Chigger Proof!

Today has been great. This morning when we went outside to do our morning chores I decided to tuck my jeans inside my boots, to help keep the chiggers off of me, because for the past five days I've gotten several chigger bites on my legs, because of the tall, wet grass outside.

When Tony saw me walk up with my boots tucked in he smiled and chuckled. "I like your new look. Are you a goat-roper now or still a cowgirl?"

"A cowgirl. A poser cowgirl." Then I told him why I had tucked my jeans inside my pink, Justin Gypsy boots.

I spent most of my day doing paperwork and I am glad that I am completely caught up, until tomorrow or Friday when the mail comes in.

When I finished my rescue ranch paperwork I did some more paperwork editing my second novella, before I give it to my friend, Kris Bobbitt, to edit some more. And I want to thank her in advance for offering to help me.

This evening Tony came inside and teased me about my jeans still being tucked into my boots. "I've been so busy today I forgot to pull them out,"I said. Then I asked Tony to take a picture of my new chigger-proof look with Roy putting his foot down.

And that is about it for tonight.

Y'all have a great evening!

Summa Come-Doggie!

Today has been a lot of fun and so was yesterday. I had a blast at my book signing at the Medina Community Library! My friend, Eileen Gotke surprised me and was of the first to arrive with her friend, so we got to visit with them and librarian volunteer, Susan Weeks, who set up the book signing. "At Callie Dean's dog obedience graduation on Sunday, she was awarded the Summa Come-Doggie award for being the best in her class, taught by Sharon Griswold—Kerrville's favorite Dog Whisperer. I am so proud of Callie Dean!" Eileen declared, like a proud mama.

When everyone arrived, I sat down behind a table and began talking to the audience about our rescue ranch, my book and telling them stories about the animals that we have rescued, which was easy for me to do, since I seem to have a knack—for running off at the mouth.

An hour later, after I had signed several copies of my books, the book signing was done, so I visited with several people and I want to thank everyone for coming and buying my book. And, I especially want to thank Susan Weeks and the staff and volunteers at the Medina Community Library for promoting my book signing and doing such a great job. Y'all Rock!

This morning after I walked six miles I went outside to greet and thank Ellen Jackson and Eileen Gotke for coming out to walk our dogs. Then we started talking about our first upcoming dog adoption and dog training seminar from 10a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 6th, that they have single-handily volunteered for and taken on with June's and Jim's help, leaving me with not much to do since I am so busy and OLD. Bless their hearts. They have already contacted the media and put out flyers! Thank you, Eileen, Ellen, June and Jim—I love y'all!

The free event is open to the public and is especially for those who are thinking of adopting a dog, first timers or those who would like tips on training and caring for their dogs. I am going to give a presentation and Sharon Griswold, a 35 year professional dog trainer and trainer for seeing-eye dogs will put on demonstrations and answer questions and help people choose the right kind of dog that suits their lifestyle. Besides being informative it will be a lot of fun and hopefully we will adopt out some dogs. I am really excited about it and looking forward to it.

"When Sharon gets here, come on up to the trailer so we can brainstorm about the event," I said, as they led Princess and Marlin our of their pen to take them for a walk and I walked almost all of the way to the gate entrance with them when Sharon Griswold showed up in her truck with a big, cute sign on the back window that read: "Rover Misbehavin? Private Instruction in Your Home - Basic Obedience - Behavioral Problems - Puppy Training -"

The minute I met Sharon I was very impressed with her too, just like Ellen and Eileen, who Sharon had helped train their dogs: Jermaine Jackson and Callie Dean Gotke—"The Smartest Dog On The Planet!"
While Eileen and Ellen were walking Princess and Marlin, Sharon and I visited while she and Tony worked with Mr. Rogers' fear-of-leashes problem. And before she left Mr. Rogers' and Miss Dee's pen she had given Tony some really great tips on how to work with Mr. Rogers.

By one o'clock we quit brainstorming and we all felt excited about our upcoming event. Then everyone left the rescue ranch including Tony and me, because we had to get supplies, dog food and go to the Post Office so I could mail out two of my fasterpiece watercolor paintings that I have sold on eBay. Thank you, Kirsten and Christy!

When all of our errands were run and we were ready to come home—Tony surprised me. As I climbed out of Buttermilk, in Billy's Western Wear parking lot I asked, "T., what's going on?" A few minutes later I found out and walked out of the store wearing a new pair of pink Justin Gypsy cowboy boots, just like my old ones, that Tony had secretly ordered a few days ago for my birthday present! I was thrilled, because my old ones are nearly two years old now and pretty well worn.

