A Deer Magnet! or Girl Scouts Rule!

Today has been great. This morning after we did our chores outside, I called Hoegemeyer's to check on Tuesday Weld, who had just been spayed and in recovery. The veterinarian that I spoke to, told me that Tuesday was a lovely, Pit Bull and as sweet as she could be and she is probably one to one-and-a-half- years old. And, we get to pick her up tomorrow and bring her to the rescue ranch.

As soon as I hung up the phone, it rang and it was Kinky calling me from the road, because tonight he and Little Jewford will be performing in Lufkin, to kickoff The Tour-Ette, to help raise money for our rescue ranch. "Hi, Nance. I'm calling to find out how Tuesday Weld is doing." After I told him what I had just found out about Ms. Weld, I wished him luck with his show tonight and then we adios-ed each other.

A few minutes later, around 11:00, I went outside to greet Chris and Jennifer, from Houston, who earlier had made an appointment to come out for a tour. Tony and I gave them the Grand Tour, because we really liked this young, friendly, dog-loving couple. When their tour began, our neighbor's people friendly, pet deer decided to join us and tag along and it followed us from one dog pen to another and it was pretty funny. And when we ended the first part of their tour, in front of the pigpen, the people-loving-deer would not leave Chris alone, by walking back and forth, in between Chris' legs and then standing up on its hind legs and leaning on him, so Jennifer and I teased Chris about him being a deer whisper and a deer magnet.

The sweet couple loved our rescue ranch and The Okay Corral, Tony's No Whiner Diner, Outer Space, The Cabin and our six member fur-family, that loved them back.

They stayed for about an hour and a half and Tony and I really enjoyed their visit, but they sure pulled the wool-over-our-eyes. Right before they were ready to leave, Jennifer told us that she and Chris had been married for thirteen years, which shocked us. "Did y'all get married when y'all were ten-years- old?" I jokingly asked, which made them laugh. "Seriously, I thought y'all were in your mid-twenties."

"Me, too," Tony added.

"We got married when we were thirty," Jennifer said. "I'm forty-three and people are always telling us that we look a lot younger than we are." We chatted for a few more minutes and then we adios-ed them, as they climbed on their Kawasaki motorcycle, to go eat lunch at Toucan Jim's, in Center Point, because we had recommended it to them, along with Cal-Bob's Cook Shack, The Save Inn and being sure to check out Wolfmueller's Books.

Because my time was getting tight, because I had made an appointment at 1:30, with Blayre, (Correct spelling) a really cool, thirteen-year-old Girl Scout, I made grilled cheese sandwiches and bean soup for our lunch and Tony loved it.

As soon as I had cleaned up the kitchen, Blayre and her father arrived promptly, so we went out to my pink writing cabin, so we could discuss her Silver Project, that she wants to do to help our rescue ranch.

"We came out here last year and you gave us a tour and after I had read both of your books, all I've wanted to do is help Utopia," Blayre told me. Then we talked about her Silver Project.

Blayre, along with some of her friends help, that she has already recruited, are going to bake healthy dog treats for our rescued dogs, using peanut butter, whole wheat flour, oats and water! "I ate one of them," she confessed to me, "but, I didn't like it much, because I like white flour and white bread..."

As I listened to this wonderful, kind-hearted, young lady, I nearly teared up a few times, because I was so impressed with her. "I love dogs so much and I think it would help your visitors and possible adopters get a better impression of your dogs, if they gave them treats," she explained. "We will try to bake 500 dog treats weekly and deliver them to you and..." Then she handed me two, sample baggies filled with her homemade dog treats to give to our dogs.

When our Silver Project meeting had officially ended, I thanked Blayre for being such a sweet and caring girl for wanting to help us and then I told her how impressed I was with her and then I told her that she was a real winner, in my book and a great person and for her to never change, because our world needs more people like her. While I shook her father's hand, I said, "You and your wife have raised your daughter right and I thank you for that. I can't express how impressed I am with her..."

After this truly great, young Girl Scout and her father drove away, to go back home, I came inside The Cabin and told Tony all about my impressive meeting with Blayre and then we tried out six of her doggie cookies on our dogs and they absolutely loved them, especially Roy Rogers, who wouldn't quit begging for just one more. Tomorrow, we will give the rest of Blayre's delicious doggie cookies to our dogs outside. And that is about it for today. "Thank you so much, Blayre! You truly made my day."

Y'all have a great evening!

Girl Scout Troop 619 Really Rocks Big Time!!

This morning I was awakened, at six o'clock, when the phone rang—it was Kinky. "Nance? Nance are you there? I just remembered that we are having breakfast with Beth and two of her friends this morning. Call me." Click. Then the phone rang again—it was Kinky. "Nance, call me!"

