The Rose Hotel!

This morning a woman from San Antonio called and left two messages on the machine, "Please call me. I want to adopt Hudson." As soon as I came in the trailer I called the anxious woman. She told me that her dog of thirteen years had recently passed away, and she and her seventeen children wanted to come out and adopt Hudson. She told me that she would be here around noon.

When Tony came inside the trailer, I told him the good news about Hudson going to live with seventeen children. "The woman has seventeen children?" Tone asked.

"Yes," I said. "Twice, she mentioned her seventeen children. I know she said seventeen."

"I don't know, Nance," T. said, as he scratched his head. "That might be too many for Hudson to handle."

"She told me some of them were adopted," I said. "She's coming out with some of them around twelve-thirty."

By two o'clock, the woman had not shown up, so I called her to see if she was still coming out, because Tony and I had to go to Kerrville, so I could buy a couple of my books at Wolfmueller's Books, that I wanted to mail to a couple of friends. "Hello, this is Nancy at the rescue ranch. Are you still coming out to adopt Hudson?"

"No. We're not coming. I was going to call you." As soon as I got off of the phone, Tony and I took off for Kerrville in Trigger.

Sandy greeted Tony and me, as soon as we walked into the store. She was at the counter, but I didn't see her at first, because my wire rims had steamed up because of the high humidity outside. As soon as I could see, I saw Sandy waving a CD at me. "This is Robert Earl Keen's just released CD and it is fantastic! Listen. It's playing right now."

I listened to Robert Earl singing, and I immediately told Sandy that I wanted to buy a copy. The name of his CD is The Rose Hotel and it is fabulous! I am listening to it as I type this. It has just replaced James Taylor's Covers, as my new favorite CD. And, Tony really likes it, too!

Just a minute a go, the phone rang—it was Jon Wolfmueller. "Hello, Nancy. David just called. Our dinner reservations at Peasants, over at the Trail's End Guest House, are confirmed for October 14th, for the four of us."

"That's great, Jon! I can't wait! I wish Carol was going, but I know she will the next time."

"I know," Jon said. "I told David that they needed to get Beckham cleaned up, and dress him up in a tuxedo, because you were coming to see him." Then we started laughing. "Just a second. Sandy wants to talk to you."

"Hello, Nancy," Sandy said. "Have you listened to Robert Earl's CD, yet?"

"I'm listening to it right now, Sandy, and I love it! In fact, I was just blogging about it and..."

Now back to my story. After Tone and I left Sandy and Jon's bookstore, we went to the post office, over by the only mall, so I could mail Christy in Texas, and Ralph in Michigan, copies of my book. Fortunately, the post office wasn't packed, so I was able to go in and get out fast. Then we headed over to Albertsons, to pick up a box of fine wine.

As we were sitting at the light at 16, waiting to crossover into Albertsons parking lot, I read what was written on the rear window of a big red pickup, in front of us. In big white letters were these words— 'Is There A God?' As I was thinking about why the man had that on his window, the man suddenly floored his truck, and ran the red light, and sped across 16 into the Albertsons' parking lot! "Good grief!" Tony said, in utter amazement, as our light remained red. "Did you just see that? Why in the 'heck' did he do that? He could have gotten himself killed!"

"Probably because, either Mercury or the Full Moon made him do it. Or, maybe he was just in a hurry looking for God," I said. Then the light turned green for us, and we crossed over into the parking lot.

As we watched the red pickup, slowly swerving and weaving up and down the parking lot lanes, Tone said, "Well, he came real close to meeting him in person today, because he sure didn't see the light."

Y'all have a great evening!

Happy Birthday, John Kemmerly! We Love You & Miss You!

First off, I want to wish our good friend, John Kemmerly, the best birthday that he has ever had! We love you, John and miss you! Enjoy it, because it only gets worse!

The reason that I didn't write a blog last night, was because I was exhausted—thanks to Mercury and the Full Moon. As you know, Friday was a weird day for me. Friday night, before going to bed, I asked Tony to please wake me up very early, because I needed to clean the trailer, and get my six miles in, before Christy showed up, for a visit and a tour.

