Happy 63rd Birthday, Sister Cindy!

Go Tony!

Today has been great, even though I overslept! Fortunately, I didn't miss seeing Kinky on Imus, because last night, before going to bed, I programmed our Dish DVR, to record the show.

While I fed our dogs and Lucky, I watched Kinky, Little Jewford and Washington Ratso on Imus! I thought the show was great! All three of them were funny, and they had Don Imus, his crew, and me laughing!

When Tony came home from Medina, I watched it again, so Tone could see it, as we drank our breakfast smoothies. 

After Tony had done his chores outside, and I had walked six miles, I returned several phone calls, while T. harvested some of his crops on Facebook. Tony is excited, because he has nearly caught up to Will's virtual farm! Go Tony or should I say, Grow, Tony, Grow!

I was going to fix Cousin Nancy's Asparagus Soup for lunch, but T. didn't want soup, because he was 'starving.' Because he knew we had to go to Kerrville to get supplies, Tony offered to treat me to lunch at Randy & Lisa's Save Inn restaurant—an offer that I couldn't refuse! 

When we arrived at the Save Inn, the parking lot was packed, and we took the last parking space available. As always, our lunch was delicious, and their friendly waitresses were very friendly, and all smiles! Near the end of our meal, Randy came over to our table to tell me that he had just finished reading my book, and that he loved it! His kind words made me feel great. Thank, you Randy for making my day!

After Tone and I left the Save Inn, we swung by Copies Plus, because I needed to talk to Trish about possibly needing some help with my book jacket design, because she is so talented when it comes to design. Trish  told me that she would love to help me, if I needed it. We visited for a few minutes, then we took off after some customers had come into the print shop.

After we got our supplies at Walmart, Buttermilk took us home. After returning a few phone calls, I turned on my salt lamp, cranked up my iPod, and then worked on my book. 

I downloaded some templates from the company that I am going to use to print my book, and I started putting it together! At one point, when my book went from two hundred pages, to nearly three hundred pages, I called Jon at Wolfmueller's Books, for some advice on what size my book should be and I'm glad that I did.

After getting off of the phone with him, I selected the six inch by nine inch template, and started all over, again. Three hours later, I had the dedication, the table of contents and the book loaded into the template! All I have to do now is get the ISBN number, register it with the Library of Congress and finish the cover design! I am so excited about finally almost having my book ready!

Tomorrow, I plan to take a copy over to Sheryl, so she can start editing it! I am hoping I will have my book in hand and ready to sell within the next ten days! Please wish me luck!

Brian Kanof, called me about twenty minutes ago, to give me an update on Bogie, the cat, that he adopted from us, yesterday. From Brian's report, it sounds like Bogie is really happy in El Paso, and he is getting along great with Brian's other two cats, Zelda, who he adopted from us, years ago, and Watson! Brian told me that he and Jackie may change Bogie's name to Winston Churchill. I am so glad that Bogie is doing so well, and is happy! Thank you, Brian!

As soon as I got off of the phone with Brian, the phone rang, again—it was Kinky. "Hello, Nance! How are you?"

Kinky and I talked for about five minutes. He is in Washington D.C.! We talked about Bogie, The Friedmans, the weather, my book, and the rescue ranch. Before the end of our conversation, Kinky told me that he will be back at the ranch this weekend, and that he is looking forward to spending some down time at the ranch, and I can't wait to see him!

Y'all have a great evening!

Tiny Bubbles!

This morning at nine-thirty, Brian Kanof showed up at the trailer! "I came by so y'all can say goodbye to Bogie," Brian said. Tony, Brian, and I visited for a few minutes, as we drank my delicious  breakfast smoothies. Then we went outside to Brian's SUV and said our goodbyes to one really cool cat.

At the time, Bogie was not real happy about being locked inside a large crate and moving to El Paso, so I won't tell you what I think he had to say to us. He was really hissed off at us!

I spent the rest of the day doing paperwork, and returning phone calls.

Around five o'clock, I poured Tone and me a small glass of my sparkling apple champagne, for us to sample. After one sip, we could not believe how good it was! It was sparkling, bubbly and tasted exactly like cheap champagne!

Three sips later, I put my empty glass into the sink, "Tone, let's go over to the Lodge and get Will and Frank to try this. I want to see what they think! I love it!"

"You go, Nance," T. said. "I've got to harvest some crops on Facebook."

Two minutes later, I was over at the Lodge with my plastic gallon jug of enlightened apple juice! After saying hello to The Friedmans, I went outside and found Will in the Pro Shop. "Will, you have got to try this! It is really good!"

Will leaned back a little, "I don't know Nance. Is this the stuff that you made?"

"Yes! Here try a little," I said, as I handed Will a half filled glass. Will looked a little nervous. He smelled it, and then he took a sip, and then he drank the rest of it.

"It tastes like champagne. I like it. Pour me a little more," Will said, as I filled up his small juice glass. "I bet if you used Martinelli's apple juice it would be really superb. You know they make the best apple juice. Dean Martin used to drink it..."

