Some Really Great Reads!

Today has been great, but it wasn't so great this morning. Right after I did Harley's fun radio show, a very sad, crying, woman called me, and the sad story that she told me almost made me cry, too. Back in 2005, her son adopted Molly Ivins from us, but the young man ended up asking his dad, her ex-husband, to give the dog a home, in Lousiana. The dad / ex-husband loved Molly, but he is now close to losing his battle with cancer, so now this nice woman, who called me, has Molly Ivins.

She told me that she loves Molly so much and her heart is broken, because the trailer park that she lives in, in Kerrville, told her that she must get rid of Molly, because Molly is too big. To make a long, sad story short—I told her that we would gladly take Molly back. Then she told me that she still has two friends that are considering taking Molly, but if they can't, tomorrow she will drop Molly off at Hoegemeyers for us to pick up.

Around 10:00, I went over to see Kinky and visit. During our fun visit, out on the porch, he told me that yesterday when he saw his yellow cat, that he recently rescued and named Yellowy, catch a hummingbird. Kinky quickly removed the little bird from Yellowy's mouth. "Was it dead?" I reluctantly asked, because I hate hearing sad animal stories.

"No, Nance. As soon as I removed it from his mouth, I opened up my hands and the tiny hummer flew away! I wish that you could have been here to see it."

"I do too," I said. "Wow! Sunday, Tony rescued a buzzard and yesterday you rescued a hummingbird. I love it..."

A little later when I had returned home Tony showed me a Cardinal's nest, that he had found, in our Purple Sage bush, by our front yard gate. So I grabbed my camera and took a picture, through the fence, of the almost hidden nest, with four little eggs inside it.

After lunch, while Tony went to get the mail, I checked my e-mail. Our good friends Kris & Jim had sent me note, asking me to check out their latest post, on their fun to read blog, Footloose And Kid-Free In The Hill Country. I did and I loved it. It was a really great read. So please check it out, because there is also a story about our recent Concert for Utopia.

When Tony walked inside The Cabin, with our mail, I decided to check out the Bandera County Courier, because I always enjoy reading their newspaper. When I started reading the Hill Country Happenings section I was nicely surprised when I saw my friend's face, on page 5B, because there was a fabulous article written about my dear friend and talented author, Phil Houseal's newest book An Interrupted Conversation! It was a really great read, too and I plan to buy a copy tomorrow, after I talk to Phil about his latest book. Please click on the link to read the Bandera County Courier's article: Houseal's conversation, interrupted, because it is another really great read.

Late this afternoon my dear friend Chet O'Keefe called me to talk about his upcoming House Concert, that Tony and I are having for him, at the rescue ranch. We talked about amps, dates, etc. and before we adios-ed each other he told me, "Nancy, I am almost finished reading your first book, The Road To Utopia: How Kinky, Tony & I Saved More Animals Than Noah and I love all of the stories. It is a really great read and my mom can't wait to start reading it when I'm through. Oh yeah, I also read Farewell My Subaru by Doug Fine, that you gave to me. It was funny and it was a really great read, too...."

And that is about it for tonight, because I am going outside to mow down some beautiful, tall, green grass.

Y'all have a great evening reading!

Mari Called!

Today has been a lot of fun thanks to our good friends Jon Wolfmueller and Mari, the famous member of the best dog agility training team in Texas—The NoMads.

This morning I walked eight miles with Sansone and then I went outside and helped Marvin, our newest super volunteer—pick up dog poop, while Tony fed all of the dogs. Before Marvin left he thanked me for loaning him my copy of the book, Farewell, My Subaru by Doug Fine. Like me, he thought it was a fun read and filled with good information about "going-green."

After Marvin left I came inside the trailer to check my e-mail. Mari had sent me an "e" about wanting to meet up with us in Kerrville today, so she could loan me her copy of the movie "lovely, still" starring Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn—two of my favorite actors. So, we decided to meet at Wolfmueller's Books at two o'clock for the exchange.

We left the rescue ranch at one o'clock with two copies of the November / December issue of Texas Animal Imprints magazine, so I could give one to the Wolfmuellers and one to Mari. As we crossed the Echo Hill cattle guard— Pumpkin and Pilgrim began howling loudly in the back seat, because they did not want to get spayed and neutered and their shots.

The friendly staff at Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic instantly fell in love with P&P, but "the terriers" were not exactly happy to see us leave the clinic at ten minutes till two.