Christy, from Cedar Creek, had called me on Thursday to make an appointment to see us on Saturday, because she wanted to make sure that we would be here. I have never met Christy, but I know her, because she reads my blog. Before our phone conversation ended, she told me that she was bringing 'a blast from the past' to me, and I had no idea what it could be.

Saturday morning, Tony woke me up at six-thirty. While he fed our fur friends, I made some coffee for us. Around seven o'clock, Tone took off for Medina. After getting a load of clothes washing in Queen Bee, I put on my sweats and began walking the walk with Leslie.

After walking three miles, Mercury and the Full Moon decided to mess with me. As I was huffing and puffing and sweating, in the big room, Mama and Abbie, out in the backyard, started barking up a storm! I knew something was wrong. I stopped Leslie just as she was about to tell us to take a water break. I went to the front door and looked out. Tasha, a new, giant, Husky mix, that we rescued on Thursday, was running around the Space Ship! She had escaped from her pen!

I ran down the stairs and skipped briefly to the yard gate, and then I let myself out of the yard. "Come here, Tasha," I begged, as she took off running towards the barn. I jumped into Buttermilk and followed her. When we reached the barn, I went to the refrigerator to get some hot dogs, so I could catch her. Unfortunately, the only hot dogs that we had, were frozen in the freezer. So, I grabbed a box of dog treats and a leash. Just as I stepped out of the barn, Tasha flew past me, heading towards the Space Ship, again! 'Great,' I thought, then I grumbled a couple of four-letter words, before jumping into Buttermilk.

When we reached the trailer. I jumped out, and tried to coax Tasha to come to me. Guess what? It didn't work. She looked me in the eye, like she was saying goodbye, and then she ran down the cliff to the creek below. Once again, I jumped into Buttermilk and left the rescue ranch to go find her, and that's when it started raining.

I had the windows down, so I could call for Tasha, as I drove around the ranch in the pouring rain. The first thing I did, was go over to the Lodge, to lock The Friedmans inside the Lodge, so they wouldn't get into a fight with Tasha. Then I went to the Pro Shop, to wake up Will. I knocked twice, then I opened the door, "Will, I'm sorry to wake you. Tasha, the giant Husky mix, is lose and running around the ranch. I've locked The Friedmans inside the Lodge, and I will call you when we catch her."

Will stretched his arms, and then he rubbed his eyes, "Okay."

As I circled the ranch, hollering for Tasha, I thought about the saying, ' When it rains it pours.' How true. My morning had started out just fine and now it was about as south as it could go! I was frustrated about only getting to walk three miles, Tony not being home to help me, and running out of time to clean the trailer, etc., but, I was more worried about Tasha getting lost in the rain, and not being able to find her way back to the rescue ranch.

Thirty minutes later, I returned to the rescue ranch without Tasha. I came inside the trailer and thought about calling Kinky in Amsterdam, but I eighty-sixed that thought, because I realized that there was nothing that Kinky could do from over there, except worry. I then thought about calling the adjoining ranches to alert them that, Tasha, a giant Husky mix, had escaped, but I eighty-sixed that, too, because I didn't want to alarm them, so I picked up the phone and was about to call the Old Timer, when Tone walked inside the trailer!

After telling T. everything that had happened, we grabbed our walkie talkies, and left the trailer. Tony and Trigger went south, and Buttermilk and me went north. Thirty minutes later, while we were having a downpour, Tony called me on the walkie talkie, "Nance, let's head back to the rescue ranch. I bet that she will come back on her own, when she hears me feeding the dogs."

As soon as we got back to the ranch, Tony put on his raincoat, and then he went outside to feed the dogs. Knowing that I had run out of time to clean the trailer, I jumped into the shower, and then dressed, and then went to find Tony. I found him smiling, inside Tasha's pen with Tasha! I was so relieved! "How'd you catch her?" I asked.

"She must have heard me feeding, because five minutes ago, the dogs started barking at her. She was standing behind Layla's pen. When I called her, she came to me, and I walked her into her pen."

