The Luckiest One!

Today has been great. My back is sore tonight, because we did a lot more mowing outside and are almost caught up with that.

This morning Ashley called and left a message on Carlton. "We've decided that we want to adopt B.B. King and...." Tony and I were thrilled for B.B.

Early this evening I went over to the Lodge to visit with Brian and Kinky. Brian wanted to see my new guitar, so I took it with me. Brian who is a Martin Guitar collector played mine and he loved it. Then we and The Friedmans took a hike around the ranch and that was a lot of fun.

When I returned home, at 6:30, Tony walked out on the porch and said, "Ashley has just called and they are on their way over here to adopt B.B."

Fifteen minutes later, B.B. King was officially adopted and he was more than thrilled about it. And before they loaded him up into their car, I took this picture of B.B.'s new best friend. And then I snapped this shot of B.B. with his new best friend and the best friend's friend, so you could see how happy B.B. was to have finally found a fabulous, forever family.

For the next couple of days please keep your fingers crossed that B.B.'s adoption sticks. And that is about it for tonight.

Y'all have a great evening!

Kent & Lisa & Lucille & Kinky!

Today has been great. This morning our good friend Kent came over to see us, before getting on the road and heading back home to his sweet wife Ruthie.

When we started to drink a cup of coffee together I told Kent about my new guitar and he asked to see it, because among his many talents—he is also a very talented musician. After Kent had admired my guitar I handed it to him and said, "I'd love for you to play it." Well I was wrong about that, because Tony loved it, too.

Kent strummed it, and said, "Nancy, this is one awesome guitar. I love it." Then he started playing my guitar and singing one great song after another. I took this picture of Kent.

Tony took this picture of Kent

Kent played some famous Simon & Garfunkel, Rolling Stones, John Denver, Bob Dylan, songs, etc., which mesmerized all of us including Little Debbie, who I was cradling in my arms. Tony took this adorable picture of Little Debbie.

After we adios-ed our dear friend Kent, Tony and I jumped into Trigger and took off for the Koyote Grill, at the Medina Highpoint Resort, so we could celebrate Lisa's birthday with her and our great  friends/volunteers.

Lisa's belated birthday party was so much fun and sweet Eileen provided Lisa's beautiful, delicious birthday cake. "Thank you, Eileen!"

During Lisa's super fun birthday celebration we did so much laughing and joking, my back actually began to ache from laughing so hard, but fortunately it is fine now—thank goodness. 

After Lisa's birthday party Tony and I were in the best of moods, but that changed rapidly when we pulled up to the rescue ranch gate, because we saw a happy dog, inside the rescue ranch, come running towards us, as the gate slowly swung open. "*^%#," Tony said, in disgust. "Some #@#@&^% has dumped a dog on us and I bet it was that woman who called you yesterday, that we probably just passed on the bridge, heading for 16...."

It was obvious to us that this sweet, happy, friendly, young female dog had recently had a litter of pups, ran up to Tony wagging her tail rapidly and she let Tone slip a leash around her neck. And she sat, on command when Tony told her to sit. 

Tony ended up temporarily putting her in the alley, between Merlin's and Miranda's pen and then he fed her and filled up a bucket full of water, then we drove up to The Cabin, so we could grab our cameras. Because one of my heroes, B.B. King passed away today, I've named her Lucille, because B.B. always named his black guitars Lucille and we think that Lucy is a Boxer mix. Here are some beautiful pictures of Lucille that Tony took of her.

Because of the weather and it being the weekend, we will take Lucille to Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic, this Monday, so we can get her spayed, shots, etc. And that is about it for tonight, because we are going to go meet Kinky for dinner.

Y'all have a great weekend, including the wonderful person who dumped Lucille, at our rescue ranch.

Tree House!

The last few days have been great, but nothing exciting has happened out here, probably because they have been gray, drizzling days and all I wanted to do was stay warm inside The Cabin.

This past Friday morning after Tony and I did our chores outside, we decided to work on B.B. King's pen, because an old cedar tree had fallen down, on the top of his dog house and instantly converted it to a tree house, inside B.B. King's pen. Because Tony will not let me go near a chainsaw, he cut up the timber and fallen branches while I tried to remove most of his cuttings, from the dog pen. This is what we still have left to do to finish the job.

