Not Cereal!

Yesterday was an unexpected blast. I slept in Sunday morning and got up around 8:00. Tony had already fed our dogs their homemade breakfast, so our dogs were already outside, leaving calling cards and watering the weeds for us.

But before I go any further, I want to explain about "our dogs homemade breakfast." Since early August, I decided to quit feeding our dogs—name-brand, manufactured dog food. So after spending several hours researching (Googling) high quality dog foods, it dawned on me that I could, and would love to, cook healthy meals for our dogs instead of feeding them bags of dog food that are full of fillers, etc.

The good news is it is not anymore expensive than buying name brand dog food, our dogs love it and I know exactly what they are being fed.

So every evening, while sipping my one glass of Franzia Chillable Red Wine, I precook breakfast for our dogs and I really enjoy doing it.

And thank goodness I have my faithful Instant Pot, because every evening I use it to cook 3 cups of long grain brown rice, in just a matter of minutes. And while the rice is being pressured cooked, I drink a few more sips of delicious, cheap, boxed wine, while listening to some of my favorite music.

After the rice is cooked, and my wine is doing its thing, our dogs become my personal audience, with their eyes glued on me as I add either raw meat or chicken or fish or scrambled eggs or diced up hot dogs with some raw, home grown, organic spinach leaves. Then they really start drooling as I dump in a can of Veg-All, Parmesan cheese, that comes in the green jar, and I top it off with Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning. So now you know and I hope that you will try doing this.

Now back to my story. As I was sipping my coffee, Tony comes into the big room and says, "I've got great news. Jim Keaveny and Rachel are coming to see us today. They just got back to Austin yesterday, from Jim's Netherlands tour and they will be here later this afternoon...."

Tony and I were thrilled about Jim & Rachel coming to see us and spending the night with us, before they headed back home, to Terlingua.

Around noon, Tony and I took off for Kerrville to run a few errands. He dropped me off at the Country Clean laundry, so I could wash and dry a load of dirty clothes, while he went to Walmart to get a slow-leaking tire fixed.

We normally only use Wagoner's Tires, on Sidney Baker, to buy tires or to fix a tire leak, but because it is family owned. And because we love the family, because they are good people and because years ago, on November 12, 2013, they adopted sweet Bee Spears from us.

But because it was Sunday our only option was Walmart. Here is the link to my April 5, 2015 post, about Bee Spears' fabulous adoption. And here is a picture of this magnificent dog that once lived, at our Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch. And lastly, here is the link my blog post on the day Bee Spears came to the rescue ranch.

Rachel & Jim arrived around 5:00, and we enjoyed a happy hour with them, while I cooked up our dog's breakfast. We talked about Jim's tour and how much fun they had, we caught up with each other's news and we did a lot of laughing, too. They also told us about them getting a Vita-Mix machine and loving it as much as we love Jaws (our Vita-Mix machine). So we started trading smoothie and soup recipes, etc.

Then Jim excused himself and he went out to his truck and came back inside with presents that he & Rachel had bought for us and Kinky. And he was wearing these beautiful, hand-carved, wooden shoes (clogs) that he had bought while touring, in Holland.

After admiring Jim's awesome, wooden shoes, he & Rachel gave us this cute pair of miniature clogs, made in Holland.

And before I put them on the window sill, I put them on Little Debbie's front paws and she loved them even though they were a size or two too big for her dainty feet.

Then there was more. Jim got out his pocket knife and cut open a bag of tulip bulbs, from Holland and he gave us four (pink, yellow, blue and red) bulbs and one yellow bulb for us to give to Kinky.

Because Jim & Rachel were tired last night and dealing with jet-lag, we didn't stay up late like we usually do when they visit. And I had a hard time falling to sleep, because I kept laughing about the fun time that we had had earlier.

This morning, I got up at 8:00 and Rachel & Jim were already up, drinking coffee and packing up their things. When I was making a cup of coffee for myself, I noticed two bowls of delicious cereal, sitting on the counter top, so I said, "Your cereal looks delicious. What's in it?"

They started laughing with Tony, and Tone said, "Nance, it's our dog's breakfast—not cereal. I haven't fed the dogs, yet." And that made me laugh, too.

Around 9:00 this morning, we sadly adios-ed our dear friends and bid them a safe trip back home. And that is about it for today, because I plan to spend the rest of my day writing up a storm, until it starts thundering, because I will have to unplug everything.

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

Tiny Pink Pills!

First off, Monday night after Tony and I spent over thirty minutes searched to find Big Al(ice)'s thunder jacket I finally found it. For some reason it was stuffed inside one of my straw, Resistol cowboy hats that I have yet to hang up, on a wall. So we survived Monday night without a hitch.