"Thank goodness, she came back."

"I know, but we've got a real problem," Tony said. "Either you or me has got to stay in the pen with her, because I am afraid that she'll jump out, again." Tony and I discussed the problem and what we should do about it. We decided to put Tasha into a large crate, for only fifteen minutes or so, so Tone could finish feeding the dogs, while I go over to the Lodge to ask Will to help us put up a new hot wire.

When I arrived at the Lodge, I went inside to let The Friedmans go outside, then I went and asked Will if he could help us. Will was anxious to help us. By noon, Tony and Will had rewired Tasha's pen! The only thing that I did was to make sure that Tasha wouldn't jump out, and that was easy, because all I did was give her treats and talk to her.

Around two-thirty, after eating lunch with Tone and Will, Christy showed up with her 'blast from the past!' It was Georgia, an old, dear friend of mine from Austin, who I haven't seen for over fifteen years! And, we had a blast talking about the past!

I felt like I had known Christy all of my life, and catching up with Georgia was so much fun! We gave them a grand tour of the rescue ranch, which included going into the Space Ship, then going into Outer Space, the trailer and my writing cabin.

Around five-thirty, while we were in the cabin visiting, Kurt, and his wife, Megan, showed up with Hudson! Tone and I have been in contact with them for over two months about their dog, Hudson, a stray that they had rescued over two years ago, but could no longer keep. Tony left the cabin to go meet them, and to put Hudson into Layla's pen, so they could be buddies. After Tony had put Hudson into Layla's pen, he brought Megan and Kurt to the cabin, so they could give me Hudson's paperwork.

After thanking us over and over again, for doing what we do, and for taking Hudson, they left to go back to San Antone. As soon as they were gone, Christy, Georgia, Tony and I went to meet Hudson, and to hand out treats. When we reached Layla and Hudson's pen their tails were wagging wildly! They were glad to see us, and loved getting treats from us.

I hate to admit it, but I am in love with Hudson! He is approximately four or five years old, and he has the best manners! He is not hyper, he loves people of all sizes and ages, and I wish that I could adopt him. He is one adorable dog. Here is a picture that I took of him a few hours ago!

Christy and Georgia stayed until six-fifteen, and I hated to see them leave.

After they left, T. teased me about our fun hen party. "I really liked Christy and Georgia a lot, but I never got to get a word in edgewise, because y'all were talking so much!"

Last night, Tony and I went to bed really early, because we had had such an exciting day. Today has been great because Mercury and the Full Moon left me alone, and I have some exciting news! This afternoon, Tony and I went out to visit the dogs and give out treats. When we reached Hudson's and Layla's pen they couldn't wait for us to come inside their pen. As I kept Hudson occupied eating treats, Layla let Tony pet her for the first time! Layla is going to be fine, and we are so excited about her progress!



Y'all have a great evening!

Moon Pie Blues!

This morning started out great, and then it went weird fast. Tony and Ben did their chores outside, as I walked six fast miles inside. Around nine-forty-five, before Tony took off to go shoot some pictures, we had this conversation. "Do you want to go with me to the Apple Store to look at computers, when you get back?" I asked.

"Why don't you ask Ben, and see if he wants to go. I'm not going to be gone that long." Then Tony gave me a hug, grabbed his camera backpack, and drove away in Trigger. Ben was busy mowing, so I came inside and did some paperwork.

An hour later, Ben came inside the trailer, to talk to me about our new dogs. After we had discussed the dogs, I said, "Do you want to go to the Apple Store a little later, with Tone and me?"

"No, Nance," Ben said, shaking his head. "I've got a lot of mowing to do. I think I'll just stick around here." Then Ben left the trailer and I went back to doing my paperwork.

Around twelve-thirty, after catching up with all of my paperwork, I took a shower, and then dressed up. Normally, it is turtlenecks or flannel shirts around here, but since we were going to the Apple Store, I wore a new blouse, that I got from Walmart, my faded Levi's and my pink Justin Gypsy boots. I even braided my long gray ponytail, and put on a little mascara—we were going to town!

