Hog Dawg! or Ninja Power!

The last few days have been great. A few days ago while shopping at H-E-B, I picked up a magazine, while standing in line to check out.

The magazine is about attaining better health, etc. Anyway as I was thumbing through it I came across an interesting article about blasting away unwanted pounds.

When I noticed Tony unloading the last few items from our grocery cart I put this magazine in the basket, because I wanted to learn more. So on our way back home, I learned more and by the time we got back home I was trying to persuade Tony to do this diet with me. Bottom   Line: He was still on the fence about it.

So yesterday, during a brief lull, at the Old Timer's Rusty Dawg food truck, I handed him the magazine and asked him to read the article. Bottom   Line: Tony was on board to do the diet with me.

So after we got off work, he and I went back to the big H-E-B and I filled up our basket with the food to do this diet. And when we got home—this diet commenced.

I cooked us delicious grass-fed burgers (with no bun) and topped it with sauteed mushrooms and onions, lettuce, tomato, avocado and a slice of Gouda cheese. It was totally delicious and filling.

Today while we were working at the awesome food truck, our good friends Kris & Jim showed up. Kris ordered our mouth-watering Frito-Pie and Jim decided to try the famous Hog Dawg (mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and bacon bits) which is a very popular dawg.

And while Tony was busy fixing Jim's order and I was busy making Kris' Frito-Pie, Tony said, "Nance, when I got you your water, I made a mistake and got a tea that has sugar in it."

Well that stopped me in my tracks (actually when I was topping the Frito-Pie with cheese), so I said, "Tony you cannot have sugar. So throw it out and go get some water to drink or sugarless tea."

"I can't throw it out and waste it," Tony replied, as he was wrapping up Jim's delicious Hog Dawg. Long story short—I think Tony drank the sugary drink, but I am not positive about it, because we went outside to visit with our dear friends while they ate lunch.

Of course, we had a wonderful time visiting with Kris & Jim and we also did quite a bit of laughing like we usually do when we get together.

Early this evening, I fixed Tony and me a delicious salad for our dinner. I used organic power greens, sauteed some mushrooms and onions, added cheese, boiled eggs, avocado and a few tomato slices. But there was just one problem—we had no salad dressing that did not contain sugar, fructose syrup, etc.

So I decided to whip up some homemade ranch dressing. Normally, I would have used Jaws, my faithful Vita-Mix friend, but instead I decided to use (for the very first time) my Ninja 900 blender, that sweet Carol gave to me a few months ago, because she had two of them.

I filled up the blender cup with the ranch dressing ingredients, tightly screwed the lid back on and then turned it upside down and locked it into the Ninja 900.

Then I could not figure out how to turn the Ninja Power on. I felt all around the edges, etc. and finally gave up, and half-hollered, "Tony!" But Tony did not come running, because I discovered that he was napping.

So, I Googled "How to turn on a Ninja 900" and I watched a short, informative YouTube video where this beautiful, young model explained how to do it. "Just press down on the top of the container and to turn it off just release the pressure...." And to say the least, I did as I was told and it worked perfectly. And this time Tony came running, when I half-hollered, "Tony! Dinner is ready!"

After our delicious dinner, I decided to make this diet's recipe for making "Fat Bombs" using this fair trade, organic, sugarless (they use Stevia), dark chocolate chips, coconut oil and vanilla extract, because these treats are supposed to suppress any desire for sugar. But that's another story for another day.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

The Package!

Today, believe it or not—has actually been more than great. It has obviously been great, because it is no longer M.I.R. Time. But seriously, Tony and I had so much fun working at the famous, Old Timer's Rusty Dawg food truck today.

We had a ton of hot dog lover enthusiasts show up and I wish that y'all could have been there to watch Tony and I working together like a couple of pros.

While I was taking orders left and right, as fast as I could, Tony was busy filling the orders almost as fast as I could take them. It was so exciting, because when we first started working, at the Rusty Dawg, we were so unsure how to do things, we looked like a bad imitation of the Three Stooges making a mess of things. Or better said, "When Lucy and Ethyl messed up wrapping chocolate candy,  because of that fast moving conveyor belt." Bottom   Line: We've got it! We were fast, efficient and our customers paid us many compliments.

