Wildflowers & Words!

Today has been a great day. This morning Jim and Eileen, two of our super volunteers aka friends, came out to walk our dogs, which our dogs loved and while they were here, they also helped Tony and me move several dogs around. "Thank you, Eileen and Jim!"

Honey and Baxter are now in the big front pen, up by the gate entrance and next door to Annie. We moved Lois Lane from her pen to the one next door, where Baxter & Honey had been. Then we moved Hank Williams, Sr. & Jackie Kennedy Onassis down to Lois Lane's old pen. Then we moved Guinevere to our shady Puppy Pen, between Rio & Martha Stewart and Betty Rubble & George Clooney and then Tony moved Dr. John to Guinevere's old pen, because this morning Annie Oakley and him decided not to be friends any longer.

After T. and me ate some of my delicious, homemade veggie burgers for lunch, we jumped into Trigger and went to the Home Depot, in Kerrville, to purchase a new cold water dispenser, because the old one that we have been using, inside The Cabin, had a major melt down, while we were outside moving the dogs to new pens. 


And that's about it for tonight, because I'm tired and just feel like watching TV tonight, but before I finish writing this I want to share some beautiful wildflowers & words, that have touched my heart today.

Early this morning when Tony returned from the Old Timer, he surprised me with these gorgeous wildflowers, that he had handpicked for me, before coming inside The Cabin. And this afternoon, Mari sent me this picture—which I think says it all about dogs. "Mari and Tony, thank y'all for making my day!"

Y'all have a great evening!

Figs For Jalapenos!

Today has been great. After we did our morning chores outside I came inside to check my e-mail and I am so glad that I did, because my dear friend Mari, who we were later meeting for lunch, in Kerrville, had sent me one, asking if we liked figs, because if we did, she wanted to trade us some of her figs for Tony's jalapenos. So, I shot her back an e-mail telling her that we would love to trade figs for jalapenos, then I jumped into the shower to get cleaned up.

Tony and I love Mari and getting to have lunch with her is one of our most favorite things to do and after we have lunch with Mari, I always wish that we could do it more often, because on a scale, from one to ten, with ten being the highest, of "Favorite Things To Do"—she's a twelve.

Before leaving the rescue ranch, Tony quickly handpicked a fresh crop of his jalapenos for Mari and then he loaded up two dog crates, in the back of Buttermilk, then we took off for Kerrville.

Our lunch today with Mari was a total blast. When she arrived two minutes after we got there, she was carrying a large white box and a gigantic, plastic bag filled with the biggest figs that we've ever seen and before she sat down, Mari handed me the heavy box and said, "I have one and I bought this for you, because you love Roy Rogers as much as I do."

When I opened up the white box, I was instantly thrilled at what I saw. It was this beautiful 399 page book, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans: It Was Always The Music, a celebration of Roy and Dale's singing cowboy B-Western era of country-western music, by Eric van Hamersveld, authorized by Dale Evans Rogers, Roy "Dusty" Rogers, Jr., and the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum! "Mari, I love this. It is so beautiful. Thank you, so much!" Then our waiter appeared and interrupted me, so he could take our order. (Mari and I ordered the exact same thing from the menu, except she requested Charro beans, instead of the refried beans that I ordered.)

"I knew you would love it, since you have started playing your guitar again, " Mari said. "It has every song, from all of their movies, with the music and lyrics and it is filled with movie pictures that you're going to love and..."

Because Mari is one of the most well informed, intelligent, humorous women that I have ever met, she and I were either talking or laughing non-stop, about dogs, the importance of buying Made In America products, politics, music, The NoMads, figs, jalapenos, West Texas, Terlingua, drivers license, tuna fish from Thailand, etc. and poor Tony hardly ever got to get a word in edgewise. And after two fun-filled hours had passed, Tone finally got to say, "Nance, it's nearly three o'clock and we need to get back to the ranch." Which totally shocked Mari and me, that so much time had passed, because we were having so much fun.

"Tony, will you please carry my book for me, because it is so heavy?" I asked. "And the figs."

While T. was gone to put our giant sack of figs and my newest, favorite book inside Buttermilk and getting Mari's jalapenos for her, Mari wanted me to listen to this great song, No One Kisses Their Horses Anymore. So when Tony joined us, we chuckled as we listened to it, standing in the parking lot. Then we adios-ed each other and left.

Our next stop was just down the street at Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic, to pick up Hank Williams, Sr. and Jackie Kennedy Onassis, so we could bring them home. And Hank, the handsome Yellow Labrador barked, I mean, serenaded us all of the way home.

When we got back to the rescue ranch, I took these pictures of Hank, wearing his temporary lampshade and not knowing what to think about it and cute, little Jackie O. 

Early this evening, I went over to the Lodge to visit with Kinky and Marcie and I had a fun, one hour,  really enjoyable visit with them, before coming back home. And that is about it for tonight, because I plan to learn how to play a few Roy & Dale songs on my guitar, until my fingers are killing me and then read my newest, favorite book. "Thank you, Mari! I love my book!  Let's do lunch sooner than later!"

Y'all have a great evening!

Beetles!

Today has been great. This morning I got to wear my favorite pink sweatshirt (hoodie) when Tony and I went outside to feed the dogs and clean their pens, because it was fifty degrees for the second day in a row. By the time we had finished our chores I wished that I hadn't worn it, because the outside temperature had already climbed up to eighty-two degrees.