I was starting to get really hungry, by one-forty-five. I couldn't figure out where Tony was. I didn't make lunch, because I figured that T. would be showing up any minute, and then we would eat our lunch at a restaurant in Bandera.

Forty-five minutes later, still no Tone. I needed to mail some letters, so Buttermilk and I went to Medina. After mailing my mail, we came straight home. When I walked inside the trailer, Carlton was flashing! Tony had called!

"Hi, Nance. I should be home in about thirty minutes. I got some awesome pictures. I hope that you and Ben went to San Antonio and got your new computer. Love you. Bye."

I realized that there had been some bad miscommunication, and it was now too late to go to San Antone, so I went out to the front porch to talk to Ben. When he saw me, he turned off the weed eater. "What's up?"

"Nothing now," I said, followed by a laugh. "Tony just called, and he is on his way back to the ranch."

"When I came back to work, and saw Buttermilk gone, I figured that you had gone to meet Tony for lunch at the Apple Store in Medina."

"No, Ben," I said. "I went to Medina to mail some letters. We just got back a few minutes ago. And, it's too late now to go to San Antonio to get my computer."

"You were going to buy a computer at the Apple Store in San Antonio? I thought you were asking me eat lunch with you and Tony in Medina. I'm sorry, I misunderstood you." We then started laughing.

We visited a little while longer, then Ben went back to work, and I came inside and ate some leftover chicken salad with a couple of crackers, and I chased it down with a cold glass of water. Fifteen minutes later, Ben came inside the trailer for his pay check.

Just as I handed the check to Ben, Tony walked inside the trailer and said, "Did you get your computer?" Ben and I started laughing.

"Nope," I said. "I thought that you would be back around twelve-thirty, so we could go eat lunch and get my computer. I just ate some chicken salad for lunch. Have you eaten?"

"I'm sorry, Babe," Tony said. "I thought you and Ben were going to San Antonio. I ate a apple pie at the Mini Mart for lunch. I'm really sorry that you didn't get your computer. Ben, is the Apple Store open on Sundays?"

"Yeah sure," Ben said.

"Nance, let's go Sunday?" Tone asked. As he told us all about the pictures that he had taken today. I opened up the freezer door and pulled out a box.

"I need some comfort food right about now," I said, as I opened up the box, and then I pulled out a smaller box. "Ben, the other day when Tony and I went to H.E.B. I bought this. I never eat stuff like this, but for some reason I bought it, and now I am going to eat it." Then I read the directions. "It says it can only be microwaved. Y'all want to go over to the Lodge with me, so I can zap this thing?"

"Sure," Ben said. "Kinky's got some buttered pecan ice cream in his freezer, too." We took off for the Lodge. When we arrived, Copper Love was there visiting with Will. After hugs, Copper asked me what I was zapping in the microwave.

"Copper, today has been a little bit crazy for me, so I am eating some comfort food. I swear, this past month has been something else."

"Nance," Ben said. "Mercury is still fading out of retrograde, and you know that we are under a full moon tonight. That it explains it all."

"You're right!" I said. "Copper, I guess I've just got the moon pie blues!"

Y'all have a great evening!

P.S. Kinky called twice today from Amsterdam! They are having a wonderful time and he can't wait to get back to the ranch!

We Were Swinging!

I promise that tonight's blog is going to be short, after yesterday's long saga.

This morning, our good friends, Charlie and Ellen Cooper came over to the rescue ranch, with a friend, who was thinking about adopting one of our dogs. It didn't take the nice man long, to find his new forever friend. He picked Roxie! We were thrilled, but she was so excited that she wouldn't quit jumping up and down, and running around in circles! Something that Tony and I haven't done since we first started dating each other.

This was Roxie's third time to get adopted. Our dear friend Bob, adopted her first, but his dog, Blue, didn't think she was as cute as Bob did. Then Roxie got adopted to a nice young couple, but that didn't last long, because the young woman got pregnant and they no longer wanted her. And, I'm not kidding! So, I'm hoping, as it is so often said, 'that the third time is the charm,' that Roxanne has charmed her way into her final forever home.

