No-Shows!

Today has been great. This morning, before Tony and I went outside to do our chores, we went over to the Lodge to visit with Kinky and Brian Molnar. I took my computer and that cute, Bandera County Courier newspaper insert, This Is For You, Cousin Nancy !, about Jeremy Clyde, finding a fabulous forever home.

Kinky loved seeing the picture of Jeremy, all curled up and sleeping and he enjoyed reading about Jeremy's good fortune. While we sat around, in Kinky's kitchen, I opened up my computer and told Brian and Kinky about Chet O'Keefe and me playing a pay-back prank on Jeff, The Singing Safety and they thought it was a pretty funny prank.

When I played them the short audio clip of me singing, off-key, with Jeff and ruining his great song—they burst out laughing, as did Tony and I. "That is absolutely hilarious, Nancy," Kinky remarked. "That could go viral!" I agreed with Kink, but I told him that Jeff had not given me permission to release it.

When I told them about the great Ronny Cox House Concert, at Jim and Liz's ranch and confessed to them about me thinking Ronny played the banjo, in that famous Deliverance scene and me getting Ronny to sign my banjo—they burst out laughing, again.

After I cooked us lunch and cleaned up the kitchen, Tony and I jumped inside Buttermilk and took off for Kerrville, to run several errands.

Late this afternoon, while I was baking a peach cobbler for Tony, Karon, from the Medina Children's Home came over to take pictures of Bee Spears, because her sister is thinking about adopting this great eight-year-old dog, that used to live on Willie Nelson's golf course.

While Tony and Karon were outside taking pictures of Bee, Kinky called me. When I told him that I was baking a peach cobbler and asked him if he wanted some of it, his answer was, "Yes. That sounds great, but Tex, Bob, Alan and Colin should be here soon, and Brian Molnar is here, too. Do you have enough for them?"

After I told him, "Yes," Tony and Karon came inside The Cabin, because Karon wanted to show me some pictures that she took, earlier today, of three of Ginger Roger's pups, that are all living in forever homes, across the street from us, at the home. Needless to say, "They were precious and two of them looked just like little Ginger and the other one looked more like a Beagle."

Twenty minutes later, after Karon left, Tony and I ate some peach cobbler, topped off with Blue Bell's delicious Vanilla ice cream. Then we took the ice cream and cobbler over to Kinky's.

When we arrived at the Lodge, Kinky and Brian were there, but Kinky's Aussie friends, Colin and Alan had not yet arrived and Tex and Bob were due to arrive at any time. While we waited on Kink's other friends, we had a fun visit with Brian and Kinky. 

I told them about Bee maybe getting adopted and they were thrilled for him. "Kinky," I said. "If Bee gets adopted, I am thinking about adopting his roommate, Dale Evans. She is only about one and a half years old and she is a very sweet dog and she has been through he** and back. Because she isn't very pretty and is still missing some hair, I am afraid that no one will adopt her because of her looks. I know it sounds stupid, but a lot of people only want cute or good-looking dogs. It's a real shame. Brian, when we rescued her, she was in such bad shape and totally hairless, because of mange. Our vets told us that they wanted to keep her for at least a month. She had heart worms, was anemic and had all kinds of problems. And they kept her for over five weeks. She and Bee love each other and I love her, too."

Forty minutes later, Kinky's friends were still no-shows, so Tony and I adios-ed Brian and Kinky and came back home. And that is about it for tonight.

Y'all have a great evening!

Aussie Friends!

We had a blast Sunday night, at the Ronny Cox House Concert, at Liz and Jim's ranch. We intentionally got there early, so I could get Ronny to sign my banjo, because I thought that he had played the banjo, in Deliverance.

After Jim had greeted us, he saw me carrying my banjo and he smiled and said, "Nancy, I asked Ronny if he would mind signing your banjo and Ronny said he would be glad to, but he would have rather signed your guitar, because he doesn't play the banjo. In Deliverance, Ronny played the guitar, in the famous dueling banjo scene." We all started laughing and I was the last to finish laughing, at myself, for being so stupid. And to prove it, Tony took this picture of Ronny signing my banjo, for no reason. And I am betting that as Ronny signed my banjo, he is thinking—"And she's stupid, too!"

After Ronny had signed my banjo, Jim came up to me and said, "Cousin Nancy, we have four bar stools, upstairs, if y'all want to watch the concert from up there."

"Sure," I said.

"Go remove your names from the seats that y'all have already picked out and go upstairs and put your names on the bar stools." And we did exactly that.