"Hello, Cousin Nancy and Will," Frank said, as he walked into the kitchen. "I heard you drive up, so I thought that I would come down and say hi. Is that your new apple juice concoction?"

"Yes, and I want you to sample it!" I said, as I poured some into a coffee mug. "Here." Frank took a sip, and then he drank the rest of it.

"It's good!" Frank declared. "You made this from apple juice? Please pour me a little more. This stuff is really good." The three of us visited in the kitchen for about ten minutes, and then I came home with my jug of sparkling spirits.

"Tony! They loved it!" I half-hollered, down the hallway. "I can't wait for Kinky to try it!"

P.S. Kinky will be on Imus in the morning!

Y'all have a great evening!

Up!

Today, not a whole lot happened out here, but it was a great day. Right before I was fixin' to walk with Leslie, the phone rang—it was Kinky. He called me from the Kansas City airport, to see how we were doing. 

After I told him that we were doing fine, we talked about Brian Kanof coming to the ranch tonight, and getting Bogie, the cat, ready, so tomorrow morning Brian can adopt him, and take him to El Paso to live with him. Before hanging up, Kinky told me that he was headed to Philadelphia, and that he will be on Imus, Tuesday morning!

I spent most of my day working on the cover design for my book! I spent hours outside, shooting my pink boots, Buddhapug and a brick. I think I've got it, but I am going to look at the artwork in a couple of days to make sure I still like it.

This afternoon, around four-thirty, Tony and I went over to the Lodge to visit with The Friedmans, and to catch Bogie, so he could be adopted tomorrow morning. The Friedmans were doing fine. They were watching the Dallas Cowboys play poorly, so we went outside to find Bogie.

We found Bogie sitting up on the Pro Shop roof. As I coaxed him down, Tony visited with Will, from a safe distance, because Will has been sick with some kind of crud. In less than thirty-seconds, I had Bogie in my arms, and I carried him inside the Pro Shop, and then fed him. 

We asked Will to please keep Bogie inside the Pro Shop for the rest of the night, because of some possible thunderstorms later tonight, and so we could easily crate him in the morning, so Brian could then take him to his new cat friendly home. Will said he would. Then we returned to the rescue ranch to watch the Cowboys lose.

I'm fixin' to watch Up!

Y'all have a great evening!

One, Two, Three!

Today has been fun! This morning when I was four minutes away from walking six miles, the phone rang, so I let Carlton take the call. "Hello Nance! Nancy are you there? I'm at the airport..."

As I listened to Kinky, I decided to take the call. I paused Leslie, picked up the phone, and hit the speaker button, so I could walk circles around the big room, while talking to Kinky. "Hi Kinky! Where are you headed?"

"Hi Nance!" Kinky said. "I'm glad I caught you. We're headed to Kansas City in just a few minutes. How are you doing and have you seen The Friedmans?"

"I'm fine, and yes, The Friedmans are doing fine." Then I told him about rescuing Clark Kent and he thought it was super, and he was looking forward to meeting him.

"The plane's fixin' to take off. I've got to go. And remember Nance, keep on laughing. It's important. Take care. Bye." As soon as we disconnected, I pushed the play button and finished my workout with Les.

Around eleven o'clock, our good friend, Todd, showed up to walk our dogs! I am so happy that our dogs are getting so much attention, and getting walked everyday by our super volunteers! Thank you, Todd!"

While Todd was outside hiking with our dogs, I sat down at my laptop, and worked on my book, because earlier this morning when Tone came home,  I declared today off, so I could try to finish my book. 

While I was working on the design for the  jacket cover, the phone rang—it was Rick, in Port Aransas. He wanted to know if I had tried my sparkling apple cider, yet. "Not yet, Rick. I am planning on trying it out this evening." We talked for a few minutes about his secret recipe, and the 'loose lid' technique that I needed to be careful about, so Cousin Nancy's Sparkling Apple Champagne, wouldn't blow up in the fridge! I hope that I don't have to redesign the label and put a warning on it!

At one o'clock, I was so frustrated with my design, I decided I needed to take a short nap with my fur babes. Unfortunately for them, our nap didn't last long, because I had a 'ligh tbulb moment' about my book and the jacket cover design! In less than ten minutes of nap time with my buddies, I jumped out of the bed, and went to my computer. The first thing I did was to change the title, then I took off my boots, and replaced them with my pink Crocs. Then I grabbed my camera and shot my pink boots! That's all that I can tell you right now, but I am thrilled with the new title, and the new jacket design!

Around two-thirty, while I was in my office, trying to replace a black ink cartridge, so I could print out a copy of my revised book, Tony half-hollered from his office, "Nance! Come in here! Mari wants to talk to you! She's at Wolfmueller's, and she and Jon are online!"

"Mari, of The NoMads?"

"Yes!" Thirty seconds later I was in Tone's office talking and laughing with Mari and Jon, from Tony's computer! 

We talked about the funny 'pink boot' cartoons that Mari has been sending to me, and then I told Jon and Mari about the new title, and the jacket design for the book. They told me that they loved my new title, and they thought my idea for the artwork, for the book cover, sounded great! They had made my day and didn't even know it! Then I had another 'light bulb moment!'