This afternoon, Tone and I went to Kerrville to pick up Bogie. Before we went to Hoegemeyer's, we stopped by the Salvation Army hoping to find a few golf clubs, and some used golf balls, and we hit pay dirt! I found three Ben Hogan woods!

Ben Hogan was, and is still one of Fort Worth's pride and joy golfers! The day before, when we had asked Will what kind of clubs to buy, he suggested that we get eight and nine irons, and putters, so we did. Then when we went over to the next isle, we found golf ball heaven! We bought forty of them at twenty-five cents each! When we checked out, our bill for our new found sport was only thirty-two dollars and thirty-seven cents!

After we picked up Bogie, we came back to the ranch, and dropped off one happy cat, at The Pro Shop. Then we came home, so I could paint 'his and her' golf balls. I painted Tony's balls blue, and mine, of course, are pink, then I sprayed them with a protective clear varnish. We were ready to tee off for the very first time!


This evening, after it had cooled off some, we jumped into Trigger and went over to The Pro Shop! Will thought my Ben Hogan clubs were awesome and he teased us about our painted golf balls. Then we took off to the main flat. Will gave T. and me a few golfing tips, and then we were swinging!

Will was the best. He hit the targets about ninety percent of the time. Tony came in second. He hit the targets about fifty percent of the time. As for me, I missed every other ball, and I hit the ground so many times, my arm is sore. I'm thinking golf might not be my cup of tee.

Y'all have a great evening!

Happy 58th Birthday, Nita! I'm Right Behind You!

Today has been a really great day, because Mercury is no longer in retrograde, and it is Nita's, my favorite sister-in-law, fifty-eighth birthday! Happy Birthday Nita! I love you, Tony loves you, heck everybody loves you, especially Ronnie! I hope you have the best birthday ever!

This morning I overslept, but thanks to my furry old friends, I was only behind schedule by fifteen minutes. After Tony had done his outside chores, and I had walked six miles with Leslie Sansone, Will called from the Lodge. "Nancy, when do y'all want me to catch Bogie? He's here right now."

Bogie is a big handsome cat, that showed up at the Lodge several months ago, but nobody was able to catch him, because The Friedmans kept running him off. About a month ago, while Kinky was on the road, Will took it upon himself to make friends with Bogie. He began feeding him regularly, when The Friedmans were not around. At first, Bogie would hiss at Will, like he was going to attack him, but over time, Bogie learned to trust Will and they became good friends.

Bogie would follow Will all around the ranch, and soon he was coming into The Pro Shop, to visit with Will. Before Kinky took off for his two week European Tour, he asked Brian Kanof if he would consider adopting Bogie. After I had had several back and forth phone calls with Brian, we made a plan.

Brian told me that in three weeks, when he returns from El Paso, he will come by the ranch to adopt Bogie. I told him that we would get him neutered and given all shots, so Bogie would be ready to go when he got here. So, this morning when Will called about Bogie, I told him that we would be over there in twenty minutes with a crate.

When Tony and I arrived at the Lodge, we were greeted by The Friedmans. After petting them and a short visit, we locked them inside the Lodge, so Will could catch Bogie. In no time flat, Bogie was following Will and Tony into the annex aka The Pro Shop, where Will lives when he is dog sitting The Friedmans for Kinky. Here is a short video clip of Will crating Bogie for us. 'Trapper Will'.

After Tony loaded up Bogie, Buttermilk took us to Hoegemeyer's Animal Clinic. Here is a picture of Tony unloading Bogie.

After dropping off Bogie, we went to Randy and Lisa's Save Inn restaurant for an early lunch. Our lunch was delicious, as always, then Buttermilk took us back to the ranch.

