Day -O!

I am sorry for not blogging last night. I wanted to, but some good friends of ours came over.

Yesterday, was a great day, in fact, it was a greater day, than my usual great days, because we had an adoption! Here’s how my day went:

Yesterday morning, I got up earlier than usual, because I knew that a lot of people were coming out to visit our rescue ranch, take tours, walk our dogs and maybe have an adoption!

I always give tours of our trailer, because everyone, who comes out, wants to see it, go into Outer Space with us, go into my Space Ship and to also see my writing cabin. I don’t mind doing it at all, because I enjoy showing it off. So, before sunup, I had fed my furry friends, vacuumed, dusted, and washed a load of clothes!

The reason for my homework, was so I wouldn’t be embarrassed, as I was, a week ago Saturday, when I gave Sasha, Ken, Rebecca and Jack, a tour of our trailer—it was dirty, but not real dirty. It just needed vacuuming and dusting.

Linda T., up in Harker Heights, was going to be the first to arrive, she was driving three hours, to come walk our dogs all day, and I could not wait to meet her! She’s the nice race car driver who had offered to drive me to Houston, this weekend, to do calendar signings with Kinky and Little Jewford, then get me back home safely. How sweet is that!

Around 9:30, she left a message on the machine, telling me that she could not make it, and she was sick about it! She told me that she had to take her brother-in-law to the Emergency Room, around midnight! She had been up most of the night, and was totally exhausted, but he was okay. I was disappointed, but completely understood, and thank goodness he was okay.

Around 10:30, our wonderful neighbor, Heather, showed up with some members of her family! Tony and I gave them a tour, and it was a lot of fun! We finished up the tour at Mr. Ziffle’s pen, and everyone fell in love with him! Mr. Ziffle is such a great dog. He is highly intelligent, and is about two years old.

When it was time for them to return to Heather’s ranch, Tony and I didn’t want them to leave, because we were enjoying their visit, so much! Before driving away, Heather told us that she will see us again, during the holidays! We can’t wait!

As soon as they drove off, a van full of people drove up—they were from Dallas, visiting their mother, Sugar, who lives nearby, and they wanted a tour! So Tony and I gave them a tour, and they fell in love with our dogs, too! Then Clint, who works at Central Market in Dallas, saw Tony’s hat and said, “Miles of Chocolate, I have a cap just like that! We carry their chocolate and pear bread! People love it! Have you tried it?”

“Yes,” Tony said. “Ben Welch, who works out here, a few days a month, is Miles partner.”

“I know Miles,” Clint said. “I’ve not met Ben, yet.” We visited a little while longer and then they drove away.

Tony and I then came inside the trailer, and I made us homemade asparagus soup—it was delicious! Just after I had cleaned up the kitchen, Paul drove up, with his four best friends, that he and his wife had adopted from us—Susie, Gracie, Stella and Yetti! Paul and his crew didn’t stay very long, but we had a great visit! Tony and I love Paul! He and his wife, Marty have done so much to help our ranch!

Around 2:30, Tony left the trailer, while I was returning some phone calls. At three-fifteen, Tony came inside the trailer, to tell me that Emily had just been adopted, and I needed to fill out her adoption papers! “Tony this is great! I’m sorry, I didn’t know that they had arrived. Our dogs didn’t bark.” I quickly filled out our adoption form for Emily! Then we got into Kermit, and he took us out of the rescue ranch, to where there car was parked—outside of the ranch.

The reason they were parked outside of the ranch, was because earlier in the week, Jessica had called me, to tell me, that they were the ones who had adopted Teddy Roosevelt, from us last year. She said that Teddy was the greatest dog, and their family loved him, so much! Jessica told me that their old dog had passed away, and they wanted to adopt another dog from us, so Teddy could have a running buddy! She had asked if it would be okay to bring Teddy along, so they could try him out with whoever they picked. My answer was yes, but I did ask her to please park outside of the rescue ranch, so T.R. would not upset our dogs. She kept her word!

