Trailer Trash

Yesterday, after blogging, Tony and I went outside to load up “The Magnificent Seven.” We loaded up Rufus first, then Ginger Rogers, Pepperoni, Dobie Gillis, Greta Garbo, and Luke and Owen Wilson—in less than twenty minutes, and then we took off for Kerrville, to hook up with Kinky, and our good friends, Catherine and David Berry of Happy Dog Adoptions.

The twenty-two mile drive was peaceful and uneventful, because Pepperoni serenaded us the entire trip. When we arrived at The Acapulco Restaurant, we found Kinky, Catherine and David inside, waiting for us. After a round of hugs and handshakes, we went outside to introduce the dogs to the Berrys, and to transfer them from our van to their gigantic blue bus.

The hand over was easy and fun, but the goodbyes to those beautiful dogs was a little hard on me, but that’s usual—just ask Tony and Kinky. Before David and Catherine left, she told us that on their drive down to Kerrville, their bus’s power steering had gone out, and from Fredericksburg on, David had to help her turn the steeringwheel—fortunately, after making the turn in Fredericksburg—there was only one more to make and it was into The Acapulco Restaurant’s parking lot!

After hearing the bad news about their big, blue bus, we wished them a safe trip home and then on the count of three—we all drove away in different directions. Catherine and David with “The Magnificent” headed north, Kinky headed south and we headed to HEB—to get gas for the van, and to pick up a few groceries.

While Tony fueled our white van, I shopped in the grocery store for a few essentials. On my way out of the store, I ran into my dear friend, Sandy Wolfmueller! Unfortunately, Sandy had some bad news. Her father was in the Sid Peterson Hospital, and he had been in there for three days. Sandy told me that she and Jon were exhausted, and the doctors were very concerned about her father. Bless her heart, Sandy had just buried her mother back in August, and I knew what she was going through, so I said a few words to her, and then gave her a big hug in the parking lot.

When Tony and I arrived back at the rescue ranch—Kinky had called, and left a message for me to please call him as soon as possible—so, I did.

“Hi, Kinky,” I said. “We just got home.”

“Hi, Nance,” he said, “can you please come over here? I need to talk to you.”

“I’m on my way,” I said. “I’ll be over there in five minutes.” Kinky had me worried.

When I arrived at Kinky’s, all he wanted was for me to play a game of pool with him. He told me that I had really improved my pool skills earlier, and he wanted to give me a few more tips—and he did.
I played the game much better, but “The Hummingbird Man”—won again!

As soon as I was back at the trailer, the phone rang, and it was Catherine. She told me that on their way back to Buchanan Dam, the brakes locked up on the bus, and when they got home—the brakes were literally smoking! She told me that they had gotten home on a wing and a prayer. She then had some great news—Rufus and Ginger Rogers had already been adopted! And, the rest of the dogs were all doing great!

I knew that Rufus had a home already waiting for him up there, but Ginger Rogers, too?

“Nancy,” Catherine said. “We hadn’t even been home twenty minutes, when Audra arrived to adopt Rufus, but when she saw David playing with Ginger, she asked me if she could adopt her, too! She told me that she had always loved Chows, even though, Ginger was a mix, and I told her yes!”

“Catherine, that is fantastic news!” I said. “You have just made me so happy!”

“I know,” Catherine said. “Me, too. Will you call Kinky and tell him the good news?”

“No,” I replied. “I think you should. I want him to hear the good news from you, first. He’ll love hearing it!”

“Okay, I’ll call him right now. Bye”

“Bye.”

Ten minutes later, I phoned Kinky. And, he was estatic with Catherine’s great news, too!

This morning, “the secret deal” went down at 8:00 sharp, in Medina! All I can say right now is: It took us four hours to accomplish our mission, everyone at the rescue ranch is very happy, and Tony’s and my backs are killing us, right now. And, I really want to thank Charlie and Ellen Cooper, John Kemmerly, Aaron, and Blake Kesterson! We couldn’t have done it without y’all!

Now, I must go, to put a sack of frozen peas on Tony’s and my backs. And, the Cardinal, the wannabe woodpecker—is still pecking! Tomorrow, after we rest, Tony is going to cover up the bedroom window. Trailer Trash—Here We Come!

P.S. Last night, KSAT played the interview with Kinky and about our rescue ranch. They edited out the part where I said, "Euthanize the boyfriend."

Blowin' In The Wind!