After returning fourteen phone calls, I took what was left of the spinach quiche, that I had made for Rick and Leisa's breakfast yesterday, grabbed my camera, and then went outside to Layla's pen. To my surprise, Layla loved my quiche more than Leisa and Rick had! I took little pieces and dropped them closer and closer to me, and near the end of Layla's brunch, she was eating within two feet of me! After consuming her tasty meal, Layla walked around the pen a bit, and then she went and laid down. Here are a couple of pictures that I took of this beautiful dog!


After Layla laid down, I sat down on the ground, about ten feet away from her, and talked to her. Then Tony showed up, because he wanted to work with her, too, so I went back to the trailer.

"Nance," Tone said, when he returned to the trailer, wearing a big smile on his face. "She licked my hand. Layla licked my hand!" Needless to say, that made our day! Then I called Nita to wish her a happy birthday.

"Happy 58th Birthday, Nita!" I said. "I'm right behind you!"

"Thanks, Nance," Nita replied.

"Can you believe that we are this old?"

"No, I can't."

"Then go look in the mirror!" I said. "I hope that you are having a great birthday, and Tone and I will see you in few weeks at the family reunion. I am thrilled that..."

Y'all have a great evening!

Rick Was Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!

Continued from yesterday...

We all went into Layla's pen, after Tony and Rick had carried Layla's crate into the pen. Sam opened the crate's door and Layla just laid there, with her head up—staring at us. Her eyes were still glassy, and she was still groggy. Sam reached inside the crate and began rubbing and petting Layla, trying to reassure her that she was going to be okay. Layla was relaxed, but she didn't move.

Then Sam began trying to get her to eat hot dogs, but Layla was not interested. After about fifteen minutes, Sam stood back, and Layla walked out of her crate and began sniffing her new digs. As she checked things out, we tossed little pieces of hot dogs near her. It took about five minutes of us doing this, before she picked one up and ate it! As we watched and talked softly to her, she slowly began searching for more of the tasty treats, scattered all around her pen.

Twenty minutes later, after Layla had found all of her treats, we began tossing her more treats, but this time we would throw one to one side of the pen, and then after she had gone to eat it, we would make sure that she was watching us, and then we would toss another piece to the opposite side of her pen. We took turns doing this for over fifteen minutes. "Sam, Layla is going to be just fine," I declared. "Her tail is not tucked up between her legs, and that is a great sign! I bet we can turn her around within a few days using hot dogs." Everyone agreed with me.

Ten minutes later, we left Layla's pen to let her rest, because the drug was definitely starting to wear off. Sam left about an hour later, because she needed to get back to Johnson City. The rest of the afternoon, Rick went down to Layla's pen, several times, to talk to her and to give her a few more treats. When Rick returned from his last visit down to her pen, he told us that Layla didn't seem scared of him, and he predicted that she was going to be just fine in no time at all!

Sunday morning, after Rick and Tony returned from the Old Timer, we ate breakfast, and then Rick cleaned the dog pens, while Tone fed the dogs. When their chores were completed, Rick went to Layla's pen to spend some time with her. When he finally got back to the trailer, he told us that Layla came real close to letting him pet her, but he didn't, because he didn't want to scare her. He wanted to wait until he was positive, that she wanted to be petted.

Late Sunday afternoon, Leisa's children, Stephen and Jessica and her husband Josh, came out to the rescue ranch to visit Leisa, and to see our ranch. They were delightful young people, and we really enjoyed meeting them! While Leisa visited with her family, Rick, Tony and I went into Outer Space to visit. At one point during our conversation, we started talking about our Plumeria plants. Then Rick complimented me on my two Plumeria plants, which were sitting on the table inside Outer Space.

"Well, thank you, Rick," I said. "That little one is from the seed, that Leisa gave to me, back in June, when y'all were here for the event."

"What?" Rick said. "You've got to be kidding me! I can't believe it!"

"Believe what?" I asked.

"When Leisa gave you that seed, I told her that there was no way, that little seed would turn into a Plumeria plant. I mean I swore up and down that she was crazy to think it would grow." We all started laughing. "Please don't tell Leisa that plant is from the seed she gave to you. She would never let me live that one down..." I promised him that I wouldn't tell her.