This afternoon Tone and I met our good friend Mari, of the NoMads, dog agility fame, for lunch in Kerrville and we had so much fun with her, because she is highly intelligent, has a great sense of humor, loves dogs and she has really great vibes.

After we had caught up with her latest news, because she knows all of ours news, because she reads my blog, we talked about the NoMads, veterinarians, her latest trip to Whole Foods in San Antone, the drought, our soon-to-be exciting road trip to Terlingua with Sandy and Jon, she told me something that I really did not want to hear, "Not to scare you, Nancy, but as of September 1st, they have raised the speed limit on I-10 five miles, so now it is 85 mph even though they haven't changed all of the signs, yet. So, you'd better be sure to take that Rescue Remedy with you, because you're really going to need it and..."

After Mari had scared me to death I purposefully changed the subject. "You're going to love this, Mari. The other day I bought some new 501 Levi's at Penneys and after I had laundered them, when I was putting them on this big label near the pocket is screaming at me, "Made In Egypt!" Can you believe that! Made in Egypt?" Mari frowned.

"This pink shirt I'm wearing was Made In The USA, these pants are Made In The USA and yes, unfortunately I can believe it..." a little while later, when our waiter came to give us our check, Mari grabbed it before I could and she says, "I'm buying lunch today—end of subject."

"Well, thank you, Mari," I said, "but the next time we do lunch we're treating you to lunch, okay?" Mari smiled and pretended not to hear me. Then we started talking about Tony's VW Beetle and her husband David's vintage collection of several classic VW Beetles and then she told us where David goes in San Antone to get VW parts, so Tony would know where to go to buy parts to restore his Bug.

Then we realized that the lunch crowd had left the building, so we thanked Mari again for lunch and then we adios-ed each other until next time and she went home and so did we.

Early this evening Kinky and Marcie came over for a "Toto Picnic" and when their picnic ended we went into Outer Space for a fun visit, even though we talked a lot about the drought.

When we decided to come inside the trailer, so Tony could show Marcie his Photography Hallway Gallery, Kinky asked me if he could water my dying outdoor plants. "Sure, I guess you can," I said, "but Kinky, with the water being so scarce right now, I had to quit watering them, because we just can't afford to use up what precious we've got left."

While Tony was busy giving Marcie a tour of his hallway  photo gallery I filled up Jaws, my Vita-mix blender's pitcher, with precious water twice, so Kinky could go outside into Outer Space to water my drought suffering plants. "Nance, just give them a little water every other day," Kinky suggested, as he handed back my Jaws pitcher to me. "If y'all run out of water over here I will be glad to take them and..."

When they left to go back over to the Lodge, Tony and I left to go feed Shalom and the donkeys over at Echo Hill's horse barn and that is about it for today.

Y'all have a great evening and please keep praying for rain for us and for the Fire fighters around our state who are busy putting out wildfires!

On The Cover Of Texas Animal Imprints!

Today has been great. This afternoon while we were in Kerrville, we stopped by Wolfmueller's Books to say hi to Sandy and Jon and to get them to sign Lynda's soup cookbook that she won in my contest, and to show off Tony's pictures on the cover and his beautiful pictures inside the Texas Animal Imprints January / February magazine!

When we arrived at the bookstore Jon greeted us from behind the checkout counter. "Where's Sandy?" Tony asked. "I bet she's out buying more books."

No, she's not out buying books today," Jon said. "She had to go home to pick up a book." Then we started laughing. "She should be here any minute..."

"Jon, I brought Lynda's cookbook to get y'all to sign it. And if you don't mind, keeping it here until Mari can swing by and sign it, before I mail it to Lynda."

"Sure, that's fine. We don't mind..."

"Well, Tony is becoming a famous photographer, Jon. Take a look at his beautiful picture on the cover of  Texas Animal Imprints January / February magazine!" I said, as I handed the magazine to Jon, so he could look at it.

"And Joni, the publisher, also used one of Tone's pictures for Connie Strong's great story about my friend Cindy, when she interviewed her about her documentary "MANITOU-API: WHERE THE SUN RISES" and Tony also took these pictures of Pilgrim and Pumpkin for my column that I wrote! Isn't this great!" I bragged, as Jon quickly thumbed through the magazine to look at all of T.'s pictures.

"You're good, Tony. These are beautiful photos," Jon said, as Sandy walked in the back door and waved to us, before coming up to join us. "Sandy look at Tony's pictures..."

"I love these, Tony!" Sandy said. "Congratulations." Then Kathleen Keen walked in the front door. After greetings, Sandy handed the Texas Animal Imprints magazine to Kathleen and said, "Tony took these pictures..."

"Tony! I love your pictures, especially the one of the sunset."

"He took that one from our front porch," I said. "I love all of his pictures! And you can go online to read Texas Animal Imprints January / February magazine right now. Y'all will love Connie Strong's article about Cindy, too. And Kinky's column."

A few minutes later Kathleen had to take off and then some customers walked into the bookstore, so I looked at books while Sandy and Jon helped their customers. Before leaving their bookstore, I bought these two books about my hero, Mark Twain! And, I a can't wait to start reading them.

Around four o'clock today, I went over to the Lodge to show Kinky my new books, Grant and Twain: The Story Of A Friendship That Changed America by Mark Perry and Who Is Mark Twain by Mark Twain himself, that have never been published before! "I've got and already read Who Is Mark Twain, and it was good, but I would like to read this one."

