My First Wedding!

Today has been great sort of. This morning after we did our morning chores outside, I came inside and started making our lunch. A couple of hours later, we ate lunch. I had made us Cousin Nancy's Tortilla Soup, minus the tortillas, because we didn't have any and Cousin Nancy's Chicken Salad. And Tony loved it and he ate second helpings.

After returning several phone calls and e-mails, I went outside to take some pictures of our dogs, but thanks to M.I.R. (Mercury In Retrograde) my favorite, little camera, that I have had for six years was broken. When I turned it on, the lens would not come out, so I gave up and came back inside to recharge the battery, but hours later, after recharging the battery, it is still broken.

I don't plan to throw it away just yet, because maybe it will work again, after Mercury goes out of retrograde. Fortunately for me, I do have a nice little Canon that I can use, so I am not going to worry about it.

Late this afternoon, I went over to the Lodge to visit with Kinky and to pick up a couple of his typed pages, so I could scan them and then e-mail them to James.

When I came back home I scanned the two pages and then tried to e-mail them, but Yahoo said their was an error and to please try again. Well, I tried and tried again to re-send it, but with no luck. When I called Kink, to tell him about it, he called James and then he called me back with another address to try.
Tried the new address, but still no luck.

And while this was going on, Tony walks into the big room smiling and says, "Looks like you're going to be marrying our friend Cindy, in May. On Facebook, she said, "That it would be so cool, if you married them." Congratulations. She said she will call and talk to you about it."

"Wow, that really is great news about Cindy getting married. It will be my first wedding! I can't wait..."

After we finished talking, I decided to try to try to resend the e-mail and this time it went through. Then I went back over to Kinky's to return the pages. While we were in the kitchen I told Kinky about my delicious, homemade soup and chicken salad and he seemed interested. "I can bring you some over if you want me to." Kinky started chuckling.

"That will make it your third trip over here in less than an hour."

Ten minutes later I was back over at the Lodge delivering him soup and salad in two Baggies." Just put these in your refrigerator until you are ready to eat. Pour the soup into a pan and heat it up....Let me know how you like the soup and salad." Then I came back home and started writing this. And that's about it for tonight, because I want to spend this evening writing.

Y'all have a great evening!

Wild Winds!

Today has been fine, but a little bit noisy out here. Due to the wild winds peeling back four sheets of tin on our front porch roof. Around 1:00, when the winds lifted up and bent back the tin, the sheets have been loudly banging back and forth every time a 30 - 50 mph wind gust blows through.

This afternoon, while I was on the phone talking to a nice woman about possibly adopting one of our Pit Bulls, I had a hard time talking to her, because of the constant loud banging out on the porch. And I must have apologized to her at least three times, because I could barely hear her. The good news is that she and her thirty-year-old son are coming out this Saturday to possibly adopt one of our sweet Pits.

Late this afternoon when Tony went to Medina to mail some letters for me, I went outside to take a picture of the partially peeled back sheets of tin, but I got scared when a gust hit me and pushed me backwards. So, unfortunately I have no pictures to show you.

The wild winds are supposed to drop down to 15 - 20 mph gusts around 7:00 this evening, so I am hoping that it will be much quieter sooner than later. The weatherman has just predicted that it will be real windy tomorrow and on Friday for our area, which this time, I hope he predicted wrong.

Due to our wild winds, that I can't ever remember ever experiencing out here, I guess we should wait until it all blows through, before getting a repairman out here to replace the four sheets of bent tin.

Tony just told me that a friend of ours, living in Utopia, has just posted on her Facebook that Utopia has lost its electric power due to the wild winds. So, I am going to count my blessings tonight and just hope that the electricity stays on. And that is about it for tonight.

Y'all have a great evening!

Happy Birthday, David!

Today is David Villanueva, our dear friend's birthday. And we want to be among the first to wish him the best birthday ever, because he is one great man and one of the characters in my new fiction novella. So, here's to you, David. May it be your best birthday ever with Mari, as Tone and I sing to you:

"Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday Dear David. Happy Birthday to You. And many more. We love you and thanks for being a good sport and allowing me to use your name in my first fiction novella."

I can't wait for the novella Part II to reveal who you really are!

Best Book Signing @ The Best Little Library In Texas!

Today has been fabulous! Early this morning Tone and I went outside to do our chores. Then we came inside so we could get cleaned up for my 10:30 book signing, at the Best Little Library in Texas.