First off, my excuse for not writing in the past few days is: Tony and I spent our free hours—putting stamps on 3,500 envelopes, in preparation for the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch holiday card. And, as soon as Herring Printing calls to let us know it’s ready, then we’ll be spending the rest of our free time—stuffing, sealing and sending them out to our friends and supporters!

I also want to give a Cardinal update! Yes, that beautiful, male Cardinal, is still outside our bedroom window, sitting on the windowsill—pecking nonstop! I think Cindy Ruffino’s comment is right about it seeing it’s reflection, and trying to protect his territory. I guess, we will have to hang a blanket or something outside to cover the window for a while. I really don’t want to do that, because our twenty-four year old trailer is ugly enough on the outside, and knowing that a blanket or sheet will be outside flapping in the wind, brings to mind that common, old expression—trailer trash. But, thankfully, it will be blowing in the wind—in our backyard, which is basically—out of sight!

Yesterday, our ranch had several visitors, and Kinky, Tony and I spent most of the day, outside with them. It didn’t bother me at all, because it was a beautiful, warm, sunshiny day and the company was great.

This morning, I spent the morning preparing the adoption forms for seven of our Super Dogs, that are being adopted at 4:00 today! Our good friends, Catherine and David, up near Buchanan Dam, are meeting Kinky, Tony and me at the Acapulco Restaurant—to pick up the seven lucky dogs! They will then take “The Magnificent Seven” to their “Happy Dog Adoptions” center to be adopted out to super homes! And, we love it! And, “The Magnificent Seven” are Owen and Luke Wilson, Greta Garbo, Pepperoni, Dobie Gillis, Rufus and Ginger Rogers!

This morning after doing their paperwork, Kinky called and invited me over for a cup of coffee. We discussed the four upcoming bonefits planned for January—“The Legends and Strays Tour” staring Steve Fromholz, Kinky and Little Jewford, the soon to be announced raffle, and the ‘secret deal’ happening tomorrow morning at eight o’clock sharp—in Medina! (I can’t tell anyone until January—sorry.)

While shooting a game of pool with Kinky, I was losing like I always do, until ‘The Hummingbird Man’—gave me a few tips to improve my game. At that point, I had sunk one stripe, and he only had two solids to go. I heeded his advice, and sunk three balls in a row! I was on a roll—until he sunk the eight ball and won!

Pretty soon, Tony and I have to load ‘The Magnificent Seven” and head for Kerrville, so I had better sign off.

Harper Valley P.T.A.

This morning John showed up at the rescue ranch at 9:30 with six dogs! We thought we had rescued ten dogs from the Kerrville pound, but apparently it was eleven! My excuse is, I was never good at math and I’ll find out what John’s excuse is tomorrow. I haven’t had a chance to take pictures of them yet, but with Ben’s help we did get them named early this evening.

The two tan males with white chests are Owen and Luke Wilson. Because, I love Owen Wilson! Owen's the one with the most white on his chest.

I named the Rat Terrier, Pepperoni and his new roommate, a little wannabe Min Pin—Dobie Gillis. If you are old enough to remember Dobie Gillis—don’t worry—you are definitely not a candidate for Alzheimers—you’re just old like me.

In the official Puppy Pen, we have Zelda, the Beagle mix, and we named her sister, Greta Garbo because she has beautiful eyes. We named the two little wiry, reddish-tan girls, Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen. Ashley doesn’t have a tail, but Mary Kate does. Ben named the cute, little black and tan, Minnie Driver.

Lastly, in the pen near our trailer, we have Ginger Rogers who is a beauty queen, and ginger colored. And, lastly we named Ginger's roommate, a gorgeous Great Dane mix, Darla because she looks like a Darla.

Around 11:30, Larry and Karen showed up to adopt Jeanie C. Riley! They had come out a month earlier and told us they wanted to adopt Jeanie, but they couldn’t adopt her until after they got back from their vacation. And, we promised to hold on to her for them.

Karen and Larry drove out several times before going on their vacation to take Jeanie on long car rides and walking expeditions, etc. and she loved it!

While Karen and Larry were cruising the East Coast, Jeanie’s roommate, Roger Miller, was adopted, so we put Jeanie in with Buffalo Gal and Little Lulu, and they all they got along great together. Today, when Jeanie saw Karen and Larry her tail wouldn’t quit wagging! I’m positive that Jeanie knew she would be leaving the rescue ranch for good and never coming back. She was going to her new home at last—to be spoiled rotten—she had been adopted!

P.S. Jeanie’s new home is approximately 30 miles from Harper, Texas.