Thirty minutes later, Rick, Tone and me left Outer Space to go say goodbye to Leisa's family. As we were all hugging and shaking hands, I said, "Leisa, Rick owes you an apology, and I think he should apologize to you, in front of us and your family."

Rick turned red in the face, "Thank you, Cousin Nancy!" He quipped.

"What?" Leisa asked. And, we laughed, as Rick explained to Leisa and her family, that he had been dead wrong about the seed that Leisa had given to me.

As soon as Leisa's family drove away, Leisa said, "I want to see this plant!" We marched up the steps, and then went into Outer Space. Leisa was thrilled when she saw the little Plumeria!

Then Tony went inside the trailer and came out with my camera. "Rick, let's do a video of you admitting to Leisa that you were wrong. Leisa picked up the little plant, and Tony shot this video! (I have it posted on the sidebar, too)
Rick Was Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!

Last night, Rick and I decided to play some music. Rick played great, but I didn't. Here is a short video clip that Tony took of us.
Rick and me unplugged.

After Rick and I played every song that we knew—four to be exact, we put up our instruments. Then Kinky called. "Hi, Nance!" Kinky said. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, Kinky. How are you doing and where are you?"

"We're in Ireland. The tour is going great, and I am really having a good time. And, Ratso is with us now!"

"That's great! Please tell Debora, Little Jewford and Ratso that I said hello. How are your books selling?"

"They are selling great! We just have a few left. How are The Friedmans doing?..." We talked for about five minutes and then I put Rick on the phone to say hi to Kinky. After they talked, Kink and I talked a few more minutes, and then we hung up on each other."

This morning, after breakfast, Rick cleaned the dog's pens, again, while Tony fed the dogs. Then he went to check on Layla. When he came back to the trailer, he told us that she came up to the fence to greet him, and she was wagging her tail! That made my day.

Rick and Leisa left for Port Aransas around eleven-thirty, then Tone and I took off for Kerrville to pick up some supplies. Before going to H.E.B. we stopped at Wolfmueller's Books, because I wanted to buy this book that Leisa had highly recommended that I read. She told me that I would love it. The name of it is Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen.

Before leaving the bookstore, I had four books to pay for. I also bought Moosewood Cookbook, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, that Sandy highly recommended that I read, and Elmer Kelton's The Time It Never Rained.

I plan on reading these books as soon as I get mine published, which hopefully will be real soon, since Mercury in retrograde is ending tomorrow!

Before saying, "Y'all have a great evening!" I've got some great news! Shelley, the woman who adopted Henry, our wonderful yellow Lab sent me this note, along with this picture of Henry, that she has renamed Oliver!

Hey Nancy!
I'm so sorry I've not sent pictures earlier but I've been super busy! Oliver and I are having a great time together and we are totally in love! He wants nothing more than to be on my lap all the time, which is no small feat for a 76 lb lab... Haha . Anyways I attached a pic of him in the river, he loves to sit on the chair and watch the fish swim by. That day he stayed there for about 30min by himself haha. He cracks me up!
Thanks so much for saving him for me! I love him so much!
Best,
Shelley and Oliver

And my last good news for today is, Susan from Hoegemeyer's Animal Clinic, called this evening around five-thirty. She told Tony that the two cats that we rescued from Sam, had just been adopted out together to their forever home! I love it!

Y'all have a great evening! I'm exhausted after writing this long blog, but at least I am caught up!

A Pickle Of A Situation!

Rick Reichenbach and Leisa Lea are still here, and Tony and I are having so much fun with them! It is almost like we are on vacation! It is two-thirty, in the afternoon and I am going to write here and there, throughout today, for tonight's blog. First, let me tell you about what happened yesterday.

Around noon, Will Wallace and his younger brother, Wade, and his friend, Brad, came over for a visit. Earlier that morning, I had asked Will to please bring them over, so we could meet Wade and Brad. We visited for about an hour in Outer Space, but thirty minutes into our visit, the phone inside the trailer started ringing off of the wall. I stayed put, because I knew I could return the phone calls after our visit. As our phone continued to ring inside, we did a lot of laughing outside.

