The Little Ones!

Yesterday when Tony and I went to Kerrville to run several errands, we met Kinky and our friend Linda for lunch and then the four of us went to Pet Supply Plus together, so Kinky could buy The Friedmans more dog treats and I could buy Little Debbie and Alice sweaters, because of a soon to arrive cold front.

When we got back home Tony reluctantly helped me put the Chihuahua's sweaters on to make sure they would fit them, as Roy, Belle and Beau jealousy watched and were probably thinking, "But what about us? Don't we get to wear clothes, too?" 

Two-year-old Alice, who is still looking for a fabulous forever home, sweater fit her perfectly, but because Little Debbie has put on a few ounces hers was a little tight fitting, but I didn't say anything.

So after Alice's and Little Debbie's mini fashion show, I felt guilty. So I asked Tony to please help me put clothes on our three, precious, big dogs, so they wouldn't feel left out. To say the least, "Tony did not want to do it, but he caved in and helped me anyway." 

Roy seemed to like wearing Tony's shirt. Belle wanted to wear one of my pink t-shirts and she seemed a little unhappy about having to wear my blue Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch t-shirt. And Beau would have nothing to do with it. So, as soon as I took Roy and Belle's pictures we removed their/our clothes, which made both of them more than happy and no longer feeling jealous of the little ones.

Today has been great even though I overslept this morning and missed Big G's three, back-to-back phone calls, to do my Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch segment, on his popular radio show. "Sorry about that, Big G. I promise to be awake next Tuesday morning."

Late this afternoon Tony and I took Little Debbie, to Carol's ranch, so we could have a fun visit with Carol and her good friend Debbie, visiting her from Big D. The reason that Little Debbie went with us, was because Carol and Debbie had requested that she come to their "Little Dog Party," so Debbie's one-eyed Bandit and Pepper, Bill's dog, that Carol is babysitting for him this week, could all meet.

Tony, Little Debbie and I had a blast visiting with our dear friends and all of the dogs got along great, even though Little Debbie was a bit snooty acting and snapped at the boys a few times. Here's a picture that Tony took of us, sitting on the swing together, with the little ones. Debbie with her precious Bandit are on the left. Carol and Bill's adorable Pepper are in the middle and Little Debbie and me are on the right, because Carol wanted my boots to be able to touch the ground too, because of the sloping hill.

Y'all have a great evening!

Uncle Bill & Cousin Pepper!

Today has been great. This afternoon I officially adopted Chi #6! Yes, the little white one that is blind in one eye. I knew I was going to adopt her since the day we rescued her and ever since Monday, I've been trying to figure out what to name her, because she is so special and has already been through so much.

This afternoon, right after 3:00, Buttermilk took Tony, Chi #6 and me to Pet Plus Supplies, in Kerrville, because I wanted to buy "what's her name" a pretty pink collar and matching leash, etc. And #6 did fine on the ride to town, because I held her in my arms.

After we three picked out her collar and leash we visited the toy isle and while we were picking out some toys for the Chi's I spotted a large, fake sheepskin, bone-shaped—Mr. Fluffy. "Tony, we've got to get this for #6, because Yoda loved hers and it will be like a security blanket to her." Then I put it inside the pushcart, where "what's her name" was so she could check it out, while we shopped for tiny dog treats for all of the Chi's to enjoy.

When our $76.00 shopping spree was done, Tony took #6 to the Expedition, so they could wait for me, in air conditioning, while I bought a few groceries, at the little H-E-B.

While I was shopping and about halfway through with my grocery list, I heard a woman, behind me, softly say, "I want you to know that I've been stalking you all through the store." So I turned around and this very nice woman, about my age, but much prettier, was smiling at me. "Cousin Nancy, my name is Melody and I read your blog everyday and I love it. When I saw you shopping, I wanted to catch up with you because I really wanted to meet you and...."

"Well my goodness," I said. "I'm not that hard to catch, because I'm old and walk real slow. Thank you for your kind words though—you just made my day sort of. I mean, earlier today I officially adopted one of the Chihuahuas and that has already made my day great and you've just added to it. Thank you."