When we arrived at the library, Mary Ellen and the staff had made a beautiful display on my table, had made fresh coffee and sweets for everyone and had the chairs already arranged.

About ten minutes before the book signing I had the nicest surprise when Ann, a dear friend of mine since I was eight-years-old, who actually lives in New Mexico, walked in with her brother and his lovely wife. I just about fainted when I saw her. "Oh my goodness, Ann! I can't believe that you are here." After the howdies and hugs I introduced Ann and her sweet family to the audience and then told them a little background about Ann and me.

The book signing was totally awesome. A lot of people showed up for it. And I had a blast visiting with friends and the audience I actually forgot to do a reading. This is me signing a book for my dear friend and of me enjoying myself as I visited with the audience about my novella, The Cowgirl Sisterhood: The Membership Drive, Part I.

When Charlie Cooper walked in, I announced to the crowd that he and his wife Ellen were characters in my novella and I did the exact same thing when Fourth Coates walked in a little later.

I loved seeing my friends: Andy, Cary, Fourth, Charlie and his adorable father Mr. Cooper, who is ninety-three-years-old, Stacy, Dr. Lindstrom, Mary Ellen, Ann with her family and Steve and meeting the audience. All in all it was a good time and the best book signing @ the Best Little Library in Texas.

I want to thank Mary Ellen and everyone else who was involved in helping make my first book signing such a big success.

After the book signing ended we joined Ann, Lynn and Lola for lunch at the Highway 16 Cafe and Tony and I really enjoyed it. When we had finished our lunch our good friend Ann walked inside the cafe and said, "There you are, Nancy. I'm glad that I found you. I'm sorry that I didn't make your book signing. I was involved with a miniature burro rescue. I want to buy your book."

When Ann and I went outside to get a copy of my novella, we came back inside the cafe, so I could sign it to her. Then I introduced Ann to Ann and her family and asked her to join us. And by the time our fun visit was over, I told the two Anns, "I'm going to put you two Anns in one of my upcoming novellas. Probably in number three. Maybe as the good Ann and the bad Ann." And they laughed.

After we adios-ed everyone we came back home and I was and still am on Cloud Nine about the book signing. When I checked Carlton for any new messages, I had one from Carol, who has been feeling under the weather. "Nancy, I can't wait to hear how it went. I'll call you back, because I cannot wait to hear all about it. Bye." So, I picked up the phone, punched in Carol's number and told her all about it and she was thrilled for me.

And that is about it for today, because I am fixin' to pick and grin with Brandon for a few hours. I can't wait to play some music and to tell Kinky about my great book signing when he returns to the ranch later tonight.

Y'all have a great evening!

Now I Am Getting Nervous!

Today has been great. This morning our great friends/volunteers came out to walk our dogs for us and our dogs loved it. Lois Lane, our super sweet Pit Bull went swimming, too. To say the least, "We are so lucky to have the Best Volunteers in Texas!"

After I had told everyone about eating a delicious Surf & Turf, in Kerrville, we decided to go to Kerrville, so Eileen, June and Tony could try it. Jim ate Octopus soup, which he said was delicious, even though Kris and I teased him about it. Kris' Mexican food plate looked delicious, too, but I was talking, of course, when she ordered it, so I don't know what it was. The good news is June, Eileen, Tony and I loved our Surf & Turf lunch. 

Our lunch was a total blast. We laughed and laughed and laughed as everyone traded their funny stories. Eileen's recent trip across the pond with Lisa, June's views on England's food and that is just to mention a few of our topics. 

After we adios-ed everyone we went to Office Max and H-E-B. Then we came home, but before we came home we grabbed our mail on Highway 16. As we headed down our road I was happily surprised when I read the super nice article about my book signing tomorrow morning, by Mikie Baker, in the Bandera County Courier. So I scanned it, so I could post it tonight. But, because of my poor skills in math, after trying many different sizes to make it fit, so it would big enough to read, I gave up and just said, "Just let it bleed over a little." 

As I type this I am getting nervous, because tomorrow is my big day at the "Best Little Library in Texas. Now I am not sure what to wear or what excerpt from the novella I should read, etc. So, please wish me luck, because Kinky once told me, "Authors always wear the worse clothes at their book signings." 

In just a minute, before I start washing and ironing my many possible choices of clothes to wear for the book signing, I want to thank Mary Ellen and everyone at the Medina Community Library, Mikie Baker's super sweet article about it and the Bandera County Courier for covering the story. Like our friends/volunteers, they are the reason why I love the Texas Hill Country so much. And that is about it for tonight.

