Jasmine, a bunch of vines 12.13.18

            My spouse of nearly 5 decades, allowed me to attempt to remove the leaves from the jasmine. Now for that one person who has never had to work with these vines, they are a tangled mess. You will learn just how tangled they are when you attempt to get dead leaves out of them.

            I have a leaf vacuum and I thought I would use it to suck the leaves out of the vines. It worked fairly well but not as well as I would have liked. I went to the back 40 and retrieved a small rake. By small it has about a 6 inch head. I, through some trial and error attempts, learned that one could take the rake and gently pull it across the top of the plants removing all the top leaves. Once they were in a pile then I could work at getting some of the more difficult, imbedded leaves using the small rake. When all were piled up I could use the vacuum to suck them up.

            I am tired of working and the weather tomorrow is supposed to be less than nice. They have stated that we may have winds from 30 mph gusting into the 40s. They have also suggested that we may get some rain along with the possibility of some winter precept. That means, rain with the possibility of some snow mixed in, no accumulation. 

            I was able to get one side of the jasmine fairly clear, with the other side still to do. Employed people work from sun to sun, but a retired persons work, is never done! 

            Gabi’s birthday is today, Happy Birthday Gabi!  Yes the party was this past Saturday.

            Gabi has an art project so we took four photos of the Charlie today, front, left side, back, right side. Evidently they are doing some sculpturing in the art class, and they need the photos to provide them a vision of what to create as a sculpture.  

                                                            

            There is some Holiday coming and I can’t remember what it is. As I sat here in front of the Ford’s ole computer, my ole camera automatically took a photo. I can’t imagine why the camera automatically took the photo, maybe there is a clue as to the coming holiday. You may click on the photo to enhance your enjoyment of this senior citizen.

                                               

 

            Yes I would like to have a new computer. One that I could use in the Ford’s ole recliner. This old computer has a battery that will last about an hour, so taking it to the ole recliner is possible, but I do not work fast and the battery goes dead before I finish my writing. Nope I am not asking for a new computer as a gift, thanks anyway.

            For that one person that has not picked up on the hint, it is the lamp. There is a TV movie that I watch each year which kind of reminds me of my childhood (back in the olden days), The Christmas Story. Now do you get the subtle hint?

            I have some rope lights that are solar charged and two of them are on my tall radio tower. The top rope light has been up there for more than six months, the lower light has been up a week. I was lucky that my cell phone would capture a photo of the lights, they blink.

  Why are the lights there? So people see them and ask why. Silly grandpa says, “I like being silly, and I believe if you can’t have fun, don’t do it!”

If you can’t have fun, don’t do it!

Silly senior grandpa: Don Ford

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A thought of mine 12.12.18

            I have no reason for how, or why, these wonderful ideas come to me. Possibly I have access to more information than a so-called normal person. I am sure that my brain is more open to accepting new ideas and information than the normal person. Think about it, who would want to be a normal person, would you want to be, only normal? I can assure you, none of my reading public would be considered normal!

            Let us get to the reason for this posting. All these postings give me, a senior retired person something to do! I mean, I feel the need to bring up a word and ask a question about the abbreviation of that word.

            As I was lying on the Ford’s ole bed, sleep avoiding me, or had I just woke up, maybe I was just going to sleep, whatever!  The abbreviation of a word came to mind, and then I thought of the word. Now as we all know, I can’t spell very well, or is it very good. My grammar is at about a third grade level, so I had to carefully consider the word.

            How does one spell, “Ounce”? If you leave the “U” out, we end up with, “Once”. If we add a “B” we get, “Bounce”.  Now I need to get back to my original thought which is, why does the word ounce have an abbreviation of, “oz.”? Even I know, there is no “Z” in ounce. Who the heck came up with the “Z”?

            Let’s move on, “Pound” has an abbreviation of “lb.”, lb has nothing to do with the word pound!

            Now we can consider “Quart”. The abbreviation for quart is, “qt.”, they finally got one right.

            Don’t google them, I don’t want some half way reasonable explanation.

 

It is time for a cup of real coffee, so I need to go now. After the coffee I will come out of hiding and see what the CEO here at the Ford Homestead has for me to do.

