Food Truck Fun!

This past week has been great. I've spent of it writing on my 3rd novella and I am having a blast with it. In fact, once I start writing and get into "the zone" the time flies by so fast. I am so excited about my 3rd novella, because it is flowing so smoothly. The characters, the conversations they have, etc. are writing this for me and all I have to do is be quiet, listen and type as fast as I know how.

Last Tuesday, late in the afternoon, I was on a roll writing, while Tony had gone to run an errand for me, in Medina, when the phone rang. "Hey Big Foot! This is Fourth calling..."

As soon as I heard my dear friend's voice, I picked up the phone, "Howdy Fourth! What are you up to?" I asked.

"I'm on my way from Kerrville and I was thinking about dropping, at y'all's place, for Happy Hour."

"Fourth that would be great. Tony's gone, but he should be back in a few minutes. Where are you?"

Fourth laughed, and said, "I'm up on the pass." And that is when I panicked, because we are only about a mile from the Medina pass, and I was in my sweats, because I had earlier walked 4 Fast Miles with Leslie Sansone.

"Oh dear," I said, trying not to sound worried. "I'm in my sweats and I need to put on some decent clothes."

Fourth laughed, and said, "Well, I'm wearing shorts, because it is so blasted hot."

Then it was my turn to chuckle. "Listen, I'll open the gate and as soon as I get dressed I will come outside."

"Sounds good. I'll wait for you, on the front porch." As soon as Fourth and I adios-ed each other I skipped into the bedroom, grabbed my jeans and a shirt and was dressing when I heard our front door open.

"I'll be there in just a minute," I half-hollered.

"Don't worry about it," Tony said. Talk about relieved.

"Tony, open the gate if you already closed it, because Fourth will be here any minute, for Happy Hour."

"He's here," Tony announced, before going out the front door to greet our good friend. And a few minutes later, we had a two hour happy hour filled with fun and laughter. And I am so glad that Fourth dropped in, because before he left to go home, in Medina, he and I had agreed to co-write a story together, as soon as I finish writing my 3rd novella.

I am very thrilled about doing this, because Fourth Coates is a fabulous writer. I've read several of his stories already and I absolutely love his tales, because they are filled with humor, facts and insights. And I will keep y'all posted when he and I start writing together and when our story comes out.

The rest of the time this week besides sleeping, Tony and I spent getting excited about working, in The Old Timer's Rusty Dawg food truck. And today was our first official day to start working.

When I use the word working, it would be better said—having a total blast, in the food truck. We had so much fun working together.

Because today was our first official day to be open, Tony and I went in early, just to make sure we would be "ready to roll" at 11:00. And I am so glad that we did, because we were so busy.

Omg, people and many of our friends started showing up to buy hot dogs, brats and sausage links! And they kept us so busy that the time just flew by, like that saying, "Time flies when you're having a good time." And I was shocked when Tony said, "It's 2:00, Nance. We're closed for the day."

And on our way home all Tony and I could talk about was the food truck. We talked about better ways to do things more efficiently and how much fun it was getting to cook for our friends, neighbors and the friendly tourists. And that is about it for today, because I am fixin' to spend the rest of the day and evening writing on my 3rd novella.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

Cow Towel!

This past week has flown by me and it has been so much fun. I've spent most of the days either writing on my novella or looking at recipes and testing them out in the kitchen, cleaning the cabin, and spending time, at The Old Timer's Rusty Dawg food truck. And that is my excuse for not blogging.

I am having a blast writing the novella and it is hard to get away from the characters talking in my head, so I've been typing non-stop to keep up with the flow of scenarios. I am thrilled that my novella is flowing and I don't have writers block, but the best thing about all of this is my neck and back are no longer aching and making me stop writing, so I can rest them.

And the reason I am no longer in pain, writing for hours on end, is because I've discovered that I can type standing up.

Fay gave me the "standing" idea last week, so I decided to put my lap top, on the kitchen island, to see if that would help and it was like magic! Suddenly, I am typing and moving around and I absolutely love it, because I've never been a fan of sitting. I don't know why, but I've always been more comfortable standing up. So the good news is all is great in the writing department.

When I wasn't typing, I removed my lap top and I've been baking and trying out new bread recipes (for the food truck) for possible sandwiches to make in the future.

And after having fun writing or baking or cooking I realized that The Cabin needed sprucing up, so with Hazel's help, every day we've been keeping up with the housework.

Tony and I love Debbie Martin's food truck, at The Old Timers! We've been spending the last few days working inside it, getting comfortable with the layout, cooking some of the Rusty Dawgs, on the menu and testing them out on friends that show up and look hungry to us.

