My First Try!

I am trying to figure out a way to shorten the length of my blogs, so tonight’s my first try.

Yesterday, my good friend Catherine and her husband David, who live up in Buchanan Dam, who help us adopt out our dogs, sent me some beautiful pictures of Katherine Ross, in her new home! We loved the pictures, and here is one of Katherine Ross, in her new Lazy Dog chair—enjoying her forever life! Thank you Catherine and David!

My farm and ranch report today is: This morning, when I put our radishes outside, to soak in the sunshine—some of them were already six inches tall! Tony and I were both delighted! We’re talking—Super Radishes!

This morning, when I checked my blog—Tara made a comment on, “Not Tonight I’m Watching The Queen!” I loved what she wrote, so I made a comment about the Royal Family. By the way, I loved that movie! No wonder why Diana and Fergie didn’t fit in—who could? Please watch it!

Late this morning, I went outside, to our garden, to talk to Tony and Aaron, about where I wanted my roping post to be. Tony suggested that we use the two, already cutoff posts, that we cut down, before Ronnie and Tom built Outer Space for us. Those posts and the other two, had previously been the posts, used to support our outdoor dog house, in our front yard. I’m not real fond of the location, and plan to discuss it further with Tone tomorrow.

During our discussion, I asked Aaron if he knew how to rope. “No way, Nancy,” Aaron said. “I’m sorry, I was born and raised in California—we don’t rope things.” Then he and Tony began laughing.

“Aaron, roping is a real skill—a true art! It looks easy, but it isn’t,” I said. “I’ll teach you tomorrow, after y’all are done with the morning chores. It’s fun. I have over fifteen ropes, and I will pick one out for you to use. I promise that you’ll like roping.” Aaron laughed, and said he would give it a try. “Aaron, would you like to go horseback riding with Cindy and me, and a few other friends? I’m going to ask Ben to join us, too. He’s coming down tomorrow to work.”

“Thanks Nancy, but I don’t think so. I like riding horses, and I have friends who have horses, and they don’t charge a thing.”

Here is a picture of the two temporary posts, already cemented into the ground, that Tony wants to use. How sad, because I have already picked out a better location—over by the Space Ship!

This afternoon, T. and I went to Kerrville to run some errands, our last being—Wolfmueller’s Books, to see Sandy and Jon! As always, it was fun, and filled with laughter! Before leaving, I purchased Tom Wells newest book. “Strange Seasons: Summer,” and Tone purchased, “The Chuck Wagon Cookbook: Recipes From The Ranch And Range For Today’s Kitchen” by B. Byron Price!

Okay y’all, I’ve done it! This blog is less than one page of written words! I hope that you like it! Y’all have a great evening! Wait! I forgot something, darn’it!

This evening, my good friend Drew, called to visit! I love Drew and his wife, Renee! After he and I caught up on each other’s news—we spent the rest of the time laughing, and talking about Havarti cheese and Laughing Cow cheese—which are totally delicious!

Before hanging up, Drew told me that he had just e-mailed me an internet address, to please check out. He said that I would love it, and I did! If you are wanting to become healthier, please check this site out, and watch the trailer, which is less than two minutes long—called, ‘Processed People!’ I loved it and just ordered a copy of the documentary, for T. and me! Here is the address:

www.brasschecktv.com/page/502.html

P.S. Y’all have a great evening, again! I’m sorry, I tried to condense it!

Not A Happy Camper!

Last night, Tony and I really enjoyed watching Helen Mirren, in ‘The Queen.’ That movie was really good. Many friends of ours, had told us to watch it, and I am glad that we finally did! My advice to all is: If you haven’t seen it—rent it and watch it. If you have seen it—watch it again! It’s worth a double-take.

This morning, after talking to Kinky, I reached out—and touched someone, Tara to be exact. Tara had called last night, and had left a message on the machine, about some questions she needed answered, for donating to our rescue ranch, while ‘The Queen’ was on the phone, talking to Tony Blair, about Princess Diana’s funeral—and Elizabeth wasn’t a real happy camper about it.

“Hello Tara, this is Nancy, from the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, returning your call.” Tara and I talked for about five minutes, and I answered all of her questions concerning pen sponsorship. She was a delight to talk to. When she told me that she and her friends, follow my blog, and giving me a couple of other compliments—I gave her my e-mail address.