 

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers!

 

Senior Word-ologist; Don Ford

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Now I know 12.11.18

            I now know the reason for the star that I had photographed yesterday. If you want to continue to believe it is the Christmas star then do not read the next paragraph.

            A good friend and avid reader of my articles explained to me that what I had seen and photographed was not a star, I am sad to say, it was reportedly the sun reflecting off of HEO satellite, which I am told is a very common sight in the twilight hours.

            Yes I have a friend who reads these posts! Don’t go there, I am very upset that I am not one of the chosen wise men!

            Let’s go to another subject. As I was sitting on the Fords ole rocker, I felt as if someone was watching me. Did you know the Ford’s ole rocker has metal rockers, and one of the rockers is about half way worn out? That is not a request for a Christmas present, but if you thought it would be safer for me to be in a newer rocker, well I could not argue with you!

            As I was saying before I was distracted, I felt as if someone or something was watching me. I have a photo and you will not be able to see the rodent but he was doing two things. First he was watching me. Second he was on the side of the tree where the wind was not hitting him. “C” he was eating an acorn.

            I doubt that one can see the peeping tom, even if they click on the photo to enlarge.

            I get to go to the eye doctor today and do this eye test, where I sit and look at a yellow light and push a button when I see a white light in my peripheral vision. Then next week I go and see the actual doctor so he can make some more money. Going to the doctor is almost as expensive as going to the vet!

            Different subject; yesterday I messed up one of my emails. That one email was making the other email not work properly. I was hoping that my son Patrick could help me get it back to working again. I had him on the phone for 35 minutes but we could not get it working. I finally shut the computer down and decided I would look at it the next morning.

            This morning I approached the mess with a rested and more positive attitude. Being a, “Wise man” I was able to get the emails working again. Be careful when your computer asked you if you want to do anything. When not sure, don’t do it!

            Another subject; I was in my truck getting ready to leave the drive way. I saw this shadow pass over my truck so I looked to see what type bird it was. It was a very large hawk or an eagle. It was just slowly circling as the wind carried it along. I continued watching, I have wanted to get a good photo of one of these birds. It continued the circling more or less like a buzzard does, then it turned and started a downward glide in a straight line. It was increasing its speed and I could see its legs and feet extended below its body. I watched it descend but it went out of sight. I believe it was after something on the ground but I did not see its final move.

            I have in the past while shredding a pasture, seen hawk’s dive down and catch live rabbits and then fly away with them while the rabbit was kicking and trying to get away.

            I just came into the Ford Homestead. I vacuumed the front yard one last time. My poor ole feet and ankles are tired. I still need to try and get the leaves out of the Jasmin and that will be a difficult task.

            I learned that my brother is in the hospital. If you pray, I would appreciate a prayer for my brother.

Appreciate all your blessings, not only during this season, all the time!

Hard working senior person; Don Ford

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Unusual sighting 12.10.18

            I understand that what seems to be unusual to me, is probably not unusual for those of you who have extensive experience with celestial events. I have shown the reading public, signs in the sky such as an “X” that is located over the Ford Homestead. We here at the Homestead often wonder if, and why, we are being watched, or possibly even being protected, by a heavenly presents. Yes we are believers, but does that provide us with an extra layer of Devine Shelter?

            This morning as the Tres and I ventured out the front door to retrieve the so-called newspaper, I happened to look up into the early morning sky and I observed a single bright star. Why would there be a single bright start in the sky at the Ford Homestead? Why only one star and no other stars to be seen? Are there wise men heading toward our house. Am I supposed to join the other wise men and venture forth to find a new born King? It is Christmas time!

            All those questions, and no answers in sight. For that one person who is doubting that I did see the single bright star, I have a photo. I took the photo with my cell phone camera, and if my cheap cell phone camera can take a photo of this single bright star, that means it was bright and it was there for a reason. You may click to enhance, and please suggest answers.

            That star is in the eastern sky. The house in the photo is the home of a Priest, I am not sure which church he is affiliated with. Could the star be there for him? If I am the one to see it, how could it be for him?

Look up and learn, share what you learn! 

Senior Wise Man at the Ford Homestead; Don Ford

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The birthday party 12.09.18

            Few words, several photos. 