We are still not quite ready to "jump in" and be open for business, but we are getting very close. And besides loving the food truck, I am having so much fun working with Tony, in the kitchen.

Tony is doing a great job cooking the hot dogs, brats and hot links and then helping me put them together with the right ingredients. And I am amazed to discover that he is a real clean freak, because at home, he sort of let's me "own" the kitchen, because that is the way I like it.

Anyway, after Tony took his Food Safety Handlers course, this past Friday and passed it with flying colors and only getting two wrong answers on the exam, he is now certified to work, at the Rusty Dawg too. And I must admit that I never dreamed he and I could have so much fun in a kitchen.

Today has been great. Late this afternoon, after we locked up the Rusty Dawg, we came home and I took a real nap with our dogs and I slept like a log, because this past week, I've been staying up way too late, because of I don't want to quit writing on my novella.

The good thing is I really do feel rested, as I type this, but I am not sure about Henry Standing Bear or Belle, because Henry is now sacked out on the couch and Belle has been snoozing, waking up and checking on me then back to snoozing again.

Late this afternoon, after the nap, I walked into the kitchen and Tony told me that he had seen Carol, when he went over to wash a load of clothes, in her barn, and she asked him to please give me these flowers and the gift sack.

When I opened the pretty gift sack, I found the cutest, embroidered cow dish towel. I totally love the beautiful flowers, but I love the cow-towel even more, because I love cows so much. 

After admiring my new dish towel, which I will probably not use and only display, because it is so beautiful, I looked at the sack closely and below "ALTAR'D STATE" are the word: "stand out. for good" and I instantly loved the message and then taking a closer look at the sack, on the inside near the top ate the words: Hello Beautiful." Talk about good vibes!

Then I read the small "karma LIVING" card that was attached to the cow towel and the mission statement inside it. And it was printed on Handmade Recycled Paper.

So I immediately went Online to find KARMA LIVING and I found them, so here is the link, so you can visit their awesome website.

As I finish writing this tonight, I plan to call Carol immediately to thank her for the lovely flowers and the cutest cow towel on the Planet. And that is about it for tonight and the next few days, because I am working on my novella, which I think is already funnier than the last two and when I am not doing that I hopefully will be cooking up a storm, at The Old Timer's Rusty Dawg.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

So Life Is Good!

This past week has been one great week for Tony and me and I am totally amazed how it all happened, because it just proves, once again, to me that wishes do come true. And finally now I can tell y'all how the stars lined up for my wish to come true.

As I look back, I realize that the first star lined up, a week ago Sunday, when Tony and I were, over at Carol's ranch, having fun visiting with her and her sweet sister Carla and their dear friends Julie and Sugar. We were sitting out on the deck and talking about life and all kinds of things.

Some where in our conversation, one of them (not Tony) mentioned food trucks, and I immediately said, "Omg, I love food trucks so much. I wish I had a food truck...." And after I had quit blabbing like a babbling brook out of its bank, I made a mental note about saying that and then I got back into the conversation which was now about Willie Nelson's beautiful, new song Something You Get Through. Which is now one of my most favorite songs.

That Sunday night I decided to re-watch the great movie Chef starring Jon Favreau and it is one of my all-time favorite movies. Jon Favreau wrote it, directed it, produced it and he also starred in it. And ever since I watched that uplifting movie, several years ago—I've wanted a food truck.

Monday morning, while drinking my first cup of coffee, I Googled Airstream trailers, on Craig's List and the first picture to pop up almost made me fall out of my chair, because it showed this older Airstream and the caption above it read: "Top 10 Food Trucks" by Southern Living magazine.

And that is when I realized that Tony and I could maybe convert our vintage, 1977 Airstream and possibly turn it into a food truck, instead of using it as an Airbnb. 

My mind was racing, so then I started looking at food trucks for sale on Craig's list and to my surprise there are many affordable food trucks for sale.

I bet by now you are thinking that I bought a food truck, but you are wrong. So please continue reading.

Late Tuesday morning Tony and I went to Bandera and it takes us thirty-minutes to get there, so that is when I decided to talk to Tony about food trucks, because I knew I had a captive audience, when he wasn't tuning me out.

Anyway when we drove through Medina, I noticed that Debbie Martin's food truck was not open for business as usual. Debbie is our dear friend who owns and operates The Old Timer, which is famous and should be declared an historical landmark, because it is "the pulse" of Medina. And not because Tony goes there every morning to drink coffee with his friends. 

When I asked Tony about why the food truck was closed he told me that two days before Debbie's employees had quit running it, because they were moving.... So, I said, "Tony, on our way back I want to stop and talk to Debbie about her food truck and watch out! Someone is crossing the road...."

