You Are There!

Things are great here—knock-on-wood. Yesterday afternoon Tony and I went to Kerrville to run several errands.

Our first stop was at Wolfmueller's Books, so we could visit with Sandy & Jon and so I could pick up the awesome book Songs Of The Cowboys by Austin E. & Alta S. Fife, that sweet Mary Sanders, in Georgia, sent to me via Wolfmueller's Books.

"Mary I love this book! It was so nice of you to think of me and to send me this great book. And it was perfect timing for this book, because the last few nights I've been binge-watching the fabulous, PBS Ken Burns series Country Music. So, thank you very much!"

As you already know Tony and I have been working a lot next door and in my spare time I've spent my time decorating my writing cabin and I am having so much fun doing it.

It is nearing completion and I have my fingers crossed that I will be done with it by the end of this week, so I can show y'all pictures of it. And I can start using it to finish writing my third novella.

This afternoon Tony and I are going back to Kerrville, so I can pick up a few signs that I've had TNJ Engraving make for my cabin.

A few of the metal signs are some of my favorite photos to hang up in the writing cabin. And one small sign that they've made for me is white with black, block lettering that says:

No Matter Where You Are

You Are There!

I love this quote, because it always makes me laugh and I hope that it made you chuckle too.

Before I finish writing this post this morning, I want to let you know that I've finally picked out what I plan to wear to Christina Fredriksen's Habitat Art Exhibition & Live Music event at the  Texas Heritage Vineyard.

And I hope that Tony and I will see y'all there, because it will be so much fun. I am not sure if I am going to wear a cap or not, because lately I've stopped wearing caps. But I might wear my favorite cowboy hat. So that decision is still up in the air, so to speak. Anyway, I do hope you come to it. 

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

Fairies!

Yesterday was great. I woke up feeling perky and the first thing I did, after drinking a delicious cup of Donut Shop Coffee—was walk 4 Fast Miles with Leslie Sansone. Then my perkiness dropped a few notches, because it was a great workout that wore me out.

Late yesterday morning Tony and I went to Kerrville to run a few errands and the first thing we did was head to Wolfmueller's Books, so we could visit our dear friends Sandy & Jon.

Even though we found a parking spot, on Earl Garrett St., as we walked up to the bookstore, I noticed this cute sign, out on the sidewalk, right next door to Sandy & Jon's super-cool bookstore. So I just had to go inside to check out this new business with a great name—The Fairy Moon Emporium.

I asked Tony to go inside with me, but he is not into fairies like I am, so he adios-ed me and went to go visit with our friends.

When I walked inside The Fairy Moon Emporium, this nice, friendly man greeted me, at the door and he welcomed me to shop around. I introduced myself and then he told me his name was Roy. (Always a good sign.) And when I told him that Tony and I live in Medina, he chuckled and said, "I know Tony. I'm from Medina, too. My wife Christy works, at The Old Timer there and...."

After a fun chat with Roy, I started moseying around, The Fairy Moon and I quickly fell in love with this store. Because it had great vibes just like Wolfmueller's Books and The Old Timer have. I also found several eclectic items for sale that really tempted me to buy them, because they would be perfect for The Cabin, but since Tony was right next door—I decided not to, because the day before I had just told him, "Tony, we have way too much stuff. We still have twelve or fifteen boxes of my stuff that we still haven't unpacked. So I'm not going to spend anymore money buying things for The Cabin, until I unpack those storage crates."

Before I adios-ed Roy, I told him, "I just love this store and I am going to tell all of my friends about it. And I am going to blog about it." Roy thanked me for my offer and then he handed me this business card.  

So in return, I gave Roy one of Tony's and my new business cards I designed with all of our important contact information.

When I walked inside Wolfmueller's Books, Tony was sitting, up by the counter, visiting with our good friends. And before I could even say one word, Sandy says, "Don't you love that store?!" And then she and I started talking about how much we loved their inventory. "Nancy, Roy told me yesterday that they already have 13 vendors, waiting in line, to rent a space from them...."

Sadly, I only got a short fun visit with our friends, before their popular bookstore suddenly filled up with customers needing their help. 

So while Sandy & Jon helped customers find books I browsed around looking at books, because if I remember right, I hadn't promised Tony that I wouldn't buy any books. I had just promised him that I would not buy any stuff for The Cabin. And before we adios-ed Jon & Sandy I purchased this book.

I purchased The Broken Spoke: Austin's Legendary Honky-Tonk, because a while back my dear friend Mari had suggested that I read it and also because, a very long time ago, Jim and I used to be friends with Annetta and James White, when we used to embroider their Broken Spoke jackets that they sold. And I also bought it, because so many of our musician friends are in this book, etc. 

When Tony and I got back to Big Foot, Carlton was flashing, on top of my desk. There were two messages. The first one was from Ronnie, "Hello Big Foot. This is Little Foot. Is it raining there?...Call me."

The second message was from sweet Carol. "Tony, Nancy! I just checked the radar and we're fixing to get a lot of rain, thunderstorms and possible hail. I put my truck inside the barn and y'all should come over and put yours in my barn, too...Call me."

Before I called Carol, I looked outside and the sky was dark, the temperature had dropped ten degrees, the wind had started blowing and it had just started to sprinkle. So, Tony and I quickly unloaded some stuff from the back of Roy and while Tony put up our groceries, I picked up Big Al(ice) and put her, on top of the kitchen island.

Please note that I never put Big Al(ice) or Little Debbie, on top of the kitchen island, except when thunderstorms are predicted and from the way Carol sounded—"We're talking severe thunderstorms!"

So while Tony was unplugging everything for me, I put Big Al(ice) in her thunder jacket and gave her one of her tiny, pink "happy pills." Then Tony and I took off in Trigger and Roy, for Carol's ranch, which is less than two minutes away.

While Tony was putting Roy, inside Carol's "safe house" (big barn) Carol came outside to talk to me,  as I waited, inside Trigger, for Tony. 

Omg, Carol and I hadn't even said nine words between the two of us, when the sky lit up real bright and BOOM! The lightning hit so close that it scared both of us. "Carol, get back to your house!"

"Okay!" Carol said. "Look at the horses!" As Carol raced back to her home, I looked behind me and saw our beautiful horses, Rosebud and Maya, running wildly across her ranch to get to her horse barn. They were spooked and they had good reason to be.

Three minutes later, Tony and I parked Trigger, right next to our front yard gate and when we jumped out of Trigger—the flood gates opened and we were totally soaked before we got inside, The Cabin. Needless to say, "All of our dogs were glad to see us."

We had heavy-duty thunderstorms, for over an hour and thankfully it never hailed. The outside temperature had quickly dropped to fifty-three degrees, so to soothe Big Al(ice)'s and my nerves Tony built us a fire, in our wood burning stove. And we spent the rest of the evening staying cozy, inside The Cabin.