 Above, birthday cookie not a cake.    Next Gabi trying to blow out the candles, Alex watching.

Gabi and her best friend Anna Kate.              Other grandparents Ann and David. 

Opening of the presents.                                Birthday girl Gabi!

             Have things to do so I better get at them. What? None of your business what I have to do! No I am not going to take a nap! I have already taken my after lunch nap! Even though it is none of your business, I will enlighten you as to part of what I plan to do.

            First, I plan to get my two new solar powered rope lights and take them to my tallest radio tower. I have a pulley at the top of the tower with a rope. I have one solar powered rope light already attached to the rope, and it is located near the top of the tower. I plan to install the other two rope lights. At night they flash on and off and several people have ask me why the lights are there. My response is, “Cause I like them”! One person thought I was transmitting on the HF radio causing the lights to light up.

            Second, I plan to get a cup of real coffee and enjoy it.

            Third, I can’t plan that far ahead.

15 days till Christmas, are you ready?

Solar Lighting expert; Don Ford

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Birthday party 12.08.18

            No it isn’t my birthday, and if it was I would not tell you. My favorite granddaughter is having a birthday party, today Saturday. She will be 12 years old on the 13^th. Yes she is my favorite granddaughter and she is my only granddaughter.

            The present I ordered for her is supposed to be delivered here to our house by the US mail people. I know the package is at the Hewitt post office this morning at least that is what the tracking shows, so we hope it arrives prior to lunch, as Gabi’s party starts at lunch and if I have to wait here for a delivery I might miss out on the Pizza.

            I have just had a revelation! I know at least one of you have no idea what that word means, so I will reveal the meaning. I also know at least one off you did not get that play on words, revelation and reveal.  Why do I even try to educate, or at least inform the reading public?

            My favorite granddaughter’s birthday is December 13^th. Next year she will be 13 years old, that makes her a teenager, but the best part of this is…       Did you already guess it?

         December 13^th, 2019 will be on Friday the 13^th. WOW!

            I have a photo that was taken yesterday by David (our youngest son). The photo is of the grandparents and the grandkids in front of a Christmas tree. We had a neighbor who is a real photographer take some photos that she will doctor up a bit, and then email them to us. Sorry you can’t see much of the tree in this photo.

In the photo below you can see more of the tree, click to enjoy.

These photos are taken by a non-paid professional member of the Ford Family.

            The weather prognosticators were saying we would have rain for a couple days ending about noonish Saturday. They had predicted from 2 to 5 inches rain, we only received 3 inches here at the Ford Homestead. Today is Saturday and it hasn’t stopped raining yet.

            Let us jump back into the past for a moment. If you can’t jump just, sit there and imagine that you have jumped. In a past well written article of mine, I had noted that I had problems installing a Wi-Fi range extender. Actually I did not install it and put it back into the box.

            Yesterday, I was having problems with my printer, again, so I decided to uninstall it and reinstall it. This time I followed the destructions. I am not good at reading, understanding and following written destructions, but I did take the time to do so yesterday. My printer now works as it is supposed to, I can even print from my cell phone. That made me so happy so I decided to attempt to install said Wi-Fi extender.

            I now have the range extender installed, and it seems to be working. You are correct, I could probably do anything if only I could understand the destructions. 

            Oh, just in case you are wondering, our gift for the Gabi has arrived at the Homestead. While I was sitting here I decided to check and see if it were out for delivery and the tracking showed that it was delivered. I checked the front porch but nothing to see. I then decided to check the mail box and the small carton was pushed all the way to the back.

We are now ready to go to the party and I should not miss out on the pizza!

Don’t drool over the photo of the pizza!

Pizza connoisseur extraordinaire; Don Ford   

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Double check and saved 12.07.18

               This is a story that some of you may not believe, but it is all true. The story begins with an elderly person who was wanting to get a birthday gift for their granddaughter, let’s make up a name for this granddaughter, we will call her Gabi.

            Now let’s say her birthday was in the month of December, kind of in the middle of the month. We can state that the granddaughter was having a birthday party a couple days before her actual birthday. The party was scheduled to be held at one of those pizza places where the kids can play games while the adults sit around and talk.