"Did you adopt the white one that is blind in one eye?" Melody asked. "She's so cute."

"Yep." Then we talked about the Chihuahuas for a few minutes.

"Oh, I am so sorry about you losing Mama. What a beautiful dog. She was a very lucky dog to have found you and..." Melody's sweet sympathies about Mama made me start to tear up and I could barely talk, as I stood by the Kraft Classic Catalina salad dressing shelf. We visited for a few more minutes and before we adios-ed each other I invited Melody to come out to the rescue ranch for a fun visit. And she said she would and I hope that she does.

On our way back to the ranch, I put Mr. Fluffy next to #6 and she instantly loved it and slept all of the way home with her head resting on it.

When we got back home, Tony said, "Nance, please go inside and let all of the Chihuahuas come outside, because I am sure they need to relieve themselves, while I put "Little One," in the yard and carry the groceries up to the house."

Omg! When I opened the front door, I about fainted, because all of the Chihuahuas were out of their puppy pen, standing around Belle, in the big room. Belle gave me one of those looks that said, "I didn't let them out." And I believed her.

Then Tony walked inside The Cabin and said, "What?" And once again, Belle wrinkled her forehead and without words, she said, "It's not my fault and I'm glad that y'all are home. These little dogs have been driving me crazy." Then Tony told Belle and the Chi's to go outside and potty and they did and they potty-ed.

Thirty minutes later, after Tony had put #6's pink collar on her, I grabbed the great Grady Spears cookbook that Eileen gave to Tony for his birthday, so I could show it to Carol and Bill, while Tony picked up #6, attached her pink leash to her collar, grabbed his camera and Mr. Fluffy, because we were going over to visit Carol and Bill.

Ten minutes later, we arrived at Carol's ranch and I was thrilled, because "what's her name" had slept peacefully all of the way over there, because of Mr. Fluffy. After Carol and Bill had raved about how lucky and cute #6 was and had introduced us to Bill's cute, sweet dog, Pepper, we went inside Carol's ranch house for a super fun happy hour. And while we visited little "what's her name" slept soundly, with Mr. Fluffy, right next to my boots.

While I was showing Carol & Bill some of the recipes in the fabulous cookbook that Eileen gave to Tony, Carol said, "Bill is a fabulous cook and some of his best recipes are from The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food From My Frontier by Ree Drummond." Then she handed me the cool cookbook, so I could check out some of the recipes, while they checked out Grady Spears recipes. And when all was said and done—we decided to loan each other the cookbooks until we see each other tomorrow.

When I started complaining about not finding a great name for #6, Bill who was sitting between Carol and me reached down and petted "what's her name," and said, "Hi, Tootsie."

"Oh my goodness, Bill!" I said. "You've just named my dog! And I love it. Tootsie is absolutely perfect! Tootsie, Uncle Bill has just named you!....Thank you, so much." 

When happy hour ended, Carol, Bill and Pepper, aka affectionately sometimes called Dennis The Menace, walked us outside and I said, "Tony, before we go would you please take a picture of Uncle Bill & Cousin Pepper with Tootsie and me?" Seconds later, Bill picked up Pepper, his pride and joy, and Tony shot us.

On our way home, I took this picture of Tootsie sleeping soundly, next to me, with Mr. Fluffy.

When we got back home, Belle, our official Chi's-sitter greeted us, at the front door and all was good, because the four Chihuahuas were sound asleep, in the puppy pen. "Let's go potty!" Tony said, as he woke them up and opened the pen's gate.

While they were outside doing what Tony had suggested they do I took this picture of Belle in the yard with the Chi's.

Then Tony took this adorable picture of Tootsie.

And when we came back inside, I put Mr. Fluffy, on the table, next to Carol's Pioneer Woman's cookbook along with Tootsie's pink leash and took this picture. Then I went online and purchased the cookbook, with the fabulous recipes, because after hearing Carol and Bill rave about the delicious recipes in Ree Drummond's cookbook—I just had to have it, too. 

