I Need To Talk To You!

I hope that all of y'all had a great weekend! Yesterday, after walking another eight fast miles, with Leslie, I spent most of my day off— working inside my writing cabin. I finished refinishing the floor, and then I feng shuied it, and it looks so beautiful! I love my writing cabin—it's a feel good place for me!

This morning, after walking another eight fast miles—Kinky called. He invited me to come over, but I couldn't because I had business to take care of. Then Tony comes inside the trailer, to tell me that Buttermilk is sick, again! "She won't start up. It's not the battery, it comes on when I turn the key. She tries to start, but the engine won't kick in. It's like she is not getting any gas. We just filled her up a few days ago. I don't know what's the matter with her." That was news—that I didn't want to hear.

"She's just old, like you and me," I said, trying to be positive. Then I went back to doing my paperwork. At eleven-forty-six, the phone rang, and I let Carlton take the call—I was busy. "Nancy, this is Sandy. Y'all need to come see us. And, tell Tony that we are glad that he didn't get hit by that crazy motorcyclist. Bye."

At one fifteen, Trigger, Tony and I left the rescue ranch—headed to Wolfmuellers Books. When we walked inside the bookstore, Sandy greeted us! Their store was filled with customers. We had a fun visit, and just as we were leaving, Sandy picked up a brochure and handed it to me. "Have y'all been to the Southwest Gourd Fine Art Show, across the street, at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center?"

"No," I said. "A gourd show?"

"Yes, it is unbelievable!" Sandy replied. "Y'all have got to go see it! Go check it out now." Tony and I did as we were told. We left Wolfmueller's Books, crossed the street and entered the building hosting the gourd show.

Oh my gosh—I was blown away with the beautiful gourds and so was Tony! I couldn't believe they were gourds! We're talkin' beautiful pots and whimsical art! By the time Tone and I had admired every piece—I was in love with gourds, and wanted to try my hand, at making one! Then we left. "Tony, I wonder if I can use a watermelon or one of our future pumpkins?" I said, as we crossed the street. Tone just looked at me and smiled.

"Hi Sandy and Jon!" I said, as we walked inside. "We loved that gourd show, and thank you for telling us about it! Those gourds were awesome! I want to make one. Do y'all have any books on gourd making?"

"Follow me," Sandy said. I did as I was told. We went into their office, and Sandy handed me a copy of, 'The Gourd Book." Here, we just got these in. Take it." I took it, after Sandy had shown me some very interesting pictures of gourds.

Then we went back to the front of the store, where Jon and Tony were visiting at the checkout counter. And, that's when I saw some J. Frank Dobie books on sale! I couldn't resist! I love J. Frank! I grabbed all three of his books, plus another book that Sandy recommended for us to read, about Big Foot Wallace, who T. is related to! After a fun, but short visit, because they were busy with customers, we left their store and came back home.

Kinky had called twice, when I checked the answering machine, so I called him. "Nance, can you come over? I need to talk to you!"

Three minutes later, after going over the river and through the woods—I was at the Lodge. Kinky greeted me at the gate, along with the Friedmans. I was so glad to see Chumley back at the ranch. Kinky had picked him up early this morning, and his tail was wagging wildly! He was glad to be home!

Kinky and I had a fun visit. We talked about the upcoming event with Jerry Jeff and Ramblin Jack, some ranch business, self publishing, and a few other current topics. Two and a half hours later, Trigger returned me to the rescue ranch.

Y'all have a great evening!

Million Dollar Baby!

This morning, I woke up feeling like a hundred dollars, and was thrilled! By ten o’clock, when our great volunteers, June and her sister, Ellen, showed up to work with our dogs, I was happy to see them, and I now felt like four hundred and seventy-five dollars! By eleven o’clock—we’re talking close to nine hundred dollars! I was finally on the well side! I was so glad, because Kinky’s and our friend, U.S. Representative Lamar Smith, was coming out to visit Kinky and Tony and me, and our dogs!