Today has been great too, but I am as tired of writing this as I bet you are from reading this. So that's about it for tonight.

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

Here's Your Sign!

Today has been great. This afternoon, after we ate lunch, we went to TNJ Engraving, in Kerrville, across the street from J. C. Penney, to pick up two signs. I love doing business with TNJ Engraving, because they are so nice, they always do a fabulous job, they have great prices and their turn around is extremely fast.

For example, this morning after we did our morning chores outside, I sat down at my computer and designed two signs. One sign was for a new pen sponsorship, made earlier this week, by our friend Vern and the other sign was for Tony's chuck box outdoor kitchen, that he knew nothing about. When I was done, I e-mailed the artwork to TNJ Engraving, then I called them to place my order and I was happily shocked when Garrett told me, "We'll have them ready for you and you can pick them up, in about an hour." And they did!

When we arrived at TNJ Engraving to pick up the signs, they were on the counter and I loved what I saw, but Tony was delighted and surprised at what he saw. "Here's your sign, Tony," I said, as I handed it to him, "it needed a name, so I named it, "Tony's No Whiner Diner." Then I paid for the signs and thanked them and then we took off for Wolfmueller's Books, so we could show Sandy & Jon his new sign for his chuck box. And, to say the least, "They loved it and it made them laugh," which was exactly the reaction that I was hoping for.

When we got home we first hung Vern's sign on the dog pen that Hank Williams, Sr. and Jackie Kennedy Onassis share. Hank, Sr. is the yellow Lab in front and that's Jackie O. leaning on him.

Then Tony went and got a ladder, from the barn and then he carried it down to The Okay Corral and hung up his sign and he loves it even more than I do.

Before I finish writing this, I want you to know that Dusty Pendleton called us last night with a Emmylou update, telling us that she and their other dog instantly fell in love with each other and that Emmylou could care less about their older cat and that Martha and Dusty are in love with Emmylou Harris and they are thrilled with their new forever dog.

Also, tonight we have three dear friends, in three different hospitals, in three different cities, so I want to do a shout out to them, "We love you, John, Billy and Steve—GET WELL SOON!"

Y'all have a great evening!

The One Night Sand Saga! or Send Sand!

Tony and I had a super fun, "One Night Sand," on the private island in Port Aransas, with our dear friends Sandy & Jon Wolfmueller and Rick & Leisa. And not to brag—our laughter-filled, mini-adventure lasted for a full twenty-two hours and a couple of minutes, which explains why I missed our dogs so much.

Monday evening, Ben arrived at the ranch, so he could baby-sit our dogs and the rescue ranch for us and we had a fun visit with him, in The Okay Corral, before we had to adios him, so we could pack our bags and then go to bed early. 

Tuesday morning, Sandy & Jon picked us up, bright and early, at 6:45, which was before sunrise out here and our four-hour trip was a blast, because Tony rode shotgun, in the passenger front seat, while in the backseat Sandy relaxed and tried to keep me from worrying about how fast we were traveling and it worked, even though we got lost once, for a few miles.

When we arrived safely in Port A., around 11:00, we decided to stretch-our-legs and eat lunch at Fin's restaurant first, before calling Rick to come pick us up at the marina.

One hour later, after eating a delicious lunch—our fun party officially began on the privately owned island where Rick, "The Friendly Lighthouse Keeper" lives.

While we sat on the porch, of the Main House, relaxing and watching the ships coming and going, the beautiful dolphins playing in their wake, we took turns telling hilarious stories and because I was laughing so much—my back began to ache a little, but I didn't care, because it was well worth it—we were having FUN—until a few minutes later, when a couple of brightly, orange-colored helicopters and a matching orange-colored boat started doing fly-bys and boating-bys near the beautiful island! "What in the heck are they doing?" I jokingly asked Rick, before starting to laugh. "I feel like I am starring in a Mash rerun." Everyone started laughing, as we watched one of the choppers hovering above the boat.

"Oh, that's just the Coast Guard, Nance," Rick replied. "Every Tuesday afternoon they come out here and do their practice maneuvers. It's really no big deal. They'll go away soon enough..." And sure enough a few minutes later, just as Rick had predicted—they went away. Here is a picture that Tone took of them.

That evening, Leisa cooked us a delicious, fresh Flounder dinner and I know that I ate more than I should have, but I didn't really care, because I was on island time and I was having the best-of-times with some of our best friends—and to me— that is what life should be all about. 

Around 10:00, before we all said good night to each other before going to bed, because we are old and can't party like we used to, I promised Sandy that I would get up early to catch the sunrise with her and Jon and that I would also climb up to the top of the lighthouse with them and I am proud to say that I kept both of my promises to them.

The climb up the steep, narrow, winding stairs to reach the top of the lighthouse was more than exciting for me, because I had been a little nervous about doing it, but I am so glad that I made myself do it, because we could see for miles and miles.

Watching the sunrise slowly, above the ocean was one of the prettiest sunrises that I have ever witnessed. Here are two great photos that T. took of Sandy & Jon standing outside, on the lighthouse deck, with me standing inside, because I was too scared to come outside with them and here is a picture of that spectacular sunrise that I shall never ever forget.

Then we ate a delicious breakfast at Rick's house, on the island and then we jumped into the Boston Whaler, with all of our luggage, so Rick could take us back to Port Aransas, so we could go drink some coffee with our dear friend John Kemmerly, before we headed back to The Hill Country. I love this picture, that Tony took, of Leisa's adorable dog, Squirt—jumping up on Rick's motorcycle seat.

I am so glad that we got to see John! Catching up with his latest news, while drinking coffee, at the coolest Internet cafe, in Port A. was so much fun, because we love John and it has been way too long, since the four-of-us last saw our dear friend, who was once a former employee of both Wolfmueller's Books and our rescue ranch.

When we arrived safely, back home, we gave Sandy & Jon a brick of Miles of Chocolate, that Ben had brought down for them and after hugs they adios-ed Ben, Tony and me and then they took off to go home, in Kerrville.

After hugging and kissing all of our sweeter-than-sweet dogs, that were even more happier than me to be back home with them I made Ben, Tony and me some coffee.

While we drank coffee and visited with Ben I started scrubbing on my soon-to-be-pretty sea shells, that Tony and I had picked up on the island's beach. As I was telling Ben all about our super-fun vacation and thanking him for baby-sitting for us, I accidentally re-injured my cut index finger using the scrubber, because I can no longer multi-task anymore and I should have known better. 

As I laughed about not being able to talk and work at the same time, I tried to bandage up my finger, without the use of a real Band Aid and that's when Ben made a suggestion, "Nance, you should have brought back some island sand, too, so you could fill it first into the jar then fill with the shells—to remind you of y'all's fun trip to Port Aransas."