Y'all have a great evening! And Melody, please come see us, because I really enjoyed meeting you!

Blue Moon Over Kentucky, Texas, Kansas Etc.!

My day started out great today! This morning I walked six miles with Leslie Sansone and Lisa came out with her friends Matt, Blair and John and they walked our dogs all morning and our dogs loved it! I can't believe that we are so lucky to have found these wonderful dedicated people, along with June, Ellen, Eileen and Jim! Kinky, Tony and I cannot thank them enough! They are who make our rescue ranch great!

After lunch, Buttermilk took Tone and me to Kerrville to run a few errands. Our first stop was at Pet Supplies Plus, because we needed to buy some new pooper-scoopers. Susan, the store's friendly manager, helped us find what we needed, and then she donated over two hundred and fifty pounds of premium dog food to us! Thank you, Susan and Pet Supplies Plus, we can really use it since our free supply of dog food dried up months ago, because of the economy!

Our next stop was at Wolfmueller's Books, so we could drop off a paperback copy of Kinky's book, Greenwich Killing Time, so our friend Ridge, who is laid up in the hospital because he broke his leg, could read it. Unfortunately, Sandy and Jon weren't there, but we had a nice visit with Mary Jo Brandon, who was holding down the fort for them.

After getting groceries at H.E.B. Buttermilk took us home. After putting up the groceries, I went over to the Lodge to visit with Kinky. When I arrived Kinky was in the middle of doing a telephone interview, so I visited with Frank as I waited for Kink to get off of the phone. Then the three of us had a fun visit in the kitchen. Then I came home and started getting a little depressed. It drove Tone crazy, because I couldn't explain why I was feeling blue.

When the weatherman on the six o'clock local news channel said, "FYI: Tonight we are having a Blue Moon, which means that for the second time this month we are having another full moon." I realized why I was feeling down. "Tone!" I half-hollered down the hallway. "I know why I am feeling blue! It's because of the Blue Moon and Mercury in retrograde!"

"Okay," Tone softly yelled back. "Are you going to write a blog tonight?"

"Nope! I am still sort of down!"

"Turn on your salt lamp!" I took T.'s advice and turned it on, then I cranked up the iPod and sat down at the kitchen table and checked my e-mail. Before I got to my e-mail, Yahoo had an astrology advertisement to check out for free, so I checked it out and I am so glad that I did. OMG! It was so right on, and it even gave me goose bumps!

Basically it said in their 2010 overview that now is the time that I should write a book! A time to relax and enjoy life, to express my creativity and exhilarating enthusiasm! Talk about making me feel good! Then when I read their numerology deal I really perked up! This is what it said:

"During 2010, concentrate on opportunities for creativity. This is a good period for self-improvement, not only in terms of your creative talents, but through any intuitive or inspirational ideas you're thinking about. If you have a special dream, 2010 may be the perfect time to develop it. If you have a knack with words, make special use of that talent at this time. (You may even want to try some acting, writing or singing, possibly just for the fun of it.) Some of the projects begun during the last few years may be blossoming now."


I am now back on track, even though the full blue moon has the rescue ranch lit up like an amusement park outside. I can't wait for the new year! Happy New Year! May it be the best year for all of us and every dog and cat!


P.S. Tomorrow I may not blog because every New Year's Eve, Tone and I always watch the movie Lonesome Dove and then go to bed early.


Y'all have a great evening! Good night, I'm going to bed early because I am doing the Harley Show in the morning at 7:45.

Thelma And Louise!

Yesterday was a great day, but this morning wasn't, but this afternoon was!

Saturday morning about nine-fifteen, I drove Trigger down to the puppy pen, so Tony and Aaron could load up the four wannabe Lab pups and Little Skeeter, because they were going to Kerrville. Skeet, and three of the puppies: Hank Williams, Sr., The Duke, and Audie Murphy were going to Pet Supplies Plus to be dropped off, so that Jan and Todd, our great volunteers, could hopefully find them forever homes. Unfortunately, Burt Lancaster was going to Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic, because his scratched eye wasn't getting any better, and Tony wanted our vets to take a look at him. As soon as Tony and Trigger took off—I took off for the trailer, because I needed to finish cleaning it, before P&P arrived!