Yesterday, we spent most of our time outside burning brush. So it was a pretty uneventful day. But last night wasn't.

It was around 11:30 and Tony had already gone to bed, while I stayed up reading Second Sister by Marie Bostwick. I had just started reading this great book, around 9:00, and I was so hooked on reading it I could not put it down and it is a good thing that I didn't.

Because at 11:46, there was this big, loud thunder clap and suddenly the rain started pouring down, which made Big Al(ice) go into a full-blown a panic attack. The lightning strike was so loud that it also startled Henry Standing Bear, Belle and me. So I immediately went into action to help Alice even though I knew that I needed to unplug everything.

First, I folded up one of Alice's tiny, pink, happy pills, inside an even smaller piece of Honey Wheat bread and then I picked up Big Al and put her, on top of the kitchen island and gave her the pill. Then with her still shaking and standing on top of the island, with Belle and Henry closely watching us, I put Big Ali(ice)'s thunder jacket on her. And that seemed to relieve all of us.

Then with Alice tightly clutched in my arms I raced around The Cabin unplugging everything as fast I could. And right after I unplugged Jaws (my mighty Vita-Mix machine) lightning hit real close again startling all of us, once more. Several seconds later all was unplugged and Big Al(ice) seemed to be calming down some.

So I left Big Al, on the sofa, cuddled up with Belle and Henry and went and took my little pink pill (Baby Aspirin), so I wouldn't have a heart attack or a stroke, because of all of the unexpected commotion.

Well, it rained hard for about forty-five minutes and I could hear the thunder finally moving farther and farther away, as Big Al(ice) slept peacefully between Belle and Hen. (Yes, sometimes I call Henry Standing Bear—Hen to save time.)

A little after 12:30, I decided to do a little more reading, because I love this book and also because I was too wound up to go to sleep.

Anyway, I was so engrossed in reading Second Sister the time flew by and I ended up going to bed just a little before 2:00.

Today has been great even though I got up at 7:00 and was moving slower than normal. The Cabin was warm and cozy, because Tone had gotten up early, at 5:00 (Like he always does.) and he had started a big fire, in our wood-burning stove. It seemed everyone was rested but me.

We spent most of our morning putting away more stuff. Then using my new Instant Pot I made us a super, delicious lunch—pot roast with red potatoes, carrots and onions. And Tony and I were both impressed with how delicious it was and how little time it took for the pressure cooker to cook our meal.

So late this afternoon, after sweating and walking 4 Fast Miles With Leslie Sansone, I called Ronnie, because I wanted to tell him about how great our Instant Pot is so he could buy one, too. "....I know, Nance," Ronnie said. "I bought us an Instant Pot, about a year ago and we use it all of the time..."

After he told me about Nita making the best macaroni and cheese in their Instant Pot and rice, roast, etc. we changed the subject and talked about what Heartland episode he and Nita were watching, because I've already watched the entire series. "Well, let me see. We're on Season 10 now and we've watched the first three episodes and...." Then we went back to talking about Instant Pots, again. And before we adios-ed each other Ronnie gave me his Instant Pot Pork Ribs recipe, because he told me that he makes it all of the time for his friends and they absolutely love it and they can't believe that it only takes 13 minutes, in the Instant Pot and only 4-5 minutes in the broiler.

So tomorrow I plan to go to the big H-E-B, in Kerrville and buy some pork ribs, chicken broth and bbq sauce, so Tony and I can eat Ronnie's "Falls Off the Bone" pork ribs for our dinner. And that's about it for tonight, because I am going to read for a little while and then hopefully go to bed early, so I can catch up on my much needed beauty sleep.

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

I Was A Gracious Loser!

I am sorry for not blogging yesterday, I was exhausted, because I had walked eight fast miles, in the morning, and had not slept well, the night before, because of my upset stomach. So, yesterday afternoon, I took a nap with my dogs, and slept two hours! I've never taken a two hour nap! Then me and my dogs watched the movie, 'Last Chance Harvey,' and I loved it! After that I went to bed, and had some really odd dreams.

This morning I overslept! I didn't wake up until eight o'clock—and that threw me into first gear! After swallowing two baby aspirins, I quickly fed our six hungry dogs and Lucky, the cat. As soon as they had eaten, I started preparing our morning smoothie in our Vita- Mix machine. The ingredients were an apple, banana, a chunk of raw ginger, kale, a carrot, wheat germ, flaxseed, orange juice, blueberries, honey, cinnamon, and a radish—and it was delicious! Tone and I drank all of it.