When Tone and I pulled up in Kermit, Teddy Roosevelt and Emily were best friends—with tails high and wagging! I was so happy for Emily, I teared up for a second, when I saw what a beautiful dog Teddy had turned into, and was thrilled that Emily had found her forever home with this great family! Tony and I visited with Jessica and her husband, Hays, as we watched their two beautiful children, Jackson and Summer, playing with Teddy Roo and Emily!

After Jessica filled out Emily’s adoption form, it was time for this lovely family to leave. We hugged and shook hands, and then they loaded up Teddy, and then Emily into their van! Tony took these pictures!


After they drove away, I told Tony, “Emily came back to the rescue ranch, because it wasn’t her forever home. This one is!” Then I teared up, again.

Y’all this is what it is all about! I love my job, and here’s a shout out to Jessica, Hays, Summer and Jackson—Y’all Rock!

P.S. I can’t wait to tell you what Tony and I are fixin’ to do! During breakfast this morning, we have decided to...

To Be Continued...

Hello Houston!

I hope that y'all had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was great, but I have a confession to make. Yesterday, after posting my blog, Tony came inside the trailer and said, "Nance, let's go to Kerrville for a Thanksgiving dinner! We'll eat the tamales, later. Okay?"

On our way to Kerrville, we couldn't decide where to eat—Sandy and Jon's, Luby's or The Cracker Barrel. "Maribeth told me that The Cracker Barrel was much better than Luby's," I said.

Tony wanted to eat at Luby's, until we saw their packed parking lot! We decided to check out The Cracker Barrel's parking lot before choosing. As Buttermilk pulled into the turning lane, I said, "Look, Tony—it's a sign! There's a parking space open—by the front door! This is where we are meant to eat! How cool is that!"

Buttermilk turned into the parking lot, and filled the empty parking space! The place was crowded, with people sitting outside, rocking in the rocking chairs. Just before we entered the restaurant, I said, "Wouldn't it be funny if Maribeth was here!"

Tony then opened the door for me, and a familiar voice said, "Nancy! Tony!" It was Maribeth! "After you sign in, come outside and I will sit with you, while you wait for your table." Tony went inside, as Maribeth and I went outside.

"Maribeth, I can't believe this!" I said. "I literally had just said your name, and then there you were!" We had a fun visit with Maribeth, her daughter, Terry, and her granddaughter, Britney. Our turkey dinner—without the turkey, was fine. Then we came home. Tony watched football games and I watched reruns of Newhart.

Tomorrow, at 5:00, Kinky and Little Jewford will be at 'Murder By The Book' store, in Houston, signing our 2009 calendar! And, Sunday, they will be at the Barnes & Noble, Town & Country, at 2:00 to autograph our calendars!
I hope everyone goes to see them, and buys one or more of our calendars!

Tony just brought the mail in, and he is laughing out loud, "This is addressed to us, but it's definitely meant for you!" Then he starts laughing, again! I just opened it. "Tony," I said."It is our first 2008 Christmas card, wishing us Happy Holidays!" Then I opened the card and it said, 'that I was cordially invited...to have my hearing tested—for free, on Monday, December 8th! I am laughing, and I just took these pictures of it.


I'm not going to Houston tomorrow with Kinky and Little Jewford, and I'm not going to get my hearing tested either, because I know that I would flunk. Happy Hearing!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Last night, Tony and I made healthy, homemade tamales, for our Thanksgiving dinner, today! It was a lot of fun, and I am proud to say that we made thirty-one tamales! Count them!

This morning, at six o’clock, after we ate breakfast, we started cooking, the Thanksgiving dinner— for our dogs! Aaron called us at seven-fifteen, ‘I need coffee. I forgot that the Old Timer was closed. Can I come over, now?”

Tony picked up the phone. “We’ve got coffee. Come on over, the gate is—open.” Ten minutes later, Aaron was drinking a cup of coffee, in our kitchen. After drinking two cups, he and Tony went outside to get the four feed buckets.

This was Aaron’s first time, to ever cook a Thanksgiving dinner for forty-three homeless dogs, and he was anxious to get started! Since Tony and I have cooked Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, for our dogs, for over ten years—it was still exciting! It always makes me tear up.

