The Event!

I apologize for not writing a blog last night, but I have a very good excuse—I went to "The Event!" And Tone and I didn't get home until nine-thirty and I was so tired, because of all of the laughing that I had done earlier in the evening I just went straight to bed.

Earlier in the week I came up with the idea to have a private party at David and Desiree Farrars' Trails End Guest House to celebrate Marcie's return from Vietnam, so after talking to Desiree and David about doing "The Event" on Thursday night I talked to Kinky and Marcie about it and then I called our dear friends to invite them.

Within two hours I had a confirmed guest list and called D&D to make the reservations. Two hours later I had to call D&D back at their B&B to add a few more names to our growing list of good friends. "Hi, David! It's Nancy again. There will be ten of us coming for dinner at six o'clock to Peasants on Thursday and we are going 'Dutch.' Here's the list of our friends names: Sandy & Jon Wolfmueller, Donna Schloss, Barbara & Tom Carpenter, Kinky, Marcie & Will Wallace and Tony and me." Then David told me that we should come hungry because they would be serving us eight entrees and they were looking forward to The Event.

Yesterday morning because of David's 'warning' to come hungry I walked eight miles and then I fixed T. and me a low calorie lunch consisting only of vegetables.

At five-thirty as planned we met Kinky, Marcie & Will and Barbara and Tom in front of Wolfmueller's Books so they could follow us to the Trail's End Guest House, while Sandy and Jon picked up Donna to ride with them.

Our caravan of three arrived first, at five minutes before six to be exact, so the first thing we did was go over to Beckham's pigpen so everyone could see him and say howdy to him. As Kinky petted Beck through the fence I told Barbara and Tom and Marcie about us rescuing Beck over a year and a half ago and about his soccer ball playing skills. "When we rescued David Beckham he was only about three months old and he only weighed about thirty pounds. We had a dog-harness that fit him and we used to take him for walks. Isn't he beautiful, Kink? Can you believe that he weighs over three hundred pounds?"

Kinky nodded his head as he continued to pet and talk to the once orphaned wild Russian Boar. "Desiree and David told us that they have renamed him and are now calling him Wilbur and all of their guests love him! He eats gourmet food and drinks two to three diet orange sodas everyday! How cool is that!" Then Sandy, Donna and Jon arrived so we went to greet them. Then we went over to the outdoor deck so The Event could commence.

Desiree and David greeted us and then David told us about the meal that he had prepared for us and then our super fun party began! As the men drank their beers and we girls sipped their delicious "House Red Wine" it was non-stop laughter as great music played softly in the background. Then we were served the first two entrees that were so delicious, Kinky said, "This seven-pepper bisque is divine!" Everyone agreed including T. even though he had never had cold soup before.

I wish that I could remember the names of all of the delicious entrees we ate, but after we ate round two we were all feeling pretty full and not sure that we could eat round three and four so we took a food break. Tony took off and gave Marcie, Donna, Will and Barbara a tour of the cute, cozy cabins while Kinky, Tom, Jon, Sandy and I remained on the deck trading funny stories back and forth.

When the song started playing "Ferry Cross The Mersey" Kinky asked us who sang it and then he said, "I think it was the Dave Clark Five," but we all disagreed even though none of us could remember who it was. "I bet David will know!" Kink said and then he asked David.

"Gerry & the Pacemakers, Kinky," David answered as he brought out 'Round Three' to serve us and that is when I had to back off and decline to not eat anymore food, because I was so full I thought that I was going to pop and that would have not been a pretty sight.

By the end of the party everyone was full, but still laughing, while we begged David for his delicious secret international recipes which he nicely didn't totally divulge to us as any chef would.

After everyone had paid their due, it was all hugs and handshakes out in the parking lot before everyone took off in different directions to go home. Kinky, Marcie and Will riding inside Mr. Green Jeans followed us all of the way home.

I want to thank D&D at their super cool B&B and restaurant for the best of times and their delicious feast that none of us will ever forget. The Trails End Guest House Really Rocks and I love y'all so much! (David, now will you please give me your steak and mushroom recipe? We all loved it! And I swear that I won't tell anyone, but please note that I will steal your recipe, rename it and call it 'Cousin Nancy's Steak & Mushroom Delight' and I will only post it on my blog! You've got my e-mail address!)

P.S. Today has been great and I promise to write about it tomorrow.

Y'all have a great evening!

Can I Try, Again?

It is six-thirty-three in the evening. I just put twelve, small potatoes into the oven to bake, because I am going to try to replicate David Farrar's delicious Greek Potato recipe, that he prepared for us last night at Peasants, at the Trail's End Guest House.

David told us that you bake the potatoes first, and then you leave them alone for at least twelve hours on your counter top. When you're ready to eat them, you cut them up in large chunks, and then you hit them with a hammer to flatten them out, before frying them in olive oil. Then you drizzle them with three kinds of olive oil and mushroom mixture. I'm planning on serving them tomorrow for lunch, even though I don't have any mushrooms. I will let you know how they turned out.