Following breakfast, while Queen Bee was busy washing our dirty laundry—I walked five fast miles with Leslie! Just as I had finished huffing and puffing—Kinky called! "Nance, we're fixing to come over there."

"That sounds great, Kink!" I said. "But, you need to give me fifteen minutes, so I can shower and get cleaned up. I just finished walking five miles. Okay?" Kinky laughed, and then we said our goodbyes.

Fifteen minutes later, or eleven seconds after I had walked out of the bathroom—clean and fully dressed—Kinky arrived with his friends Lori and Joe! After introductions, Kinky, Tony and I took them on a tour of the rescue ranch. Lori fell in love with L.T. and she and Kinky went into the pen and played with her. L.T. loved it!

When the tour was completed, I invited everyone to go into Outer Space, and we had a really fun time! Thirty minutes later, after I had given Lori, my last copy of my book—it was time for them to leave. Kinky had talked them into going to Kerrville, to eat at that restaurant, with half of its sign still on the ground! I cringed at the thought, and because I really like these two people, I suggested that they eat Rolaids before and after eating their meals. Then Kinky jokingly argued with me about it being a great restaurant. Again, he was talking to deaf ears. My last comment to him was, "Fine Kinky. You are what you eat."

As we walked to Mr. Green Jeans, Tony invited Joe and Lori to come into the Space Ship—and they thought it was pretty cool! Then they loaded up in Green Jeans with Kinky—and left the rescue ranch. I then came inside the trailer, and returned some phone calls, and then Buttermilk took T. and me to Kerrville to run some errands.

As Tony and I were leaving H.E.B., I saw a magazine rack, and saw Harley's picture on the cover of it! I had seen the magazine, last week, on Harley's live web cam, with him on the cover—so I grabbed a copy of the Kerr County People—The premier magazine celebrating the people and life of Kerr County!

As T. steered Buttermilk homeward, I read out loud, the great article about Harley Belew, written by Larry Arnold! Tony and I loved it! Y'all can check it out at: kerrcountypeople.com. It is a great magazine, and I wish it all of the success!

Early this evening, Kinky called. "Nance, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine Kinky."

"Copper is over here. You want to come over and visit with us?" Ten minutes later, I was parking Buttermilk over at the Lodge. Copper, Kinky and I had a really nice visit inside the Lodge! And, Copper and I caught up with each other's news, in between Kinky's constant phone calls.

After his last phone call, "How about a game of pool, Nance?" Kinky asked. "It will give you something to blog about tonight." The three of us laughed, and then Kinky racked up the balls. Kinky broke up the rack of balls—sinking a stripe, and the cue ball in different pockets! I then realized that I actually had a chance to win! The game was short and sweet.

"I won! I can't believe it! It has been over six months since I beat Kinky in a game of pool!" I said, with joy, and in disbelief. "Look Copper, Kinky still has three balls left on the table!"

Kinky laughed. "Yeah, and two of them are mine. Congratulations, Cousin Nancy. Be sure to tell your readers that I was a gracious loser, too." After Copper and I had quit laughing, I promised him that I would.

Y'all have a great evening!

Here Comes The Judge!

Today has been fantastic! I have much to tell, and I might have to make this another one of my 'To Be Continued...' blogs. Here goes!

This morning, I had walked five fast miles by nine o'clock! After I had showered, I did some paperwork, while my organic split pea soup simmered on the stovetop. I've never made split pea soup before, so I followed the directions very carefully. While it was cooking, I also boiled two chicken breasts, because I was going to make Tony my chicken salad recipe—that he loves.

An hour and a half later, I closed the lid on my laptop, and began preparing the chicken salad. Because the soup was ready to eat, I decided to use Jaws, my Vita-Mix machine, to speed things up. I cut up the chicken, celery, apple and tossed them into the blender, and then I added a half of a cup of cashews. Usually, I hand chop the celery and apple, but time was of the essence! I plugged in Jaws and flipped his switch to on. It took less than a minute to pulverize the ingredients!

When I removed the lid—I looked inside and was shocked at what I saw! The Vita-Mix machine had turned my chicken salad into a gooey mush! Nothing was recognizable! It looked like a vanilla milkshake—and I still hadn't added the Miracle Whip! And that's when Tony came into the kitchen. I wish that I could describe the look on his face, when he saw my mush. Let's just say that it was the opposite of the happy face. "Tony, I think the water in the celery caused this?"

Tony was disappointed, and really frowned when he watched me pour the mixture onto some bread slices. It was the only way he was going to be able to eat it. The only other way, was to pour it into a bowl, and serve it as chicken salad soup.

Tony reluctantly ate his runny sandwich, but he loved my soup, and so did I! As I cleaned up the dishes, I promised T. that I would hand chop the celery and the apple from here on out. He made me swear!