As we drove home Tony asked me what I was going to do with my old, pink boots. "I think I am going to make lamps out of them and put one in the Space Ship and the other in my writing cabin," I said, "or maybe I should sell the lamps on eBay?" Tony laughed.

When we got home I took off my new pink boots and took this picture of them beside my old boots, which I have named, "Pink Boots Rule—You Can Never Have Enough!"

P.S. I told Tone about going to the "Drumming" at The Yoga Place on Sunday, my birthday, that June told me about and he told me that he will go with us! (He's coming around!) This is going to be the best birthday ever! Thank you, T., I love you and my new pink boots!

Y'all have a great evening!

Justin Gypsy Boots—Pink!

Sunday morning, I woke up, and didn't want to get out of bed, because my dogs and cat were snuggled up close to me—sleeping. I stayed in bed for a few minutes, just enjoying their company. When I sat up in bed, my furry friends woke up, shook their heads, yawned, and then they pounced on me, and showered me with wet kisses! Then they joyously jumped off of the bed, and started yapping at me in delight, with their tails wagging wildly—stirring up the latest cat and dog shed hair! Their happiness made me laugh out loud, as their old hair swirled around the bedroom.

After feeding my happy, hairy herd, I started Perky, the percolator, and then showered and dressed. At seven-thirty, I was in the kitchen, using my pink magnifying glass, to read the instructions, on how to make Cafe Du Monde's beignets.

Years ago, or should I say fifty pounds ago, I used to make beignets all of the time for Tony, Kinky and me, but I had forgotten the procedure.

Rick knocked on the door—and startled me, and my sleeping pet pals! "Come in, Rick," I hollered, over the sound of my barking babes.

"Good morning, Cousin Nancy!" Rick said, as he poured himself some delicious organic coffee. "How are you doing this morning?"

"I'm fine and fixin' to make beignets for breakfast, if I can read this small, fine print directions..." Rick laughed.

"I like your little pink magnifier—it's cute. Did Tony get that for you?"

"Did I get what?" Tony said, smiling, as he closed the screened-glass door behind him. "Morning Nancy and Rick."

"That pink magnifying glass," Rick said. Tony nodded yes, and we laughed.

"Yes," T. replied. "I use it, too. It lights up when you squeeze it." Tony walked over to the drain board to pick it up.

"Which one lights up—Cousin Nancy, or the magnifying glass?" Rick quipped, and then he started laughing.

"Both," Tone answered. We all started laughing, as I spooned in the beignet batter, into the skillet, full of hot olive oil.

Six minutes later, I grabbed my favorite serving platter, that reads— 'Everything Tastes Better With Dog Hair In It,' that Mary S., John Kemmerly's super sweet mom, had given to me a few years back. I love it! And, here's a picture of it:

A couple of minutes later, Rick, Tony and I were eating delicious, powder-sugar covered, beignets from it, and fortunately, no one found a single dog or cat hair! Why? Because the newly shed hairs were all floating around, in our bedroom—thanks to our ceiling fan.

When the platter was empty—our stomachs were full, Rick poured a cup of coffee for Leisa, and then he took it outside to my writing cabin—to give to her. When he returned to the trailer, I cranked up my iPod, opened up the front porch window, and then suggested that we go outside—into Outer Space, for a visit, while we waited for our friends: Ruthie, Kent, Kinky, Ben and Will to arrive. We didn't wait long.

A few minutes after going into Outer Space—we left it, because our 'party of five' had arrived! After howdy doodies, handshakes and hugs—we all went inside the trailer, so everyone could get a cup of coffee! Then we left the trailer and went back into Outer Space.

I stayed for about a minute, then I excused myself, because I needed to make beignets for everyone. I nearly had the hot skillet filled with beignet batter, when Ruth Buzzi came inside the trailer to help me! "The guys started talking," Ruth Buzzi said. "So I told them—I'm going inside to visit with Cousin Nancy."

Oh my gosh! I was thrilled, and once again—star-struck! I'm thinking, 'I can't believe this! Ruth Buzzi is actually standing inside my trailer—talking to me, like we're best friends! It can't get any better than this!' But, I was wrong.

I really wanted to pinch myself, to make sure this wasn't a dream, but I didn't, because I have a low threshold for pain. And, my last 'Ruth Buzzi pinch'—is now an unattractive bluish-yellow bruise. Sorry, no pictures.