Ronny's concert was fabulous. We loved his music. He is a wonderful entertainer, singer and songwriter and when he sang, Sanctuary, about a foal, I teared up. I found a YouTube version, of him singing Sanctuary, in case you want to check it out. And to say the least, "We had a wonderful time and the food was delicious." Here's a picture of Carol and me with Ronny Cox during a break.

Monday was great, but it started out bad for me, because of Daylight Savings Time. At 8:30, when Tony came into the bedroom, Mama and I were sound asleep. I was dreaming a happy dream about Ronny Cox really playing the banjo, in Deliverance, instead of the guitar. "Nance, Karon is here to pick up Ginger Rogers and she is ready to drive her to her new home, in Abilene," Tony announced.

In my sleepy fog, I said a few cuss words, because Mama accidentally stepped on my stomach, before jumping off of the bed. "What?" I asked. As Tony repeated his words, I climbed out of bed, looking for my robe. "Okay, let me wake up. I'll get Ginger's adoption papers ready..." 

Ten minutes later, we thanked Ms. Rogers for being such a great house guest. We wished her luck in her new forever home and then we adios-ed this sweet, precious, little dog.

The rest of the day was uneventful, but Kinky, Tony and I were thrilled about Ginger getting adopted.

Monday evening, around 8:37, the phone rang and I let Carlton take the call—until I was pretty sure it was Jeff Severson, The Singing Safety! Jeff, used Lorri's cell phone to throw me off and his Bob voice, but this time he said his name was Bill. "Hello, this is Bill. I am a religious man and I need to talk to you about those two saints—Saint Bernards...:"

"Hi Jeff! I know it is you."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. My name is Bill..."

"Jeff, I know it is you and thank goodness you called me. Carol and I have been going crazy trying to figure out why you haven't called." Jeff started laughing. 

Jeff told me that he and Lorri are still laughing about my debut singing performance. "Cousin Nancy, today I was talking with a recording company about my new CD. They told me that they weren't interested in my music, but they did want to sign you up for a record deal..." 

After a fun time laughing and joking with Jeff, we adios-ed each other—then I called Carol and told her all about Jeff's phone call. "Nancy, I am so glad that he called you, but beware. Knowing Jeff, the way I do, I bet he still has another prank that he is planning to play on you, in the near future and..." 

When I got off of the phone with Carol, I went back to Tony's office (man cave) and told him about Jeff calling me. Tony smiled and said, "I know. Ten minutes ago, I was on Facebook and asked Lorri to ask Jeff to call you..."

Today has been great. I asked Tony to please wake me up at 6:00 and he did, so that I would be awake and ready to do Big G's popular radio show.

This morning, after Tony and I did our chores outside, I decided to stay outside, so I could kill some Thistle that is sprouting up. An hour later, when I was nearly done removing that awful weed, the dogs started barking, because a truck was at our gate entrance.

I was in the middle of the rescue ranch, halfway from Kermit and halfway to the gate, so I decided to walk to the gate, to see who was here, but I didn't have to walk all of the way, because Carol waved, as she walked towards me. "Hi, Carol. Is everything okay?" Carol laughed.

"Yes. I need Tony to open my spray pump for me, because I'm not strong enough to open it. It's tighter than a drum." Then we heard Kermit start up and watched Tony drive up to us. Thirty seconds later, Tony had unscrewed the lid for Carol and he was teasing her about being a weakling. We visited for about thirty minutes and then Carol adios-ed us and drove off, in her big pickup.

As Kermit took Tony and me up to The Cabin, he said, "Nance, I'm starving. It's nearly 1:30..." When we walked inside our trailer (The Cabin) the phone was ringing, then I heard Kinky's voice, "Nance, Tony? Tony, Nance?"

"Hi Kinky. We just walked inside. What's going on?"

"Is it a good time for me to bring Colin and Alan over? I want to show my Aussie friends, the rescue ranch and I want them to meet you and Tony..."

Five minutes later, with Tony nearly starving to death, we went outside and greeted Colin, Alan, Dylan  and Kinky. Then we came inside The Cabin, for a short, fun visit, because Kinky wanted us to go outside, into Outer Space, so we could visit some more. 

Fortunately, thirty minutes later, when they had adios-ed us after another fun visit, Tony wasn't on his death bed, but he was close. So, I quickly fixed him a delicious, peanut butter and jelly sandwich and saved his life, in a jiffy. And that is about it for today.

Y'all have a great evening!

Don't Mess With Texas—Truce!