After lunch, I went over to the Lodge to visit with Kinky. We talked about business, the rescue ranch and self-publishing. When I was fixin to leave, he told me that a Judge was coming out soon, and he wanted to bring him over to the rescue ranch. I told him that was fine, and then Buttermilk and I came home.

After I had returned a couple of phone calls, I decided to take a short nap with my dogs. Toto, Hank, Little Girl hopped up on the bed, and then Thunder, our old black Lab walked into the bedroom with her tail wagging, even though she and I knew she couldn't jump on the bed. "Tony," I half hollered. "Can you come help me?"

"What do you need?" T. asked.

"Could you please pick Thunder up and let her take a nap with us?" The next thing you know, Thunder is on the bed, wagging her tail, as she snuggled up to me and put her head on my pillow! "Thank you, Tony. I love you."

Ten minutes later, "Nance, Kinky is here," Tony said, as he carefully picked up Thunder and gently put her back on the floor, as the other dogs jumped off of our bed. I quickly put on my cap and wire-rimmed glasses, and then I went outside to the porch with Tony.

"Tony and Cousin Nancy," Kinky said. "This is Ira. He's a Judge." We shook hands with Ira, and then we invited everyone to go into Outer Space with us for a visit. I really liked Ira, and so did Tone. Ira is the second judge that I know. The other Judge is my dear friend, Jim Barden, who is a Judge in Hondo, Texas. He and his wife, BeBe, are two of my favorite people in Texas.

Judge Ira Uhrig, judges in the Whatcom County District Court—Bellingham, Washington! From what I've read, Bellingham is one of the top ten places to live in the U.S.! We had a fun visit, and before leaving the rescue ranch, I gave Ira a signed copy of my book, a calendar, and a couple of bumper stickers, and then we took some pictures. Here is a picture of Ira and Kinky after they came out of Outer Space:

Before leaving, Ira promised us, that he would return to the rescue ranch in October, with his family, and I cannot wait to meet them!

A few hours later, I called Kinky and asked him if I could come over to take a few pictures. Five minutes later, I took these pictures of the Friedman Family Bone Orchard and one of his newest plants. Aren't they beautiful!


I also took a video of Kinky playing with Gooie, but for some reason, it didn't download, so I am going to have to retake it. Before leaving the Lodge, Kinky challenged me to another game of pool. The Hummingbird Man - 1, Cousin Nancy -0.

Early this evening, Carol came over, she needed to talk to us about some things. When she arrived—she was bearing gifts! She gave T. and I some delicious Costa Rican coffee and a grape plant—from a Texas vineyard! "I know that you've been wanting to make wine, Nancy—so here's your starter kit!" Carol said. "I bought one for myself, too! Let's start making some wine!" Then we went into Outer Space. Here is a picture of the plant, that started the first vineyard in Medina, Texas! "Cousin Nancy's Vineyard!"

Y'all have a great evening! To Be Continued... (Sorry, Mari!)

You Get What You Pay For!

Yesterday, Kinky asked me to go online to get him a telephone number, so he could check on his order, of organic health food supplements, because it had been over a week, since he had placed his order. Then last night, Kinky called to tell me that he had just received his order! It was eight o’clock—delivered by FedEx.

This morning, Kinky invited me over for a cup of coffee and a visit. We had a good visit outside by The Friedman Family Bone Orchard, as Kinky threw—tennis balls, for Mr. Magoo to retrieve. After about fifteen minutes of tennis, we all went inside, because Kinky wanted to show me his free, new turbo blender—that came with his order.

When I saw it—I laughed out loud! “I don’t know how to use it, yet. This morning, I mixed the powder and water with a spoon. Nance, take a look at these product pamphlets” Then Kinky’s phone rang, and he went off to his office, to take the call.

I picked up the little box, from his kitchen table, and—pulled the tiny plastic blender out of the box. The box was proud of its blender, and used words like—Turbo, Tornadic Action, etc., and they even provided two free AA batteries! I started laughing, as I examined the itty-bitty plastic blade. It was half the size of a bobbie pin, and may have once been a bobbie pin! I then removed the bottom of the blender, and inserted the two batteries, and then twisted it back on. I pushed the button, and it went into turbonic action! Then I turned it off.

I was impressed with the Organic Certified, Fair Trade Omega-3 Fish Oil, imported all of the way from Norway, and when I read about the Organic Certified, Fair Trade powder, packed with twelve essential fruits and twelve vegetables—I was truly impressed with these products! Then Kinky returned to the kitchen. “What do you think, Nance?”