By the time our dear friends Kris & Jim arrived, both of our backs were killing us, so we called it a day for tree removal work and instead we had a fun visit with Kris and The Mineral Man, before going to lunch with them, at La Fours, in Kerrville. (I only had a cup of their delicious seafood gumbo, because I was still full from juicing earlier.)

When we got back to the ranch, we laughed when we saw B.B. King walking up and down one of the nearly downed cedars, so I grabbed my camera and took this picture of him. Then I took this picture of Mr. King to use on our website.

This afternoon Tony and I went to Kerrville. Our first stop, at the crack of noon, was at the Next Generation Produce, because we wanted to drink their Bear Pear juice and I needed to buy some more organic fruits and vegetables. 

We ordered our delicious juices and while I was shopping around the cool store, Tony also ordered a shot of their Tumeric, ginger and lime juice, without me knowing it and he drank it before I returned to get my Bear Pear juice. When he told me about drinking a shot of that powerful juice, I ordered one too, after I had read about its many healing benefits, while sipping my Bear Pear juice.

Then we went to the big H-E-B store, on Main Street, so we could get groceries—mainly fruits and vegetables and then we came back home.

This afternoon it was still gray and drizzling, not my favorite kind of day, because I am a sunshine person and I need a lot of it. Anyway, around 4:00, the sun came out! I was thrilled about the sunshine and asked Tony to go outside with me so I could try to take some better pictures of Hazel and Katee Sackoff for our website.

When we got outside, we decided that I would try to get pictures of Hazel, while he tried to take a good picture of Katee, in Springsteen's pen, because we weren't sure how long the sunshine would last. And I am glad that we did, because it got cloudy twenty minutes later and it has stayed that way. Here's my best picture of Hazel, who never changes her expression. She is about four-years-old and here's Tone's picture of sweet Katee who is only about one year old and is medium-sized. (And her face looks just like Tony's Belle.)

When we came back inside The Cabin I cooked dinner for Tony and me using two new delicious vegan recipes. I cooked Drew's delicious Indian (Meatless) Cutlets recipe that tastes just like meat and believe it or not the main ingredients are: walnuts, bread crumbs, eggs and cottage cheese. Yes, I know that doesn't sound delicious, but it was and Tony ate two cutlets and he is or was a meat and potatoes only kind of a man. Here's a picture of his cutlets before he devoured them.

I also fixed us yams, which he has always disliked. I found this easy to make vegan recipe, on the Internet, with these main ingredients: yams, chili powder, butter and a small amount of brown sugar. Omg! It was totally delicious and Tony took second helpings of it! And when he handed me his empty plate to clean, he said, "That's the first time that I have ever liked yams. You need to fix us yams, like these, more often. I can't believe I love yams now and..." And that is about it for tonight, because we're going to watch the Cowboys game.

Y'all have a great evening!

Bill's Signature Dish!

Today has been great. This afternoon Tony and I went to Kerrville to buy groceries and a bottle of whiskey and to pick up Dude, that dog we rescued that belonged to that homeless young man, trying to get back to his parent's home, in California.

At the big H-E-B, with the exception of whiskey, I filled my shopping cart with all of the ingredients needed to make Ree Drummod's Peach-Whiskey Chicken recipe. Her easy to make, delicious recipe is on the Food Network, courtesy of Ree Drummond. So click on: Peach-Whiskey Chicken to check it out, because it has a Five-Star rating on the Food Network.

I luckily found out about Ree Drummond's Peach-Whiskey Chicken recipe, because of my dear friend Carol. When she told me that it was Bill's signature dish and how much she loved it and Bill, I knew I had to try the recipe

When I made it for Chet, Kinky and Tony they loved it more than me, because they all got second servings. Anyway, I hope that y'all will try it, because I promise you that it will become your favorite recipe, too.