For lunch today, I made my famous (just kidding) Tortilla soup—and Tony loved it! While he and I were sipping our soup away, I asked T. if he would go horseback riding with Cindy P. and me, later this week. “Nance, I can’t,” Tony said. “I would love to, but my back just couldn’t take it. I would love to ride with you, but I can’t. No way.”

Slurp, slurp, “Okay Tone, I understand. Maybe I can talk my sister Cindy, Ben and Aaron to go riding with Cindy and me? You could go too, and take pictures of us riding? That would be a blast! How about that?”

“Nance, that’s a great idea, but what am I going to be doing for two hours while y’all ride?”

“You could take your laptop and get some work done, or play games on your iPod Touch.”

“We’ll see,” Tony said.

Then somehow, our conversation went from that to this. “Tony I need a roping post. Remember when we used to have roping contests, over at my little ranch in Utopia—they were so much fun!”

“Yes, Nance, they were a lot of fun, but you never won—ever.” Tony teased, and then he started laughing!

“That’s not true Tony,” I said. “I’m a good post roper, and you know it! I’m going to ask Ben or Aaron to build me a roping post, out by the Space Ship. Okay?” Tony laughed, and then he went outside to check on the dogs.

Today, I received a surprise in the mail—from Mari of the infamous Kerrville NoMads! Mari sent me a really cute card, and a peace sign decal for my future VW bus—totally sixties! I love it, and may put it on the little refrigerator in the Space Ship! Thank you Mari—it made me smile and laugh today!

Well, I’m fixin’ to watch ‘The Queen’ one more time, but T. isn’t. Y’all have a great evening!

P.S. Tara, thank you and your friends, for helping our dogs at the rescue ranch!

Not Tonight—I'm Watching The Queen!

Something To Talk About!

Wow! Today was fantastic in so many ways! To begin with, our organic, heirloom radishes, grew about another half inch! As soon as the sun came up over the mountain, I put them outside on the porch railing.

At ten o’clock, after I had started a batch of beans, slow cooking , in my crockpot—Kinky called. He needed my help with a project, so I took off for the Lodge. When I returned to the rescue ranch, I found Aaron and Linda T., from Harker Heights, walking Dr. John and Buffalo Girl, back to the rescue ranch! Yeah! I love seeing our dogs go for walks!

After returning them to their pens, I joined Linda and Aaron. We took Lulu, Maggie, Goliath, then Aaron had some work to do, so Linda and I walked Maggie and Happy. When we returned them to their pen, there was a couple visiting with Tony, down by our trailer.

Linda and I waved to them, and then she and I took Nash and Alfie for a nice long walk—the dogs loved it! When we returned to the rescue ranch, the couple caught up with Linda and me, and the dogs. The man got out of his big SUV, “Hi, my name is Tom P., I know that one of you came from Harker Heights—just to walk dogs, today, and one of y’all are Cousin Nancy. I love y’all’s rescue ranch! I hope that y’all know—there is going to be a very special place in heaven for all of y’all.”

Linda and I introduced ourselves, then Tom’s wife, using a crutch, came around the side of their vehicle, “Hi, I’m Linda, too.” We all shook hands, and then we had a really fun visit, under the big oak tree, near our puppy pen! “We’re from Arlington, and we decided to come see the rescue ranch, and we are also big fans of Kinky Friedman, and we voted for him!”

“Arlington,” I said. “I was born and raised in Fort Worth. I love Fort Worth.”

“Me, too!” Tom said. “I grew up in Fort Worth, on the west side...” Well, that’s all it took—I love talking to people from Cowtown! Tom and I talked about Fort Worth, where we had gone to school, Carlson’s Drive Inn on Forest Park Boulevard, Camp Bowie Boulevard, T.C.U., General Dynamics, etc. It was sorta like going down memory lane, with someone you didn’t know back then, but was there when you were—it was a blast from the past for me!

As we talked, a black car drove into the ranch—it was our friend, Julia, with her friend, Karen! They drove past us, and met up with Tony, who was working, down by the pig pen. And, this is when Tom’s sweet wife, Linda, was finally able to get a word in edgewise— “I’m from Arkansas!” She was great!