As Ruthie and I are visiting, she comes over to the stove, where I'm nervously frying beignets, and she starts telling me about her wonderful Italian grandmother's cooking. And, the next thing you know—Ruthie is standing over my stove, and cooking the beignets, and giving me some really helpful tips! Then she gives me her grandmother's secret 'pizza friatta' (spell check there) recipe! I love this woman! She is one incredible lady!

After Ruthie and I patted the grease off of the beignets, we made one more batch of beignets beauties. While the beignets sizzled, she and I talked about my exercise routine, her and Kent's ranch, ducks, chickens, and my Justin Gypsy pink cowgirl boots, etc. I was having a blast, even though I was still star-struck! Good grief—I couldn't help it! You would've be, too! We're talkin'—Ruth Buzzi!

Then the guys, and Leisa came inside the trailer for their breakfast. Ruthie's new, and muchly improved, Italian-style version of New Orlean's famous pastry disappeared—faster than fast! Her's were so much better than mine. And, fortunately, no one reported any sightings of dog or cat hair! Thank goodness!

Following breakfast—laughter filled the trailer! Everyone was taking turns telling funny stories, and I was having so much fun! At one point, during a hilarious Kinky tale, Ruthie asked me for a piece of paper and a pencil. I grabbed my clipboard, tucked a piece of paper on it, plucked a pen from the breakfast bar—and then handed it to her, and she went to drawing!

As the conversation flowed, Ruthie came over to me, to show me pictures of how her grandmother worked the dough, the size that the pieces should be, etc.! I was so excited with her drawing—I forgot to ask her to sign it, because I do plan on framing it!

Rick and Leisa were the first to leave—because they needed to get back to Port Aransas. After hugs and handshakes, they took off, and I wish that they hadn't left so quickly, because they missed being in our Sunday morning group picture that T. took of us! Thank you, Tony! From left to right: Cousin Nancy, Ruthie, Kent, Kink, Will and Ben:

Before everyone else left, to go home, Ruthie grabbed one of my hot pink scratch pads, and wrote down these words and tucked it into her jean pocket: Justin Gypsy Boots—pink!

Y'all have a great evening!

Saddle Sore And Wore!

This morning, before breakfast, I fed our dogs, cleaned the trailer, and washed a load of clothes! After breakfast with Tone, I did my brisk two mile walk, caught up with my paperwork, returned all phone calls, while our great Kerrville volunteers: June, Ellen and Jim were outside walking our dogs! I loved it and I know our dogs loved it more! Thank you Jim, June and Ellen—we love you!

At noon, I got ready to go horseback riding with my good friend Cindy, and Jeannie—Bandera's favorite cowgirl! I couldn't wait to go ride, even though the forecast today, said it was going to be ninety degrees outside! At twelve-thirty, Buttermilk and I left the rescue ranch for Bandera, so I could meet up with Cindy, and then ride with her to the park.

"Cindy! Tony is coming to video us for my blog!" I said with excitement!

"That's great!" Cindy remarked. "Nance, he is so sweet."

When we arrived at the park, Jeannie was already there, waiting on us! Yee Haw! As Jeannie unloaded her terrific horses, Tony showed up with my camera and one of his—so he could shoot us! In no time flat, we were all in our saddles and took off for our two hour ride in the beautiful Texas Hill Country!

Our trail ride was so much fun—but rather hot! When we three returned from our ride, the horses were as wore out (please note, we say wore instead of worn) as us. Ater watering down the horses, Cindy climbed off of Davy Crockett first, and began feeding him Fig Newtons, as Jeannie held Black Jack Cadillac next to a tall rock, and Tone helped me climb off of his back.

When my feet finally reached the ground, Tony remarked, "Nance, you are so bowlegged right now—you look like you've been riding a barrel!" Then he started laughing.

After a short visit with Cindy, Tony and Jeannie, a friendly Park Ranger, known as 'Shorty' came over to visit with her friend Jeannie and us. Halfway through our visit with her, she asked me, "Are you wearing pink Justin Gypsy cowgirl boots?"

"Yes," I said, excited that she knew! "And I love them!"

"Me, too!" Shorty said, wearing a smile, as she lifted up her jeans to show me her pink ones—that were just like mine! She and I had a fun conversation about how much we loved our boots, and then it was time for us to leave.