I thought that had made my day, but as usual I was wrong, because when we came home after work there was a package for me that my sweet sister Cindy had sent to me.

After kissing and hugging all six of our dogs and promising them that we were going to be off for the next three days and spend quality time with them, I opened the package. In the package was a book and a very sweet note from my sister.

Cindy's kind note of encouragement, after everything that we've been going through lately, brought tears to my eyes, but the book that she sent to me quickly dried up those tears, because this book RELUCTANT ACTIVIST: The Spiritual Life and Art of John Howard Griffin by Robert Bonazzi, is about my famous uncle! And it was published by TCU Press, in Fort Worth.

Tony and I had to go to Kerrville to run a few errands, so I took this book along with me, so I could check it out and I am already hooked on it. In fact, after I do some writing tonight I plan to sit down and read it until it is time for bed. And because we don't have to go to work tomorrow, I might stay up reading it until the wee hours, because I get to sleep in tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow if I can put this book down, I am planning on working on The Cabin. We are getting out our tools, saws, nail guns, air compressor, etc., so we can finish up a few minor details, inside The Cabin. And that is about it for tonight. Life is good.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing! 

Food Truck Fun!

This past week has been great. I've spent of it writing on my 3rd novella and I am having a blast with it. In fact, once I start writing and get into "the zone" the time flies by so fast. I am so excited about my 3rd novella, because it is flowing so smoothly. The characters, the conversations they have, etc. are writing this for me and all I have to do is be quiet, listen and type as fast as I know how.

Last Tuesday, late in the afternoon, I was on a roll writing, while Tony had gone to run an errand for me, in Medina, when the phone rang. "Hey Big Foot! This is Fourth calling..."

As soon as I heard my dear friend's voice, I picked up the phone, "Howdy Fourth! What are you up to?" I asked.

"I'm on my way from Kerrville and I was thinking about dropping, at y'all's place, for Happy Hour."

"Fourth that would be great. Tony's gone, but he should be back in a few minutes. Where are you?"

Fourth laughed, and said, "I'm up on the pass." And that is when I panicked, because we are only about a mile from the Medina pass, and I was in my sweats, because I had earlier walked 4 Fast Miles with Leslie Sansone.

"Oh dear," I said, trying not to sound worried. "I'm in my sweats and I need to put on some decent clothes."

Fourth laughed, and said, "Well, I'm wearing shorts, because it is so blasted hot."

Then it was my turn to chuckle. "Listen, I'll open the gate and as soon as I get dressed I will come outside."

"Sounds good. I'll wait for you, on the front porch." As soon as Fourth and I adios-ed each other I skipped into the bedroom, grabbed my jeans and a shirt and was dressing when I heard our front door open.

"I'll be there in just a minute," I half-hollered.

"Don't worry about it," Tony said. Talk about relieved.

"Tony, open the gate if you already closed it, because Fourth will be here any minute, for Happy Hour."

"He's here," Tony announced, before going out the front door to greet our good friend. And a few minutes later, we had a two hour happy hour filled with fun and laughter. And I am so glad that Fourth dropped in, because before he left to go home, in Medina, he and I had agreed to co-write a story together, as soon as I finish writing my 3rd novella.

I am very thrilled about doing this, because Fourth Coates is a fabulous writer. I've read several of his stories already and I absolutely love his tales, because they are filled with humor, facts and insights. And I will keep y'all posted when he and I start writing together and when our story comes out.

The rest of the time this week besides sleeping, Tony and I spent getting excited about working, in The Old Timer's Rusty Dawg food truck. And today was our first official day to start working.

When I use the word working, it would be better said—having a total blast, in the food truck. We had so much fun working together.

Because today was our first official day to be open, Tony and I went in early, just to make sure we would be "ready to roll" at 11:00. And I am so glad that we did, because we were so busy.

Omg, people and many of our friends started showing up to buy hot dogs, brats and sausage links! And they kept us so busy that the time just flew by, like that saying, "Time flies when you're having a good time." And I was shocked when Tony said, "It's 2:00, Nance. We're closed for the day."