"I'll loan it to you as soon as I finish reading it," I said, before we went to visit with The Friedmans in the big room.

Tonight, as soon as I finish writing this blog, I plan to start reading the Grant and Twain book. I am so happy for Tony about his photos being on the cover and in Joni's beautiful magazine, Texas Animal Imprints and I hope that you will subscribe to Joni Daniel's great magazine and check out the January / February issue online. And please read my column about...

To Be Continued...

Have a great evening and May The Force Be With All Of Us!

Missing—Gone—Disappeared!

Last night before I started writing my blog, I checked my e-mail. I received a note from Carol and it made me chuckle when I checked out this picture, because I've never seen a pretty, pink pair of welding gloves. Carol wrote: "Just had to brag! James got these for me today. He takes good care of his help!"

After showing Carol's pink welding gloves to Tony, I started writing my blog and the weirdest thing happened right after I posted it—thanks to Mercury in retrograde. As soon as I posted it, Tony immediately read it on his computer and he laughed a few times, as I copied and pasted it and filed it away on my desktop. Then I reread it on the computer, like I always do after I post a new blog, so I can try to catch any spelling or grammar errors that I missed. And, I found one—a really big one!

The fourth paragraph up from the bottom was suddenly missing-gone-disappeared, causing the next paragraph and the story to make no sense at all, so I quickly opened up the file, that I had just saved to my desktop, to see if I had somehow deleted that paragraph where Tony asks me to buy some Static Cling, because he keeps getting shocked outside, and it was right there—in black & white—I had not deleted it. So I copied and then pasted the paragraph back into my blog and reposted it. 

After I checked to make sure the paragraph was back on page where it belonged, I clicked my comments folder and I had one new comment from Mari, of the NoMads. Mari wrote:

"Now I'm not complaining, mind you, but I'm going to have to ask you to "bridge the gap" between the paragraph that begins "on our way home" and the paragraph that follows. 

It could be that age has also affected my comprehension, not just my memory, but I really want to find out for sure, so please help me, Obewan Nancy - you are my only hope." After laughing at what Mari had written, I posted her a comment to tell her that it was now fixed and I was blaming Merc. Then I went and told Tony about the paragraph suddenly missing and he told me that it was there when he read it.

Today has been great. This morning after walking eight miles with Sansone and her friends inside the trailer, I checked my e-mail. My new friend, Joni Johnson Daniel, the Publisher for "Texas Animal Imprints" magazine wrote to tell me that Texas Animal Imprints new web site is now up, so I checked it out and it looks fantastic and it has a page that allows you to download older issues of the magazine in PDF, so you can read them. 


A little after three o'clock, T. and I went over to the Lodge to visit with Kinky and his friends, Rambam, Frank and Brian Kanof, the talented, professional photographer from El Paso. And it was a fun visit, especially for Tony, because he beat Brian in two games of pool. The Medina Bulldog Rules!


Y'all have a great evening!

Static Cling!

This morning I got up really early so I could do my chores before calling Harley at seven forty-five to do his radio show. After a fun visit with Harley, I started cooking breakfast. Normally I don't cook us breakfast, unless you count boiling water for T.'s oatmeal cooking, but last night I promised Tony that I would fix him Huevos Rancheros this morning, because it is one of his favorite meals that I cook.

For those of you who are not from Texas, Mexico or the Southwest, Huevos Rancheros is basically eggs cooked how you like them, covered in salsa and served on a hot corn tortilla, with a side of refried beans and hash brown potatoes, but I make mine a little different every time, because I like to be creative with what's currently in the refrigerator.

This is how I made Tony's Huevos Rancheros this morning. I cooked some home made hash browns with onion and bell pepper while the corn tortillas and a couple of slices of leftover Thanksgiving ham, warmed inside the oven, while some homemade pinto beans cooked on the stove top. When everything was heated up, I cooked two eggs over medium and then threw it together.

I plopped the hot tortillas on the plate, covered them with some homemade salsa, divided up the hash browns, topped them with the ham with the eggs on top, and the beans on the side, and Tony's eyes lit up when he saw what he was going to eat for breakfast.

As Tone ate my latest version of Huevos Rancheros, he kept telling me how delicious it was and then he says, "Nance, you need to make these for Kinky and Frank..." So, I called Kinky.

Twenty minutes later Kinky and Sophia greeted us at the kitchen door and then T. took off to a bunkhouse to go tell Frank that I had made Huevos Rancheros for him, too. During their breakfast there was a lot of laughing and they told me that they loved my Huevos Rancheros—which made my day and it was still early.

When we returned to the rescue ranch, our great volunteer Jim, was already here walking our dogs. While Tony did his outside chores I walked six miles with Leslie and right after I had finished Mama and Abbie started barking, so I looked out the front door to see who was here—it was Eileen, another one of my favorite dog walking volunteers and her dog, Callie was with her. So, I went outside to greet her and to pet Callie Dean, the super dog that she adopted from us on Memorial Day—that Sharon Griswold trained.

"Nancy, I came out to give you the money for the dog's Christmas dinner, but I can't stay long, because I have to..." After I thanked her for the donation I had a really fun visit with her and C.D.