“Kinky—you done good,” I said. “I’ve read the labels, and you bought the best of the best! In fact, I plan to order some of this stuff, but I will tell them, to please not send me their free, amazing, eight inch tall blender.” Then I started laughing, and switched on Kinky’s high velocity, blending maniac, and then I quickly turned it off—so not to run down the batteries. Kinky started laughing, too!

“Kinky, I have ‘Jaws,’ my four-hundred and fifty dollar, Vita-Mix blender-that can cook or make ice cream, and you have this free, cute, little turbo action, powder mixin’ machine—I just love it! I think you should name it Nemo.”

Kinky picked up his little toy blender, and then switched it on—and we both burst out laughing, again! “Kink, I think we should have a Blend-Off—Jaws VS. Nemo! We could start out mixing water with food coloring, then move it up a notch, to water and powder, and then push it to water and an ice cube, etc.! I have got to bring Jaws over here, and get a picture of them side by side.”

We laughed about it, as Kinky walked me to Trigger, and then I drove home.

There's Something Happening Here!

I did it! This morning following breakfast—I did my three mile workout, inside the trailer, without the two pound weights, and I am feeling fine, and glad that I did it! And, I used my new lavender colored stretchie—and it did not break—thank goodness!

After watching the depressing news about Wall Street crashing, early this morning, I did what I had to do—I turned off the television, and turned on my iPod, and then concentrated on some paperwork, that needed to be taken care of.

The first song that started playing on my iPod was ‘For What It’s Worth,” by the Buffalo Springfield, so I immediately went to the bedroom, put on my old colorful tie-dyed t-shirt, and braided my long salt and pepper colored ponytail—to remember the good times back then, and to help me forget the depressing news of today.

Thirty-eight years ago, life was all about peace and love for me. Everyone was happy, no one had to lock their doors, there were no gangs and the music was the greatest music of all times! I had just graduated from Southwest High School, in 1970 in Ft. Worth, and had moved to Austin and was the proud new owner, thanks to my Mom and Dad, of a used, dark blue, ‘67 VW —which came with an eight track player!

Ronnie had an off white ‘65 VW, with a six volt battery, which meant he could either listen to music or use his headlights. My ‘67 VW came with a twelve volt battery, which meant I could drive in the dark and listen to music at the same time! I was so lucky!

I thought I had it all back then, yet I actually had nothing at all, so to speak! All I had was a used ‘67 VW, named Blue, my treasured 0018 Martin guitar, which I had gotten from my parents on my 18th birthday, and a good-looking boyfriend—that could play anything on a guitar, and a ten dollar duffle bag, purchased from Academy Surplus, which was full of clothes—jeans mainly. It was the best of times for me—life was so simple.

I was five foot two, eyes of blue, had long brown hair, and was beautiful—as all nineteen year old people are! Everyone I knew was happy, and wanted to give peace a chance! Which some people thought was anti-American? I was young and innocent, and loved shooting people the universal two fingered— ‘peace sign!’ My heroes were Abraham, Martin and John—and Bobby—Janis and Jimi. I had no enemies—it was all about love.

My boyfriend, Steve Andrews., my first, real true love, a good-looking, dark haired longhair, who was two years older than me, and an incredibly talented lead guitarist, who had actually once played guitars with Jimi Hendrix at Hendrix’s home! Those were my bragging rights—back then!

When I moved to Austin, Steve and I rented a house, with my brother Ronnie, on St. Johns Street and then later on 45th and Duval Street. At night, the three of us would play our guitars and sing, or play Monopoly. In the morning, Ronnie did construction work, and learned his trade, while Steve and I sold carnations, at different locations in Austin, for twenty-five cents per flower—on street corners! It was a blast and I met some really interesting people! One man, even asked me to get into his Mercedes, and ride off into the sunset with him—I didn’t.

Not to brag, I outsold all of the’Flower People’ in Austin—including Steve, who would play his guitar for extra tips! And, I actually bragged to my parents, about making thirteen to twenty dollars a day—it was a lot of money back then, and all that I needed—and so much fun! Life was so simple back then and I miss it terribly.

I never ever dreamed that there would be a day, when Greed would rule our country—it is so disturbing to me, especially since most of the CEO’s came from my generation. It truly has made me sick. Seriously, how much stuff do we really need?

I am guilty, too, and as of tomorrow, I am going to be getting rid of just about everything I own—except for my life changing Vita-Mix machine. And, I am hoping to get everything that is important to me, to fit into an Academy Surplus duffel bag.

I am very sorry for writing this depressing blog, but I am feeling hopeless about what has happened to us and our country. There’s something happening here, and what it is, is exactly clear—greed!