Long story short—On our way back home Tony and I stopped, at The Old Timer.

And I talked to Debbie about her food truck. And we talked for over an hour and we came up with a plan that suits us both. And that's when the wheels were set in motion—the sky is the limit!

So Friday morning, I went Online and started taking this eight hour course to get my Texas Food Safety Manager Certification that is required. The Online course was fabulous, but totally exhausting and because of taking notes, etc. I spent Saturday, Sunday and Monday, over 18 hours in total time studying, so I could pass the exam. 

And my backache, many sleepless hours and the pinched nerve, in my neck, was all worth it, because Tuesday morning, I nervously took the exam and I passed it with flying colors! And Carol was the first person I called to tell about passing the course. 

Then Tony and I went to Kerrville to pick up a refill of Roy's arthritis pills. But before we did that Tony and I went to Wolfmueller's Books to tell our good friends Sandy & Jon about what Tony and I are fixin' to do. And yes, they thought it was cool and were thrilled for us, too.

Then we went down their alley, jaywalked across Main Street, to Little Joe Restaurant, to celebrate me passing the exam and us getting to work part-time, in Debbie's food truck—The Old Timer's Rusty Dawg: Weenie Wagon. Because it is a win-win situation for Debbie and us.

And Tony and I did not order the exact same thing to eat, but we did order what we ate the last time we were there. "Margarita, I'll have the #1," I said. And Tony ordered their #5 Carne Guisada. And of course it was totally delicious. And we both drank their mouth-watering, homemade lemonade.

And since then, Tony and I have been regulars at, The Old Timer, discussing details and what all is involved with us running Debbie's Rusty Dawg. Here is a picture of the food truck.

There is still much to do, before we start serving food, hopefully by next week and of course, Tony still has to take his Texas Food Handlers course, so he can be certified to work in the kitchen with me. And the only thing bad (kind of funny) about all of our exciting news is—Tony has to wear a beard cover and he is not real thrilled about it. So life is good and dreams really do come true.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

Big Secret!

I'm alive and kickin' but I 've simply been too busy to write anything on my blog. And I have good excuses, too. And here they are:

First off, Tony and I have an exciting, big secret that we are not ready to divulge yet, in case "it" goes South. But here is one hint—I've spent most of Friday, Saturday and this morning "studying." And hopefully by tomorrow, if all goes as planned—I will be able to tell you a little more about our secret.

Secondly, when I was not "studying" I was writing as fast as I could type on my 3rd novella. But the bad news is—I have a terrible back ache and a nagging, pinched nerve in my neck from too much sitting in front of the computer.

So Tony and I are trying to figure out or how find a table that is a perfect height for me to sit in front of my lap top, so I can write, write, write.

This morning was more "studying" until we had to leave to go a relatives memorial service, in Kerrville. Steve's service was beautiful, even though Tony and I both teared up.

When we got back home I cooked us a late lunch, cleaned up the kitchen and then spent the past hour "studying" some more. And yes, my back is still aching, but my neck seems to be getting better. But the bad news is Tony now has a pinched nerve in his neck, too. And he told me that he thinks he "caught it" from me. And I told him, "No way are you blaming it on me...."

So, I guess that is about it for right now and hopefully tomorrow will be a fabulous day.

Y'all take care and keep on laughing!

My Neck!

My excuse for not posting anything for a few days is because I've been busy. Busy writing my 3rd novella, busy having fun with Carol. Busy getting to know and enjoying Carol's dear friends: Sugar, Julie and Randy. And having fun catching up with Carol's sweet sister Carla.

So I apologize for taking a few days off here, but I'm not sorry for having so much fun being with Carol, her awesome sister Carla and her dear friends that she grew up with.

I was planning on blogging last night, but I've gotten this pinched nerve in my neck, from writing so much on my The Cowgirl Sisterhood: Riders In The Sand, Part III.

Seriously, last night I could hardly sleep, because my back and neck were hurting so much and I didn't fall asleep until 3:00 in the morning. And when I got up at 8:30, Tony told me to go back to bed, so I could catch a few more hours of sleep.

So I did, but now I'm worried about my sleep rhythm being all messed up.

Today has been a totally awesome day too, but due to sworn secrecy—I can't tell y'all about it until it gets set in stone. And I am hoping it gets "nailed down" asap, because I am so excited about it and cannot wait to do it.

This evening I've been over at Carol's and she is so sweet that she loaned me a chair, that is much lower than my regular "writing chair" in hopes it will help cure the problem with my neck. So I guess that is about it for tonight.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!