Mari Sure Knows How To Write The Right Stuff!

My good friend, Mari, of the famous NoMads, sent me this note this morning and I am thrilled for her! Over the years I have told her several times that she is one fantastic writer and now I can prove it! Congrats Mari! Witch Hazel sends you her best!

Mari wrote:

For those that do not know the ‘history’ of how this happened, Sandy Steffan flattered me by telling me I had a talent for bylines (she knew this would butter me up). She sent me several Christmas pix of BRAT dogs and asked me to caption them for use on their website. It wasn’t easy tying these unrelated pix together but I gave it a shot, not knowing if my pithy phrases would go over.

Well, just scroll down to the green letters “Twas Before Christmas. Sandy has put my submission (BTW I don’t recognize all of these dogs) on the BRAT website – adding a couple of pix she must have received after I had developed my ‘story’. She has also added music and some graphics. It came out really nice!

http://www.bratagility.org/December09.htm

And I got the credit for it, which is nice, but Sandy should give herself some credit too! J

Mari

The Queen Of Outer Space!

I have great news! Today has continued to be a great day, and that's because Mercury in retrograde is on its way out! I can't wait for Tuesday to get here, because that is when I can finally say 'adios' to Mercury, 'and good riddance!'

This morning Vern and his wife, Rita, from down around Houston, came out to the rescue ranch. They have been to the rescue ranch before, and the last time that they were here—they got to go over to the Lodge and meet Kinky! After handshakes, Vern told me that they had come out to see us and the dogs, and to make a donation, before heading up to Arlington, for their great granddaughter's wedding. I thought that was strange, because they looked younger than me. Heck, everyone looks younger than me.

When Vern told us that they had spent the night in Kerrville, I couldn't wait to tell them to try the Trail's End Guest House, the next time that they came to Kerrville. "Where did y'all stay?" I asked, ready to tell them all about David and Desiree's bed & breakfast.

"We stayed at the Trail's End Guest House," Vern said. His news totally took the wind out of my sails.

"That's fantastic!" I said. "We love that place! I was fixin' to tell you all about their place. Don't you love Desiree and David Farrar?"

"They are two of the nicest people," Vern declared, as he stood next to Trigger. "We love their cabins..."

"Me, too!" I unintentionally interrupted. "And, I think David is the best chef in Kerr County, and probably a few other counties!"

"I agree!" Vern said, nodding his head. "I would love to know his recipes."

"I know," I said. "I wish that he would either do a recipe book, or better yet, give a cooking class. Have y'all had his Baklava?"

"Yes! This morning, and it was this big..." Ten minutes later, I changed the subject, because talking about David's food was really starting to make me hungry.

"Did y'all get to meet Beckham? He's their wild hog that they adopted..."

"Yes, we met Beckham, and we fell in love with him! He has a huge pen and is so friendly." I then told Beckham's story, and how we had met Desiree and David. I guess I talked too much, because twenty minutes later they drove away, but before they left, we agreed to meet for lunch or dinner at David and Desiree's restaurant, Peasants, the next time they were in Kerrville.

This afternoon, when Tony came back with our mail, he said, "There's a package for you from Fay. Do you want me to open it for you?"

"Yes, please!" I said, as I continued to wash dishes in the sink. When Tone opened the package, he burst out laughing! "What T.? Let me see!" Tony turned the shadowbox around for me to see! Then I burst out laughing, too! "I love it!"

"Nance, Fay put your head on the Queen! You're now the Queen of Outer Space! And, she wrote you a note on the back of the box. Where are you going to hang it?"

"Either in Outer Space or the Space Ship. I'm not sure," I said, as I stared at Fay's hilarious creation.


Thank you, Fay! I love it!

Around four o'clock, the dogs started barking outside. Tony went outside to see who was driving up to the trailer. A minute later, Tone stuck his head inside the trailer, but not like Fay had stuck my head on the Queen, "Nance, that couple is here, that came out last week, that want to adopt Ashley Judd. Come on out. I want you to meet them." I went outside a few minutes later, after I had sent Fay an e-mail, thanking her for the cute shadowbox.