“Aaron, these are your two buckets and these are mine,” Tony said. “This is your drill with the paddle mixer and this one is mine.” Tony then picked up a large sack of premium dry dog food, and then poured it equally into the four buckets. “We’ll do the eggs next.” Tony handed Aaron a carton of thirty-six eggs. “Now, put eighteen eggs into your two buckets.”

As they cracked eggs, I stirred the vegetables in the giant pots on my stovetop. “When do we get to use the drills?” Aaron asked.

“Not yet,” Tony said, acting like a drill sergeant. I started laughing, because Neil Young was singing, ‘Comes A Time!’ He was singing, ‘Oh, Oh, This old world keeps spinning round...’ They didn’t get it.

Tony then handed Aaron a giant package of shredded cheddar cheese. Then they added the cheese, two big jars of garlic, and the two large bottles of olive oil. I grabbed the six large bags of Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing and gave them—three bags each, to add to their buckets. “We’re ready to mix,” Tony declared.

As they mixed the food, I took a few pictures of them. Then there was a knock on the door! It was Josh! He had come to help us! When the men quit mixing, Aaron and Tony added the fifteen pounds of ground turkey, while Josh added twenty-four cans, of high dollar dog food, into the four buckets. “We’re ready to mix,” Tony said Aaron grabbed Tony’s big drill, and gave Josh the smaller drill—then they went to mixing!

As those two mixed, Tony removed the heavy vegetable pan from inside the oven and began pouring in the twenty pounds of hot, cooked mixed vegetables—corn, peas, green beans, carrots and lima beans!

While they were mixing in the last of the vegetables, I phoned Kinky. “Kinky, we’re fixin’ to serve our dogs their Thanksgiving dinner!”

“I’m on my way!”

Josh and Aaron turned off their drills, and the three of them carried out the four, very heavy, hot buckets of food, and they put them in Kermit.

“Happy Thanksgiving!” I said to the dogs, as Tony, Aaron and Josh began serving our dogs their warm—Thanksgiving dinner! I then started skipping around the pens to take pictures and to wish each dog a Happy Thanksgiving!

When Kinky arrived, he and I watched the awesome tail-wagging event unfold. When all of the dogs had gobbled up their meals, Tony, Aaron and Josh went back and fed everyone seconds!

After Aaron, Josh and Tony had finished washing out their buckets and utensils, Kinky visted with everyone.

I hope that y’all have as good of a Thanksgiving as I have had!

Gobble, Gobble—Gobble!

Yesterday afternoon, Jon Wolfmueller called, and he left a message on our machine, “Cousin Nancy, this is Jon. Call me.”

It was nearly five o’clock, when I called Jon back. “Hi John! This is Nancy.”

“I know. Your books came in.”

“We just got back from HEB. It was packed full of people. What are you and Sandy doing for Thanksgiving?”

“We’ve got family coming in. Sandy is going to be cooking for twelve people. What are y’all doing for Thanksgiving?”

“Well, we had plans to go out to eat, but our friend had to cancel on us, which was fine, because I would rather stay home and cook our dinner—after we cook and serve Thanksgiving dinner to our dogs.”

“Is Kinky going to help feed the dogs?"

"I think so."

What are you fixing for you and Tony”

“I was thinking about getting one of those turkey-in-a-box deals, so T. could have a holiday dinner, but I just couldn’t do it, after watching Imus this morning. His wife, Deirdre, started talking about all of the poor turkeys, and what they go through, etc. It really depressed me. So, I told Tony about it, and he told me that he didn’t care about eating turkey or ham. So guess what we are having?”

“What?”

“I’m fixing homemade, mostly organic, meatless tamales!” Jon laughed. “That’s why we had to go to HEB this afternoon, so I could buy a tamale steamer pot, corn husks, tofu and the rest of the ingredients!”

Fast Forward—

Today, around twelve-thirty, Tony and I stopped by Wolfmueller’s Books, so I could pick up my books. “Hi Tony and Cousin Nancy!” Sandy and Jon both said. We said hello to them, and to Mary Jo. “Jon just e-mailed you a funny deal about Thanksgiving—that you have got to watch!” Sandy said. “When we saw it, we thought Nancy has to see this! It is hilarious!”