            Now this elderly person had decided on an MP3 player which the granddaughter had said she wanted. The company selling the player offered a carrying case for the MP3 and ear buds, along with a micro SD card for the unit at what seemed to be a reasonable price. We don’t want to state the name of the company as we do not advertise for companies if they don’t pay us. The name of the company sounds like the largest river in South America.

            When this elderly person ordered the item, it had free shipping that could take up to two weeks. Having ordered items from this company in the past the elderly person thought the items always arrive much earlier than two weeks. Order placed, the older person was expecting to get an acknowledgement of shipment from the company, but none came. He would check daily for the shipping info.

            After a couple days, the older person decided to change the order and pay for delivery assuming it would get there much quicker. You can do this if they haven’t shipped it yet.

            A total of seven days passed and they had not filled the order. This senior person was getting very upset, and thought he would not have the gift ready for his granddaughter’s birthday party. He decided to go back on line to see if there was anything he could do.

            Surprised, the items were about $20.00 less now than when he originally ordered them. He decided to order the items again and use their offer for a month free service. The old person placed the order with a delivery date of Saturday, free shipping and he saved about twenty bucks. This old person then sent a message to cancel the first order, and since they had not filled the order, they were able to cancel it.

            Now let’s see if it gets here tomorrow or not.

Crap happens, don’t step in it, do something about it!

 

Elderly person; Don Ford

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Happy with, Unhappy with 12.06.18

            Did you even read the title? What could we be happy with, and a moment later be unhappy with. If you said, “That is Donna’s thoughts of The Donald”, you could be right, but that is not the reason for the title. The title line has to do with the Tres. One minute we are happy with him, and the next minute he gets on our last nerve. Sometimes he listens, other times he can’t hear what we are saying, or possibly he is just ignoring us. He is like a normal Ford kid, hard headed! He was being nice in the following photo.

            As I sat outside yesterday afternoon enjoying a cup of real coffee (real is not instant coffee), all the doves flew from the neighbors trees, so I looked up to see if there was a hawk. Seeing no hawk, my focus went to the Christmas Star on my flag pole. That is when I noticed that there was an “X” in the sky. Was this “X” marking the spot of my Christmas Star? Possibly it was marking where the Ford Homestead is located, so the three wise men can find us. Possibly, the “X” marks the spot where a wise man already lives, “Me”! Either way, it was identifying the Ford Homestead as a nice place, and the people who live here are blessed with abundant kindness, and plentiful humility. If you are wise, you will click to enhance.

            Well I changed the name of my Wi-Fi router, as we should all know, anyone in the area can see the name of your router if you haven’t blocked it, and most of us don’t block the name. People (bad people) have a tendency to use the neighbor’s unsecured router. Heck I have tried to connect using the neighbors Wi-Fi, but they are mostly secured. Occasionally I find a guess router that is not secured.

            Why did I change the name of my router and what is the name I have given it.

            I changed it, “Cause I wanted to!”

            The new name is, “FBI / CIA unit”! It is my thought that the neighbors might see this and assume that the real FBI or CIA are in the area checking on things.   

            Now we are back to grandpa being silly, and I enjoy being silly. Heck, if you can’t have fun (aka being silly) then don’t do it!

            It happened last evening. We were able to get the Ford’s Dodge into the garage again. Most of the items have left the garage, or they were able to be moved to an area so the van can be parked there again. It has been about 6 weeks since the vehicle has been in the garage. My first wife and I are both happy.

            My spouse of almost 5 decades has given me a four foot tall metal shelf. It had four shelves and I am going to try to place it in the shed today. That means I need to get rid of some junk, I mean items, to make room in the shed for the shelf. As you can see, a retired senior person’s work is never done!

            Well I guess that is it for now, I can either go to the shed and work, or I could take a short nap. Maybe I will flip a coin to decide, wait a minute, being on a fixed income I don’t have a coin to flip, now what can I do? It is very difficult being a retired person on a fixed income. Actually, the only part that is fixed is what little one gets, the outgoing is never fixed and is usually expanding.

May your income be ever expanding!

Senior retired person; Don Ford  

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