"Oh, my gosh, I should have. That's a great idea, Ben. I'll call them tomorrow and ask them to "Send Sand." And that's about it for tonight.

Y'all have a great evening!

Pig Tales!

Today was great even though this morning I tried to do the dance / workout video and I couldn't quit laughing at myself for being so uncoordinated. When Ben and Tony came inside the trailer, after doing their outside chores, I told them about trying to dance with the stars and they couldn't quit laughing, as I showed them some of my new moves that I could not do.


An hour later, when Ben was teaching me some stuff on my computer, our great volunteer aka dog whisperer, came out to work with Annie Oakley and I am proud to report that Sharon Griswold of "Rover Misbehaving?" is a miracle worker. Annie is turning into a social butterfly, with the best of manners. Thank you, Sharon!


Around one o'clock Dr. Leifeste came out to trim the hooves on our six pigs and Ben and Tony helped him. When they only had two more pigs to go I went outside and took these two pictures of them and then I went into the pigpen to help Ben round up Little Ricky for his manicure.

Fortunately for me, Ben didn't need my help getting Little Ricky into the chute, but he did when it was  Laverne's turn, because we couldn't catch her, as she wildly ran all around the pigpen. Then I had a brilliant idea on how we could catch her and I took off for the trailer to get a blanket.

When I returned, I told Ben, as I rolled up the blanket, "I think if we can get this blanket under her belly, we can use it like a sling and can carry her over to the chute..." And the minute I tried to put the blanket under her—she took off running and that is when, totally by accident, I turned into the" First Woman Pig Matador!"

Because we were chasing Laverne and trying to steer her towards the catch pen, the rolled up blanket that I was holding in my arms—unrolled and magically turned itself into a heavy cape, sort of like the kind matadors use and I started controlling her with it, as Ben helped push her behind towards the gate. "Look Ben! It's working! I bet that I am the first woman pig matador in the universe! Come take this cape and I'll stay behind her and push her." Ben started laughing.

"No, Nance," Ben said. "Keep moving her—we're almost there." I did as Ben said, but I didn't want to be the pig matador anymore, because I was scared that I might slip on a rock and fall and then be squished to death, by a sweet, big, fat pig named, Laverne. 

As we slowly guided her towards the gate, I started laughing, because I started visualizing my funeral. "We're so sorry, Tony. How did Cousin Nancy die?" And T., Kinky and Ben, would try not to laugh, and then take turns saying something like this: "A pig-in-a-blanket sat on her and it flattened her like a pancake. She was paper thin, like she's always wanted to be. It's going to be closed-casket, of course, and..."

"We got her, Nance," Ben said, as I suddenly came back to reality and he closed the gate behind Laverne. "Thanks, Nance, I can take it from here." I was so proud of myself for helping Ben, I strutted all of the way back to the trailer.

This afternoon we went to Kerrville to get supplies at H-E-B. and to pick up some flowers that we wanted to give to Sandy Wolfmueller for her birthday today. 

After we parked Trigger I took this picture of Tony and me standing in front of Wolfmuellers Bookstore, before we went inside, to give Sandy her bouquet of roses and wish her a happy birthday.

Sandy told us that she loved the flowers and this is a picture I took of her with her roses.

Y'all have a great evening!

It's That Easy!

I want to thank everyone for their prayers for Tony's brother, Rex. He is still in critical condition, so please keep on praying for him. And I want to apologize for not answering all of your e-mails promptly.

Today after lunch Tony and I went to Kerrville to get groceries and to run a few errands. Our first stop was at Wolfmueller's Books to see Sandy and Jon and to also pick up the two Easy Soup Recipe cookbooks that I wanted to give to Ben, and the other copy to send to my mystery friend, who doesn't live in Texas and has no idea she's getting one.

After greetings, Jon told me that Mari had come in on Monday and had purchased two more of the super, soup cookbooks. "Here are the two we held back for you," Sandy says, as she hands me the books, so I could pay for them.

"That's great. Thank y'all for holding them for me," I said. "How many do y'all have left?" Sandy held up two fingers. "I want to buy them, too," I said. "Because I want to send one to my sister Cindy and the fourth one—I am going to give away on my blog!" Everyone started laughing in the customer filled bookstore, while nodding yes. "I was thinking about having a fun contest, for free, with my friends and the people who follow my blog, and ask them to post a Comment on my blog, using 50 words or less on, "Why I Deserve To Win The Easy Soup Recipe book" and the contest will last a week, before we decide who needs it most. It's that easy."

"We decide?" Sandy asked, as Jon kinda frowned and started rubbing his forehead.

"Yes, the four us could be the Official Judges for the contest and we could sign our names inside the cookbook, too! It'll be fun."

"But, what about Mari?" Tone asked. "She loves that cookbook, as much or more as y'all and you know she's a really great writer too."

"Not a problem, Tony. Even though I love Mari and count her as a dear friend, she'll be the only person who we won't allow to enter my contest," I quickly quipped, as we started laughing, again. "I bet she won't even care..."

We left Wolfmueller's a few minutes later when Sandy and Jon got busy checking out their customers and I have my fingers crossed that they will be Judges with T. and me.

THE EASY SOUP RECIPE CONTEST—STARTS NOW and Ends at Midnight on JANUARY 19TH—And It's FREE! All you must do, except for Mari, of course, because she has bought as many copies of this great cookbook as me, is to write in 50 words or less: "Why I Deserve To Win The Easy Soup Recipe cookbook!" and post it on my Comments section, located at the bottom of each new post.  The winner will receive the signed by the Judges cookbook and I promise that I will personally mail it out on January 20, 2011! It will be fun!

P.S. I want to thank our good friend and neighbor, Charlie Cooper for coming out this morning to help Tony with his chores. We love y'all, Charlie and Ellen!

Y'all have a great evening!

A Little While Later!

Thank goodness Mercury is out of retrograde, because today has been another great day for me. I woke up early and did my morning chores and after breakfast I started walking with Leslie, while Tony was outside feeding the dogs and cleaning the pens.

After I had walked four miles and had just started the walking video over again, so I could walk two more miles when the phone rang—it was my good friend, Reverend Analea Rawson from the Unity Church in Austin. I wanted to talk to her, so I muted Leslie and decided to walk with her and her friends in silence, as I talked to Analea.

Forty-eight minutes later, I was laughing and still talking on the phone to Analea, as I finished walking four more miles. After I turned off Leslie Sansone's walking DVD, I started pulling things out of the freezer and the refrigerator and started preparing Tony's and my lunch, as Analea and I continued to talk. Twenty minutes later after we said goodbye to each other, I pulled the Mexican cornbread out of the oven and Tony and I sat down and ate chicken with beans and cornbread. T. cleaned his plate, so I guess you could say, 'it was pretty good.'