And on our way home all Tony and I could talk about was the food truck. We talked about better ways to do things more efficiently and how much fun it was getting to cook for our friends, neighbors and the friendly tourists. And that is about it for today, because I am fixin' to spend the rest of the day and evening writing on my 3rd novella.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

Cow Towel!

This past week has flown by me and it has been so much fun. I've spent most of the days either writing on my novella or looking at recipes and testing them out in the kitchen, cleaning the cabin, and spending time, at The Old Timer's Rusty Dawg food truck. And that is my excuse for not blogging.

I am having a blast writing the novella and it is hard to get away from the characters talking in my head, so I've been typing non-stop to keep up with the flow of scenarios. I am thrilled that my novella is flowing and I don't have writers block, but the best thing about all of this is my neck and back are no longer aching and making me stop writing, so I can rest them.

And the reason I am no longer in pain, writing for hours on end, is because I've discovered that I can type standing up.

Fay gave me the "standing" idea last week, so I decided to put my lap top, on the kitchen island, to see if that would help and it was like magic! Suddenly, I am typing and moving around and I absolutely love it, because I've never been a fan of sitting. I don't know why, but I've always been more comfortable standing up. So the good news is all is great in the writing department.

When I wasn't typing, I removed my lap top and I've been baking and trying out new bread recipes (for the food truck) for possible sandwiches to make in the future.

And after having fun writing or baking or cooking I realized that The Cabin needed sprucing up, so with Hazel's help, every day we've been keeping up with the housework.

Tony and I love Debbie Martin's food truck, at The Old Timers! We've been spending the last few days working inside it, getting comfortable with the layout, cooking some of the Rusty Dawgs, on the menu and testing them out on friends that show up and look hungry to us.

We are still not quite ready to "jump in" and be open for business, but we are getting very close. And besides loving the food truck, I am having so much fun working with Tony, in the kitchen.

Tony is doing a great job cooking the hot dogs, brats and hot links and then helping me put them together with the right ingredients. And I am amazed to discover that he is a real clean freak, because at home, he sort of let's me "own" the kitchen, because that is the way I like it.

Anyway, after Tony took his Food Safety Handlers course, this past Friday and passed it with flying colors and only getting two wrong answers on the exam, he is now certified to work, at the Rusty Dawg too. And I must admit that I never dreamed he and I could have so much fun in a kitchen.

Today has been great. Late this afternoon, after we locked up the Rusty Dawg, we came home and I took a real nap with our dogs and I slept like a log, because this past week, I've been staying up way too late, because of I don't want to quit writing on my novella.

The good thing is I really do feel rested, as I type this, but I am not sure about Henry Standing Bear or Belle, because Henry is now sacked out on the couch and Belle has been snoozing, waking up and checking on me then back to snoozing again.

Late this afternoon, after the nap, I walked into the kitchen and Tony told me that he had seen Carol, when he went over to wash a load of clothes, in her barn, and she asked him to please give me these flowers and the gift sack.

When I opened the pretty gift sack, I found the cutest, embroidered cow dish towel. I totally love the beautiful flowers, but I love the cow-towel even more, because I love cows so much. 

After admiring my new dish towel, which I will probably not use and only display, because it is so beautiful, I looked at the sack closely and below "ALTAR'D STATE" are the word: "stand out. for good" and I instantly loved the message and then taking a closer look at the sack, on the inside near the top ate the words: Hello Beautiful." Talk about good vibes!

Then I read the small "karma LIVING" card that was attached to the cow towel and the mission statement inside it. And it was printed on Handmade Recycled Paper.

So I immediately went Online to find KARMA LIVING and I found them, so here is the link, so you can visit their awesome website.

As I finish writing this tonight, I plan to call Carol immediately to thank her for the lovely flowers and the cutest cow towel on the Planet. And that is about it for tonight and the next few days, because I am working on my novella, which I think is already funnier than the last two and when I am not doing that I hopefully will be cooking up a storm, at The Old Timer's Rusty Dawg.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

So Life Is Good!

This past week has been one great week for Tony and me and I am totally amazed how it all happened, because it just proves, once again, to me that wishes do come true. And finally now I can tell y'all how the stars lined up for my wish to come true.