When T. and I walked into Wolfmueller's crowded bookstore, Jon greeted us and then said, "Mari called. She will be here in just a few minutes." Then I gave him a copy of Texas Animal Imprints and we talked about it. "Nancy, this is one good looking magazine," he said, as he thumbed through it. "Why don't y'all sit down, so we can visit."

In no time flat, we were laughing in our chairs, as we shared our latest news. Then Jon left us and took off. Seconds later he returned with a book, "Nancy, Sandy just got this cookbook in yesterday and we think that you are going to love it..."

The second that I saw the book I said, "I want to buy it." After paying Jon for it, I sat down and started checking out the cool recipes and then Mari walked in. "Hi, Mari! It is so good to see you." After greetings, she handed me one of her favorite feel-good movies—"lovely, still."

"I promise that you are going to love this movie. It was a sleeper," Mari said, and then we discussed the movie. Minutes later our conversation turned to our favorite recipes in the Easy Soup Recipes. "My favorite recipe so far is "The Blue Norther Winner," Mari said. 

"It's our favorite, too," I said. "And it is so easy to make."

"I know," Mari said. "Today, my brother-in-law Danny and four of his work crew were over at the ranch, so I fixed them the "The Blue Norther Winner" on page 131 and they went crazy over it and they each ate three servings of it! There was nothing left! It was amazing to me. In fact, Danny was so impressed with the delicious meal, that I had to promise him that I would get his wife a copy of the cookbook. Jon, I need to buy two more copies of it. I love that cookbook."

"You can't," John said, with a laugh, which caused a chain reaction of laughter. "We're out, again, thanks to Cousin Nancy's blog, but Sandy has some more ordered and they should be here by tomorrow." Then I noticed Mari staring at the book in my hand.

"Mari, I just bought this cookbook and you are going to love this one, too!" I said, as I showed it to her. Then we started thumbing through the pages to look at the pictures and the recipes.

"Jon, I want to buy this one, too," Mari said. John started laughing.

"You can't." Jon said, again. "Nancy just bought the only copy that we have, but we can order you one." And then our laughter filled the crowded bookstore, as my back began to ache from laughing too much.

"I knew it!" Mari declared, as we chuckled non-stop. "Nancy, I am going to go broke keeping up with your daily blog recommendations!" She joked. "Seriously, I just mailed out a check for a subscription to Texas Animal Imprints magazine, because of you." Jon, Tony and I couldn't quit laughing as Mari, who I think is "The Funniest Woman In Texas," jokingly told us about how much she has spent buying the things I like.

"Maybe you can write them all off?" I teased, as Jon went to the counter to check out another happy customer who found another rare book. "Maybe like a living expense or something like..."

"Nance, we need to leave and get back to the ranch," Tone said, as he stood up. Even though he was right, I hated to leave our good friends, Jon and Mari, but he was right—we needed to get back to the ranch, so we took off.

On our way home I couldn't quit reading my new, fabulous cookbook, which Mari doesn't have, yet. Sorry, Mari. I promise that you will love it when you get it!  : ) 

When we got home I decided to walk another four miles with Leslie Sansone, but Tone didn't think it was a good idea, so I had to explain it to him. "T., if I walk twelve miles today and twelve miles tomorrow and the next day—I will be caught up. It is no big deal," I said, as Leslie's four mile tape began. As I started walking in place, Tony went outside to check on our dogs.

Today, I have walked twelve miles. The miles that I have officially walked this year so far is 1,646 miles and I only have to walk 179 more miles before the New Year and I know I can do it.

Before I go watch Mari's favorite movie "lovely, still" I have one last thing to share. Today on Yahoo they have posted the 100 Top Most Popular Baby Names for this year and unfortunately, Kinky's, Tony's and Cousin Nancy did not make the list. How sad. I wonder why?

P.S. Tomorrow morning James Dean, our precious little Chihuahua is getting adopted!

Y'all have a great evening!

Peggy Has A Poop Problem!

Last night after I posted my blog I sat down and watched Hallmark's new holiday movie, "Christmas In November" and I loved it. Sam Elliott starred in it, who I think is one of the sexiest men on the planet, and his performance was outstanding. Even though I teared up several times while watching it—the surprise ending blew me out of my saddle. And, I plan to go to the Hallmark store in Kerrville tomorrow and buy a copy of it.