Before we went to Hoegemeyers we stopped, at Spec's liquor store, so I could buy the whiskey for the recipe. And when I was paying the cashier, a woman standing behind me tapped my shoulder and loudly said, "Trust me. This woman is way over twenty-one-years-old." Then our dear friend, Gerri laughed, the cashier laughed, the people in line behind me and I laughed.

"Yes, it's true," I joked back, as the cashier handed me my bottle of booze, in a sack. "And this woman is way over the legal drinking age, too! Good grief, Gerri! It is so good to see you. How are you and Don doing?...."

When we arrived at Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic, I told Susan, "We're here to pick up Dude, but I want to change his name."

"I knew you would," Susan said, followed by a chuckle. "What's his new name?"

"I won't know until we meet him. I'll tell you in just a minute." Then we followed Robin to the kennels, in the back of the clinic, so we could meet him.

Oh my gosh, this great, once homeless dog, instantly stole my heart. His eyes are what did it for me, because they were full of love. Then Robin told us that he is really cool around other dogs, extremely sweet, but he does need to be leash trained. Then Robin showed us Daisy, a dog that we also rescued last week, from a man losing his battle with cancer, with little time left.

Last week this gentleman told me that Daisy had showed up at his place and she looked like she had been hit by a car, because she had a hard time getting to her feet. He told me that she was a sweet dog, but due to his medical costs he could not afford to take her to a vet and there is more to Daisy's story, but not for tonight, due to time.

She is a lovely, sweet dog, but because she needs three expensive, upcoming surgeries, because she was hit by a car, she is going to have to stay, at the clinic, for a while. Here is a picture of Daisy that he had e-mailed to me earlier. She is only one-year-old and is as sweet as she can be.

When Tony and I returned to the lobby, I told Susan, "His new name is B.B. King!" That made Susan laugh as she changed it on B.B.'s rabies certificate. "And because we already have a Daisy, I'm changing her name to Bonnie Raitt." Susan and the people, in the lobby, chuckled. Tony didn't laugh, because he wasn't there, because he had gone to the rest room.

"Robin and I knew that you would change her name too," Susan teased. "Bonnie Raitt is a great name for her." Then we watched B.B. King literally drag Robin, out the front door. "Let me help you, Robin!" I half-hollered. Then I turned around and joked, "Better her than me." Then I left the building, to go help Robin load B.B. into a crate.

Mr. King road great, inside his crate, in the Expedition aka Buttermilk. Before Tony put him in a temporary pen, I tried to take some quick pictures of B.B., but he was so excited, because some of our dogs were barking at him, I didn't get a good picture of him, but I promise I will in the next few days.

Before we drove on up to The Cabin, I took this picture of Springsteen and Katee Sackhoff together at last, in their pen, because they had been the welcoming committee that greeted B.B. King, to the rescue ranch.

After we put up our groceries, I started cooking the Peach-Whiskey Chicken recipe, for tomorrow's lunch, because I do that often, so we will have a, warmed, delicious meal awaiting us, when we finish up our chores outside.

I had just started browning the chicken when Carol called me. "Carol, I am putting you on Speaker Phone, because I have just started cooking Bill's signature dish..." We had a really fun visit, filled with laughter, that lasted as long as it took me to put the foil over the Peach-Whiskey Chicken dish and slide it into the 300 degrees oven, to bake for one and a half hours. And that is about it for tonight. I wish y'all could join us for lunch tomorrow.

Y'all have a great evening!

B.B.!

Today has been great and I promise you that this will be a short post and a quick read.

This afternoon Tony and I went to our good friend Stan's music store, Melody Corner, in Kerrville, so I could buy an inexpensive electric guitar, because I am determined to learn how to play B.B. King's signature song, The Thrill Is Gone.

Kinky, Tony and I love Stan a lot and when Tony and I walked inside his super cool music store, Stan looked up, smiled and said, "Hi Cousin Nancy and Tony! It is so good to see you two." After greetings, I told Stan that I was looking to buy an inexpensive electric guitar. "Well, I've got a great, country-sounding electric to show you. It's the one hanging up, in the corner over there."

Then Tony says, "Stan, she's wanting a pink one. If you've got one." Then he and Tony chuckled.