I just turned on the salt lamp and cranked up my iPod to set the mood. Arlo Guthrie is singing, The Motorcycle Song. I love that song, and it always makes me smile. And, I need to smile after the crazy day that I just had.

This morning, Tony woke me up at five-thirty, because I had asked him to. Before sunup, I had fed the dogs and Lucky, and walked over six fast miles. At seven-forty-five, I did The Harley Show, with Harley! Within twenty seconds, he had me laughing and the show went well and it was pretty funny.

At ten-fifteen, before leaving the ranch, we told Ben that we had to go to Kerrville, for an eleven o'clock business meeting, then I had to get my driver's license renewed, then we needed to swing by by the post office for stamps, and our last stop would be at Walmart to get supplies. We told Ben that we should be back home by one-thirty. Then Tony and I took off for Kerrville in Buttermilk, and left Ben to finish up Tony's chores. Little did I know, that we had lied to Ben.

Before the business meeting, we went to Wolfmueller's Books, so I could buy a couple of copies of my book, because I wanted to give them to Marty and Bill, the people that we were having the business meeting with. We had a short visit with Sandy and Jon and then we took off.

Tone and I were two minutes late for the meeting, and I apologized for being late. Marty and Bill were great, and our forty-five minute meeting went well. "I really like those people, and am really excited about working with them!" I said to Tone, as the elevator took us down to the first floor.

"I'm starving," T. said. "Can we get something to eat?"

Seven minutes later, we were at the orange colored restaurant, giving our waitress our order. Tone had burritos, and I had 'The Speedy Gonzalez,' and our meals were delicious.

Our next stop was at the Texas Department of Public Safety to renew my driver's license. A piece of cake—not! I flunked their vision test—five times! I started out with my new 250+ cheaters. "I'm sorry," the friendly female officer said, "but you didn't get enough of them right."

"Can I try, again?" I asked. She smiled. I tried, again closing my right eye.

"I'm sorry, but you didn't get enough of them right." I then removed my new cheaters, and then opened up my purse, and pulled out a pair of pink 250+. I tried, again and flunked. Then I tried again, and flunked, again. Then I removed the glasses and tried without using any glasses. "I'm sorry, but you didn't get any of them right," she said. "You need to take this form and get your eyes examined, and signed by an eye doctor. Next?"

As Tony and I left the building, I didn't know if I wanted to cry or scream. I finally decided to cry, right before we arrived at the post office, so T. went inside and purchased the stamps for me. He bought the Gulf Coast Lighthouse stamps.

On our way to Walmart, my tears had dried, and I was mad. I was mad, because I don't like getting old, and I really didn't want to spend a lot of money buying glasses! "Nance, you can get your glasses at Walmart!" Tony said, trying to comfort me. "That's where I got mine, and they are a lot cheaper than the other places."

"I don't want to buy glasses, so I can drive!" I said. "Maybe, I will just quit driving, and not get a license. Then you'll have to drive me everywhere." Tony started laughing at me.

"What are you talkin' about? I drive you everywhere, now! With the exception of the cousin reunion, last Saturday, the only place you drive is over to the Lodge to see Kinky!" T. said. "Come on, Nance. You need to get glasses. Let's go." I knew he was right, but I didn't tell him.

Before we went inside, to the Walmart eye doctor's office, I said, "I'm not getting bifocals. No way!" When we walked into the office, the doctor's lovely wife told us to come back in thirty minutes for my appointment, so Tone and I killed time walking around the discount store and getting supplies.

At two o'clock I saw the friendly eye doctor, and Tone took off, while I took the 'Puff Test' followed by several other vision testing procedures.

Fifty dollars later, and twenty-five minutes later, I had a prescription for my eyeglasses, and the D.P.S. form filled out by the eye doctor. After explaining to the doctor that I didn't have insurance, and wanted to spend the least amount of money, he escorted me into the Vision Center, and told the woman that I needed to get plastic, flat bifocals with their cheapest frames. Then he asked her how much it would cost. "The bifocals will cost $55.00, and our cheapest frames start at $18.00."

As the woman showed me the cheap frames, Tony appeared carrying a Walmart plastic sack, but he wouldn't tell me what was in it! Ten minutes later, I picked a pair of $36.00 frames, and wrote a check for over ninety-four dollars. And, she told me that I can pick up my new glasses on the twenty-first.

As T. and I walked back to Buttermilk, I said, "Tony, I am not going to be able to drive until the twenty first! Starting Sunday, I won't be able to drive for four days." He said nothing.

When we got back to the ranch at three-thirty, Ben was mowing and the place looked great! When we came inside the trailer, after letting the dogs and the cat outside, Tony handed me the Walmart plastic bag. "I hope you like it."

I opened up the bag and was totally surprised! T. had bought me a string of colored Christmas lights, some ornaments and hangers for Outer Space, because last night, during dinner, I had commented about how I wanted to decorate Outer Space like Peasants, with a string of colored lights, and ornaments! I love you, Tone!

Tomorrow, I plan to string the lights and place the ornaments, and I can't wait!

Y'all have a great evening!

I Pigged Out Tonight!