"Callie Dean sure turned out to be one beautiful dog," I said. "She is so lucky that you adopted her and..." Before Eileen left, I invited her inside the trailer to show her my latest decorating and she told me that she loved it, and that June, Ellen and her were excited about coming out Christmas morning to help us cook and serve our dogs their home cooked Christmas dinner! "Tony and I are thrilled that y'all are coming out to help us—it will make our Christmas great."

Late this afternoon, because of another pile of paperwork that I had to take care of and mail out, Buttermilk took us to Kerrville, so we could buy our dog's holiday dinner at H-E-B. Our first stop was at Wolfmueller's Books so I could drop off the movie that Mari, of the NoMads, had loaned to me, so she could pick it up there and to also say hi to our friends Sandy & Jon. When we arrived at their bookstore it was packed full of happy customers buying tons of their books. After a fun, but short visit with them and their son Kurt, who was in town visiting them—we took off for H-E-B.

Before we walked inside H-E-B I dumped a ton of letters into the mailbox outside and then Tony and I grabbed two shopping carts and went inside. T. followed me up and down the isles as I put our groceries into my cart and he put our dog's holiday dinner in his basket on wheels. In less than thirty minutes we were standing in line to check out our groceries and I went first.

After writing a check for sixty seven dollars and twelve cents I said, "I'll wait for you outside, Tone." Several minutes later Tony walked out of H-E-B. "How much did it cost?" I asked, as Tony handed me the receipt.

"A hundred and nineteen dollars and ninety-two cents."

"That's seven dollars less than what we spent on Fay's Thanksgiving dinner for our dogs," I remarked. "I guess it is because we didn't buy dinner rolls and bought cheaper stuffing this time."

On our way home I said, "I think the next time we go to H-E-B I'm going to buy seven dollars worth of dinner rolls and more stuffing so no one wins the "Friendly Texas vs. Canada Food Fight." T. started laughing. "No, I'm serious. I love Fay, June, Ellen and Eileen for being so nice and covering the cost of our dog's holiday dinners this year and as far as I'm concerned— they are all winners in my book." 

"Nance, the next time we go to H-E-B please buy some Static Cling, because I am tired of being shocked everytime that I open up a gate. Please put it on your shopping list."

"Why don't you just put a little piece of wood in your pants pocket, instead?" Tony starts laughing so hard, he nearly wrecked Buttermilk. "What's so funny? Wood will keep you from getting shocked."

"No, it won't, Babe," Tone says, followed by a laugh, as he taps the steering wheel hard and shakes his head sideways. "I'm sorry, but wood is conductive to electricity and..."

Y'all have a great evening! 

First, Second And Third Quarters!

Today has been a quiet day. This morning I only walked six miles and then Hazel came out of the closet  and we deep cleaned the trailer, the front porch and then we went into Outer Space. When she went into the closet I took a short, but sleepless nap with Mama, because she either kept trying to pet my face with her heavy front paws or hugging me too tight while making happy sounds.

I spent the first, second and third quarters of the Dallas Cowboys football game catching up with my e-mail and I am thrilled that the Cowboys are back. I am sick about Coach Wade Phillips being fired, because I met him while working for the TCU Football Office back in the late 70's when his father Bum was down in Houston, in his coaching heyday with Earl Campbell, who I also got to meet when he stepped out of a sauna in the TCU workout room, but I have already told you about that. Anyway, I hope the Cowboys win today.

Even though I had over sixty e-mails to respond to I especially enjoyed reading Cheryl & Walt's funny note, because it made me laugh out loud—I love these people. And Mari of the Nomads e-mails always make me laugh and smile, too. Thank y'all!

Mari is probably right now on her way to Kerrville with her friends to see the Flash Cadillac concert that I wish that I could have gone to, but couldn't, because I am night blind and will not drive in the dark, because it is too dangerous.

There are eight minutes left in the football game and New York almost made a touchdown! So, I am going to stop writing and watch the finish of this exciting game. Go Cowboys!

Y'all have a great evening!

I've Got Rhythm!

Today I have not been able to get a lot of work done because I am sick with "the crud." When I was on one of my coughing and sneezing jags while trying to walk six miles with Leslie, Tony walked inside  the trailer and told me that I was coughing and sneezing in perfect rhythm to four beats to the bar. "Nance, you're my walkin'-coughin'-sneezin' metronome. You ought to play your drums. Not really. You know I'm kidding. I hate drumming..." Then he went back outside and took off in Kermit to go do his chores.

I used up a small box of Kleenex while walking the walk with Leslie this morning. I did not want to walk this morning because I was feeling so puny, but I had to so I wouldn't fall too far behind on my walking New Year's resolution.

After mopping up my nose and coughing up a storm I spent the morning catching up on my e-mail and I am glad that I did because my good friend Mari of the NoMads sent me an e-mail identifying the bird that I thought was a Bald-headed Eagle which Tony told me after I had posted that blog that there is no such thing as a Bald-"headed" Eagle. In self defense I told Tone that Mrs. Reese,  my sixth grade Russian spy teacher, had taught me and my classmates that there was. Anyway, Mari checked with her friend Bill the bird-watcher and they both agreed that the bird I shot with my camera was a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk! Thank you, Mari and Bill—mystery solved.

I'm startin' to cough and sneeze again and it is startin' to thunder and lightning outside so this is it for tonight.  I  need to go unplug everything. Hopefully I will feel much better in the morning.

Y'all have a great evening!

What Are You Doing?

