The Handy Outline!

Today has been great. This morning while Brandon, Tony and I ate breakfast, I was telling Brandon about ordering thirteen more swimming pools from H-E-B. "Dale, the nice man that I spoke to told me that they should be in their store on Friday, so tomorrow afternoon, after we eat lunch with the volunteers, we're going to town to pick them up."

Then the phone rang and I let Carlton take the message. "Hello, this is Lisa at H-E-B. I was calling to let..."

"Hello, Lisa. This is Nancy."

"Hi. I just wanted to let you know that your thirteen, yellow and blue swimming pools have just arrived."

"That is great news. We'll pick them up after lunch. Thank you, for calling me. Bye."

After the three of us ate lunch in, The Cabin, Brandon and I jammed for twenty minutes while Tony finished making a few phone calls. While we were playing, I looked up on the wall to check the time and my favorite clock had gone blank. In other words it was timeless. "Looks like I need to buy some new batteries for my clock," I said, as I removed the digital clock from the wall, so I could see what batteries I needed to buy. Then I laughed when I looked at the wall, because the walls have darkened some and it hadn't behind the clock.

Then Brandon went home and we went to Kerrville. Our first stop was at the Melody Corner, so I could talk to Stan about which pickup he thinks I should buy for my banjo, because Brandon and I want to start using my amp more often when we pick & grin.

"I have some ordered," Stan said. "They should be arriving tomorrow and I will call you, so you won't make a special trip." Before we left Stan's cool music store I bought a pink and a green shakers, that look like eggs, because if Eileen, our super volunteer, who plays the drums, might want to use them when she jams with us sometime. They sort of sound like a rattlesnake and they are very pretty.

When Tony and I returned home the first thing that I did after putting up the groceries, was put new batteries in the clock and set it. And it was easy to rehang, because I used the handy outline on the wall.

Around 6:00 tonight, Tony and I went outside to put the new swimming pools in the remaining pens that needed them and to fill them up. I was put in charge of turning the spigot on and off and dragging the hose from one pen to another. While Tony's job was to place the pools in the pens, fill them up and then screw or unscrew my heavy, long hose from the faucets. It only took us about an hour and it was well worth it.

And that is about it for tonight, because I need to go wash a load of clothes and dust the trailer, I mean The Cabin.

Y'all have a great evening!

And Baby Makes Three!

Talk about bad timing, it actually started on Sunday. Sundays are Tony's and my official day off, and usually we go to Kerrville to get groceries at H.E.B. and run a few errands. After Tony and I had run a couple of errands, we went to H.E.B. to buy some much needed groceries, but it was closed, so we returned to the rescue ranch.

Yesterday, after walking five miles, catching up on some paperwork, and returning several phone calls, Tony and I took off for Kerrville, again. We took Trigger, because Buttermilk was low on gas.

I needed to get some new guitar strings, so we took Baby, my guitar, so we could drop it off, at the Melody Corner store, so Stan could restring it for me, while we ran some errands. When Tony put Baby in the back of Trigger—his shoulder went out and he was hurting. Before arriving in Kerrville—we had made us a plan.

First, we would stop by Wolfmueller's Books, to see Jon and Sandy, and for me to purchase a copy of my book, so I could give it to Freda, at La Four's restaurant. I had promised to bring her a book, but I seemed to always forget. When we arrived at Wolfmueller's, Tony painfully took Baby from the back of the truck, and locked her inside Trigger.

Jon was in his office, having a conversation with a man, so we just waved to him—he was busy. Then we go and get a copy of my book off of the shelf, and go to the checkout counter to pay for it. Mary Jo was there and she greeted us. "Where's Sandy?" I asked.

"She's gone, but she will be back in a little while." We were disappointed. After paying for my book, I opened it up, and inscribed it to Freda. Then we left. And, Tony once again, put Baby in the back of the truck, then we headed to 'Stan the Man's' music store. When we arrived—the sign on the door said, 'Sorry, We're Closed.' I was disappointed, but Tony wasn't. I think he was glad that he didn't have to get Baby out of the back.

We were hungry, so we headed to La Four's Seafood Restaurant, I was excited about finally giving Freda my book! When we arrived at La Four's—it was closed, too! Tony and I were definitely on a roll, and we were not smiling! "Tony, there's another music store on Water Street. Let's go there!"

When we pulled up and parked at 'Bandera Strings,' Tony grabbed Baby and we went inside the store. "Do y'all carry guitar strings?" I asked.

"No. We just repair guitars. Sorry" A pleasant woman said. As we walked back to Trigger, I could tell that Tony was starting to get really agitated with Baby, and he groaned when he lifted her up and returned her to her resting place.

Trying to smooth things over, I suggested we eat at The Save Inn. Tony liked my idea, until he had to lock her inside Trigger, again! As always, our lunch was delicious, and the friendly waitress seemed to cheer Tony up some—thank goodness!

As we walked back to Trigger, I said, "Tony let's go to Home Depot. I want to build a coffee table like Carol's. It's just two blocks down."

When we parked, Tony said a few cuss words, as he shoved Baby back into the cab! After locking the doors, we went inside Home Depot. Twenty minutes later, we walked out of the store with fifty dollars of lumber. "Tony, let me load the truck, I know your shoulder is killing you." Tony helped me load the truck, and grumbled something, when he returned Baby back to her place. Then Trigger took us to H.E.B.

After Tony threw Baby into the cab, we went inside to shop. Twenty minutes later, we were back in the parking lot, loading the back with groceries. "Cheer up, T.," I said. "You only have to move Baby two more times!" My words fell on deaf ears. Tony was starting to hate Baby!

When we arrived at the rescue ranch, Tony carried Baby inside, as I carried a bag of groceries. After the groceries were put up—we unloaded the sticks of lumber, and then set up shop on the front porch! Tony's shoulder was really hurting him, so I only asked him to help me nail the base boards together—then he went inside and I went to work! Two hours into my outdoor project—Kinky called! He wanted to come over and have a picnic with Toto and our gang, and he wanted to see my coffee table project!

Kinky was impressed with my building skills, even though I was actually building a big box—to put our feet on. After the picnic, Kink hung around for a little while, as we discussed his plans to plant bamboo.

At seven-fifteen, I had finished my coffee table! Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Carol's at all, but I love it! In fact, I am proud of it! Here are a few pictures! Y'all have a great Tuesday!

P.S. Later today, we're taking Baby back to Kerrville to get new strings!