Thirty minutes later Tone loaded Kinky's old electric typewriter into the back of Buttermilk and we took off for the UPS Store in Kerrville, so I could ship it to Roger and Mary Peach in Kansas and so I could also mail Analea her silver ring back to her that she had taken off and left on the bathroom counter when she had washed her hands.

After I had paid the shipping fees, Buttermilk took us to Wolfmueller's Books. We had to park in the back of the bookstore, because they had so many customers in the store. When we walked in the back door, we saw Jon at the front counter busily checking out customers. "Where's Sandy and Mary Jo?" I asked.

"Mary Jo is off on Tuesdays and Sandy is out buying books," Jon said. After the line of book buying customers left the store we stayed and had a fun visit with Jon.

"Jon, I've got a big secret and you can tell Sandy, but no one else—especially Kinky." Jon nodded his head and then I revealed my secret, which I can't tell y'all about, yet. Hopefully, in two weeks or less it will no longer be a secret and I can tell y'all.

After we played 'I've Got A Secret' I said, "Jon, I'm doing a book signing at the Medina Library on October 14th and I am really excited about it and then we talked about that. Then we talked about Nelda and Jimmie Dunn coming to visit us from Arkansas and how excited T. and I were about it. Before leaving Kerrville's favorite bookstore, I bought two more books by Susan Wettig Albert, because I am hooked on her China Bayles mystery series. She is a fabulous writer and when I start reading one of her books—I can't seem to put them down. She's as good as Sue Grafton and Lillian Jackson Braun, and her mysteries take place in the Texas Hill Country. In other words—I love them!

After we said goodbye to Jon, Buttermilk took us to H-E-B, so Tony could buy gas and I could get groceries. Tone went to get gas after he dropped me off at the front door to save time. When I was nearly done shopping and my cart was nearly full Tony found me in the fruit and vegetable section over by the bananas. "Are you nearly done, Nance?" Tony asked, impatiently.

"Yes, and look what I just found!" I said, excitedly, as Tony looked into my cart. "It's a Fairy Tale pumpkin! Can you believe it?"

"Are you sure it's a Fairy Tale?" T. asked. After I showed him the sign on the pumpkin bin and the sticker on the bottom of the pumpkin he believed me. "I'm going to have to call Carol and let her know they have Fairy Tale pumpkins and I need to find out how she cooked it. She did it the last time for us."

"Be sure to get her pumpkin bread recipe, too," Tony said. "Her pumpkin bread was the best that I have ever eaten."

This evening around six o'clock, while I was doing some paperwork, Tony walked into the big room carrying his camera backpack and he said, "I'm going fishing. I'll be back in a little while."

A little while later—we had an unexpected fifteen-minute downpour that wouldn't quit. In fact, the rain was coming down so hard and fast it made Toto get under our bed to hide. Two minutes after the rain stopped as fast as it had came T. walked inside the trailer—soaking wet and it made me laugh when I saw him. He was drenched from cowboy hat to boots. "Did you catch anything?" I teased. Tony laughed, as Mama came running out of the bedroom—into the big room and jumped up on him and showered him with kisses.

"Yeah," he said, as he unbuttoned his wetter-than-wet shirt, "I've got over a gallon of water in my boots for you."

P.S. I want to wish Rick a Happy 64th Birthday, again and I just discovered that Susan Wettig Albert's book, A Dilly Of A Death that I bought today at Wolfmueller's is signed by her to someone named Isabelle! I love it!

Y'all have a great evening!

The Scooter Triumphs!

Today has been great, because Leisa and Rick are here and Mercury has left the building—so to speak. But early this morning, before the sun came up—it was interesting to say the least.

I was sound asleep in bed with Toto sleeping on top of my pillow above my head and Mama laying spread eagle on her back beside me when I heard Rick say, "Good morning, Tony. Are we ready to go to the Old Timer?" Mama barked and jumped off of the bed.

"Not yet, Rick. It's only five o'clock and the Old Timer doesn't open until six-thirty. It's too early."

"Oh? I saw the lights come on inside the trailer, so I figured it was time for us to go to the Old Timer."

"I got up, because a dang scorpion just bit me twice on the elbow," T. said, "and I just killed it and it hurts like..." They talked for a few more minutes, but I couldn't understand them, because the central air came on and drowned out their conversation and then there was total silence except for Mama's barking.

"Tone!" I drowsily, half-hollered from the bedroom. "Is Rick here?"

"No, but he was," Tony said, followed by a laugh, as he flipped on the kitchen light.

"Why? It is still dark outside. What time is it?"

"Ten after five," T. said, as he let Mama and Abbie go outside into the backyard. "I just got bit twice by a scorpion. Rick saw the lights in the trailer come on, so he thought it was time for us to go to Medina. I told him it was too early and he went back to bed. I'm sorry I woke you. You need to go back to sleep." As Mama and Abbie barked non-stop outside the bedroom window I somehow fell back into a deep sleep.

When I got up at six o'clock Mama and Abbie had quit barking, but Toto, Hank, Little Girl and Thunder took up the slack and barked at me to let them go outside for an important business meeting. After I fed my best friends I made some coffee, started a load of laundry in Queen Bee and then I began making breakfast for us humans.

Breakfast was fun. We teased the heck out of Rick for coming into the trailer at five o'clock and thinking that it was time for them to go to the Old Timer. When he and Tone were outside feeding the dogs and cleaning up the pens Lisa and I decided to give Rick an early surprise birthday party this evening even though his birthday is a week away on the 21st.

After the birthday party plans were made, the dogs fed and the pens were cleaned they took off on Rick's Triumph to explore the Hill Country. I spent the next hour returning phone calls, e-mails, writing some bills and then I called the H-E-B in Kerrville to order a birthday cake for Rick. "I need a small, cheap, chocolate birthday cake that reads: Happy Birthday, Scooter!" I told the baker-man. "We will be in Kerrville in about an hour to pick it up." The man coughed.

"Scooter? Happy Birthday, Scooter?"

"Yes, Scooter," I said, with a laugh and then I spelled it out for him. "Scooter. S, C, O, O, T, E, R." After I ordered the cake I called Wolfmuellers Books. Jon answered the phone. "Hi Jon. This is Nancy. We're giving Rick a surprise birthday party this evening, even though he won't be sixty-four until next Tuesday and we would love for y'all to come to it."

"Sorry, Nancy. We can't. Sandy's cooking tonight. The other day she bought some stuffed chicken breasts that we were going to eat last night, but we were so tired we ate pizza instead, so tonight she is fixing them. Please tell Rick that we are sorry that we couldn't make it and wish him a happy birthday for..."