This morning, Tony and I went to Wolfmueller's Books, so we could meet up with Mari, of the famous NoMads, because she wanted to give me Witch Hazel, her old Dyson 'Animal' vacuum cleaner, that had quit sucking! She knew I loved Hazel, my Dyson 'Animal' vacuum, and she told me I could use hers for parts.

Tone and I arrived at Wolfmueller's a little early, so we visited with Jon and Mary Jo. While Tone was talking to Jon, I went over to their cookbook section and started browsing. When I saw Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, I pulled it off of the shelf! "It's on sale, Nancy," Jon said, as he walked past me. One minute later, I was at the counter, writing a check for it! I was thrilled to get it!

After buying the cookbook, Jon took us to see their new bookcase. It was beautiful! As I admired the antique bookcase, Tony was in the background grumbling about me fixing French food to Jon. "Nance is a great cook, and I wish that she would just stay with her own recipes..." Here's a picture I took of the bookcase and Jon's head. His head is on the top shelf on the left hand side.

"Mari is three minutes late," Jon said. "Why don't you tease her, and tell her that you had to buy this book, because she was late, because you felt bad about hanging around the store!" We all laughed. Then Mari arrived!

After handshakes and hugs, we had a fun visit with her! She is one of the nicest people that you could ever meet, and T. and I just love her. When I showed Mari my new Julia Child cookbook, and told her about how much I loved Julie & Julia, I said, "Mari, why don't you and me take turns cooking her recipes, and do a blog about it?" Tone's smile went south. "You could do it one day, and I could do it the next?"

Mari shook her head, "No, I don't think I want to do that." Tone's upside down smile went north! "That's your necklace, the one that you have been blogging about! It is more beautiful in person. I love it!" Before Mari, Tony and I went outside to adopt Witch Hazel, I told Mary Jo, Jon, Mari and Tony that I was going to definitely try to cook at least one meal from Julia's cookbook, and when I did, I wanted all of them to come out for dinner, to try my French cooking. For some reason they all laughed. Then we went outside. Tony took these pictures of Mari and me with Witch Hazel:

After we left Wolfmuellers, we went and grabbed a bite to eat, and then we went to Walmart. As we were checking out, I noticed the Julie & Julia DVD for sale, at the checkout counter, so I picked one up and added it to our cart! When we got home, I took this picture of my two new Christmas presents, while Tone went outside to get Witch Hazel for me!

When she came inside, I immediately went to work on her. The first filter that I removed, several small rocks fell out onto the floor! Then I removed several other parts to check for clogs. When I was done with all I could do, Tony took over. In less than two minutes, he had her running better than my Hazel! I was thrilled! I am now the proud owner of two Dyson 'Animals! And yes, I am bragging! Thank you, Mari! Before putting the twins in the closet, I decided to do a short video clip, to show Witch Hazel in action! "Tony!" I half-hollered, down the hallway. "I'm going to do a short video, and I need for you to help me!"

"Okay!" Tone said, loudly. "I'm nearly done plowing! I'll be there in just a minute!" Three minutes later, when T. came into the kitchen, he saw me pouring a pile of white flour on the painted rug in our kitchen. "What are you doing?"

"The Flour Test!" I said. "I want you to vacuum up the flour, so everyone can see Witch Hazel in action! When I say action, turn her on and let her go to work. Action!" Witch Hazel's Flour Test! After Witch Hazel passed her test, I put the sisters in the closet so they could visit.

At one-thirty, Lisa and her friends showed up to walk our dogs! It was about forty-seven degrees outside and misting, not my kind of weather, but they didn't seem to mind! Before these great people started walking our dogs, Tony and I thanked them and then I shot them! From left to right are: Kevin, Matt, Lisa, Nicole, Ty and Meghan!

Two hours later, Lisa, Matt and Kevin came inside the trailer, and they were wearing smiles, and soaking wet! "Nicole, Ty and Meghan just left," Lisa said. "I wanted to let you to know that we almost got everyone walked and..."

Tony and I were thrilled for our dogs, to say the least, and we thanked them. I love these people, and am pretty sure that they are angels in disguise! They have to be! We had a fun visit with Lisa Matt and Kevin and mainly talked about our dogs. Before they left to go back to Kerrville, Matt told me that he loves Tom Landry, and he might be able to adopt him soon, if everything works out all right! I'll keep you posted.

Y'all have a great evening!

Super Day!

Today has been a super day! This morning, I checked my e-mail. My good friend, Mari, sent me two youtube videos to check out, and I loved this one about a great service dog! The next one is way too cool, too! It is about how to peel a potato without using a peeler or a knife. In Mari's note to me, she said that she wished that she had known about this thirty years ago, and I have to agree with her, too!

Mari also told me about having some problems trying to watch the three videos that I posted yesterday. So, I have now fixed them—I hope.

Kinky called me this morning! He is coming back to the ranch tonight, and I am looking forward to seeing him tomorrow.

This morning while Tone was outside doing his chores, I got out that cookbook, and decided to try making "Mushroom Moussaka," a Greek eggplant and mushroom recipe, that requires two sauces. While the eggplant was cooking in the oven, as I was starting to make Bechamel, the second sauce, Tony walked inside the trailer. "What are you fixin' for lunch?" Then he saw the cookbook on the counter top. "Oh no," he said, "I hope that it is better than yesterday's green goo."