“I will check it out, as soon as we get back home.”

“No,” Sandy said. “Y’all come on back to my office, and I will show it to you, now. It’s on my computer!” Tony and I followed Sandy back to her office. Sandy pulled it up on her computer. “Nancy, this is about you, so sit in my chair. Ready?” Sandy clicked the play button!

www.americangreetings.com/ecards/view.pd?i=475368702&m=9293&rr=y&source=ag999

Sandy, Tony and I laughed out loud, as we watched it! I hope that y’all will check it out! It was great!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of y’all! Gobble, Gobble—Gobble!

P.S. Tony is going to help me make our bean and cheese and tofu tamales this evening! If they don’t taste good, we have an emergency backup plan—Luby’s or Jon and Sandy’s house!

Higher Love!

Trust me, I do count my blessings daily and never take them for granted, and I am happy to say that today has been another great day for me! And, I love it! I’m sitting here at my kitchen table right now, smiling about today, while listening to Robert Palmer sing ‘Addicted to Love!’

This morning, before Sasha arrived with the thirty cases of cat food, given to her by her good friend, Larry Tucker—for our neighbor cat lady, I phoned Linda T.

I wanted to thank Linda for her kind letter, and her offer to drive me to Houston this coming weekend. Our telephone conversation was fun, and it lasted about as long as it took for Sasha to drive from Fredericksburg to Kerrville. Before hanging up, Linda told me that she wants to volunteer for us, and that she will be driving down here this Saturday—to walk our dogs! I can’t wait to meet this wonderful woman, who is willing to drive three hours, just to get down here! And, she told me that she will keep coming down to walk our dogs! I can’t wait!

Sasha arrived here around 10:30! After hugs, she met us down at the barn, where Tony, Aaron and Josh unloaded the canned cat food from her car.

Then I invited Sasha to come over to the Lodge, for a visit with Kinky. “Sasha,” I said. “After I told Kinky about y’all coming down here this past weekend, and walking our dogs, and then driving down here today, to help us help our neighbor, he said that he wanted to meet you.”

Being a big fan of Kinky, she couldn’t wait! We jumped into Kermit, and then took off for the Lodge! Kinky greeted us at the gate, and then invited us inside. Kinky thanked her for donating the cat food, and bringing it down from Austin. Sasha, then made it very clear that it was Larry Tucker, who needed to be thanked. “I called Larry and told him that I needed cat food, and he delivered! He is an angel.”

After a short visit in the kitchen, a tour of the Lodge, we went outside to visit by The Friedman Family Bone Orchard, so Kinky could puff away on his cigar, while Sasha threw tennis balls for Gooie to retrieve. It was a great visit! Here is a picture of Sasha with Kinky:


‘Higher Love’ is now playing, by Steve Winwood! Please remind me to tell you about what happened to me, at the Austin 5K in Austin, in the late 80’s! This song was the theme song for that run—skip! I hope that all of y’all have a wonderful evening—like I am having!

P.S. Thank you Larry Tucker and Sasha E.! Cats Rule, As Much As Dogs, As You Do, and Linda T.! We love y’all!

Shut Up, Nancy!

Guess what? Today has been another great day! It is now 6:24, I just turned on my salt lamp, and my iPod, to set the mood, and ‘Love Will Keep Us Alive’ by the Eagles has started playing—I love that song so much! I have just cranked it up a few more notches.

This morning, while I was over at Kinky’s discussing business, over some coffee—Sasha called the rescue ranch! Sasha, who was out here walking dogs with her three great friends, this past Saturday, has such great vibes, that on a scale of one to ten, ten being the greatest—she’s an eleven! I’m not kidding!

Anyway, Sasha and I played telephone tag today, but when we finally connected, twenty minutes ago—she had some great news! She is personally driving down here, from Austin, tomorrow morning, to deliver over thirty cases of donated, canned cat food, so we can deliver it to our friend, Nancy, down the road from us—to help her feed her many cats! Sasha will be coming around the mountain, about ten o’clock tomorrow morning, and Tony and I can’t wait to see her! Sasha definitely Rocks!