This morning I walked over nine miles with Leslie Sansone, because I knew I was going to pig out tonight at Peasants, David and Desiree Farrar's five star restaurant, located at the Trail's End Guest House! And, it's a good thing that I did, because I did pig out. I couldn't quit eating, because every tapas that David served us was even more delicious than the last one!

Last week, Jon and Sandy Wolfmueller made the dinner reservations for the four of us at Peasants. This evening at five-fifteen, Jon unlocked the door of their bookstore to let Tony and me inside. A few minutes later, Tone and I were in the back seat of their Rav, which they still haven't named, headed for Peasants.

As soon as we arrived at the Trail's End Guest House, we saw Beckham! I couldn't believe how big he was! The four of us went over to his pen to say hello to him. I think he remembered Tony and me, and he was as friendly as he could be! I started taking pictures of him, and then he started hamming it up! Here's a picture of him visiting with Tone and Jon.

After petting and talking to Beck, he started running around his giant pig pen, until he had the four of us laughing hysterically!

At one point, when he was at the back of his pen, I hollered, "Beck! Come here, Beck," like I used to do, and he came running up to me! And, that's when I decided to take this video of him!
Run Beck! Run!
After we visited with Beckham, we went to eat dinner. Tony and I had a blast with Sandy and Jon! And, we really enjoyed visiting with Desiree and David, too!

As Buttermilk took us home, all I could talk about was how much fun tonight had been. Thank you, David and Desiree, Sandy Jon, T. and Beck! I love you, Beck!

The Rose Hotel!

This morning a woman from San Antonio called and left two messages on the machine, "Please call me. I want to adopt Hudson." As soon as I came in the trailer I called the anxious woman. She told me that her dog of thirteen years had recently passed away, and she and her seventeen children wanted to come out and adopt Hudson. She told me that she would be here around noon.

When Tony came inside the trailer, I told him the good news about Hudson going to live with seventeen children. "The woman has seventeen children?" Tone asked.

"Yes," I said. "Twice, she mentioned her seventeen children. I know she said seventeen."

"I don't know, Nance," T. said, as he scratched his head. "That might be too many for Hudson to handle."

"She told me some of them were adopted," I said. "She's coming out with some of them around twelve-thirty."

By two o'clock, the woman had not shown up, so I called her to see if she was still coming out, because Tony and I had to go to Kerrville, so I could buy a couple of my books at Wolfmueller's Books, that I wanted to mail to a couple of friends. "Hello, this is Nancy at the rescue ranch. Are you still coming out to adopt Hudson?"

"No. We're not coming. I was going to call you." As soon as I got off of the phone, Tony and I took off for Kerrville in Trigger.

Sandy greeted Tony and me, as soon as we walked into the store. She was at the counter, but I didn't see her at first, because my wire rims had steamed up because of the high humidity outside. As soon as I could see, I saw Sandy waving a CD at me. "This is Robert Earl Keen's just released CD and it is fantastic! Listen. It's playing right now."

I listened to Robert Earl singing, and I immediately told Sandy that I wanted to buy a copy. The name of his CD is The Rose Hotel and it is fabulous! I am listening to it as I type this. It has just replaced James Taylor's Covers, as my new favorite CD. And, Tony really likes it, too!

Just a minute a go, the phone rang—it was Jon Wolfmueller. "Hello, Nancy. David just called. Our dinner reservations at Peasants, over at the Trail's End Guest House, are confirmed for October 14th, for the four of us."

"That's great, Jon! I can't wait! I wish Carol was going, but I know she will the next time."

"I know," Jon said. "I told David that they needed to get Beckham cleaned up, and dress him up in a tuxedo, because you were coming to see him." Then we started laughing. "Just a second. Sandy wants to talk to you."

"Hello, Nancy," Sandy said. "Have you listened to Robert Earl's CD, yet?"

"I'm listening to it right now, Sandy, and I love it! In fact, I was just blogging about it and..."

Now back to my story. After Tone and I left Sandy and Jon's bookstore, we went to the post office, over by the only mall, so I could mail Christy in Texas, and Ralph in Michigan, copies of my book. Fortunately, the post office wasn't packed, so I was able to go in and get out fast. Then we headed over to Albertsons, to pick up a box of fine wine.

As we were sitting at the light at 16, waiting to crossover into Albertsons parking lot, I read what was written on the rear window of a big red pickup, in front of us. In big white letters were these words— 'Is There A God?' As I was thinking about why the man had that on his window, the man suddenly floored his truck, and ran the red light, and sped across 16 into the Albertsons' parking lot! "Good grief!" Tony said, in utter amazement, as our light remained red. "Did you just see that? Why in the 'heck' did he do that? He could have gotten himself killed!"

"Probably because, either Mercury or the Full Moon made him do it. Or, maybe he was just in a hurry looking for God," I said. Then the light turned green for us, and we crossed over into the parking lot.

As we watched the red pickup, slowly swerving and weaving up and down the parking lot lanes, Tone said, "Well, he came real close to meeting him in person today, because he sure didn't see the light."

Y'all have a great evening!