I started to ignore him, but then I changed my mind, "It will be. I just tasted the mushroom tomato sauce and it is delicious. Forty-five minutes later, Tony came back for seconds, and he told me that it was delicious, and for me to keep that recipe! After cleaning up the kitchen, I checked my e-mail, again. I received an update on Beckham, from D&D! I loved it! 

Hello Nancy and Big Tony,

Beckham Update -

Dateline Texas Hill Country

Trail's End Guest House

Beckham's Pig Pen

This past week after spending over $350 on materials & hay, and several hours constructing it, Beckham's winter quarters were presented to Lord Beckham for his personal inspection. After much grunting, snorting and goosing David every time he bent over to secure the roof tarps, Lord Beckham pronounced his new winter quarters reasonably acceptable. The hay level was high enough to be soft and warm but not too much as to tickle his delicate snout as he slumbered. A resounding huzza and round of "Stout Fellows!" was raised by David, Desiree and Shelia much to Beckham's approval.

This however was late Thursday, as of Friday night Lord Beckham has removed his personage back to his summer quarters al-be-it made somewhat more snug by his dragging a tattered tarp off the discard pile and rooting a deeper hole into his favorite mud wallow.

After dining this evening on homemade yogurt, roasted butternut squash, eggplant in green chilies, homemade tortillas, eggs coddled indrawn butter and a sassy little dry Spanish red wine Lord Beckham paused long enough to remark to Desiree that he wasn't ungrateful it's just that David didn't understand the delicate sensibility's necessary to proper swine slumber. Additionally with hoof poised by his mouth to lend a gentle aside remark he whispered in a sotto grut that it was quite rum fun to goose David while he constructed the winter quarters. More as it comes....

Fifteen minutes after reading David and Desiree's funny Beck update, a weird thing happened outside! Clark Kent found his forever fantastic home! A nice couple came out with Marcus, their five year old grandson who they look after, to get him a forever friend! When Marcus saw Clark Kent it was love at first sight for both of them!

Ron and Susie told me that they wanted Clark Kent to be a house dog, and for him to sleep with Marcus! They have a giant fenced in yard for them to play in, but Clark was going to live inside! They also told us that Clark will go to the groomers once a month for a bath, and to get his nails done! We're talkin' one lucky dog and boy!

After the adoption papers were filled out, I said to Marcus, "Marcus, will you do me a big favor, and please give Clark a new name? Clark Kent was his name here, but now since he is beginning a new life with you, I think you should give him a new name!" Marcus smiled, put his hands in his pockets, and started trying to think up a name.

"You don't have to do it right now, Marcus," Ron said, as he winked at us. When Tony took Clark to their SUV, Clark Kent flew, just like Super Man, into the backseat, to sit next to his new best buddy! Before they left, I told them to give David and Desiree a call, if they had any questions about Clark.

As they drove away, I told T. how happy I was for that little boy and little dog to have found each other, and I thought it was funny about getting an e-mail from D&D, and then fifteen minutes later, Clark gets adopted to a super family!

When Tone and I came back inside, I checked my e-mail, again. Our friend, Brian Kanof, the photographer from El Paso, who adopted Zelda, the cat, from us years ago, and Bogie, a few weeks ago, Brian sent me two pictures of them!

Today we received Tom and Kay Plaster's care package! In Tom's fun to read letter, he told us that he had bought the last two copies of A Dog Named Christmas in Kansas City! Tom also asked that we give one of the A Dog Named Christmas DVDs to Kinky! Not a problem Tom! I can't wait for Kinky to watch it! He will love it! Thank y'all for the cool care package! I'm going to watch A Dog Named Christmas tonight! I really love that movie!

Y'all have a great evening!

One, Two, Three!

Today has been fun! This morning when I was four minutes away from walking six miles, the phone rang, so I let Carlton take the call. "Hello Nance! Nancy are you there? I'm at the airport..."

As I listened to Kinky, I decided to take the call. I paused Leslie, picked up the phone, and hit the speaker button, so I could walk circles around the big room, while talking to Kinky. "Hi Kinky! Where are you headed?"

"Hi Nance!" Kinky said. "I'm glad I caught you. We're headed to Kansas City in just a few minutes. How are you doing and have you seen The Friedmans?"

"I'm fine, and yes, The Friedmans are doing fine." Then I told him about rescuing Clark Kent and he thought it was super, and he was looking forward to meeting him.

"The plane's fixin' to take off. I've got to go. And remember Nance, keep on laughing. It's important. Take care. Bye." As soon as we disconnected, I pushed the play button and finished my workout with Les.

Around eleven o'clock, our good friend, Todd, showed up to walk our dogs! I am so happy that our dogs are getting so much attention, and getting walked everyday by our super volunteers! Thank you, Todd!"

While Todd was outside hiking with our dogs, I sat down at my laptop, and worked on my book, because earlier this morning when Tone came home,  I declared today off, so I could try to finish my book. 

While I was working on the design for the  jacket cover, the phone rang—it was Rick, in Port Aransas. He wanted to know if I had tried my sparkling apple cider, yet. "Not yet, Rick. I am planning on trying it out this evening." We talked for a few minutes about his secret recipe, and the 'loose lid' technique that I needed to be careful about, so Cousin Nancy's Sparkling Apple Champagne, wouldn't blow up in the fridge! I hope that I don't have to redesign the label and put a warning on it!