"I will, Jon," I said. "I totally understand. I'll tell him that y'all couldn't come to his birthday party because y'all don't like him and that you would rather stay home and vacuum and watch info-mercials than drive out here and..." Jon burst out laughing and then I started laughing. "I'm teasing..."

Late this afternoon when the cute Port A. couple got back from their ride—Rick and I went over to the Lodge, so he and Kinky could finish the pool tournament, while Leisa took a short nap in the Space Ship and Tony gave some friendly visitors from Bermuda and Galveston a tour of the rescue ranch.

Five minutes before T. brought the visitors over to meet Kinky—Scooter beat The Hummingbird Man hands down—The Scooter Triumps! And to put it mildly—Kink was not a happy hummingbird.

This evening, around seven o'clock, Rick was totally surprised when Tony walked inside the trailer with his birthday cake. After we sang happy birthday to him, Rick blew out the six grouped candles and the grouped four candles and then I shot the cake and then he cut it and served us all a slice. It was a pretty good cake and fun day.

Y'all have a great evening! I'm fixin' to go to bed.

Zombies!

This morning at 7:22 I heard, "Nancy! Are you up?" I opened my eyes, looked at the clock on the bedroom wall—I had overslept, again. The dogs jumped off of the bed and ran to the big room.

"Morning, Rick!" I half-hollered from the bedroom. "Come on in. I overslept. I made the coffee last night and if you will push the second button on the bottom right side—you'll have coffee. I'll be right there." I threw on a red and black flannel shirt that was hanging on the back bedpost and pulled on some navy colored sweatpants, brushed my hair and pulled it back into a gray ponytail, put on my Utopia cap and then my bifocals and then walked into the kitchen as Rick was pouring his first cup of coffee for the morning. "I'm sorry I overslept. Did you sleep okay in the Space Ship?"

"I love the Space Ship and I slept great, but this morning when I woke up I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Every muscle in my body ached, so when Tony invited me to go with him to the Old Timer I told him no and went back to sleep. I think I am too old to ride a motorcycle two-hundred-fifty miles..."

"Do you want some aspirin?" I asked, as I opened the cabinet door to get the aspirin bottle for Rick. After he swallowed two baby aspirin Rick told me about his friend Bo Powell, as I fed the dogs. "Bo is an incredibly talented artist," Rick said. "He lives up in Fort Worth and..." After the dogs had eaten their breakfast I started preparing our breakfast.

After breakfast Rick went outside and helped Tony with his chores and then Rick and I went over to the Lodge to see Kinky, before Leisa arrived. I let Rick drive Kermit.

When we arrived at the Lodge we drank some coffee while we visited with Kinky and his friend, Jerome. Then we went outside to the Friedman Family Bone Orchard and talked about Kinky's plants and the beautiful, thriving Plumaria plants that Rick and Leisa had given to him last year. Then Kinky suggested a pool tournament. "Jerome aka The Red Demon, beat me last night and he is now the current pool champion," Kinky said. "Let's go inside. Rick, you play the Red Demon and then I will play the winner."

As we followed Kinky back inside the Lodge I jokingly remarked, "I like the way Kinky didn't invite me to play." They laughed. Then I said as Jerome racked up the balls and Rick put some chalk on his stick and Kinky checked his phone messages in his office, "Rick, you have to have a nickname. You can't play if you don't have one. How about Easy Rider?" Rick laughed.

"I was thinking of Skippy, but I don't think it sounds tough enough?" Rick joked, then he went into deep thought for ten seconds. "Scooter! What do you think? I like Scooter."

After all of us quit laughing I said, "I love it, Scooter. It's perfect!" Then the tournament began. The Red Demon broke up the rack and then he and Rick showed off how good they were at pool. I was impressed and so was Kinky. When the game ended it was Red Demon - 0, Scooter - 1.

Game Two was pretty fun to watch. The Hummingbird Man and Scooter were evenly matched and they took turns removing their balls one-by-one off the table as they kidded each other on their pool playing skills. Bottom line: The Hummingbird Man - 1, Scooter -0. As Kinky jokingly marched triumphantly around the pool table as the new pool champion I said, "Rick, I think Kinky won because Mercury is out of retrograde." After the laughter subsided, Kermit returned us to the rescue ranch. "Leisa's here!" I said, as we drove up to the house.

After a fun visit inside the trailer with Rick, Leisa and Tony we decided to follow Scooter and his better half to Kerrville for lunch at the orange colored restaurant, because they wanted to drive around the Hill Country on the Triumph and Tone and I needed to mail Bob Schloss the books he bought from me and we also needed to go to Wolfmuellers.

When we walked inside the restaurant the waitress showed us to a table. "We meet, again," a familiar voice said behind me as I sat down. I turned around and it was Kinky. He and Jerome were sitting in a booth, not three feet away from us. We laughed and visited and then Leisa and Scooter walked inside the restaurant and as they were sitting down at our table Kinky said, "We meet, again! You have got to quit stalking me." Leisa and Rick burst out laughing as everyone in the restaurant watched.

After a lunch filled with laughter and refried beans, Rick and Leisa decided to follow us over to Wolfmueller's Books before going over to Dave's in Center Point. After we paid our bills we went outside. As Leisa was climbing on Rick's Triumph I joked, "Tony, I'm going to ride with them." It took a second and then Rick and Tone burst out laughing. Leisa didn't laugh, because she had her helmet on and couldn't hear me or else she didn't think it was funny.

A few minutes later the four of us walked into Kerrville's favorite bookstore and we were greeted by Mary Jo. When I saw Sandy step out of her office in the back—I took off to go talk to her. "Leisa and Rick are with us. They are on vacation," I said. "When they leave here they are going over to Center Point to check out Dave's."

"Dave's is closed," Sandy said, as Rick and Leisa walked up to greet her and Jon, who had just come out of the office. "Dave's is closed on Mondays," Sandy said, "but y'all can go there tomorrow. It is a really cool place." Even though it wasn't funny, I tried not to laugh at Rick and Leisa's disappointed, frowning faces. "Tucan Jim's is open today and they are real close to Dave's. It a cool place, too" Jon added, trying to cheer them up.

"I hope this isn't a vacation omen for y'all," I said. "I guess that you could say that y'alls vacation seems to be starting out on the left foot instead of the right foot." They started laughing and then we went to the front of the store and started visiting over by the checkout counter. Everyone was laughing and having fun as we traded funny stories and then the front door opened and in walked Kathleen, our friend and Sandy's best friend.

"Kathleen," I said. "These are our good friends Rick and Leisa from Port Aransas. And, Leisa and Rick this is our good friend Kathleen, the wife and better half of the famous songwriter / musician—Robert Earl Keen. Kathleen made a funny remark which made all of us laugh and then she joined in on our fun. Fifteen minutes later she and Sandy took off to run an errand together and Jon followed us outside to look at Rick's Triumph before we took off in different directions.

