Fourteen Hours!

Today has been another great day. This morning our super volunteers / friends; Eileen, Lisa, June and Jim, came out to walk our dogs and we loved it as much as our dogs did. During a walking-break, I showed off the Space Ship to them and then we went inside the trailer, to watch a short video that Eileen wanted to show us, about her and Lisa's Master Naturalist class, that they took last Fall, to become Certified Master Naturalists and it was fun to watch and the photography was beautiful. And Tony's dog—Belle Starr-Simons played nonstop in the big room, during the entire video.

Before they left to go walk more dogs, I showed them the sweet letter and cute pictures of Lucy and Ashley Judd, that Alice and Boyd from Ft. Worth, adopted on February 24th. In Alice's humorous letter she wrote that the dogs were doing great up there and they loved them. She also wrote that Ashley Judd's new record for being a couch potato—was fourteen hours without ever leaving the couch, and she sent this hilarious picture of Ashley, relaxing on the couch to prove it, which made all of us laugh.

Y'all have a great evening!

Plus 2 Minus 2 = Love!

Today has been more than great. When I did the Harley Show this morning I had so much fun. Before I told Harley who his Pet Of The Week was I said, "Harley, can I wish David Villanueva a Happy Birthday today?"

"No," Harley said, and then we both started laughing.

"Okay."

"I'm teasing you, Cousin Nancy. Of course you can wish him a happy birthday. Who is David Villanueva?"

"He's the lucky husband, of my good friend, Mari."

"Well then let's do it right," Harley said, and then in the background, Elvis started singing Happy Birthday. It was hilarious and it took me a little while to quit laughing. Then I told Harley that Daisy was his Pet Of The Week.

"Daisy's about three years old and is as sweet as she can be. She's great with other dogs, not hyper, not a digger or a climber..."

After breakfast, when Tony went outside to do his chores, I started cleaning the trailer, because my good friend Gerri, an extremely talented photographer, was coming over between ten-thirty and eleven—to "pick my brain." Which made me laugh, because like I told her, "We're talkin' slim pickings." 

As I pushed Hazel aka Purple Haze around the big room—the phone rang. Instead of letting Carlton take a message I answered the phone. "Rescue Ranch. Can I help you?"

"Ma'am, I am desperate and I hope that you can help me," A man said, sounding like he was starting to cry. "I live in San Antonio and on my way to work this morning I found a mama dog and her puppy on the corner of a busy intersection. I rescued them and put them inside my truck and I don't know what to do. I can't keep them and I have called every shelter in San Antonio and none of them will take these dogs..." And it broke my heart.

Knowing full well that we were at capacity out here and had no space available, I went ahead and told the kind-hearted man, that we could take the dogs, because today Boyd, from Fort Worth, who wanted to possibly adopt two of our dogs, had made an appointment to come out today. After the man thanked me, I gave him directions to our rescue ranch and then I went outside to tell T. about the mama dog and her pup coming in, in a few hours. 

As soon as I got back to the trailer—Gerri arrived with her friend and good neighbor, Cindy—to pick my brain. After howdies and hugs the pickin' and the grinnin' commenced and I had the best time with them. I'm not real sure if I really helped Gerri any, like she said I did, but I had a blast visiting with her and Cindy.

Mama Dog and Pup arrived, as Gerri and Cindy were driving off, as I was walking down to the puppy pen to greet the sweet couple, that had rescued the dogs. When I arrived, Gerri was holding Pup in her arms and kissing her, while visiting with the man's sweet wife, while Tone and the gentleman were putting Mama Dog into the puppy pen. 

After introductions to the caring wife, Cindy, Gerri and I took turns cuddling the cute, little fat puppy in our arms, as we visited with the nice woman. After Gerri and Cindy drove away, Tony put the puppy into the puppy pen to be with her mother and she immediately started nursing on her mama, as Mama Dog, whose ribs were showing, ate all of the dog food that Tone had put into her pan. "She's starved down now, but don't worry, I will get the weight back on her quickly," Tony promised the kind couple. After the couple thanked us and gave us a donation to help with the vet bills they drove away.

Forty minutes later, right after we finished lunch, Boyd, from Fort Worth, arrived and we really liked him from the get-go. After giving Boyd a tour and introducing him to all of our dogs and telling him all about them, he started narrowing it down. And by four o'clock he signed off on Lucy and her roommate, Ashley Judd's adoption forms! Tony and I were so thrilled for them for finally finding their forever home together. They are going to live in Cowtown with Boyd, his Aunt Alice and his 101 year old grandmother! Here are a few pictures of Boyd with Lucy, Ashley and Lucy sitting in the front seat of his car waiting to go home.

