Number Two!

We've been busy. But before I start writing about it I want to wish my sweet sister, Cindy, a Happy 71st Birthday.

My sister is the best sister anyone could have. When I was around ten years old Cindy was my idol, because she was so smart, kind and very pretty and she still is for a 71 year old. But back then I was frustrated with her, because she was older and I wanted to be older than her. So I wasted a good amount of time trying to figure out how I could become older than her. Which at this early age just proves that I was already not the sharpest tool, in the tool shed. And I think my family already knew that, too.

Anyway, now I'm at the ripe old age of 66 and I am really glad that Cindy is older than me, because I can use her as a measuring stick to see what's going to be up ahead for me, before it is my turn to fall off the slow-moving conveyor belt of life or better said, "When God honks my horn."

So I wish Cindy the best birthday ever and I wish that I could be with her today to help her celebrate her birthday, because I love her so much. But I must confess that I forgot to send her a funny birthday card this past week, because we've been very busy working, on the property. But the good news is it won't matter a bit to Cindy that I forgot to send her a birthday card, because she is always happy and she is more forgetful than me. Something for me to look forward to in the future.

Two days ago our dear friend Jim Keaveny came to visit us and he spent the night in The Cabin, over at our property.

While Jim was visiting us he got off, of the Internet Thursday night and he told us that he just found out that his song Is It You has been climbing the Hit Tracks Top 100 chart, for several weeks, over in Europe. "It is now at the number two position on the chart," Jim told us.

Anyway, we had a wonderful visit with Jim and before he left us we gave him one of those super cool, motion detector toilet lights that we've already given away to many of our dear friends. He loved the toilet night light and he also loves our new place—especially the 1977 Airstream and The Cabin.

Yesterday morning around 7:15 Tony took Jack Black (Jack is one of those three dogs that was returned to us, on Halloween.) to Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic, to get him vaccinated for Rabies, because Jack was due and because he was getting adopted later on that morning.

So before Jim adios-ed us and took off, for Austin, with his motion detection toilet bowl lights, he ate breakfast with us. And while he was inside taking a shower over here, we went outside to greet Christine & Cliff and their cute son Max, the nice family that was adopting Jack Black from us. And here is a picture that I took of Jack Black's awesome adoption.

After we adios-ed the family that adopted Jack, our great dog-walking friends/volunteers and Jim, Tony and I ate lunch here and then we went to the Home Depot, in Kerrville, to buy some more 2'x4's, paint, stain, etc. so we could finish building "The Closet," in the bedroom, of The Cabin. 

When we left Home Depot "where everyone knows our name," because we are in there so much we drove straight, to the property and we started working on "The Closet" project. 

While Tony was working outside, on the back porch, busily staining the wood and his fingers and before we officially started building "The Closet" I was inside slinging paint on the bedroom wall that will be behind "The Closet." And that is when a UPS truck showed up outside and made a special delivery to us.

Tony went out to the front porch, to go meet our friendly UPS driver that knows us well, because I had more blue paint on me than was on the wall that I was painting. And when Tony came back inside The Cabin talk about surprised. "What is it, Tony?" I asked. "And why did the UPS man delivery it here, because hardly no one knows this address?"

"It's from Karen & Terry, from Port Arthur. They sent us another one of those delicious, spiral-cut hams for our Thanksgiving dinner. Last week I ran into the UPS driver and I took him over here, to show him where we will be moving to. He told me that he went to the rescue ranch first to deliver our package and when he saw our vehicles here that is why he stopped and delivered it here."

"That is so sweet of Karen & Terry to do this again and when we get back home I'll make a note to send them a thank you e-mail." Then Tony and I went back to work for another hour. And here is what we have accomplished so far.

Last night, after we got back home, I spent the evening binge-watching the first three episodes of Longmire's Season 6, before going to bed early. And just so you'll know Longmire's Season 6 is totally awesome. 

Early this morning while Tony was outside doing his daily chores I was inside drinking some coffee and I Googled Hit Tracks Top 100 (PicaNetherlands.com) and I was thrilled to see that Jim Keaveny's awesome song Is It You is now rated at the number one position, on this European chart. And when Tony came, back inside, I showed the chart to him and he was just as thrilled about it as I was. And that is about it for now.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

See You In Germany!

Thursday was a very busy day for us. We had to go to Kerrville to run several errands, then when we got back home, we did some more mowing and weed-eating, before our good friend Brian Molnar came over with his girlfriend for a fun visit.

Brian is a very talented singer/songwriter/musician and he is the one who produced Kinky latest CD The Loneliest Man I Ever Met. And this is our signed copy of it.

While we were having a fun visit with Brian and girlfriend, inside The Cabin, our dogs started barking outside. "Nance, I bet it's Dorothy and David," Tony said. "You stay inside where it is cool and I will go give them a tour of the rescue ranch." Then out the door he went.

About thirty minutes later, Tony walked inside The Cabin with Dorothy and after introductions, he said, "Nance, they want to adopt Jack Black, in hopes that he won't mess with their chickens and sheep."

While everyone visited I quickly filled out Jack's adoption papers for them to sign and after they had signed the papers, we started visiting with this super nice couple, from Medina. 

When Dorothy spotted the book next to my/Roy/Henry's chair, that Kris & Jim gave to me for my birthday, she said, "We love Tiny Houses and we're building our first Tiny House." And Tony and I lit up like a Christmas tree, because we love the Tiny House movement.

While they told us about their first Tiny House that they are planning to sell, Dorothy showed us pictures of it and it was so cool that I begged our new found-friends to please let us come over some day to see it. And they told us to come over anytime.