"Y'all stay right there! I'm going to get my camera, and take a picture of y'all! I'll be right back!" I race walked into the kitchen, and grabbed my camera and then returned to T.'s office. "Okay y'all, on the count of three I am going to shoot you! One, two, three!

I love the picture of Mari and Jon, and I can't believe that technology has come so far! I would have never guessed in a million years that I could look and talk to friends twenty-two miles away! Wow!

Y'all have a great evening!

Our Dog Walking Volunteers Rock!

Today has been a good day. This morning Tony came in, while I was returning some phone calls, to tell me that we had six dog walkers here! "June, Ellen, Jim, Lisa, Sha and Sydney are walking our dogs! Come on outside and say hi."

After they took off, I found Jim returning Pearl and Laz to their pen. I gave him a cap, and then he and I talked about the dogs. A few minutes later, Lisa, Sha and Sydney showed up, and I had a short, but fun visit with them, before they leashed up three more happy dogs to take for a walk! 

When I returned to the trailer, I called Kinky to tell him about the six volunteers being here! Kinky was delighted with my news. "Nance, we need to take them out to lunch as soon as I get back..."

Around one o'clock, Clark Kent arrived! Tony and I had been expecting him. Karen, a very nice woman, had rescued Clark on a highway near Spring, Texas, a few days ago. "When I saw him standing on the side of the road, I knew I had to help him. Cars were flying by and I was scared that he was going to get hit, so I turned around. When I pulled up, and opened the door, and he jumped right in! He is a great dog, and he got along fine with my friend's Schnauzer. I haven't named him..."

"What are you going to name him, Nance?" Tone asked. 

"Clark Kent," I said, as I petted him. "He's a super dog. Just look at him." Karen, Tone and I then walked Clark down to Princess' pen. After they had sniffed each other through the fence for a few minutes, T. and Karen took him into Princess' pen, so they could meet. After a long sniff-a-thon, they started playing, and they seemed to really like each other! 

We visited with Karen for about twenty minutes, and then she needed to leave, because she had an eight hour drive ahead of her. She lives in Port Arthur. 

Clark Kent is approximately two years old, and he is as sweet as they come. He showered Karen with kisses, while she was driving through San Antonio traffic! He is also trained to walk on a leash, and he knows the 'sit' command. He definitely gets along with other dogs, and I think he has fallen in love with Smilin' Jack's old girlfriend, Princess. Here's a picture of him.

Y'all have a super evening!

Since Four Days Ago!

Last night, after I posted my blog, I called customer service at FedEx Ground, to find out where my package had been delivered to, because they had notified me by e-mail, that it had been delivered at three-thirty-eight, but we didn't receive it. I had tracked it, and was disappointed when it didn't arrive as scheduled. 

After five minutes on the phone with a very nice woman, she found out that it had been delivered to our mailbox, out on Highway 16, instead of at the ranch. As soon as I hung up the phone, Tony pulled on his boots and drove two and a half miles out to our mailbox, and returned with my package! That made me happy, and that made Tone happy.

You see, five days ago, I had ordered a few packets of Pasteur's Champagne yeast. I had ordered the yeast so I could try my hand at making Rick's famous apple champagne cider recipe, that he had given to me. Before he gave me his recipe, Rick had made me swear that I wouldn't divulge his secret recipe to anyone, so I won't, unless he makes me mad, but of course, that's never going to happen. So in other words, I can't give y'all his recipe.

Around nine o'clock, Sha called to tell us that they were headed back to Kerrville and that Smilin' Jack was smiling when he met Pete, Kelly and Fiona—his new family! Then Sha told us all about their trip down to Port Aransas. "Nancy, I love Smilin' Jack, but about an hour down the road he got gaseous! OMG! It was horrible! He was considerate though, because he would make a tooting sound when he passed gas, I guess, to warn us to roll down our windows, before the gas hit us! I've never heard a dog fart before and..."

This morning, I called Pete to see how things were working out with Smilin' Jack. First off, Pete told me that he and Kelly loved Smilin' Jack, and they took him for a long walk on the beach last night! Smilin' Jack slept on the floor beside Pete's side of the bed, and once during the night, Jack woke up Pete, because he needed to go outside. "Nancy, Jack and I are on our way to work right now. I'm going to take him everywhere I go. I love this dog! He is incredible...!"

After breakfast, I made my first batch of Rick's apple champagne cider, which should be ready in three or four days, and I can't wait to try it! I'm thinking of bottling it in plastic jugs and making labels for it, too! I'm going to call it, Cousin Nancy's Sparkling Apple Champagne—Since four days ago! 

Today we ate lunch with Kinky, and I told him all about Smilin' Jack's great adoption, and how we got him to Port Aransas. To say the least, Kinky was thrilled about Smilin' Jack getting adopted to Pete and Kelly, and he thought it was hilarious about Jack's gaseous trip with Sha and Lisa!

Y'all have a great evening!