I have posted two short video clips that T. took of us today. I hope that you will enjoy watching them. And please note, on the video 'The End Of The Trail' Jeannie is talking to us about horses. So you'll know—during our ride, I had let Black Jack Cadillac get to close to Davy's rear end, and Davy didn't like it and he stopped! He was thinking about kicking BJC, but thankfully he didn't. Here is a photo of me and BJC before going on our ride. I'm pooped and truly saddle sore. Y'all have a great evening! I'm hitting the hay! Good Night!

OMG! Gypsies!

Today, was a wonderful day! This morning, Ben and Aaron joined us for breakfast and some coffee, and then they went and did their chores outside. At ten o'clock, Linda T., from Harker Heights, arrived to walk our dogs, and so did Amber—from Medina!

While Linda and Amber were busy walking our dogs, and my pot of beans simmered on the stovetop, two really great people, Robert and his wife, Teresa, showed up for a tour! Before giving them a tour, while shaking hands with them, I looked down, "Teresa, are those Justin Gypsy cowgirl boots that you are wearing?"

"Yes!" Teresa said. "I love them! I got them for Christmas!" Then she lifted up her jeans, to show me their Peptol Bismol pink tops.

"OMG!" I said. "I have a pink pair, too— just like yours! Don't you just love them!"

Her answer was short and sweet—"Yes!"

"Well, I'm thinking of buying one or two more backup pairs," I said. "Just in case Justin decides to quit making them." Teresa smiled and shook her head in agreement with me.

I then happily gave them 'The Premiere Rescue Ranch Package Tour,' which included meeting all of our dogs and pigs, going into my Space Ship, and then into Outer Space for a short visit, followed by a tour of our trailer, showing her my pink boots, and my writing cabin! They seemed to enjoy the tour—and I loved meeting these two really nice people. So before leaving our rescue ranch, I gave them a signed copy of my book, 'The Road To Utopia: How Kinky, Tony and I Saved More Animals Than Noah,' and our 2009 rescue ranch calendar! In turn, they gave us a generous monetary donation, and several dog beds, dog sweaters, and toys! And the best part was—Teresa and Robert told us that they would return real soon—to help walk our dogs for us! That made my day or so I thought!

During lunch, I checked my blog, and posted the comment from our two Poodles, Max and Muffy, which I absolutely loved! I then read it aloud, to Linda, Aaron, Ben and Tony, as we ate beans, and my homemade cornbread. Muffy and Max's letter really made my day truly great! I was on cloud nine!

Today, we had visitors out here, taking tours, until six o'clock! I enjoyed meeting all of the many nice people, but I was pretty pooped, when Tony finally closed our gate. Then Kinky calls me, "Nance, can you come over here for a minute?" Buttermilk and I went over to the Lodge.

Kinky and I had a fun visit, caught up with our days goings on, and then I went and said good bye to Ben, and his his two sweet, rescue ranch, Pit Bulls, that he adopted from us— Valerie and Penney. "Ben, I sure hope that you have a great birthday on Monday, and I wish that we could be there to celebrate it with you—Happy Birthday!"

"Thanks Nance." Then Buttermilk and I came back to the rescue ranch, closed our gate, and then I started returning todays many stacked up phone calls. Y'all have a great Saturday night! I'm fixin' to!

P.S. Thank you Linda T., Amber, Tone, Ben, Aaron, and Robert and Teresa—for making this another great day for me! And, my back is much better!

These Boots Are Made For Walking!

Yesterday morning, Linda T. and her daughter came out to walk dogs! They drove three hours to get here, and we were glad to see her, and meet her beautiful daughter, Hunter! They showed up with some homemade cookies, and chocolate covered, peanut butter balls for Aaron, Kinky, and Tony and me! Talk about delicious! OMG, they were fantastic! Seriously, look out Reese’s Peanut Butter cups—you’ve been outdone!

After a brief visit outside, Aaron, Linda and Hunter started walking our dogs! I loved it, but not as much as our dogs did! After fifteen of our dogs had been walked, Aaron went home for lunch, and I took Linda and Hunter over to meet and to visit with Kinky. And, it was a lot of fun!

When we returned to the rescue ranch, Aaron showed up with his girlfriend’s daughter, Heather and her friend, who also wanted to help walk our dogs. I loved it! The more the merrier! By the end of the day—over twenty dogs went for walks! Thank you, Linda, Hunter, Heather, Carol and Aaron—Y’all Rock!

This morning, Tony and I went to Kerrville to shop for our dogs—Christmas dinner, and to run a few errands—like buying presents for each other, and getting me some new cowboy boots. My old Justin Ropers boots, are over thirteen years old, and they are worn out.