Hazel had just finished her job, and was about to go back into the closet, when my dogs cranked up barking—Peggy and Patty were here! After hugs and hugs, I invited my friends to come inside the Nellybelle to give them a tour of it, and to visit. They loved our trailer—especially my Roy Roger's wall! I loved it. Then we got to visiting like old friends!

Patty K., who had come up from Florida, came bearing gifts for me—two boxes of beautiful note cards, from the Forum On Women's Health Note Card Project, which Patty is passionate about, and who is also on their Board of the non-profit Forum On Women's Health. The cards were absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait to use them!

While T. was in Kerrville, the three of us had a really great hen party, talking about men, friends, politics, Wolfmuellers Books, her soon to be trip to Vietnam, etc. At one point, Patty told me about her trip to attend an Italian cooking school in Florence, Italy, a few years back. She told me that her friend, Brenda went on that trip with her, and they had to share a room, which turned out great for Patty, because Brenda would repack her suitcase at least six times a day and she taught Patty how to do it! They are both neat-freaks, and they never knew that about each other. "We were Thelma and Louise on that trip," Patty said. "Brenda was Thelma and I was Louise!" Then Patty starts telling me funny stories about her friend, Marta. "Marta is this..."

"I can't believe that I just saw the most beautiful purple bunny in your front yard!" Peggy says, with excitement in her voice! I smiled, then nodded, and then looked at Patty? Patty continued to tell me about Marta. Then Peggy, who is married to Patty's elderly father, gets out of the chair, walks over to the front door, and tells us to look outside at the beautiful purple bunny. Huh? I shot Patty another look. "They are so beautiful! Look there's two in your hanging birdfeeder on the porch!"

I'm startin' to think Looney bird time, here. I look out the window—no purple bunnies anywhere. "Where'd you say that purple bunny was, Peggy?" I asked, as I watched a beautiful Painted Bunting land softly onto the hanging bird feed tray. "I'm sorry, Peggy, I thought you said purple bunny!"

"Me, too," Patty confessed. Then the three of us burst out laughing! And, that's when Tony walked inside the trailer. The four of us visited for about thirty minutes, and then it was time for P&P to leave, so they could go eat lunch in Kerrville. But before they left, I gave them a tour of my writing cabin—which they loved!

After Tony and I ate lunch, Tone and Trigger headed back to Kerrville to pick up our dogs at Pet Supplies Plus, and I went outside to go visit with Linda T. and Aaron, who had been walking our dogs all day. After thanking them, we had a fun visit out by the barn. Then I returned to the Nellybelle.

Jan and Todd called. They had great news! The Duke had just been adopted! Here is a picture that Todd took of The Duke with his new best buddy!

And here is a great picture of Jan holding Hank William, Sr.!

Jan and Todd were disappointed that only The Duke had found his forever home today, but I was on cloud nine that The Duke had found his! I thanked them for helping us out, again! Before hanging up, Todd told me that he would e-mail me the above pictures. Thank you, Todd—I love them!

When Tony returns to the rescue ranch, after putting Audie Murphy and Hank, Sr. back into their puppy pen, and Little Skeeter back into his pen, he comes inside the trailer and says, "I just put all of the dogs up. Todd told me that The Duke is going to be living in Terlingua. That's West Texas and awful far away."

An hour later, I received Todd's e-mail with his photos! After reading Todd's note, I started laughing out loud! "Tony!" I half-hollered down the hallway. "Please come in here!" Tony came into the kitchen. "I just got a note from Jan and Todd. The Duke isn't going to be living in Terlingua. His forever home is in Terra Linda, Kerrville!" We both cracked up laughing and agreed that it's hearing aid time for us, and we need to get ourselves bullhorns or hearing aids.

Around five-thirty, my dear friend Cindy P., came out for a visit! We went into Outer Space, and enjoyed Happy Hour, with a glass of my fine boxed wine. I am so happy for her, but am going to miss her so much, when she permanently moves out to northern New Mexico.