Today, I have been bombarded with hundreds of phone calls, messages and e-mails, begging me to come to Houston, for our calendar signings at Murder By The Book Store this Saturday, and the Barnes and Noble -Town and Country, on Sunday! In fact, today I received the sweetest and kindest handwritten letter, from a woman, Linda T., who I’ve never met. Linda lives in Harker Heights, up near the Belton and Killeen area. She is a former race car driver—and she has offered to drive me to Houston, and bring me back home safely! Linda’s letter touched my heart, as did all of the e’s and phone calls urging me to come to Houston this weekend.

Y’all, I can’t go to Houston this weekend, because I’m truly scared to death of big cities, and the fast-paced traffic. I can’t go because of health reasons. Seriously, big city traffic causes me so much stress, that I am afraid, it truly might cause me to have a heart attack. I didn’t use to be this way, but after living in the Texas Hill Country for over thirteen years, with no traffic anywhere, and now being fifty-seven years old, it is best that I stay home, with Tony, at the rescue ranch. I hope that y’all will understand, and I do appreciate all of the messages.

“Nance,” Kinky said, earlier this evening, while I was over there. “Mr. Magoo is fat! He has got to go on a diet!” Then Kinky reached into a box, and handed his dog, another dog biscuit! Then Kinky opened up a large can of dog food, and filled the paper plates scattered around the ‘big room.’ Gooie then went from plate to plate, as fast as he could, devouring all of the canned dog food! “What am I going to do?” Kinky asked, as Mr. Magoo raced past him—into the kitchen.

“Kinky quit feeding him so much,” I said. “You’re over feeding him, has made him the President of ‘The Friedman Fat Boy Club!’ Gooie just nudged my hand and said, ‘Shut up, Nancy! I’m working him!’” Kinky started laughing, and then he gave Goo-Man another dog treat!

Y’all have a great evening and take care!

And, You Do The Same!

This afternoon, Tony and I took off for Kerrville, so we could go to HEB, to buy the groceries needed for our Annual Utopia Rescue Ranch Dog's Thanksgiving Dinner! When we arrived at HEB, we both grabbed shopping carts, and then I led the way into the store.

Tony followed me around the store, as we filled up our carts with 'real people food.' It took us over thirty minutes to complete our grocery list! After checking it twice—we went to check out our dog's groceries. As the young woman began checking us out, she said, "Looks like y'all will be cooking for a lot of people on Thanksgiving Day."

Tony and I chuckled. "A lot of dogs," Tony said. "We're cooking this food for our dogs."

The woman said, "What? How many dogs do y'all have?"

Tony and I smiled at each other, because this is always happening to us, when we buy hot dogs, in large quanity, for our dogs. For shock value, Tony said, "Forty-three right now— and that's not counting our six inside dogs." Then he and I started laughing.

"You have forty-nine dogs?"

Enough was enough. "We run the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, in Medina," I explained. " Along with Kinky Friedman. Every year, we cook Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for our dogs, and we serve them warm."

"How cool!" Carrie said. "Wow! I love it! I have two dogs! Are you Cousin Nancy?"

"Yes, and this is my husband, Tony. He is the ranch manager, and he actually takes care of all of our dogs." I said.

"Wow! I've heard you on Harley's radio show!" Then there was a pause. "That will be one hundred and twenty-eight dollars and twenty-three cents."

Tony pulled out a ranch check and filled in the amount.
We bought:
6 - HEB Mixed Vegetable Bags at 3.19 each = $19.14
6 - Pepperidge Farm Seasoned Stuffing at 2.69 each = $16.14
10 - HEB 85% Ground Turkey at 1.49 each = $14.90
5 - HEB 93% Ground Turkey at 2.49 each = $12.45
2 - Giant HEB Extra Light Olive Oil at 14.47 = $28.94
2 - 32 oz. jars of Minced Garlic at 4.99 = 9.98
2 - Large bags of shredded Cheddar Cheese at 8.99 = $17.98
2 - 36 count of Large Eggs at 4.35 = $8.70
Total Amount: $128.23

"Have a Happy Thanksgiving!"

"We will," Tony and I said. "And, you do the same."