Early this evening Tony and I went outside to take pictures of Mama Dog and Pup. We plan to name them tomorrow before we take them to Hoegemeyer's to get their shots and examinations. I can't wait for Kinky to meet them. They are so beautiful and little do they know that their lives are fixin' to become the best. 

Y'all have a great evening! And may the dog of your choice bless you! Happy Birthday, David

The Queen Of Outer Space!

I have great news! Today has continued to be a great day, and that's because Mercury in retrograde is on its way out! I can't wait for Tuesday to get here, because that is when I can finally say 'adios' to Mercury, 'and good riddance!'

This morning Vern and his wife, Rita, from down around Houston, came out to the rescue ranch. They have been to the rescue ranch before, and the last time that they were here—they got to go over to the Lodge and meet Kinky! After handshakes, Vern told me that they had come out to see us and the dogs, and to make a donation, before heading up to Arlington, for their great granddaughter's wedding. I thought that was strange, because they looked younger than me. Heck, everyone looks younger than me.

When Vern told us that they had spent the night in Kerrville, I couldn't wait to tell them to try the Trail's End Guest House, the next time that they came to Kerrville. "Where did y'all stay?" I asked, ready to tell them all about David and Desiree's bed & breakfast.

"We stayed at the Trail's End Guest House," Vern said. His news totally took the wind out of my sails.

"That's fantastic!" I said. "We love that place! I was fixin' to tell you all about their place. Don't you love Desiree and David Farrar?"

"They are two of the nicest people," Vern declared, as he stood next to Trigger. "We love their cabins..."

"Me, too!" I unintentionally interrupted. "And, I think David is the best chef in Kerr County, and probably a few other counties!"

"I agree!" Vern said, nodding his head. "I would love to know his recipes."

"I know," I said. "I wish that he would either do a recipe book, or better yet, give a cooking class. Have y'all had his Baklava?"

"Yes! This morning, and it was this big..." Ten minutes later, I changed the subject, because talking about David's food was really starting to make me hungry.

"Did y'all get to meet Beckham? He's their wild hog that they adopted..."

"Yes, we met Beckham, and we fell in love with him! He has a huge pen and is so friendly." I then told Beckham's story, and how we had met Desiree and David. I guess I talked too much, because twenty minutes later they drove away, but before they left, we agreed to meet for lunch or dinner at David and Desiree's restaurant, Peasants, the next time they were in Kerrville.

This afternoon, when Tony came back with our mail, he said, "There's a package for you from Fay. Do you want me to open it for you?"

"Yes, please!" I said, as I continued to wash dishes in the sink. When Tone opened the package, he burst out laughing! "What T.? Let me see!" Tony turned the shadowbox around for me to see! Then I burst out laughing, too! "I love it!"

"Nance, Fay put your head on the Queen! You're now the Queen of Outer Space! And, she wrote you a note on the back of the box. Where are you going to hang it?"

"Either in Outer Space or the Space Ship. I'm not sure," I said, as I stared at Fay's hilarious creation.


Thank you, Fay! I love it!

Around four o'clock, the dogs started barking outside. Tony went outside to see who was driving up to the trailer. A minute later, Tone stuck his head inside the trailer, but not like Fay had stuck my head on the Queen, "Nance, that couple is here, that came out last week, that want to adopt Ashley Judd. Come on out. I want you to meet them." I went outside a few minutes later, after I had sent Fay an e-mail, thanking her for the cute shadowbox.

I found Tony, Chrissy and Tim in Ashley's and Lucy's pen. As they played with Ashley and Lucy, we had a fun visit. I really liked this young couple! "Ashley Judd is one of our rescue ranch calendar girls," I said. "Isn't she beautiful! I'm not sure what month she is, but I will go back to the trailer and find out. If her month has already passed, I will cut her picture out for y'all. I'll be right back." I took off for the trailer.

Since we were out of rescue ranch calendar's, I took ours off of the wall and thumbed through it until I found Ashley. She was Miss April!

I picked up my scissors and cut her page out of the calendar. Then I went outside and gave it to Tim and Chrissy. They loved her picture and thanked me for it! Before leaving, they told us that they would be back in two weeks to officially adopt her! They said they couldn't wait to take her home! We can't wait either! It's been a great day!