This morning was not good. Buttermilk and Tony hit a deer on their way back to the rescue ranch. Fortunately, Tony is fine, but Buttermilk isn't. The poor deer dented the hood, and shattered the windshield. I'm glad that Tone is okay and didn't get hurt, but I am very sad for the poor doe.

This afternoon, thanks to the advice from Patty, and my dear friend, Cindy P.—I am on a roll with my book, and I hope to have it ready to go in less than a week! Thank you Patty and Cindy, Todd and Jan and Linda T. and Aaron! I love y'all!

Y'all have a great evening!

It's German!

Today has been a great day! After I fed our dogs and Lucky, I checked my e-mail, and was thrilled when I saw that I had received an e from D&D over at the Trail's End Guest House! After reading Beckham's Tale, Part II, I immediately posted it, because I loved it, and I could not wait to share it with y'all!

After breakfast, I walked four fast miles with Les, and then Hazel and I cleaned the trailer. As soon as it looked like Tony and I definitely didn't live here—Hazel went into the closet to rest. I wanted to go with her, but I had too many things to take care of—like paperwork and returning phone calls.

Around nine-forty-five, while Jim, our great dog-walking volunteer, was busy walking our dogs, my dear friend, Bob Wightman, showed up to adopt Rowdy aka Roxie, the sweet little Min Pin, that he had brought his friends, D.J. and Barbara, out to see last week! When he arrived, we went into Outer Space, so he could fill out the adoption form.

As soon as Bob had signed on the dotted line, he said, "I'm changing her name to Heidi—it's German. What do you think?"

"I love it, Bob! It's a great name for her." Bob and I visited for about twenty minutes, in the screened in porch, then we left Outer Space, to go get Heidi, so he could take her to her new forever fabulous home! While T. and Bob visited, Tone attached Heidi's dog tags onto her new, purple dog collar, that the NoMads had donated to us awhile back. Then Tony went to Heidi's pen, put her pretty collar on her, and then he handed her over to Bob. I don't know who was the happiest—Bob or Heidi! Bob couldn't wait to take her home, and she couldn't wait to get out of here! After handshakes and hugs, Bob and Heidi happily took off for home, and that really made my day!

After they had left the rescue ranch, I returned to the trailer to prepare the adoption paperwork, on Audie Murphy, Burt Lancaster, The Duke, and Hank Williams, Sr., the four black wannabe Lab puppies that we rescued a few weeks back, and Little Skeeter, the recently rescued Shih Tzu, because hopefully tomorrow—all five of them will find their forever homes!

Our good friends, and rescue ranch volunteers, Jan and Todd have volunteered, once again, to sit out front of Kerrville's favorite friendly pet store—Pet Supplies Plus tomorrow, to help find them super homes! I've got my fingers crossed!

Bob called me earlier this evening. He told me that Heidi and Blue have become best friends, and they were sleeping beside his feet, as we talked! I loved it!

I want to do a shout out to thank these great people for helping us help them! Thank you, Bob, Jim, The NoMads, Todd and Jan, and Pet Supplies Plus! We couldn't do it without y'all! We love you!

Y'all have a great evening!

All You Need Is Love!

Friday evening, near dark-thirty, Tony was loading Trigger's bed with our portable puppy pen, a large crate, towels, a blanket, a water bowl, a case of bottled water, our card table, and two metal folding chairs, while I stuffed ranch brochures, puppy adoption forms, a clipboard with pens, paper towels, a dog leash, business cards, and three big rocks into Trigger's cab. When the Eternal Squirrel, on Yoda's grave lit up—we were set and ready to go! Ready to go to bed, that is, because morning was coming early for us.

Saturday morning, by the dawn's early light, T. and I were in Outer Space—drinking organic coffee, while anxiously waiting for Churchill to crow his first, funny 'crock-ar-droodle-droo' for the day, but that never happened. We figured that he must have stayed up too late.