Y'all have a great evening!

P.S. The rescue ranch will be closed in the morning, because of my book signing, but it will be open to the Public by 1:00.

Surf And Turf!

Today has been great. This morning as soon as I did my chores outside I came back inside to catch up on a little paperwork and return a few phone calls. As soon as I was caught up with my rescue ranch work I started writing again, because I am on a roll with it and am now over halfway there to finishing, The Cowgirl Sisterhood: Part II, A Death In New Mexico.

While I was finishing up the hilarious part about Jimmy Jordan I was laughing and then I screamed, "Tony! Come quick! A giant spider just fell from the ceiling and it landed on a page of my printed novella, that I was editing."

Then I grabbed my camera so I could take a picture of it, as Tony stared at it and began chuckling. "It's not a spider, Nancy. It has wings. Spiders don't have wings."

"Well, whatever it is please take him and introduce him to the great outdoors." After I took this picture Tony used two tablespoons to scoop him/her up, before setting him free on our front porch. And I am not sure if it or I was the most scared.

As I was trying to calm myself, the phone rang—it was Kinky. He wanted to know if we wanted to meet him in Kerrville to eat lunch together.

Around 1:00, we were sitting across a table talking to Kinky and his and our friend Bob about what we were going to order. When Tony, the friendly waiter, walked up to take our orders I said, "I think I'll try this one, but I don't know how to pronounce it.

Tony smiled, Kinky smiled, Bob smiled and Tony smiled at me. Then their Tony told me the Spanish name for it and then he said in English, "It's what you would call the Surf and Turf." Then everyone gave him their order.

The four of us talked about books. Then Bob told us some hilarious stories about his travels to Nicaragua, Cuba, Mexico and Belize. Then lunch was served. Kink's Mexican plate looked tasty, Bob's tortilla soup looked delicious and Tony's Burrito plate looked yummy, too. Then Tony put my Surf & Turf plate down in front of me and the men's eyes got real big. "I wish I had ordered that," they took turns telling me, as I sank my dentures into a delicious shrimp, covered in melted queso and covered with pico de gallo. (Carol, in Spanish, queso means cheese dip. LOL, I got you!)   : )

After a fun lunch we adios-ed each other and went our separate ways. Our way, was to Office Max, so I could pick up some office supplies. Then Tony drove Trigger across the street, so we could go to J. C. Penneys, so I could buy something nice to wear for my first book (novella) signing of, The Cowgirl Sisterhood: The Membership Drive, Part I. Then we came home.

When we walked inside of The Cabin, the phone rang—it was Kinky. He wanted to know if he could come over and have a picnic with Toto, because Toto is so old and his health is rapidly going downhill. 

Five minutes later, Kinky was inside our trailer, hand-feeding Toto small pieces of meat and tossing big pieces of meat into the air for Roy to catch. All-in-all Toto and Roy enjoyed their picnic with Kinky and so did we. And not to brag about my Roy, (Yes, I know I am bragging about my four-legged-soul mate.) he caught every piece of meat in the air. He is such a cool dog.

A few minutes ago, while I was writing this, Jerry of Jerry & Patsy, the nice couple who adopted Jethro Tull from us last Saturday called, so Tony took the call. When Tony said, "Well, thank you so much for calling. Goodbye," I stopped writing and turned around. "Jerry, just told me that they love Jethro and Jethro loves them, especially his new forever home..." Hearing that good news has made my day great.

As I finish writing this, so I can get back to writing my novella, I want to show you the picture that I took last Monday of the Medina Community Library's window display that they put together for my book signing this coming Saturday from 10:30 to noon. I think it is an awesome display and I think that the "Best Little Library In Texas" is even more awesome. I hope many of you can come to it, so you can purchase a book or see what I purchased at JCP today.

Y'all have a great evening!

P.S. My dear friend Mari just sent me this and it is without a doubt the greatest dogs dancing that I have ever seen. Please check it out. It made me tear up. It's titled, Glenn Miller Routine— Hooked On Swing. You'll thank me for posting it when you watch it.

Happy Birthday Sandy!

Tony and I want to be one of the first to wish our dear friend Sandy Wolfmueller the happiest birthday ever!

"Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday Dear Sandy. Happy Birthday to You. And many more."

We love you, Sandy!