After the movie ended I channel surfed and found myself getting a little depressed, because there are so few television shows on anymore that are happy or are about love, so I am now seriously considering turning in my Direct TV receiver and just watch my collection of upbeat, romantic movies or comedies. Why should I pay for two hundred channels that I would never watch, because they are either depressing or filled with violence. This morning I talked to Tony about it during our breakfast.

"Tony, it is fine with me to keep your receiver, so you can watch your sports shows, but I am going to return my receiver, because..."

"Before you do that, why don't you try turning the television off for a few days, to make sure you can do without it?" Tone suggested. "Your favorite show "Men Of A Certain Age" new season starts next Monday night and you love watching the Weather Channel and The Wonder Years,  The Golden Girls and..." When he was done talking, I decided to rethink my decision some more.

This morning when I went outside to help T. clean the dog pens I was nicely surprised to see Marvin here. "Howdy, Marvin!" I half-hollered, because he was busy cleaning Hank's and Lois Lane's pen. "Thank you, for coming out!..." Then I grabbed a yellow colored bucket and the pooper-scooper from the back end of Kermit and then I started cleaning up dog pens as Tony fed the dogs.

Around two o'clock as planned, June, one of our great volunteers, showed up with her nice friends Ron and Mary, from Mason, who were thinking about adopting a dog from us. So, after introductions June, Tony and I gave them a tour of the rescue ranch and introduced them to all of our dogs.

When the tour was over Ron and Mary, who I really liked, had narrowed down their choices to Hank, Lucy and Gracie—all three super, great dogs. And, guess who got adopted—Hank! June, Tony and I were thrilled for him and we couldn't quit telling Mary and Ron what a great dog Hank was and how much we loved him! After Ron signed Hank's adoption papers, we shook hands with June's super friends and then I kissed Hank goodbye and wished him luck with his new forever home and then our good friends P&P showed up!

Because I was starting to tear up, because I loved Hank so much and knew that I would miss him terribly, but at the same time feeling happy for him to have found such a great home, I starting walking off towards the trailer to greet Peggy and Patty and half-hollered back, "Thank you, June! It was nice meeting you, Mary and Ron, and thank y'all so much for adopting Hank!"

By the time I reached the trailer I was okay. "Howdy, Patty and Peggy! Thank y'all so much for coming out. I am so glad to see y'all. How in the world have y'all been?" Then we went into Outer Space, so we could have a hen party before Tony joined us.

At one point during our fun conversation Peggy tells me about her old, gray cat dying and then a few days later, a little, young stray, gray colored cat appearing on her and her husband's doorstep. "I named him Smokey, but I should have named him Smelly Cat, because after my husband, Patty's Dad, went back into the hospital, he started pooping all over our house. In the hallway, the bedrooms—everywhere. I don't know what to do with him. It's horrible and it stinks really bad. We've never had a cat do this and he is neutered. We can't figure out what is wrong with him." We all started laughing about Peggy and her husband's stinky predicament.

"Peggy, I bet it is because he is upset and stressed out, because y'all's routine changed. I bet when your husband comes home and things return to normal he will stop pooping everywhere," I said, as Tone walked in Outer Space. After he greeted them, I said, "Tony, Peggy's got a poop problem." We all laughed and then Peggy told T. about her cat with the poop problem.

Then Patty, who I think is the funniest woman to live in Florida, told us about her fun trip to Cleveland to see the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum. "It was totally awesome and I love Cleveland. It is a great city...." Then she reaches into a gift sack and hands me a baby blue embroidered cap that she bought for me at the cool museum which I plan to wear only on very special occasions. Then Patty pulls out another present for me—a Bota Box of vintage fine wine 2009—Pinot Grigio, so I suggested we drink some to celebrate being together and then I went inside the trailer to grab some glasses.

"Girls, these are my new Pier One, four dollar a piece glasses. I bought four," I jokingly bragged, as Tone popped open a cold beer. After half-filling our drinking glasses with sparkling wine we toasted: "To life! To Us!"

Then we talked about chickens and the chicken coop that I am fixin' to build, Patty's new iPad, Doug Fine's book Farewell, My Subaru and the books that Patty had found and bought at Sandy and Jon's Wolfmueller's Books store, her dear friend Brenda, who I can't wait to meet, George Strait and the 90's movie, "Pure Country," and lastly—we talked about my new teeth.