Around eight-thirty, Tony went to do his morning chores, and I went over to Kinky's for a short visit, because Tone and I needed to leave the rescue ranch no later than nine-thirty, so we could meet Jan and Todd, our friends/volunteers, at Pet Supplies Plus! They had volunteered to sit from ten until two, out front, at the popular pet store, to help us hopefully find forever homes for Oprah, Ellen Degeneres and Bandit!

Trigger pulled up, in front of Pet Supplies Plus at ten o'clock—we were on time! After Tony unloaded the truck bed,and I had unloaded the cab, I went inside and introduced myself to Susan, the store manager, to thank her for helping us. She was real nice, and she gave us some donated dog food! Here is a picture I took before we had everything set up. I've titled it, "Jurassic Bark!"

Todd and his better half, Jan, showed up a few minutes after ten! After handshakes and hugs, they unloaded their car—unfortunately, I don't know its name, but I will find out. To our surprise, Jan and Todd have made up some color brochures with all of our dog's pictures on it, so that people could look to see if we had a muttigree they might be interested in! It was impressive and I loved it! They also had made up a cute donations jar, and they wore their Utopia volunteer t-shirts! I loved it and I had my fingers crossed, that those three cute puppies would get adopted to super homes!

After we had discussed everything that needed to be discussed, and they were ready, set, go—I shot them! Then Trigger took us back to the rescue ranch.

When T. and I got home, Carlton had taken four messages for us. All four messages were from people, who had been to Pet Supplies Plus, who had met and talked with Jan and Todd! I rapidly returned the four calls! All four of them had questions about a dog that they might be interested in, and they all paid me compliments on how nice, friendly and professional— Jan and Todd had been! And yes—I loved it, and I love Jan and Todd!

At one-forty-five, the phone rang—it was Jan! "Nancy! I am so excited! Oprah and Bandit just got adopted to some really nice people!"


"That is fantastic news, Jan! Congratulations! Did they go to the same home?"

"No! Todd and I are so happy for them!" Jan exclaimed.

"Me, too!" I said. "Tone is on his way to the store now. Thank y'all so much! You just made my day!"

After we hung up, I punched in Kinky's phone number and told him the great news! He was thrilled!

At two-fifty-one, the phone rang—it was Jan! "Nancy, I am so excited! Ellen just got adopted to a great home! We are so excited! We can't believe it! Tony's here. Do you want to talk to him?"

"Yes, please." Tony sounded as excited about Ellen and the puppies getting adopted, as did Jan! The three adoptions had made my day or so I thought.

As soon as I got off of the phone—I called Kinky to tell him the great news about Ellen—he was thrilled, again, and he could not believe that all three of those precious puppies had found their forever homes! Before hanging up, he asked me to be sure and thank Jan and Todd for him!

Thirty minutes later or ten minutes before T. came home—the phone rang—it was Todd! "Nancy, I just wanted to give you a heads up. Some people are following Tony home—they're interested in Henry! And, I want to tell you that this very nice woman, Bairbre, that we met today, wants to help the rescue ranch. She is a quilt artist, and she wants to make a quilt to donate to the rescue ranch, to be auctioned off at the next event, because she loves what we are doing! In fact, tears came to her eyes, when we were telling her about Utopia! I put her card inside the brochure sack."

After thanking Todd, we talked about what a great day it had been, and I thanked them for helping us. After we got off of the phone, I decided to go ahead and get Henry's adoption papers ready—just in case, they wanted to adopt him!

Tony and the people showed up around four o'clock, and we gave the nice couple and their kids, a tour of the rescue ranch. At six o'clock Paul McCartney got adopted! They loved Henry, but Sir Paul stole their hearts!

At five minutes past six, I called Kinky one more time, to tell him about Paul! This time Kinky was shocked with my great news! He was so happy that we had four adoptions!

Yesterday was one great day for our rescue ranch, three precious pups and a lucky dog named Paul McCartney! I want to thank Jan and Todd for going that extra mile for our dogs! We love y'all!

Y'all have a great evening! And remember—All You Need Is Love! It really works!

P.S. The three big rocks were used as paperweights.