When T. and I drove through the Albertsons' parking lot on our way to the UPS Store, we saw four police cars parked in front of Office Max arresting a man and putting handcuffs on him. The man did not look happy nor did the officers. "Did you see that man they were arresting? He looked like a zombie," Tony said, as he slowed for a speed bump. I trusted Tony's assessment, because he watches movies with zombies in them and I don't. "He looked higher than a kite..."

"Tone, look! There's Eileen Gotke in the parking lot!" I interrupted, as we slowly passed by Albertsons' front doors. She was standing next to her car talking to another woman, but she didn't see us as T. lightly tapped the horn at her. "I bet she's pretending to be talking to that woman and is actually rubber necking the Office Max crime scene," I said, half serious. Tony started laughing at me as we pulled to a stop in front of the UPS Store.

Y'all have a great evening!

How About It!

Continued from Monday's post:

When Tony and I walked into Wolfmueller's Books we were instantly greeted by Sandy and Jon. Kathleen, a mutual friend of ours was there, too, so we started visiting and the laughing commenced immediately. Fifteen minutes later after Kathleen had told us a couple of hilarious stories about a friend of hers, I told T. that we needed to leave, because my back was aching from laughing so much.

Our next stop was at Copies Plus, so Tony could pick up a book on photography that Trisha was going to loan to him. Trisha and Marcie greeted us as we walked inside and then Trisha started laughing. "Tony I forgot to bring your book," Trish confessed. "I found it and put it on the table so I wouldn't forget it and I forgot it. If y'all have some more errands to run I can run home and get it for you?" We told Trish that we would be back in about an hour and took off for Walmart to buy more dog food for our rescued dogs.

An hour later Marcie greeted us as we walked back inside Copies Plus. Then Trisha came out of a room with a big, blue book, the new manual of PHOTOGRAPHY  by John Hedgecoe. "You will love this book, Tony," she said as she handed it to him. "Nancy, I'm nearly finished mounting your poster that you ordered and it turned out great!" Then she left the work area, so we visited with Marcie.

A few minutes later Trisha returned to the main work area holding up the poster I had ordered and I loved it! It's a picture of the front cover of my new book, Meanwhile Back At The Rescue Ranch: The Dog Days of Cousin Nancy. I had ordered the poster, because I wanted to hang it in the Space Ship.

As I was paying Trisha for the poster a familiar looking woman walked into the store and greeted all of us. When she saw my poster laying on the countertop she walked over to it to get a better look at it. "I love the cover of your new book, Cousin Nancy. Do you remember me?" I nodded my head, even though I couldn't figure out who she was. "I'm Kim Williamson from the television station Kerrville 15. I interviewed you years ago."

"Yes, I remember, Kim," I said. "I really enjoyed being on your show even though Sponge Bob Diaper Pants nearly ruined it." I looked at Trisha and Marcie. "Sponge Bob was a giant thirty-pound Lab puppy and he had an accident in his crate and he was covered in poop and it was raining and we were running late. When I did the interview he laid across my lap peacefully sleeping and smelled to high heaven. I was wearing pink overalls and a white shirt and after the show was over I realized that I was covered in poop and looked like I had been in a mud wrestling event and had lost. I wrote about it in my first book. I think I titled the story, Oh, Crappy Day."

"I would love to do a show on you and your new book. How about it?" Kim asked. As Kim and I discussed doing the show Tony went outside to get a book for her from our newly named  96' Explorer—Buttermilk, the Book Mobile. After I signed the book to her, she handed me a couple of business cards and then Tony and I left Copies Plus and headed home in the book mobile.

When we got home I returned a couple of phone calls and then I checked my e-mail. After answering eighteen new e-mails a new e-mail popped into my mailbox and it was from my dear friend, 'Erb, who lives in Massachusetts with his beautiful wife, Karen. She's the woman who has made me those two beautiful necklaces that everyone compliments me on.

As I read 'Erb's note I burst out laughing when he told me that every time that he reads the name of my small publishing press, Undepressable Press, it immediately reminds him of Nat King Cole's song, "Unforgettable" and it makes him want to dance. He said that if you substitute the word unforgettable to undepressable it works with the lyrics. When I showed Tony 'Erbs note he started laughing and I am still laughing about it.

After I got off of the computer I went inside the Space Ship and hung my poster up on the wall.

Tuesday afternoon I had a nice surprise. Our good friends, neighbors and volunteers, Charlie Cooper and his ninety-year-old father, Mr. Cooper came out to bring me some gifts. Unfortunately, Tony was gone fishing and Ellen, Charlie's better half, (Just kidding, Charlie. Not really.) was down at the Coast visiting family.

When they arrived we into the Space Ship so I could show it off. Then Charlie told me that he and Ellen had a gift that they wanted to give to me—a 1958 Roy Roger & Dale Evans lunch box with the thermos!

After telling Charlie that I loved it we started visiting. Charlie told me about his and Ellen's fun trip to Terlingua, Texas with their grandson, Catfish. Then he reached into his pocket and gave me several beautiful rocks that they had found. "I love the rocks, Charlie. I'm going to keep them in the Space Ship and tell everyone that they are Moon Rocks!"

Then we visited with Mr. Cooper, who I adore and think the world of, and listened to his interesting stories about his incredible life. When it was time for them to leave, because they needed to go to Kerrville to get supplies, Charlie gave me a small cactus that that they had found and I thought it was dead. After I thanked him for giving me the dead cactus, Charlie laughed and said, "It's not dead, Nancy. They call it a living rock and it grows outward instead of upward. This cactus is approximately thirty years old, too. They grow about an inch every ten years..." After they drove away I went into Outer Space and planted it in a pot.

When T. came home forty minutes later, he was sick that he had missed them.

Yesterday, I discovered that eBay has a great deal for raising funds through eBay Giving Works, so I spent much of my day registering Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch to be on their charitable list. The way it works is if you choose to sell something on eBay but want to make a donation to our rescue ranch, you go to eBay Giving Works' Utopia's site to sell the item and it is that simple. And you can choose what percentage of your sale that you want to donate to Utopia. They have made it very simple. And, I have put a link to it on the side bar, so you can check it out.

After we were officially registered on eBay Giving Works, I went on Utopia Facebook to announce it and to let everyone know about David Woo's print of Kinky and our pig that is for sale. This is what I posted:

"David Woo is an outstanding photographer from Dallas who shot Kinky with one of our pigs a few years ago, for his and Richard Pruitt's star-studded coffee table book Top Dogs And Their Pets. . 