Around one-fifteen, after Will, Wade and Brad had left the rescue ranch, I came inside to see who had called. I was shocked when Carlton told me that I had eight new messages! I pressed the play button. "Nancy, this is Sam! I just caught the dog that we have been talking about for the last two weeks! Please call me as soon as you can!"

The second message was from Sam, too, and so were the other six messages! She was in a real pickle of a situation!

Now I am going to be kind and rewind here. Over two weeks ago, Sam my friend and dentist, up in Johnson City, had called me about the one hundred cats that they had rescued from a woman's house, who had died suddenly. Sam, along with some rescue groups out of Austin, had spayed or neutered all of the woman's cats, plus given them all of their shots and treated them for any health problems.

It turned out that all of the cats were healthy and very friendly! Not one of them was sick or feral! Sam had called asking us to take two of the last four cats. We did, and they are now at Hoegemeyer's Animal Clinic, in Kerrville, waiting to be adopted to their forever homes.

A few days after that, Sam had called me to tell me about a dog, that the woman had kept chained under her house. She told me that the dog was now running wild on the property, and no one had been able to catch her! Sam told me that on her two days off, she was going to keep trying to catch this, poor, but scared of people, dog. She asked me if we could take it, if she could catch it. My answer was yes.

Two weeks passed, and Sam kept me posted. She still hadn't been successful in catching the dog, but her friend, who was helping feed the dog, had tamed the dog down enough, that the dog would take treats out of her hand and follow her, but she would dash off if the woman tried to pet her.

Fast Forward. Sam had caught the dog, by putting a small amount of a tranquilizer into the dog's food, and now she didn't know what to do. Our plan had been for her to catch the dog, drive it down to Hoegemeyer's, so it could be spayed and given shots, and then we would pick the dog up, and bring her out here, so we could rehabilitate her. As always, nothing goes exactly as planned.

After Sam had caught the dog, she called Hoegemeyer's, but they were closed. Sam didn't want to make the dog stay in the crate over night, so she was trying to get a hold of me, to ask if she could drive the dog down to us. I immediately called Sam on her cell phone! "Sam, it's Nancy..."

"Thank goodness you called me back!" Sam said. After telling about her ordeal, she asked if she could please bring the dog to us now. I told her to come on and to drive carefully. I figured that she would get here around two-thirty.

After we hung up, Rick called. Carlton took the message, because I was outside telling Tony about Sam coming with the dog. When I came back inside, I pushed the play button on the phone, again. "Cousin Nancy, Tony! This is Rick. Leisa and I should be there around two-thirty. Call us if you need for us to pick up anything. Bye."

At two-thirty, Rick and Leisa arrived. As we were hugging each other, another truck drove into the rescue ranch. I figured that it was Sam, but I was wrong as usual. It was our friend and good neighbor, Steve. He had brought his friend, Andy, over to show him our rescue ranch.

I visited with Steve and Andy, over by the pig pen, as Tony, Leisa and Rick unpacked Leisa's pickup, and carried their stuff into my writing cabin.

Andy wanted to see our rescue ranch and meet our dogs, so I gave them a grand tour. After they had met every dog, they went into the Space Ship, then we took off for Outer Space. They loved it! And, when I invited them into our trailer, their jaws dropped! They could not believe it was a trailer!

As I was walking them to the car, Sam arrived at the rescue ranch! Tony, Rick and Leisa went to greet her. As soon as Steve and Andy drove away, I walked over to the back of Sam's SUV, where they were all admiring, Layla, in her crate. I said hello to everyone and then looked at Layla.

She was absolutely beautiful, but she still seemed to be pretty groggy. "Let's take her to her pen," Tony said. "Sam follow me in your car." Tone jumped into Kermit and took off, and Sam was right behind him. Leisa, Rick and I walked down to her pen.

To Be Continued...

Because Rick and I are fixin' to pick and grin—in Outer Space!

Y'all have a great evening!