Y'all have a great evening!

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!

M & M's!

Today has been a great day and a lot of fun! After taking the photo of Jaws and Nemo—I returned Nemo back to the Lodge. Just as I was fixin’ to leave—Roy and Jo Nell G., from Utopia, arrived with Kinky’s cord of wood! As the four of us unloaded the wood from their trailer, we had a great visit with them. When their trailer was empty—they left, and then I left.

Today, Tony and I met some very nice people. While Paul was out here, a very nice retired couple from Canada, showed up on their bicycles. They are ‘snow birds,’ staying over at Koyote Ranch, for a few weeks, before heading further south. I liked them on the spot, and gave them a tour of the Space Ship, because they were staying in their RV. We had just started visiting, inside the Space Ship, with these nice people, when a van showed up. I ejected myself from the Space Ship, and went over to greet the people in the van. “Hi! I’m Cousin Nancy. Welcome to the rescue ranch!” Then this very nice woman came around the side of the van. “Hi Sasha! I’m glad that y’all made it!”

Sasha, who I had met at the Kinky Ranch Roundup, along with her friend Rebecca, had called me earlier this week, to ask if she and Rebecca could come down with some friends to volunteer today.

After Ken and Jack introduced themselves, I asked everyone to join Tony and Paul, and the two Canadians over by the Space Ship. (I wish that I could remember those two Canadian names, but a lot was going on.) After introductions, Tony and Paul left to go deliver some cat food, that Paul had delivered to us, for our neighbor down the road, who takes care of sixty cats—that were all dumped on her.

I then invited everyone to go into Outer Space for a short visit, and I really enjoyed it, but not as much as Thunder, Little Girl, Hank and Toto did! Sasha and her friends had come from Austin— with dog treats, and they generously handed them out, while all of us petted our old dogs. Conversations were flowing back and forth, and it felt like a family reunion. I loved these people, but not as much as my dogs did.

“Cousin Nancy,” Sasha said. “We came down here to volunteer. What do you want us to do? We will do anything.”

“Visit with our dogs, hand out treats, and take them for walks.”

Sasha was delighted! “We get to walk them and visit with them? We came prepared to work and do anything that you needed to get done. I can’t believe we get to walk your dogs, and get to visit with them!”

I then invited everyone inside for a quick tour of our trailer, and to let them meet Lucky, our famous three-legged cat. Since I hadn’t dusted or vacuumed today, or in other words, the trailer was a mess, no cameras were allowed, which was fine, because no one wanted to take any pictures—thank goodness!

When we went out to the front porch, I realized that my two new Canadian friends were gone! I know that they will come back, because earlier, they had asked if it would be okay for them to come out, to volunteer, and walk our dogs, while staying in the Hill Country.

First, I gave everyyone a tour of the ranch and our dogs, and then Tony showed up, and helped me finish the last half of the meet and greet tour. When we were done, Tony went to the barn and grabbed four leashes. They picked out which dogs they wanted to walk first, and Tony leashed them up, and the dog walking commenced!

Henry, Sparky, Opie, Honey, Blackie, Kahlua, Ashley Judd, Lucy, Nash Bridges, and our two adorable poodles, Muffy and Max, were the lucky dogs that went for walks today!

Jack and Sasha had just returned with Nash, and were visiting with Tony and me, while petting Nash non-stop, when they asked if they could take Muffy and Max for a walk. Tony went to M & M’s pen, put leashes on them, and then he handed off the leashes to Sasha and Jack, and they took off, and so did I.

Buttermilk and I went to get our mail on Hwy. 16. We then went over to the Lodge to drop off Kinky’s mail, and when I returned Muffy and Max were back in their pen, and Tony was sitting in Kermit—visiting with Sasha and Jack.

When I drove up to Kermit, they were all laughing! Jack told me that once they had left the rescue ranch, Max had eaten his leash in half and had run off—straight back into Tony’s arms! We visited for a short while, until Ken and Rebecca returned Lucy and Ashley Judd to their pen. Unfortunately, it was now time for them to leave, so they could get back to Austin.

Before leaving, Rebecca made a donation, and the others bought four calendars! The four promised to come back with more of their friends! I hope that they keep their promise, because our dogs loved them, and Tony and I now count them as friends.

Here is a picture that T. took of us, before they left for Austin. From left to right:
Jack, Ken, Rebecca, Me and Sasha!

I think the Canadians were Don and Susan. I hope y'all have a great evening!