Karen had told Julia a while back, about wanting to adopt a dog, and Julia told her about our rescue ranch, and asked her to please consider coming here to adopt a dog! In fact, she offered to drive her down here, and she did!

As Tom, Linda, Linda and I visited under the tall oak, I saw Tony take Julia and Karen for a tour, to see if we had a forever dog—for Karen. I had my fingers crossed.

After explaining who Tony was giving a tour to, I said, “Y’all ought to stay around to meet Kinky. He should be back at the ranch within an hour.”

“We’d love to, but we are headed to Medina for lunch, and then we’re going to Lost Maples. Maybe the next time, we can meet him,” Tom said. After shaking hands, Tom and Linda drove away, Linda and I took Maggie and Happy back to their pen. Then Linda and I went and found Karen, Julia and Tony over by Pearl and Laz’s pen.

After greetings and introductions, we finished up the tour with them. “I want to adopt Goliath!” Karen told us. “He’s the one.” All of us were thrilled with her decision!

“Oh my gosh! Y’all, this is way too cool!” I said. “Goliath is our first rescue for 2009, and our first adoption for 2009! I love it, but not as much as he is going to!”

Karen and Julia told us that they were going to go over for a short visit with Kinky, and would be back soon to sign the adoption form and take Goliath to his new home. After they drove away, Tony said, “Nance, I’m starving. Are those beans ready, yet?”

“Yes, but I still have to make some cornbread.”

“Let’s go to the trailer. I’ll just eat a bowl of beans for now—I’m starving.”

When we reached our front yard gate, Linda grabbed her lunch sack out of her car, and we came inside. While Tony lapped up his beans, and Linda ate her lunch, I made some organic cornbread, and put it into the oven, as we three visited.

After they had eaten their lunch, Linda told me that she was ready to walk some more dogs. I was tired, and my back was aching a little, because I had almost tipped over (fallen from a big loose rock, that I was standing on in one of the dog pens), so I declined to join her. She understood, and took off to go walk Blackie and Kahoula.

When the cornbread was ready, Tony and I ate lunch together. Just after I had put our dishes into the sink, to wash, the dogs cranked up outside! “Nance, someone is driving in, I think it is Tom and Linda!”

“Great! I really like those people.” I then picked up the phone and quickly punched in Kinky’s phone number, and then went out onto the front porch, and waved to them, as they pulled up. “Kinky, this is Nance, would it be okay for me to bring some really nice people, over there to meet you? They voted for you, and are big fans of yours and I love them!”

Two minutes later, Linda, Tom, Kermit and me were headed over to Kinky’s. Linda T., who had just returned Blackie to his pen, jumped into the back of Kermit, and we went over the river and through the woods.

Talk about a fun time! There was so much laughing—my back really started aching from laughing so much! Everyone seemed to really have a great time, and before we left, there was plenty of picture taking. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to take my camera, and was disappointed about not having it, so I could show you.

When we left Kinky’s, Linda stood up in the back of Kermit, the whole way back to the rescue ranch, as the four of us laughed more, with Karen and Julia following us!

Before signing Goliath’s adoption papers, I ran inside, I mean, skipped inside the trailer, and grabbed my camera. I asked everyone to pose and I shot them! Then Linda asked me to take a picture with her camera, and then Tom and Linda asked me to take a picture of them with their camera! From left to right here are our friends: Tom, Karen, Tony, Linda T., Linda, and Julia!

While Karen filled out the adoption form, my new friends, Linda and Tom from Arlington, Texas thanked us for the fun time, said their goodbyes, and drove away, followed by Linda T.

When we reached Goliath’s pen—he already knew that he was getting adopted! His tail was wagging faster than fast, as Tony slipped a leash on Goliath! Here’s a picture of Karen with her new found best friend! I hope that y’all had as great a day, as I have! Y’all have a great evening!

Cousin Nancy's Farm & Ranch Report!

This morning, as soon as the sun came up, I put the two buckets of radishes, outside and took this picture! They had grown overnight! When Tony returned from Medina, he could not believe the size of our radishes!