At one o'clock, I was so frustrated with my design, I decided I needed to take a short nap with my fur babes. Unfortunately for them, our nap didn't last long, because I had a 'ligh tbulb moment' about my book and the jacket cover design! In less than ten minutes of nap time with my buddies, I jumped out of the bed, and went to my computer. The first thing I did was to change the title, then I took off my boots, and replaced them with my pink Crocs. Then I grabbed my camera and shot my pink boots! That's all that I can tell you right now, but I am thrilled with the new title, and the new jacket design!

Around two-thirty, while I was in my office, trying to replace a black ink cartridge, so I could print out a copy of my revised book, Tony half-hollered from his office, "Nance! Come in here! Mari wants to talk to you! She's at Wolfmueller's, and she and Jon are online!"

"Mari, of The NoMads?"

"Yes!" Thirty seconds later I was in Tone's office talking and laughing with Mari and Jon, from Tony's computer! 

We talked about the funny 'pink boot' cartoons that Mari has been sending to me, and then I told Jon and Mari about the new title, and the jacket design for the book. They told me that they loved my new title, and they thought my idea for the artwork, for the book cover, sounded great! They had made my day and didn't even know it! Then I had another 'light bulb moment!'

"Y'all stay right there! I'm going to get my camera, and take a picture of y'all! I'll be right back!" I race walked into the kitchen, and grabbed my camera and then returned to T.'s office. "Okay y'all, on the count of three I am going to shoot you! One, two, three!

I love the picture of Mari and Jon, and I can't believe that technology has come so far! I would have never guessed in a million years that I could look and talk to friends twenty-two miles away! Wow!

Y'all have a great evening!

A Loaf Of Bread!

Today has been painfully great. This morning, after walking six Sansone fast miles, I decided to check my e-mail. I had over thirty! Six were spams, and the rest were from friends. Rick sent me one, telling me that he and Leisa are coming up from Port Aransas, September 26th, to visit us for two days! My friend, Sue S., wrote to tell me that she is officially leaving Austin, before the end of the month, and she will be moving to her new mini-ranch, in Harper. She wanted to give me her new soon to be address. Cindy wrote to tell me that she is totally enchanted with New Mexico, and she can't wait for Tone and me to come visit her. Linda F., from Brownsville, wrote me about a birddog, that she has rescued and will be bringing up to us soon. Then Mari, one of the most famous NoMads, wrote to tell me that she has scratched off another one of her 'things to do,' from her bucket list.

Mari wrote:
"Some of you may know that I was out of town this weekend, doing one thing from my Bucket List – attending the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock .

One of the sets of entertainers at the wonderful Saturday night the evening concert was the Gillette Brothers. In all of my life to that point, I had never seen anyone actually play the bones! In case you haven’t either and are curious about this very ancient instrument, I thought I’d share a link I found..."

I finished reading Mari's note, and then I immediately checked it out, and could not believe how cool it was! Here's the link to it: The Gillette Brothers!

After reading and responding to all of my e-mails, as I was leaving Yahoo, a news article about how Michelle Obama stays in such great shape, caught my eye, so I clicked to read the article. Her personal trainer, for over twelve years, said that she does Hammer Curls and Tricep Push Downs, and he gave instructions on how to do them! "Tony!" I half-hollered. "Please come in here! You've got to see this!"

Three minutes later, T. was sitting at my laptop reading the exercise instructions, while I was in the closet with Hazel, looking for my blue five pound hand weights, and my lavender stretch band! When I returned to the kitchen with equipment in hand, I said, "Tony, let's do the exercises! We can use my five pound weights!"

"I don't know, Nance," Tony said. "I'll do them with you, but I think five pound weights might be too much for you."

"Tone, I use three pound weights everyday, for over an hour! I can do five pounds." T. and I did the Hammer Curls first. We took turns and each did three sets of ten count reps! "It says we need a tree or a pole to do the Tricep Push Downs. I'll go first. You be the tree." I put my lavender stretch band around Tony's upper back, and did ten, hard reps. Then I pretended to be a tree, and Tony laughed at me, as he kept pulling me to him, each time that he did a rep—he did ten and I got a little extra walking in. Then it was my turn.

On Tony's last set of reps, on number eight, Aaron appeared at the front door, and I am sure that he was shocked, seeing Tony pulling me towards him, using a lavender band! Fortunately, Aaron didn't ask what we were doing, and we didn't tell him. After he had talked to Tone, he left the trailer and went back to work.

"That was fun Tony! I know we burned a lot of calories doing them! Let's do them every day?"

"No," Tony said. "Three times a week is plenty. I promise that your arms are going to be so sore in the morning, that you are probably going to have to ask me to lift your smoothie up to your mouth, or use a straw to drink it. You're looking good, Nance, why do you want to add these to your daily exercise routine?"

"Muffin top," I said. "I can't get rid of my muffin top. In fact, my muffin top actually looks more like a loaf of bread than a muffin."

I made chicken fajitas for lunch, and we took them over to the Lodge, to share with Kinky, Will and Frank. Everyone loved my fajitas, and they ate all of the food! During lunch, I told them about the women from the funny farm coming out on Saturday and how I had put my foot in my mouth. They all laughed, and Kinky thought it was really funny, and he suggested that I blog about it. "I already have, Kink," I said. Then I changed the subject. "My arms are really starting to ache." Then I told everyone about Tony and me doing the Hammer Curls and Tricep Push Downs.