David has generously donated 10 - 19"X13" black and white prints, signed and numbered by him and Kinky for us to auction off to raise money for our rescue ranch! David told me that the posters should be sold for a minimum of $250.00 each, but since we're trying to raise money for the rescue ranch now, we've decided to cut the number in half and sell them for $125.00 each. So hurry! We only have ten prints to sell with 100% of the proceeds going to the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch and its tax deductible.

To purchase one of these prints please go to Utopia's donation page on eBay Giving Works. I can only post one poster at a time to sell, so when one sells I will post another one up as soon as possible. Thank you for helping us help them!"

This morning I was flabbergasted when I saw the number of people who have already signed up to sell their items and give a percentage of their sell to Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch! And, I want to thank them for their generosity and support.

This morning Meghann and Matt came out and helped Tony with his chores, while Jim walked our dogs for us. Thank you, Meghann, Matt and Jim for all that you do for our ranch. We love y'all.

I feel good that I am finally caught up with my blog and the latest news. 

(P.S. Tomorrow is Tony's Birthday!)

Y'all have a great evening!

A Woodpecker Picnic!

Today has been so much fun—thank goodness, since yesterday was NOT. This morning I got up real early after sleeping like a log and I wasn't depressed at all. After feeding Mama, Abbie, Thunder, Little Girl, Hank, Toto and Lucky the cat I walked ten miles, again! Then Tony came home from the Old Timer and we did breakfast. He ate oatmeal with blueberries and I drank a super healthy smoothie.

After Tone went outside to do his morning chores I went over to the Lodge with my favorite ceramic turtle designed mug for some of Kinky's delicious Kona coffee and a visit. As I left the ranch in Buttermilk I saw T. in a pen feeding Mr. Rogers and Miss Dee and told him I would be back in about fifteen minutes or less. Little did I know I was lying.

When I arrived at the Lodge, Kinky was on the phone talking to his little sister Marcie so I waved and then poured myself some coffee and sat down at the kitchen table. When Kinky was done talking to Marce he handed me the phone and she and I had a fun conversation.

When I was done talking to Marcie I handed the phone back to Kinky and they started talking about seeing Dr. Kervorkian on the Larry King show. When they were done talking Kinky hung up the phone and he and I talked about Kervorkian. "I saw him on the Bill Maher show, Kink and he was great. He is a hero of mine. I don't get it? How come it is considered humane and the right thing to do to put our old, suffering pets to sleep, so they will be out of their misery, but it's not okay to do it for people? It makes no sense to me..."

After we talked about Kervorkian we refilled our mugs with coffee and went outside to visit by the Friedman Family Bone Orchard. After Kinky watered all of his plants he sat down in a chair and I leaned on a post near the Hummingbird feeders and we discussed our dreams that we have had lately with our parents being in them. "Nance, the first thing that Tom said to us in the hospital after he had his heart attack was, "What time is my appointment with Dr. Kervorkian?" And we started laughing uncontrollably as The Friedmans, his dogs Brownie and Chumley stared nervously at us.

When I had finally quit laughing about what his father had said I told Kinky about the pot on the drain board that had mysteriously moved across the kitchen counter yesterday. "I'm sure it was either my parents or that poltergeist that hangs around in our trailer. It was really cool." Kinky smiled and then took a sip of his coffee.

"Oh and get this, Kink!" I continued. "This morning before Tony went outside to do his chores he came into the big room and said, "Nance, thank you so much for fixing my clock."

"What? What clock? I didn't fix any clock. What are you talking about?"

"You didn't fix my clock?" Tony said. "That's really weird, Nance. Three or four days ago the battery went dead on the wall clock in my office. I've been meaning to fix it, but I kept forgetting to. Anyway, this morning while I was doing some farming on my computer I looked up at the clock and it was working and it had the correct time.  I mean it was right on time. You swear you didn't fix it?"

"I swear, Tone," I said. "I'll bet it was our poltergeist or Mom or Dad." Kinky nearly choked on his coffee and he tried not to laugh and then he changed the subject to about us dying and having our ashes scattered over the Friedman Family Bone Orchard.

"I hope that I just have a big heartattack and it's over right then and there," I said. "But with my luck a snake will probably kill me." Kinky burst out laughing!

When he finally quit laughing he stood up from his chair, threw what was left of his cold coffee on a beautiful, large plumeria plant that 'Rick the Friendly Lighthouse Keeper' and Leisa had given to him a few years back and then he says, "That's great, Nance. Your obituary will probably read something like this: "Here lies Cousin Nancy. The only woman in Texas to ever die from a Garter snake bite even though they aren't poisonous." We both started laughing.

Two hours later I was back inside the trailer cooking up some shrimp quesadillas for lunch for Tony, Kinky and me and I am proud to say that they were absolutely delicious—just ask T. or Kinky.

Late this afternoon Buttermilk took us to Kerrville to run two errands. Our first stop was at Wolfmueller's Books so we could visit with Sandy and Jon and so I could buy another copy of Tom D. Wells' fantastic book, Drop-Ins so I could mail it out on Monday to my sister Cindy to read. I really love that book and all of y'all need read it!

After I paid for Tom's book we had a fun visit with Sandy and Jon in their bookstore as several customers took turns buying books. Before we left their famous bookstore they invited us to come over for a visit after we did our grocery shopping at H.E.B.

After speed-shopping at H.E.B. Buttermilk took us over to the Wolfmueller's home and we had a blast to say the least! We sat outside on their beautiful, covered patio which they call "The Twilight Zone" listening to Robert Earl Keen sing followed by Alison Kraus on their Bose iDock.

As we admired their beautiful plants and the pretty Woodpeckers busily eating suet nearby from a tree, they told us about the plants history and the birdseed they use. Then Jon suddenly got up from the table and left us. When he returned he handed Tony a small birdseed package. "This is the best stuff, Tony. We get it from Birds Unlimited. It's called "Woodpecker Picnic." Tony looked at the package of suet.

"Jon, we have plenty of Woodpeckers at the rescue ranch," Tony said. " Nance, let's get some of this Woodpicker food at..." Sandy, Jon and I burst out laughing at his mispronounciation! And we teased T. until his face turned a bright red. Then we came home.

Y'all have a great evening! It's late and I've got to go to bed.

ohmidog! Rocks!

This morning I got up really early because I wanted to walk eight miles with Leslie Sansone before our special guest arrived at ten o'clock. By seven o'clock I had walked the eight miles and then I sat down at the kitchen table and worked on our newsletter on my laptop.

At nine-thirty Kinky called me from Kerrville. He was having breakfast in town with Frank and he had some good news to tell me about the rescue ranch. After we talked about his news I said, "Kinky, this morning John Woestendiek is coming out to see the rescue ranch. He is a retired writer for the Baltimore Sun and he has an awesome web site for dog lovers. It's called ohmidog! He and his dog Ace, who is a  big mutt, are on a cross-country journey visiting animal shelters, dog parks, etc. and he writes a daily blog about their adventures. I really hope that you can meet him. When are you coming back to the ranch?"