We went to a cowboy western store first, and after trying on several cowboy boots, I gave up—they either didn’t have my size or the ones I liked were on backorder. So I gave up. We went to Wal Mart and filled a basket full, of people food, for our dog's annual Christmas dinner! Then we came home.

Around three o’clock, our friends, Matt and Jody, arrived to drop off their dogs, Toby and Baby, that they adopted from us months ago! Before making their adoptions final for Baby and Toby, we agreed to board their dogs for four days, during this year’s holiday season to make the adoptions happen—and we kept our word.

When they arrived, Toby and Baby quickly jumped out of their truck, without leashes, and they ran straight to their old pen, which Tone and Aaron had made ready for them! I couldn’t believe it! Tony opened the gate to their old pen, and they ran in and quickly started smelling and rolling in the dirt and grass—they were happy, with tails wagging—they were home, again! We were all astonished that they remembered their old pen, and that they were so happy to be back! And yes, I loved it! I took it as a compliment.

Earlier this evening, my sister Cindy called to visit! She called to tell me that, this morning she and her husband Ray, had spent their morning wrapping presents, and then they left the house to run errands, leaving their two Boston Terriers, Tipper and Maisy, inside. Two hours later, when they returned home— they discovered that their dogs had opened up only one present—theirs! Cindy said that all of the other presents under their tree, were untouched, but their dog’s present had been totally torn up—with gift wrap paper everywhere! We had a fun conversation, and during our catching up, I found out that her son, Tom, who helped Ronnie build Outer Space for us, was now working at a cowboy store in Austin, and he was a cowboy boot salesman, working on commission! How perfect is that! Cindy wasn’t sure which store he was working at, so I called Ronnie to find out.

After the receptionist answered the phone, I asked to speak to Tom in the boot department.

“Hello, this is Tom. How can I help you?”

“Hi Tom, this is your aunt Nancy—Cousin Nancy,” I said. “I need some new cowboy boots, and I want to buy them from you—so you’ll get the commission. I’ve already been online, and I have the codes for the boots.” Then their was silence.

“Wow, let me check with the manager to see if that will work!” Tom said, before laughing. Then he put me on hold for a couple of seconds. “The store manager is okay with it. Which boots do you want to buy?”

I told him that I wanted to buy the premier Justin Ropers, and the new Justin Gypsy cowgirl boots—the pink ones!”

“Pink ones?” Tom questioned.

“Yes, they are Peptol Bismol pink.”

“Okay, let me check to see if we have them.” Tom put me on hold, but not for long.

“Nance, I have good news and bad news. We have the pair of Peptol Bismol, but we are out of stock on the Ropers.”

“Okay, that’s fine.” I gave Tom my American Express information. “Thank you, Tom. If you don’t mind, please take them over to Cindy’s Wednesday or Thursday, when you see them, and please tell Nicky that I said hi. Y’all need to come down for a visit, and please bring her parents.”

“ I will. Wow, Nance! You really freaked me out! I am trying to sell cowboy boots, and they announce over the loud speaker—Tom please pick up the phone. Then I pick it up and it’s you. I’m thinking why is my aunt calling me at work?” Then Tom started laughing and I joined him.

I then called Cindy to tell her about buying the boots from Tom.

Two minutes later, Cindy calls me, and tells me that Tom had just called her, and the store needed to know when the issue date for my credit card was.

I then phoned Tom back at work. “Nance, for some reason, American Express is the hardest charge card to work with. Do you know the date when it was first issued?”

“No Tom,” I said. “Five, six or seven years ago? How about me using my Visa card? Would that be easier?” I then gave Tom all of the information.

Three minutes later, Cindy calls! “Nance, Tom just called. He said that your credit card showed up—as closed.” I told Cindy that I would call Tom back.

“Could I please speak to Tom,” I asked the receptionist, again. She immediately handed the phone over to Tom.

“Hi Nance. I think I didn’t write the numbers down correctly. Can you give me the numbers, again?”

I read off the set of numbers, and on the third set, we caught the error! After we repeated the numbers —it was a done deal! Then we said goodbye to each other, again.

Five minutes later, I couldn’t help it, I picked up the phone and I called my sister, Cindy!

“Hello?” Cindy said.

“Hello, I was just checking to see if I had anymore new phone calls,” I said. We broke out laughing! Here is a picture of my Justin Gypsy cowgirl boots! Y’all have a great evening!

P.S. Happy Birthday Robyn Fay! I hope your sweet sixteen was fantastic!