"Sorry Cousin Nancy, I don't have any pink ones in stock right now."

I chuckled and then I said, "Stan, I'm actually looking for an electric, that I can play B.B.'s The Thrill is Gone on." After we had quit laughing about Stan assuming that I wanted a country-sounding electric, he showed me a Telecaster that was pretty and definitely the right price for me. In other words, It was cheap. "I like it and want to buy it."

"Great, but first let me play it for you, so you can check out it's sound. It has two pickups." Then Stan grabbed my Telecaster from the rack, sat down, on a stool and plugged my Telecaster into a nearby Marshall amp. Then he started playing B.B.'s most famous song that I absolutely love and never get tired of hearing. And he and it sounded so good it seriously blew Tony and me out of the saddle and it gave me instant goose bumps, because Stan is such an awesome musician and he can play any song and any musical instrument.

So tonight I am spending the evening messing around with my new Telecaster and here's a picture of it. And just so you'll know—I've already named it B.B. and I totally love it and the thrill is definitely not gone, because it is not pink!

Y'all have a great evening!

Full Of Spirit!

This morning, while drinking coffee with Kinky, we discussed ranch business, and when that was done, Kinky showed me Mr. Magoo’s latest toy. It is a green and yellow, stuffed ball, and when you squeeze it—it starts playing zydeco music! Gooie was running around the Lodge, with the toy in his mouth—serenading us!

Then, while in the kitchen, we looked outside to find our donkeys, Roy and Gabby—trying to remove Kinky’s new rain gauge! We went outside, and quickly took it from Roy, and then Kinky remounted it in stump of wood.

Before leaving, Kinky told me that he was doing Fox and Friends, tomorrow morning at 7:15 am in Austin. Then he is doing Fox and Friends again on Tuesday, September 2nd at 7:15 am and then doing Imus live with Ratso and Little Jewford—right after he does Fox and Friends!

I just received a call that has made my day! My Spirit mattress and bedding is going to be delivered late this afternoon! Yee Haw! I can’t wait! It will definitely be a Kodak (Sony) moment and will post pictures on its arrival!

Kinky just called, and he is cooking boneless chicken thighs—for Toto! He is coming over in just a few minutes to have a picnic in Outer Space with Toto and my gang!

Here is an update on Kinky’s latest upcoming events:
Kinky & Co. Head East!

Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere
.Start: Aug. 28 2008 - 7:30 pm
Join Kinky and special guests Little Jewford and Washington Ratso on August 28 for a night of classic Kinky Friedman songs at one of the DC area’s finest listening rooms, the Birchmere.

Kinky’s new book, What Would Kinky Do? How to Unscrew a Screwed Up World, will also be available. With gas prices on the rise, an election on the horizon, and global warming making the summer hotter than ever, this country is in dire need of Kinky's notorious humor and wit this season.

The Birchmere is located at 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. in Alexandria, VA. For tickets and more information, call 703-549-7500 or visit www.birchmere.com.

Woodstock, NY - The Midnight Ramble
Start: Aug. 30 2008 - 8:00 pm
Kinky is joining Levon Helm (The Band) on August 30 for his legendary Midnight Ramble Sessions.

This show is one of the hottest tickets anywhere on the east coast. Held at Helm’s intimate home studio in the Catskill Mountains, the Sessions are known for their festival atmosphere and the great show Levon and his band put on.

Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
Start: Aug. 31 2008 - 8:00 pm
Join Kinky and special guests Little Jewford and Washington Ratso on August 31 for a night of classic Kinky Friedman songs at one of Philly’s best venues, World Café Live. The small room upstairs is where it's at in this venue, and that's where Kinky and the boys will be presiding.    
                            
New York, NY - B.B. King Blues Club
Start: Sept. 1 2008 - 8:00 pm
Join Kinky and special guests Little Jewford and Washington Ratso on September 1 for a night of classic Kinky Friedman songs at the legendary B.B. King Blues Club. Kinky hasn't played a full show in New York in so long, you'll definitely want to book your tickets early. The Village Irregulars and Kinkophiles will be haunting this show—a do not miss event!