"I do want to meet John. I should be back in an hour or so..."

When our phone conversation ended I went outside to find Tony, but found volunteers walking our dogs! It was a very nice surprise, because I wasn't expecting them. I want to thank Jim, Nina, Leo, Matt, Meghan and Sally for coming out and getting all of our dogs walked today!

At ten o'clock sharp I went outside to greet John when he pulled up to the trailer in his red Jeep. Before we shook hands I knew I liked him. Before going into the trailer for some coffee John told me that he had left his dog Ace in Bandera. "Our friend Judith Pannebaker is baby sitting him for me today at The Bandera County Courier and I know that he is being spoiled rotten as we speak."

As we drank coffee and visited John started interviewing me and taking notes, so I grabbed a pen and paper and took notes too for tonight's blog. At one point during our fun visit I gave John copies of my first and second book and then he told me that he has a new non-fiction book coming out this Fall that is being published by Penguin / Avery Publishing and the title of his book is Dog, Inc.: The Uncanny Behind The Scenes Story of Cloning Man's Best Friend. 


After an interesting conversation about his research and writing the book he asked me to give him a tour of the rescue ranch. Before starting the tour John put his notes and my books into his Jeep and then he grabbed his camera and the tour commenced.

As I introduced our dogs to John and told him some of their incredible stories he took pictures of them. Before the tour was over John had met our great dog-walking volunteers and he had asked me several questions about certain dogs. Then Kermit took us over to the Lodge for a fun visit with Kinky. Here is a picture that I took of Kinky and John outside by the Friedman Family Bone Orchard.

John and Kinky had much to talk about, so I mainly stood back and listened and learned something new. Before leaving the Lodge, Kinky signed two of his books and gave them to John. As Kermit took us over the river and through the woods to the rescue ranch John thanked me for a fun visit and seemed amazed that he now had four new books to read.

When we arrived back at the trailer John and I exchanged business cards, phone numbers and e-mail addresses and then he gave me a handful of the cutest refrigerator magnets that had a picture of Ace on it along with information about his web site: ohmydog! Then we said our goodbyes to each other and he took off for Wolfmueller's Books to buy some more Kinky books and to meet Sandy and Jon.

After Tone and I ate lunch I spent the rest of the afternoon working on the newsletter. Around five-thirty Tony told me that he was going to ride around and take pictures so I decided to walk two more miles with Leslie to make it a total of ten miles today.

Y'all have a great evening!

Pain In The Back!

All day today I have thought about what I was going to write about yesterdays super fun interview with Connie Strong. Connie arrived on time at one o'clock sharp with her friends and co-workers: Joni Johnson Daniel, the publisher for Texas Animal Imprints, photographer Mary Chavoustie and Joni's sister Juli.

Tony and I liked these bubbly women the minute that they got out of their vehicles. It was hugs first and introductions second and then we went into Outer Space so Connie could interview me and that is when the real fun began.

After playing a quick round of musical chairs so Mary the photographer could shoot me Connie asked me if was okay for her to record our interview and I told her that I didn't mind one bit even though I know that I sound like Gabby Hays on helium. Connie started her little white tape recorder and then she began asking me questions about our rescue ranch and of course I talked way too much—as I always do—just ask anyone who knows me, or better yet ask Tony.

Ten minutes into the interview I realized Connie was a pro at interviewing people, because she already knew a lot about our rescue ranch and she had come prepared with a list of questions to ask me. I was so relaxed and having such a great time answering her questions, telling rescue ranch stories and laughing with her and her friends I forgot that Mary was busy shooting me while Connie continued to interview me. I felt like I was just sitting around visiting with dear friends. In other words it was the best interview I have ever had! Thank you, Connie, Joni, Mary and Juli for a fun day!

After the interview I invited everyone to come inside the trailer so I could show it off and they loved it, but not as much as they loved the Miles of Chocolate that Ben had given to us. We laughed and talked some more inside the trailer then we outside so I could show them my Space Ship and writing cabin and they loved them, too. Then Tony and I gave a tour of the rescue ranch so they could meet all of our great dogs.

Before "the girls" left we rode around the ranch looking for, Gabby Hays, Roy Rogers and Little Jewford, but unfortunately they were nowhere to be found. When it was time for them to leave they didn't want to leave and we didn't want them to leave so we hugged each other and then they departed.
After they left Tone said, "I really like those women. They were so fun and down to earth..."

"I know, Tone. Me too."

Then we ate lunch and let Buttermilk take us to Kerrville to get some groceries.
When we got to Kerrville we decided to go see Sandy and Jon before doing our grocery shopping at the H.E.B. "Sandy, I love reading Drop-Ins! It is a real hoot! I gave my copy of Tom Wells book Strange Seasons: Summer to Patty in Florida and I need to buy another copy of his book." When we walked out of Wolfmueller's Books Tony was carrying four new books in his arms: three by Elmer Kelton and one by Tom D. Wells.

I wish that I could write ten more pages about how much fun we had with Connie, Joni, Mary and Juli, but I can't because this afternoon at straight-up four o'clock my back went out and it is aching pretty bad.
When it happened I hollered at the top of my lungs for Tony to come help me. When he came running into our bathroom I was hunched over trying to buckle up my pink overalls. "Nance, what's wrong?"

"I threw my back out, T."

"How?"

"Well, I had to go to the bathroom to tinkle and when I stood up—it went out." Tony started laughing. "It's not funny, Tony! It hurts like you-know-what. Ouch! Could you get me one of my walking poles so I can use it like a walking cane?" Tony fetched the pretty wannabe cane and I limped into the kitchen with T. right behind me. "One last thing, Tone. Could you please unplug my laptop and put it up here on the breakfast bar for me. They say that standing and walking is good for a bad back. And could you find the Aleve in the kitchen cabinet for me?" Tony moved my laptop, but he could not find the Aleve. "It's gotta be over at Kinky's," I said. "In fact, I remember taking it over there several months ago when his back was out." Tony took off for the Lodge and returned ten minutes later with the Aleve—thank goodness! After I took two Aleve I said, "I'm sorry for being such a pain in the back, Tone."

Well, it is now nearly nine o'clock as I stand here typing this at the breakfast bar. My back is already feeling much better even though I haven't sat down in five hours. Tony is in his office planting or plowing on his virtual farm and I'm fixin' to go plant myself in bed. Good night.

P.S I want to thank Matt, Meghann and Casey for coming out this morning and volunteering on their day off. It was great seeing you. I love y'all!

Y'all have a great evening!