Today was spent doing end of the month, and end of the year reports. It was a beautiful day outside, eighty-degrees and clear sky, so I took my laptop into Outer Space, and worked out there, while my iPod played one favorite song after another.

Around three-thirty, Tony asked me to go with him to check on the cows—he wanted me to see Petey, a calf born on New Years Day! As we were going out the front door, Kinky called and invited us to come over. I told him that we were headed out to go check on the cows, and take pictures of Petey, and then we would drop by.

Tony and I took off in Buttermilk. When we reached the cows, Petey was nowhere to be found! His mama, Ms. Curly, was with the herd, eating hay. "Tony, do you think someone stole Petey?" I asked.

"No, Nance," Tony said, with a laugh! "Curly has him hid. I'll bet you that he's over there." Tony, Buttermilk and I then headed across the pasture, to a thick grove of trees. Tony stopped the car and got out. He walked about ten feet, and then T. told me that he had found him and to come see him!

Before getting out, I checked to make sure that Curly wasn't running towards us, to protect her newborn calf. Fortunately, she continued to eat, and just watched us. Petey is one handsome calf! Here are a couple of pictures that I took of him!


After taking pictures, we went over to see Kinky. We visited for a few minutes in the kitchen, and then Kink challenged Tony to a game of pool. They both made some impressive shots and the outcome was, The Hummingbird Man - 1, The Medina Bulldog - 0! After 'our' loss, Tony and I came back home.

Just before the sun went behind the mountain, I took this picture of the radishes! More had sprouted and they had grown bigger! Y'all have a great evening!

"Hello, This Is Nancy...!

Yesterday afternoon, I received a phone call from a desperate, crying, Iraqi veteran, who served our country in Iraq! "Ma'am, I need your help! My wife and I have just had our house foreclosed on us, and we've had to move in with my inlaws, and we can't keep our dog! Please help us."

I teared up, "Unfortunately sir, we are at capacity out here. Please tell me about your dog." I wanted to help him, so bad!

"I have the greatest, yellow Labrador. His name is Goliath. He is three years old, great with little kids, and other dogs, but he isn't trained. He is neutered and current with his shots." Then he started crying, again. "I can't take him to the pound, he doesn't deserve to be euthanized—he is a great dog and I love him, so much!"

"Sir, let me talk to my husband, and I will call you back within five minutes."

"Tony," I said. "I know that we are full, but this nice, young man just called crying..."

"Hello, this is Nancy, from the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch."

"Yes, ma'am."

"We can take Goliath, but..."

"Honey, they can take Goliath! Oh, thank you so much! I promise that you will fall in love with him! Thank you so much!"

"Sir, we are full out here, but last Saturday, we adopted out two puppies, and I want you to know that Goliath will have to be kept in our large puppy pen, until we adopt out another dog. It is the only space available."

The man was fine with it, we decided for him to bring Goliath, out this morning, and I gave the young soldier, directions to our rescue ranch.

Goliath arrived here, about an hour ago! We visited with the young couple for several minutes, and then they drove away. Tony and I went to the barn and loaded up on toys and chewbones for this gentle giant, and then we went back to his pen and played with him.

Goliath is one great, highly intelligent dog! Tony taught him how to sit and stay, using hot dogs—within three minutes! Here he is:



My sister, Cindy, just called to tell me that she thinks the mystery bird is a Blackheaded, female Grosbeak. She told me that the males have the black head and the females don't—and they live west of us. Before hanging up, I told Cindy about Goliath arriving, and what a great dog he was.

"He just got out," Tony said, as he entered the trailer. "He broke the latch on the puppy pen. I just put him in one of our alleys, next to Opie."

Cindy and I both started laughing! "Well, at least he didn't knock over the puppy pen," I said, trying to stay positive.

P.S. I can't wait for Kinky to meet him!

I'm A Winner!

I won all three bets with Tony! Those little green dots that I saw yesterday—were sprouts, and this morning proved it! Yeah! This is a great way to start out the new year! Here's a picture that I took this morning of a sprout!

After winning my bets, Tony asked me to come look at this beautiful bird on one of our feeders. Neither he or I know what kind of bird it is. So, will someone let me know? Here it is sharing the feeder with a sparrow and another with a cardinal.