Today has been great and I am writing this early and have scheduled it to post at 7:30 this evening! Why, you ask? Because Carol, Chet, Tony and I are going to be, in Buttermilk, heading back home, after going to the super, cool, invitational only, Ronny Cox House Concert, at Liz and Jim's ranch.

Yesterday, I played my prank on Jeff Severson, with the help of our dear friend Chet O'Keefe. As you know, earlier this week, while I was trying to meditate It popped into my head, before Mama nearly knocked off my head, as she jumped off of our bed.

So, later that day, I went over to Kinky's to see Chet, so I could talk to him about possibly helping me play a prank on Jeff.

(FYI: Our dear friend, Jeff Severson aka The Singing Safety, is a very talented musician, singer, song writer and we love his songs. Currently, Jeff is getting ready to release another great CD of his latest songs. And since Carol, Tony and I introduced Jeff to Chet O'Keefe, who is another talented musician, singer, song writer, Jeff has been working closely with Chet, on a few of his recordings.)

When I told Chet all about needing him to help me pull off this prank—he was all in. "Chet, all I want to do is jump into one of Jeff's serious songs, after he sings the first line or so and then I start singing off-key with him, which is natural for me, because I am tone deaf and also hard of hearing..." Chet thought it was funny, so he agreed to help me get our friend. And when I finally talked to Carol about it, she thought it was hilarious, too, and could not wait for it to happen.

So, it happened yesterday afternoon, around 3:00, when I called Chet. "Hi, Nancy. Are you ready to come over to make your singing debut?"

"Yes."

"I've got everything set up and ready to go, so come on over." Ten minutes later, Tony and I jumped into Buttermilk and went over the river and through the woods to see Chet.

When we arrived at Chet's super cool, mobile recording studio, Chet and I talked about the recording for thirty seconds or less. Then Chet played Jeff singing the first and second lines of one of his beautiful songs. "Okay, Chet. I am going let Jeff sing the first line and then I am going to jump in and surprise Jeff when I start singing the second line with him—off key." Then Chet put the headphones on me, Tony took a picture of me and the next recorded twenty seconds is history or should I say hilarious.

When Chet turned off the mic, he played it back for us to hear and the three of us could not quit laughing, because I was soooooo off-key and sounded like a hick. When we finally quit laughing, I thanked Chet and then said, "Chet, if you don't mind, all I need for you to do now is send Jeff an e-mail, saying something like, "Hi, Jeff. I've been tweaking your song and I like it, but I need to know what you think.""

"I'll send it in fifteen or twenty minutes," Chet said. "Keep me in the loop." Then Tony and I adios-ed Chet, jumped inside Buttermilk and came back home, to discover that Grace Kelly and her running pardner, Tom Landry, had dug out of their pen, once again and they were having a blast running around the rescue ranch, teasing the dogs. And five minutes later, they were back inside their dog pen resting, as they watched Tony and me fill up their latest hole, with rocks.

Around 7:30 last night, Carol called me to see how my trip to Austin went and after I filled her in, I said, "It's done, Carol. Chet and I played the prank on Jeff, earlier today. And it is so hilarious, because my singing seriously stinks. Do you want to hear it?"

"Yes! I can't wait!" When I held the phone up to our Bose iDock, Jeff starts singing the first line and when he starts to sing the second line, with me singing off-key and intentionally echoing too slowly behind him, Carol laughed so loud, it made our phone shake, in my hand. "Nancy!" Then she started laughing non-stop, for a couple of minutes. "That is the funniest thing that I've ever heard and...."

This morning, with still no word from Jeff, I called a certain friend (Carol) to talk about it. Ten minutes later, a little birdie (Carol) told me that it had caught Jeff totally off guard and he is still laughing about it and he has not responded, because he is deep in thought, thinking of his next prank to play on me, but I am calling a Don't Mess With Texas—Truce. (Jeff, you got me twice and I have only played one prank on you and I am done. I promise.)

If y'all want to listen to my prank, of me singing with Jeff, click here. It is too funny!

I have to go now, because I need to shower and get dressed in my cowgirl clothes, because tonight Carol and I are going to the Ronny Cox House Concert, as the Cowgirl Sisterhood. I am taking my banjo, too, because I hope that Ronny will sign it for me and let Tony take a picture of us. Because Ronny Cox is the famous movie star that played the banjo, in that classic movie, Deliverance! How cool is that!