"I told you so," Tone teased. Then we all started talking about exercise and eating healthier. Then Will abruptly gets up and leaves the Lodge! Twenty seconds later Will was back in the kitchen.

"Here Nance," Will said, holding a blue elastic rope with handles attached to it. "This is for you, if you promise that you will use it." I told him that I would. Then Will showed me how to use it!

After lunch, we went outside to the Friedman Family Bone Orchard to admire it. "Kinky," I said. "Your Morning Glorys are absolutely beautiful!"

"They're Republican Morning Glorys," Kinky said. "Our friend, U.S. Representative Lamar Smith, gave them to me. And, I agree, they are beautiful." Here is a picture that Tony took of Kinky showing off his Republican Morning Glorys! I love it!

This afternoon, because my arms were so sore, I asked Tony to please carry out our new exercise equipment, and take it into Outer Space for me, so I could take a picture of it.

Y'all have a great evening!

Cousin Nancy's Pumpkin Bread Recipe!

Today, I didn't oversleep and I did my four mile walk, before 9:30! I've really gotten addicted to doing the four miles of walking! This morning, while I was walking my second set of two miles, Tony walked into the trailer and said, "I'm gonna start calling you—Nance, the Four Miler!"

I want to thank everyone, that has commented about our 'wasp war!' This morning, Mari's comment convinced me to paint the ceilings sky blue— in Outer Space and on our front porch.

This evening, Jon and Sandy Wolfmueller, called me on their speaker phone, and our conversation was fun! "Cousin Nancy, we wanted to call you about your wasp invasion," Jon said. "Sandy and I were talking to Scott and Julia S. today about your wasps, and Julia told us that painting your ceilings sky blue, will cure the problem! The wasps get confused, thinking the paint is the sky, and they won't build nests! She told us that it works, and her family for several generations have done that."

"Jon, that is great news! This morning Mari, of the NoMads, left a comment, on my blog, telling me to do it, too! I think I will use spray paint. And, that pretty pink wasp catcher, hanging on the front porch, is working! In fact, I just told Tony."

"Good," Jon said. "What's Tony up to?

"He's headed over to the garden right now. He has just finished tracking a chicken."

Jon laughed! "Did you say Tony was tracking a chicken?" Then he laughed, again!

"Yes. Her name is Beth. We named her after a good friend of ours."

"Why did he track a chicken, I mean Beth?" Then he starts laughing, again and so does Sandy, in the background.

"Beth has made a nest somewhere outside the pig pen, and she has been sitting on some eggs, and we don't want the varmits finding them, and killing Beth to get to her eggs."

"I see," Jon said. "What else is going on?"

After telling Sandy and Jon about tomorrow's possible happening over in Bandera, and inviting them to join Carol, and us, I said, "Well, I talked to Kink today. He called to tell me that tomorrow night, David Hartstein's documentary—'Along Came Kinky,' about his 2006 Gov run, is airing tomorrow night in Austin, at the Paramount, and it is already sold out! It's part of the SXSW deal! I can't wait to see it."

"We know," Jon and Sandy said. "David spent a lot of time working on it—at the bookstore."

"I love David!" I said. "He is so nice! Years ago, he adopted Jimmy Stewart from us, one of my favorites, and then a while back, he adopted Harrison Ford from us! He is really a nice guy."

"We know, we like him, too." Jon and Sandy said.

"Oh, Jon!" I said. "I want to bring y'all some Fairy Tale Pumpkin seeds! Remember, Grace A. brought us that gigantic pumpkin, last week, and Carol killed it for us. She cleaned it and then cooked it! She brought us some of its seeds for planting, the innards to freeze for future use, and the best tasting pumpkin bread that we have ever eaten! In fact, it is the best bread that we've ever eaten! Carol is a gourmet cook!"

"We want the seeds, Nance..."The three of us visited for a little while longer, and then we said our goodbyes to one another.

Here is Carol V.'s Pumpkin Bread recipe—which I now fondly call, "Cousin Nancy's Secret Pumpkin Bread Recipe!" I hope that all of you will try it, because it is absolutely the BEST!

Cousin Nancy's Secret Pumpkin Bread Recipe!

1.5 (I don't know how to lower case the 1/2) cups of 100% whole wheat flour
.5 tsp. sea salt (I use Alessi)
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup of pumpkin puree
.5 cup canola oil
2 eggs from Beth—beaten, but don't let her see you doing it!
.25 tsp. nutmeg
.25 tsp. of cinnamon
.25 tsp Allspice
.50 chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350. Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients. Mix togethter, but don't mix too thouroughly. (Use a spoon, not an electric beater.) It'll make the bread tough. Stir in nuts. Pour into oiled loaf pan. Bake 50-60 minutes.

For the spread (Don't use Greek strained Fage Yogurt, as Cousin Nancy thought she was eating.)

1 block of low fat cream cheese
.5 cup of butter or Smart Balance spread
1 tsp. lemon extract
Powdered sugar to taste

Mix with electric beater or Vita Mix machine for just seconds! Just keep adding sugar until it's as sweet as you like it!

I hope that all of y'all will try Carol's, I mean my Pumpkin Bread recipe! You'll love it! I promise! Thank you Carol!

Tomorrow morning, Tony and I are going to Kerrville to do the Harley Show, and then eat breakfast at Randy and Lisa's Save Inn Restaurant! Y'all have a great evening!