I found Tony, Chrissy and Tim in Ashley's and Lucy's pen. As they played with Ashley and Lucy, we had a fun visit. I really liked this young couple! "Ashley Judd is one of our rescue ranch calendar girls," I said. "Isn't she beautiful! I'm not sure what month she is, but I will go back to the trailer and find out. If her month has already passed, I will cut her picture out for y'all. I'll be right back." I took off for the trailer.

Since we were out of rescue ranch calendar's, I took ours off of the wall and thumbed through it until I found Ashley. She was Miss April!

I picked up my scissors and cut her page out of the calendar. Then I went outside and gave it to Tim and Chrissy. They loved her picture and thanked me for it! Before leaving, they told us that they would be back in two weeks to officially adopt her! They said they couldn't wait to take her home! We can't wait either! It's been a great day!

Y'all have a great evening!

Walk On By!

Today has started out great! I walked six fast miles before eight o'clock, and two very nice people, Vern and Rita, showed up thirty minutes ago, and I will write about their fun visit this evening. Here's something that I want to share with you. Last night, my good friend, Mari, of the NoMads, sent me this hilarious e-mail, and it made me laugh out loud! Enjoy!

ROTFL – I saw No. 4 and thought of you and the Leslie Sansone walks right away! Mari
 
The Importance of Walking can add minutes to your life.
  1)  This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $7000 per month. 

  2)  My grandpa started walking five miles a day when he was 60. Now he's 97 years old and we don't know where he is. 
     
  3) I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
    
  4) I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing. 
     
  5)I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.
    
  6) Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise,'  I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
          
  7) The advantage of exercising every day is so when you die, they'll say, 'Well, she looks good doesn't she.'
    
  8) If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.
    
  9)I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years. just getting over the hill.
  
  10) We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
    
     AND

  11) Every time I start thinking too much about how I look, I just find a Happy Hour and by the time I leave, I look just fine.
    
    You could run this over to your friends, But just e-mail it to them.

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!

—In Bed!

Tuesday was a lot of fun! After I had walked eight fast miles and cleaned up—Bob and Kathi H., from Rockwall or Rowlett, I can't remember, came out to take a tour of the rescue ranch! They had called on Monday, and had made an appointment to come out around eleven o'clock—they were on time. Tony and I liked them instantly, so we gave them one of our famous Grand Tours, which included going into the Space Ship, then into Outer Space where we had a great visit!

During our visit, Bob and Kathi told us about being big fans of Kinky, and how much they loved dogs, and how much they loved what we were doing at the rescue ranch.

After a fun visit in Outer Space, Tony and I invited them inside our trailer. They were amazed, when they walked inside—they loved it, and could not believe it was an old 1983 trailer! They loved my painted rugs on the floor, Tone's beautiful, handcrafted, cedar furniture, and their jaws dropped, when they saw our bed that T. had made for us, when we got married—ten years ago! I was thrilled, because I love my trailer so much, and am so proud of it! I bought it for only six or seven thousand dollars, I can't remember, back in 1995, after my husband had died. And, I wouldn't take a million dollars for it—it's mine—it's home! On second thought, I might consider taking anything over a million, but that's never going to happen. Laugh out loud!

After leaving the trailer, we took Kathi and Bob into the Space Ship—what can I say—they loved it, too! Then we went inside my writing cabin—and yes, they loved it, more, and took pictures of the insidel! I loved it! Now it was time to show them the rescue ranch, but that didn't happen. "Where does Kinky live?" Bob asked. "Does he come down here much?"

"Kinky lives here," I said. "In fact, he is home right now. Would y'all like to go visit with him?" Their eyes got big, they covered their mouths with their hands, and nodded yes! "Y'all wait right here," I said, as we stood by the pig pen. "Let me go inside, and give him a call to see if we can come over there for a visit." I took off for the trailer.

Two minutes later, I walked out onto the porch and hollered, "We're going over to Kinky's! He is leaving pretty soon, to go to Kerrville, but he said for us to come on over—now!" I thought Bob was going to faint, from excitement! They jumped into their car, Tony and I jumped into Kermit, and we took off! They followed us over the river and through the woods to Kinky's Lodge.

Kinky was great! He gave them his Grand Tour, and we ended up outside, by the Friedman Family Bone Orchard. "Nance," Kinky said. "I've added another relic to the garden. See if you can find it." As Kinky and Bob sipped their coffees, the conversation flowed between the three of them, as I snooped around the garden! Then I laughed out loud!