Around eleven-fifteen, Kinky called me. “Nance, Lamar is here, and we’re going to come over there, in about twenty minutes. Lamar has brought a huge box of treats for our dogs, and he wants to pet every dog, and give each one of them a treat, and he also wants to visit with you and Tone!”

Twenty minutes later, Kinky and Lamar arrived at the rescue ranch! Tony and I think the world of Lamar, because he is one of the finest human beings on the planet, but more importantly—he loves dogs as much as we do! In fact, a few years ago, when he came out to see us, our three-legged Pit Bull, Mama—stole his heart, and he almost adopted her!

“Howdy Lamar!” I said, as Tony and I walked outside to greet him and Kink. “Congratulations on getting reelected! Tony and I voted for you, too. After we all shook hands, and said our hellos—we walked Lamar around the pens, introduced our dogs to him, as he petted them, and handed out Milk Bone dog biscuits—to everyone of them! The dogs loved it!

When Ellen and June were fixin’ to leave, Kinky said, “Lamar, I want to introduce you to two of our best volunteers! They come out weekly, and hand out treats, and groom our dogs! We love June and Ellen! They are great!”

We walked over to June’s car, and met up with them. After introductions and handshaking—the six of us had a fun conversation, about dogs, and how great they are! Lamar told us a touching story about a black dog, and Kinky told us another great story about J. Frank Dobie’s story about an eagle.

Before June and Ellen left, June offered to take a picture of the four of us! After she shot us— Lamar thanked Ellen and June for helping us, help the dogs. He was really impressed with those two.

After they left, Kinky needed to get back over to the Lodge, so Lamar and Kinky said their good-byes to each other, and then Kink took off in Mr. Green Jeans.

Tony, Lamar and I then went to the rest of the dog pens, so he could pet them, and give them a treat! We had a fun conversation the entire time. When the treats were all handed out, I told Lamar about my book, ‘The Road to Utopia: How Kinky, Tony and I Saved More Animals Than Noah,’ and he told me that he would order a copy, as soon as he went home! He told me that he couldn’t wait to read it! I was truly flattered! “Lamar, my book is still being sold at the Austin airport,” I shamelessly bragged. “And, the University of Texas Press published it, too! I am so proud of it! I have some copies of my book, and I will sign it for you.” Lamar was more than delighted.

On our way back to the trailer, Tony said, “Lamar, you have got to see Nance’s Space Ship!” The three of us then went inside my Space Ship, and he was blown away! He absolutely loved it, and could not believe how cool it was—I loved it!

Then T., Lamar and I went into Outer Space! I told him all about my brother, Ronnie, and my cool nephew,Tom, coming down from Austin and Dripping Springs, to build it, in just one and a half days, and he could not believe it—he thought it was totally awesome! He loved our view, and he enjoyed meeting our ‘old timers’—Hank, Little Girl, Toto and Thunder! Our dogs loved him!

We had a great visit in Outer Space, and then I signed my book to Lamar, and gave it to him! He was delighted, and he told me that he could not wait to read it! Then he made a very generous contribution to our rescue ranch, and then we said our goodbyes.

After Lamar left our rescue ranch, I told T. that I was feeling like a million dollars—thanks to Lamar, and some serious aspirin consumption! Lamar Rules and Bayer Aspirin—Rocks! I’m back! I’m well!

Here is the picture that June took of us! We love you, Lamar Smith! And, thank you for being on our Advisory Board! We are so lucky! We wish you the best in ‘09!

P.S. Like me, Lamar is, and was a big fan of Roy Rogers! He told us, that when he was eight or nine years old, he was at the annual San Antonio Rodeo, when Roy Rogers appeared! He said that Roy was on Trigger, and when he and Trigger rode into the arena, Roy held his hand out and touched every child's hand, with his hand, as they circled the arena! Lamar told us, that when Roy touched his hand—he broke out crying with excitement! That made me tear up, and gave me goosebumps, because I never got to meet Roy—my hero. Y’all have a good night!