped into a work hat. The old hat does keep the sun off me but it gets caught on limbs and other obstacles quite often.

                Happily, about half of this work could be done from ground level, but I had to work from a ladder on the upper half. It took maybe 1.5 hours to complete said project, including the cleanup of the clippings. Later as I was considering the work I had completed, I thought this work could have been completed much easier and probably neater, if I had a hedge trimer. Maybe my first wife can find one at a yard sell, at a price that someone on a fixed income, can afford.

                Later that afternoon, I watered the flowers in the Ford’s Green house. The green house is so packed with plants that it is a very difficult job to water each plant.

     

In the photos one can see the closeness of the flora. I do remove the heat lamp when watering the plants. Yes there have been blooms on some of the plants all winter. When I first open the door and window of the greenhouse the temp in side was over 100 degrees. With the door and windows shut and a little sun light it gets very warm inside. Click on photos to enlarge.

If spring isn’t here, it is coming soon!

Don Ford