Around five fifteen, after Peggy had tried on my new Justin Gypsy boots and declared that she loved them and was going to go buy herself a pair, they told me that they needed to leave, so they could get back home before it got dark. I totally understood, but hated to see them leave, because they are two great women. In fact, today I told Peggy, "Peggy, you are such an inspiration to me. Seriously, I hope that when I or if I get to be your age that I am at least as half as cool as you are."

After hugging and saying goodbye to P&P, I came inside the trailer and called Kinky. "Kinky! Hank got adopted to a great home this afternoon. June brought her friends out and ..." Kinky was thrilled to hear my great news about Hank finally finding his fantastic forever home with June's friends. I hope that it works out for Hank and Ron and Mary's dog. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Y'all have a great evening! (And, Patty, I hope that you have a safe flight tomorrow. See y'all after Christmas and please tell Brenda that I said, "Howdy!"

Not A Problem!

Today has been a quiet day, which was good, because I walked six miles and then spent most of my day doing paperwork and returning phone calls and e-mails.

After lunch Buttermilk took us to Kerrville to get dog food and gas at H-E-B. Then we swung by Copies Plus so Tony could pick up some postcards that they printed for him. Marcie greeted us when we walked inside and then she handed T. his large pack of beautiful postcards and they looked beautiful, as usual. Unfortunately, Trisha was out running errands, so we wished Marcie a happy turkey day and then we took off for home.

"Tony, you have got to read Doug Fine's book. I finished reading it last night and I loved it." T. nodded his head up and down, as he slowed down and carefully steered Buttermilk through some never-ending road construction on 16. "In one chapter of his book, Doug talked about raising his chickens and eating their healthy organic eggs and about a coyote who loved his chickens more than their eggs. I want to buy some chickens."

"Nance," Tone said. "I want chickens too. I miss them. But remember last year when a coon found ours and killed everyone of them within a week. I don't think it is a good..."

"Tony, I want chickens, so we can eat healthy eggs, again. I was thinking that maybe next week after everything settles down here, I'd build us a new chicken coop and I know I can do it all by myself and it would be a fun project for me, healthier for us and help us leave a smaller carbon footprint. I've been checking out chicken coop designs on the Internet this morning while doing paperwork and..."

"T. shook his head sideways. "Okay, but you are going to have to build it by yourself, because of my back." I smiled and thought, "Not a problem."

"Great! We can go to Home Depot on Monday or Tuesday and I will charge it all to my account. I can't wait! I bet I can build it in a couple of days and then we will go get us some chickens! Hello, healthy eggs! And, I could paint it pink!"

This evening I took some pictures of our newly decorated trailer. Thunder is in the first picture and Toto is the "old man" on the newly upholstered navy blue chair. I love the transformation and I hope that you like the new curtains, painted kitchen and painted rugs that I made.

I just took this of Mama. I am fixin' to surf the Net for chicken coop designs!

Y'all have a great evening!

Fingers Crossed!

Today has been great. This morning June, Eileen and Jim came out to walk our dogs, and then Marvin, our good friend and neighbor showed up to volunteer! Thank y'all so much for all that you do!

Since I painted "the wall" a few days ago I have been busy reupholstering the chairs, making new curtains and painting new rugs—in between running the rescue ranch and returning phone calls and e-mails. It seems that every time that I paint a wall or change something inside, I end up redecorating and it drives me crazy until everything is done and looks right. Thank goodness, I figure that I only have about four more hours left to finish my new work-in-progress and can then rest.

A little after twelve-thirty, Tony and I went to Medina for two reasons. One, to eat lunch with Eileen and June and then go to the Medina Ace Hardware, so I could buy some paint. Lunch was a lot more fun and entertaining than picking paint colors for the rugs and cabinets—just ask Tone. And, thank you June for treating us to lunch—you're too sweet and our lunch was delicious.

This evening I discovered that our web site: utopiarescue.com is temporarily down due to some technical problems and it should be fixed and back up by tomorrow.

For today's good news—it looks like Jill is finally going to find her forever home tomorrow, with a very nice woman, who lives in San Antonio, who knows Jill's story and she can't wait to adopt her. Tony and I have our fingers crossed for that sweet little dog. This will be her fourth time to get adopted and hopefully this time it will stick. And, please keep your fingers crossed for her, too.

It is nearly eight o'clock and I am tired. After I post this blog, I plan to read some more of Doug Fine's fine and funny book, for an hour or so, and then I am hitting the hay.

Y'all have a great evening!