Then Tony discovered that David knew many members of Tony's family, so they started trading stories about them. Anyway, we are thrilled about Jack's super adoption and we are keeping our fingers crossed that his adoption will stick. And that is about it for today.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

6:00 Update: My dear friend Mari has just sent me this YouTube video that will put a smile on your face. And I totally loved it, because it made me smile. Click here if you need a smile. You've  Gotta Love Millennials - Micah Tyler

Thumping Away!

Yesterday was great, because it was a 4-H day for us. We had to go to H-E-B for groceries, Hastings, so I could buy the movie Wild, Home Depot, to buy Tony dirt and seeds, and Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic, so we could pick up Ximbal aka Jack Black, so we could bring him to the rescue ranch.

Jack Black is one super cool, six-month-old Lab mix. When we first met him, in Hoegemeyer's lobby, a tiny Chihuahua snarled, snapped and growled at him and he instantly backed away wagging his tail non-stop, because he was not wanting to cause any trouble. He did great riding inside Trigger and he did not get truck-sick.

When we arrived back at the ranch, we decided to put him in Bonnie Raitt's pen aka The Okay Corral also known as the front yard of my pink, writing cabin. He and Bonnie became fast friends and since they've met all they want to do is play with each other. And as soon as I take a great picture of him I will post it.

Last night I did some more writing and then I relaxed and watched Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon, with Little Debbie and Alice sleeping on my lap. I loved the movie and I am glad that I read Cheryl Strayed's book Wild before watching the movie.

Today has been great. This afternoon we met our good friends Kris & Jim for lunch, in Kerrville or maybe it was Ingram, because it's location was too close to call.

While we had a fun lunch with Kris and The Mineral Man, I told them about pinching a nerve in my upper back a few days ago and Kris suggested that I go to H-E-B to buy IcyHot's Smart Relief Tens Therapy for back pain therapy. "She told me, "It is a battery control unit with a reusable electrode pad, about the size of a small remote and it really works..."

So after our super fun lunch, we went straight, down the Junction Highway, to the big H-E-B, so I could buy this highly recommended product.

Then we came back home. After Tony carefully read the IcyHot package instructions he stood behind me and stuck it, to my upper back, and then he says, "Tell me when it hurts."

"What?!" I snap back. "It's not supposed to hurt. It's supposed to help. What are you doing back there?"

He started laughing and then he finally says, "It has 63 intensity levels. Tell me when you can feel it." A few seconds later, after he had kept pressing the "+" button, I felt it thumping away. It was like someone was gently tapping their fingers, on my back.

"Okay, I can feel it, Tony. That's enough." Tony chuckled and continued to press the "+" button a few more times, before he finally stopped. Then I went and laid down on our bed—face first, with our dogs snuggling up against me.

Thirty minutes later after the first session, it automatically shut-off the thumping therapy and believe it or not my back pain was totally gone! And as I finish writing this tonight, I am still feeling no pain. "Thank you, Kris! I love it!"

Y'all have a great evening!

Ximbal! or My Problem!

Yesterday and today have been great. Early yesterday morning while I was cooking breakfast for Chet and Tony and making smoothies for all of us the phone rang and I let Carlton take the message.

Bottom line: A young, Black Lab mix had shown up a couple's home and they could not keep the dog and they did not want to take this sweet, friendly male dog to animal control. So after breakfast, I called the couple back. Then I called Kathy, at Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic. "Hi Kathy... The reason that I'm calling is a couple is going to be dropping off a young, male dog for us. He needs the works: shots, tested for worms, heartworms and neutering, etc. I'll call y'all later today to give him a name..."

Later in the afternoon, while we were outside mowing, Kathy called and left the funniest message. She said that after Dr. Rydberg had vetted the dog he jokingly named him, Ximbal. After she had quit laughing, she continued, "Ximbal is Lab mix spelled backwards. Call me when you've come up with a name. Bye."

Last night, before I fell asleep I came up with Ximbal's new name.

Early this morning Tony woke me up, as asked, at 6:00, so I could be awake enough to do the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch segment on The Harley Show. It was a lot of fun and Harley's Pet of the Week was B.B. King. A one-year-old, sweet, Shepherd/Lab mix. And he's not a digger or jumper or hyper.

After doing The Harley Show, I grabbed the Direct TV remote to turn on the television and nothing happened. I then punched all of these different buttons, on the remote, but nothing happened, so I figured the remote's battery must be dead.

A few minutes later, after installing a new AA battery, in the back of the remote, I tried turning on the television, but once again nothing happened.

So when Tony returned from The Old Timer, I told him about "my problem" with the remote, etc. While I was cooking him breakfast, he tried to make the remote work, to no avail. So, while he was eating his eggs and piece of toast, I put the phone on Speaker Phone and called Direct TV.

After explaining to a very nice technician about the remote not working and having replaced the batteries, she started walking me through things to do, etc., as Tony sat, at the kitchen table, eating his breakfast, while watching me do this and that with the Direct TV receiver box.

When the woman was telling me that she would send me a new remote and thanking me for being a long-time loyal customer, since 2005, I was watching Tony remove two batteries from the back of the remote. "Wait a second!" I said. "Tony, it has two batteries?" Tony nodded yes. Then he closed the back of the remote and pointed it at the television. The Emerson TV came on. It was working! Then he started laughing and so did I.

"Never mind," I said, just like Rosanna Danna used to do on Saturday Night Live, to the technical advisor who was now laughing, too. "I'm sorry, I only replaced one of the dead batteries. I didn't know...."

Then I called Sarah, at Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic, to tell her that Ximbal's new name is going to be Jack Black.

After lunch today, Tony and I plan to spend most of the afternoon mowing. And that is about it for today and tonight.

Y'all have a great day and evening!