"I've found it, Kinky!" I declared. "I love it! It's perfect!" This is a picture of Kinky's newest addition to his Bone Orchard!

"What are you going to tell John Mankieiwicz? Did you send him his cardigan, yet?"

"No, and I'm not going to," Kinky stated, matter of factly. "The Medina Bulldog and I are still in a snit about losing the pool tournament." Then Kinky started laughing, I started laughing, then Tony walks over to examine the garden—and he burst out laughing, too—when he spotted John's pool tournament award!

Kinky needed to get on the road, so before we left the Lodge—I shot all three of them! Then they shot all of us—several times!

When we returned to the rescue ranch, we gave Kathi and Bob a tour of the rescue ranch and they fell in love with all of our dogs. After handshakes and hugs, they said goodbye, and took off for Medina, to go eat lunch. They were starving, and so was Tony. So, we took off in Trigger, to eat lunch in Kerrville, and then to run some important event errands.

When we walked inside the Chinese restaurant, as we were following the waitress to our table, Lori, one of the famous NoMads, spotted us and waved. I didn't see her wave and kept walking, but Tone didn't—thank goodness, because we ended up sitting at her table, with her thirteen year old nephew, Will! "Mari is joining us," Lori said. "She's on her way, now." Then the waiter showed up, took our orders, and then disappeared. A few minutes later, he quickly reappeared at our table, with our soups! As we sipped our soups, we caught up with each other's news, and then Lori proudly showed us photos of her big Mach agility win, with her dog, a few weeks, ago!

Mari then walks into the restaurant, and comes right over to our table, and sits down with us. After our howdy doodies, Mari says, "I hope that y'all are aware, that y'all are sitting directly across the street from that orange restaurant." We all smiled and nodded, yes. Our lunch was delicious, and filled with laughter! I loved it!

When the waiter, came to deliver our checks with our fortune cookies, Will excused himself from the table, and went to the men's room. "What do y'all's fortunes say?" I asked.

"Mine says, "The whole world is a narrow bridge, the important thing is not to be afraid," Lori said.

"I've always heard that, when you're reading a fortune cookie, you should always add the words, 'in bed,' at the end of it," Mari remarked. "It makes them much more interesting."

Lori then reread hers, and we all said, 'in bed' at the end of it, and started laughing! Mari then reads hers. "Open up your mind. Let your fantasies unwind." Then we all finished it off with—'in bed.'

I was next. "Mental activity keeps you busy at this time." Followed by 'in bed.' Then it was T.'s turn to read his.

"Mine says, 'Nothing in the world is accomplished without passion.'" "In bed," we said in unison—then we burst out laughing.

Then Will returns to our table. "Tell us what your fortune says," Mari said. Will read his fortune to us, and no one said a word, but we were all quietly laughing. When it was time for everyone to leave, Mari says, "I've got forty-five minutes to kill. I don't know what to do."

"We're headed over to Wolfmueller's," I said. "Why don't you follow us over there?"

Tony and I arrived first! "Hello, Tony and Cousin Nancy!" Sandy and Jon said, as we entered their bookstore. After howdy doodies, we started visiting. A couple of minutes later, Mari walked into the store, and was greeted by all of us—and that's when the fun began!

To Be Continued...I've got to go to bed! I'm doing Harley in the morning!

Y'all have a great evening!

Guess Who Came To Dinner!

Today was a great day! I walked another eight fast miles this morning! Linda T. came down, and she and Aaron walked our dogs all day long! Thank you Linda and Aaron—our dogs loved it and so do we!

This evening, Trigger took Tone and me to Kerrville, so we could have dinner, at the Cowboy Steak House, with his great friends, and a very famous writer from Hollywood, California—that he wanted all of us to meet! I got to sit next to him!

It's pretty late now, and past my bedtime, so I will write about it tomorrow! Sorry Mari, but congratulations to all of the NoMads—who have been driving cross country, with their super agility trained dogs—and winning big time events! Y'all Really Rock! Linda told me all about it tonight, as we waited for our table for eleven!

Y'all have a great evening! I did!