As I look back, I realize that the first star lined up, a week ago Sunday, when Tony and I were, over at Carol's ranch, having fun visiting with her and her sweet sister Carla and their dear friends Julie and Sugar. We were sitting out on the deck and talking about life and all kinds of things.

Some where in our conversation, one of them (not Tony) mentioned food trucks, and I immediately said, "Omg, I love food trucks so much. I wish I had a food truck...." And after I had quit blabbing like a babbling brook out of its bank, I made a mental note about saying that and then I got back into the conversation which was now about Willie Nelson's beautiful, new song Something You Get Through. Which is now one of my most favorite songs.

That Sunday night I decided to re-watch the great movie Chef starring Jon Favreau and it is one of my all-time favorite movies. Jon Favreau wrote it, directed it, produced it and he also starred in it. And ever since I watched that uplifting movie, several years ago—I've wanted a food truck.

Monday morning, while drinking my first cup of coffee, I Googled Airstream trailers, on Craig's List and the first picture to pop up almost made me fall out of my chair, because it showed this older Airstream and the caption above it read: "Top 10 Food Trucks" by Southern Living magazine.

And that is when I realized that Tony and I could maybe convert our vintage, 1977 Airstream and possibly turn it into a food truck, instead of using it as an Airbnb. 

My mind was racing, so then I started looking at food trucks for sale on Craig's list and to my surprise there are many affordable food trucks for sale.

I bet by now you are thinking that I bought a food truck, but you are wrong. So please continue reading.

Late Tuesday morning Tony and I went to Bandera and it takes us thirty-minutes to get there, so that is when I decided to talk to Tony about food trucks, because I knew I had a captive audience, when he wasn't tuning me out.

Anyway when we drove through Medina, I noticed that Debbie Martin's food truck was not open for business as usual. Debbie is our dear friend who owns and operates The Old Timer, which is famous and should be declared an historical landmark, because it is "the pulse" of Medina. And not because Tony goes there every morning to drink coffee with his friends. 

When I asked Tony about why the food truck was closed he told me that two days before Debbie's employees had quit running it, because they were moving.... So, I said, "Tony, on our way back I want to stop and talk to Debbie about her food truck and watch out! Someone is crossing the road...."

Long story short—On our way back home Tony and I stopped, at The Old Timer.

And I talked to Debbie about her food truck. And we talked for over an hour and we came up with a plan that suits us both. And that's when the wheels were set in motion—the sky is the limit!

So Friday morning, I went Online and started taking this eight hour course to get my Texas Food Safety Manager Certification that is required. The Online course was fabulous, but totally exhausting and because of taking notes, etc. I spent Saturday, Sunday and Monday, over 18 hours in total time studying, so I could pass the exam. 

And my backache, many sleepless hours and the pinched nerve, in my neck, was all worth it, because Tuesday morning, I nervously took the exam and I passed it with flying colors! And Carol was the first person I called to tell about passing the course. 

Then Tony and I went to Kerrville to pick up a refill of Roy's arthritis pills. But before we did that Tony and I went to Wolfmueller's Books to tell our good friends Sandy & Jon about what Tony and I are fixin' to do. And yes, they thought it was cool and were thrilled for us, too.

Then we went down their alley, jaywalked across Main Street, to Little Joe Restaurant, to celebrate me passing the exam and us getting to work part-time, in Debbie's food truck—The Old Timer's Rusty Dawg: Weenie Wagon. Because it is a win-win situation for Debbie and us.

And Tony and I did not order the exact same thing to eat, but we did order what we ate the last time we were there. "Margarita, I'll have the #1," I said. And Tony ordered their #5 Carne Guisada. And of course it was totally delicious. And we both drank their mouth-watering, homemade lemonade.

And since then, Tony and I have been regulars at, The Old Timer, discussing details and what all is involved with us running Debbie's Rusty Dawg. Here is a picture of the food truck.

There is still much to do, before we start serving food, hopefully by next week and of course, Tony still has to take his Texas Food Handlers course, so he can be certified to work in the kitchen with me. And the only thing bad (kind of funny) about all of our exciting news is—Tony has to wear a beard cover and he is not real thrilled about it. So life is good and dreams really do come true.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!