After my dogs had used me, for their human diving board, to leap off of the bed, I rolled out of bed. I went to the front door, let my furry-friends outside, and then I picked up the phone, and punched in Kinky's number. "Morning, Kinky," I said, sleepily. I just woke up." He and I talked for about three minutes. By the end of our conversation, we had us a plan. I would ride with Kinky, and he and Mr. Green Jeans would pick me up a little before eight-thirty, so we could be at the restaurant by nine o'clock.

After feeding our dogs and Lucky, I made some coffee, and then cleaned up. At eight-sixteen, there was a knock at our door—it was Kinky.

We had a really fun breakfast with Beth and her good friends, Norma and Mack. They were really nice, interesting people. Kinky had huevos rancheros, and I just had coffee, because I had drank my healthy smoothie breakfast, earlier. Following breakfast, Kinky ran a couple of errands, and then we headed back to the ranch.

Kinky and Green Jeans dropped me off at the rescue ranch around eleven o'clock. Our super volunteers, June and her friend, Kay, were here, and so was Jim! June and Kay were in the pens handing out treats, while Jim was out walking our dogs! I loved it, but not as much as our dogs did! Thank you, June, Kay and Jim!

Around twelve-thirty, the dogs outside—started barking! Without looking out the door, I knew who it was! Not because I am psychic, but because they had made an appointment earlier in the week. I picked up the phone and called Kinky! "Kinky, it's Nance. The Girl Scouts from Dripping Springs have just arrived with their doghouses!"

"Great! I'm on my way!"

I grabbed my camera, and then left the trailer, so I could go greet them! When I arrived at the barn, I saw two of the prettiest, well built doghouses that I have ever seen, and then I met Sharon K., the sweet troop leader, in charge of their 'Bronze Award' project! Sharon's daughter, Rose, along with Girl Scouts Bonnie and Brady had built two super doghouses for us! The girls doghouses were beautiful, well engineered with air vents, and mighty heavy! I knew our dogs were going to love them!

I visited with Sharon, Brady, Rose, and Bonnie, and some other troop members, as Ben and Aaron unloaded the doghouses from the trailer. Then Kinky and Mr. Green Jeans arrived. Kinky was awestruck when he saw the super doghouses! While he shook hands and thanked the three girls for their hard work and fine craftsmanship, Sharon filled me in on Dunn, the little dog that she and her family had adopted from us, over three years ago! She told me that Dunn had turned out to be Rose's best friend, and they were inseparable, and he was spoiled rotten! I loved it! You might be wondering why I would name a dog Dunn. I named him and his little buddy, Brooks and Dunn, because I like their music.

After Kinky had admired the doghouses more closely, we had an awards ceremony! Kinky proudly awarded the 'Bronze Award' medals to Rose, Bonnie and Brady—thanking each girl, and then shaking their hands. I have to admit that it brought a tear to my eyes, but no one noticed because they were tearing up, too. Here's a picture that Tone took of the event!

After the award ceremony had ended, Rose went to the car, and she returned with a giant sack, and a big box, full of dog toys, that she had spent her birthday money on—for our dogs! And yes, I teared up, again, but no one knew it, except for Tone, who took this picture.

After sorting through the cool doggie toys, Sharon and the Girl Scouts went from pen to pen handing out Rose's collection of toys to our dogs! It was fun watching our dogs receive their toys and playing with them!
After all of the toys were given away, the girls wound up sitting in Oprah, Ellen Degeneres and Bandit's pen—playing with the happy pups!

When it was time for the Girl Scouts Troop 619, from Dripping Springs, Texas, to leave, we thanked them for being such great girls. And, before leaving the rescue ranch, they promised to return in a few months to volunteer! All that I can say is, "Troop 619 Really Rocks Big Time! We love y'all! Here are pictures of the new doghouses in the dog pens and Pearl playing with her new toy!


This evening, around seven o'clock—Kinky called. "Nance, Billy Joe is playing tonight in Pipe Creek. Do y'all want to go with me to see him?"

"I would love to see Billy Joe Shaver! Let me ask Tony." I asked T. and he shook his head no, because he was too tired. "Kink, we can't go. Tony is pooped and I need to blog tonight. Sorry. Please tell Billy Joe I love him. Wait, maybe Ben wants to go." I handed the phone to Ben. Kinky and Ben left the ranch at seven-thirty to go see our friend Billy Joe.

Before I go, I want to show y'all another picture that Tone took of our new Lab mix puppies. I love it! And, this morning Kinky and I passed that restaurant with the funny signs. This is their new sign!

1969
Hoping for a BMW!

2009
Hoping for a BM!

Y'all have a great evening!