In case you did click to hear me singing with Jeff, it ain't going to happen without Jeff's permission. "Laugh out loud, Jeff! I got you, again! Now we are even-Steven! Two to two. Please no more pranks from here on out, because I think that I've already peaked in that department. Don't Mess With Texans— Truce and always Remember the Alamo, dear friend. I love that song that I temporarily ruined."

Y'all have a great evening like Carol, Chet, Tony and I are.

The Cowboy Zombie!

Today has been great. This morning while T. and I were outside feeding the dogs and cleaning their pens, our friend Karon, from the children's home came over to show us her new Black Labrador, female puppy, that she has named Remington. Remington stole Tony's and my hearts immediately, as she has Karon's heart. She is only eight weeks old and is so cute, I went up to The Cabin, to get my camera, so I could take this picture of her, in Karon's arms.

Here's a picture of Belle, Roy and Beau watching us play with Remington.

This afternoon around 3:00, while Tony and I were outside talking to Jack and Carol, a very nice couple, from Kerrville, about them possibly giving Starsky a home, if he gets along with their old dog, a car drove in. This woman pulls up and asks, "Are you Cousin Nancy?"

"Yes," I answered. 

Then this woman, wearing a really big grin on her face, jumps out of her car, opens up the trunk of her car, pulls out a painted canvas and walks up to us and introduces herself to us. Then this friendly woman hands me a painting and a postcard, and says to me, "I promised an artist friend of mine, Alvin, that I would get his painting of Billy Bob Thornton with his band." then she looks at the date on the painting, "Since 2008, I've been trying to get this to Billy Bob. I sent it to Billy Bob's managers a long time ago and it was sent back to me, because Billy Bob had changed agencies and they did not know who to forward it to."

After we all looked at the beautiful painting, she continued, "Alvin is a good friend of Billy Bob Thornton and I just got back from spending a week in Big Bend and I am hoping that you can get this to Kinky, so he can mail it to Billy Bob?"

"Sure, I can get it to Kinky," I replied. Then she handed me a postcard, to be included, that Alvin had hand written a note to Billy Bob. Then the woman hugged me, walked away and drove off. 

Then we talked to Jack and Carol for a few more minutes, about them coming out next week, to foster Starsky for a few days, to make sure that their fourteen-year-old Lab wanted a young partner like sweet Starsky. 

After the nice couple drove off, I called Kinky to see if it was a good time for me to come over. "Sure, come on over."

A few minutes later, when I walked inside the Lodge, carrying the painting and postcard, I half-hollered, "Kinky!"

"Come on in, Nance. I'm in here." When I walked into Kinky's bedroom he was packing his suitcase, because tomorrow morning he is going to be on the road, in Texas, for the next three weeks. After I had told Kink about the nice woman, the artist and the painting needing to get to Billy Bob, he told me that he would take care of it. 

After he had quit packing and zipped his suitcase closed, he studied the beautiful painting and then sets it down, on the floor, next to some other paintings. Then he hands me another painting and asks me, "Would you like to have this painting of me? A friend painted this long ago and I've got way too many paintings."

I looked at the portrait of Kinky, painted by his friend and said, "Yes, I would love to have it. Maybe I will auction it off on eBay, to benefit our rescue ranch." Then I followed Kinky outside, to the front porch, so we could sit and visit with Chet O'Keefe and Sean Rima, the popular San Antonio radio talk show host, on KTSA 550AM. "Hi, y'all," I said. "This is weird. I just walked into the Lodge with a painting and a postcard and now I'm leaving with another painting..." 

After telling them about the lost Billy Bob painting, I showed them the painting that Kinky had just given to me. They liked it as much as I did. Then I asked Kinky to please sign it for me, even though he didn't paint it. "Please sign it for me. That way, I have witnesses of you signing it." Two minutes later, Kinky had signed the painting of him, using a gold colored Sharpie. He wrote: 

"Cowboy Zombie, 

Kinky Friedman"

I had a fun visit with Kinky, Chet and Sean and we talked about the accomplished actor/musician Ronny Cox, that we're all going to go see next month, at our friends house, The Friedmans, Chet's cool dog Willie, Starsky maybe getting adopted next week, our upcoming Concert for Utopia, on Palm Sunday, at the Cailloux Theatre and Chet's last week performances, in Austin, at the Strange Brew and Saxon Pub, then I adios-ed them and came back home.

I have decided that I am not going to auction it off on eBay or show y'all the painting, because it might hurt the artist's feelings, so I plan to hang Cowboy Zombie, in my office. And that is about it for today.

Y'all have a great evening!