My Dogs Are Killing Me!

Yesterday morning, after breakfast, the first thing I did, was to replace the old, Eternal Squirrel—#2, from Yoda’s grave, with my backup Eternal Squirrel—#3. Tony helped me replace it. When the new Eternal Squirrel #3 was securely bolted down, I took Eternal Squirrel #2 , and put it on the kitchen counter of my Space Ship.

At 9:30, Kinky called, and I went over to the Lodge for a visit. At 11:00, I returned to the rescue ranch, to find Linda T. and Tony visiting with Mr. Ziffle. I joined them, and then gave Linda, the race car driver, who had offered to drive me to the Houston calendar signing events, a tour of our rescue ranch. Linda fell in love with our dogs!

After our tour, I invited her into the Space Ship, and she loved it, too! I knew that she would. Then we left my rockin’ ship, and went into Outer Space, and had a very fun visit!

When we left Outer Space, I invited her into our trailer, and she thought it was fabulous! Tony came inside, around 1:00, after giving a couple, and their children, a tour of our rescue ranch—and he was hungry! I invited Linda to eat lunch with us. I made homemade, organic—zucchini soup. And yes—she loved it and was very impressed with Jaws! We had ‘Miles of Chocolate’ for dessert—and she loved it, too! Everyone loves ‘Miles of Chocolate!’ I loved it!

Following our lunch, Linda and I started walking the dogs! She first took Nash, aka Ghost Dog. I was hoping to take Alfie for a walk, too, but she didn’t want to go. Linda and I walked all over Echo Hill Ranch, and Nash enjoyed every minute of it!

Next, Linda walked Maggie, and I walked Happy! Maggie and Linda led the way, as I stopped and let Happy sniff and smell, and mark every other tree. After another long walk, as we were returning them to their pen—Don and Susan, the great snowbirds from Canada, rode in on their bicycles! They were ready to walk some dogs, before leaving Koyote Ranch—this morning—to head further south, for warmer weather!

While I fetched my camera, from our trailer, Tony hooked Susan and Don up—with Ashley Judd and, her roommate Lucy! Off they went—into the wild blue yonder! Tony then leashed up, our other Maggie, and Linda and I took off for our third long walk! Maggie, Teddy Roosevelt’s sister, had a wonderful time!



When Linda, Maggie and I returned to the rescue ranch, Tony drove up in Kermit to help us return Maggie to her pen. “Nance,” Tony said. “It’s three o’clock.”


“My dogs are killing me,” I said, stealing John Candy’s famous line, about his feet hurting, in one of my most favorite movies— ‘Trains, Planes and Automobiles.’ “Y’all, I’m truly exhausted, now.”

“I’m not,” Linda rapidly replied. “I can walk some more dogs!”

“You, can’t Linda,” I said. “We close at three, and Tony and I have to get to Kerrville, to buy some groceries—before dark. I’m sorry.”

She understood. Fifteen minutes later, Linda hugged me, and told me that she would come back, next Saturday—then she drove away, in a cloud of dust!

Because I was so tired, Tony offered to go to Kerrville without me, to buy our groceries. I wanted to go with him, but I took him up on his offer, and let him go alone. Ten minutes later, Susan, Ashley Judd, Lucy and Don arrived back at the rescue ranch!

I walked down to Lucy’s and Ashley’s pen, to help put them back into their pen, but I was too late. Just as I walked up—our two super dogs were back in their pen—taking turns—drinking water!

Susan and Don and I walked back to the trailer, and we had a fun conversation, about Canada and Texas. Before they left, I showed them my newly decorated Space Ship, and they thought it was too cool! We then traded e-mail addresses. Before leaving, Don told me, that they would be returning to the Texas Hill Country sometime in March, and they promised to swing by the rescue ranch—for a visit! I can’t wait—I love these people! We hugged and then said our goodbyes, and then they rode off.

I went back to the trailer and had twenty-seven messages, on my machine! One of them was from Tony’s and my dear friend, Garnet, in Utopia! “Nancy, this is Garnet. Sandy and I want to buy a calendar! And, I want you and Tony to please sign it! I just read your blog about the calendars, being nearly sold out! Please ask Maribeth to bring us one, and we will send a check back with her!”

I phoned Garnet, and told her that I was fixin’ to take a calendar over to the Lodge, so Maribeth could deliver it to her.

Then Tony arrived! “Tony please sign this calendar for Garnet and Sandy.” Tony signed it, as I unpacked our groceries. Then I drove over to the Lodge, and asked Maribeth to please deliver it to Garnet and Sandy.

Maribeth said she would. We sat, and visited for about an hour. Then I came back home and went to bed very early.

P.S. Great news! Sasha and David are coming out here, on Tuesday, to deliver more cat food for our neighbor’s cats! Yeah! We can’t wait to see Sasha, again, and to meet David!