A Certain Dog!

Today has been great. This morning right before we were fixin' to go outside to do our chores Eloise called me to tell me that she was leaving Kerrville and on her way to the rescue ranch. She is a very nice woman that I talked to yesterday about her coming out today to possibly adopt a certain dog that she was especially interested in.

In yesterday's conversation with her, she told me, "My husband and I are old and we live on a small ranch. We have three, older rescued dogs. We love dogs, but we don't want a young dog, because it could be horrible for the dog if it outlived us..." When Eloise told me who they were interested in I almost teared up, because this certain sweet dog is eight-years-old and has been with us for too many years. After I told Eloise everything I knew about this super sweet, shy female dog, she asked me if she could come out.

Eloise arrived around 9:30 and Tony and I instantly liked her a lot. We could tell that she was a kind-hearted woman and she had the cutest personality. She could not wait to meet this certain dog. So, I told her, "Before I introduce you to her, please stay here and watch how she interacts with Tony and me first. Then we'll give you some dog treats, so you can give them to her when you meet her..."

This dog acted totally normal with Tony and me, as Eloise watched us. She was wagging her tail, jumping up on the fence to let us pet her, etc. Then we walked away, so we could get the treats, out of the barn and return with Eloise.

When we approached the dog pen, Ben Stiller came running back to greet us and Dusty Springfield aka La Toya Jackson backed off a little bit. When she watched Eloise give a treat to Ben she shyly walked up to the fence, to get a dog treat from Eloise. After Eloise fed her a couple of treats Dusty aka La Toya relaxed and stood up on the fence, so Eloise could pet her. "I love this dog," Eloise remarked. "I don't care if she is shy with strangers. That's not a problem for me. I definitely want to adopt her. Can I take her for a short walk, so we can get to know each other a little better?"

A few minutes later, Tony handed Eloise Dusty aka La Toya's leash. Eloise gave her another dog treat and then she started walking down the drive with this beautiful dog by her side.

When they returned Eloise asked me if she could drive out tomorrow morning to pick up Dusty aka La Toya, because she needed to get back to her home, near Fredericksburg, so she could remove the backseats in her Tahoe. I said, "Yes." Then I suggested, "To save you another long drive, we could meet you in Kerrville tomorrow?"

"That would be wonderful," she replied.

"No, wait. Tony and I have to go to Kerrville today to run several errands, so why don't we just drop her off today, at Hoegemeyer Animal Hospital and then you can pick her up tomorrow morning when it is convenient for you? We can do the adoption papers now and Tony can put her dog tags on a new dog collar and you'll be all set." Eloise loved the idea. Here are two pictures of Eloise signing off on the adoption papers, with Dusty aka La Toya watching.

Early this afternoon we dropped off Springfield / Jackson, at Hoegemeyers and Kinky, Tony and I are totally thrilled that this great dog finally found her fantastic, forever home, on the range! And that is about it for tonight, because Tony and I are fixin' to go over to the Lodge to visit with Kinky and Kent Perkins, sweet Ruth Buzzi's husband.

P.S. We want to thank Donna Hatch and The Kerrville Daily Times for being responsible for Dusty aka La Toya's adoption today, because she was their Utopia Pet of the Week, in that great newspaper this week! 

Y'all have a great evening!

A Thrilling Day!

Yesterday was a great day for two reasons, because the wonderful kids from the great East Kerr 4-H Club came out to volunteer their services! When Haley and her mom Gayla arrived to help, Gayla asked me if Rylie, the sweet, eight-year-old Dachshund, that we had rescued a week ago Saturday, had been adopted yet.

When I told her, "No, not yet." She asked to see her. While all of us were, in the alley, playing with Ringo Starr and Rylie, Gayla told us about her family loving Dachshunds and them losing their two precious ones from old age, this past year. Which was sad news to hear. But the good news is they adopted Rylie, before leaving our rescue ranch! Tony and I were thrilled about Rylie getting adopted, but not as much as she was, because her tail was wagging so fast, you could barely see it.

After everyone had gone home, I called the previous owners and told them the good news about Rylie getting adopted and going to a great home and they were thrilled about it, too. Then I called Kinky, in Denver, to wish him a happy birthday and to tell him the great news about Rylie getting adopted. He was more than thrilled about Rylie's adoption, but not that thrilled about being another year older. So I guess you could say, "Saturday was a thrilling day."

Today has been great, too. This morning around 10:00, some of Tony's old high school friends came out to visit us and it was a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed listening to them reminisce about their good old days and there being only twenty people in their Medina High School graduation class.

This afternoon after lunch, I did a little paperwork and then I spent over an hour playing my guitar and I really enjoyed it, because I used my amp and cranked up my Bose. And now I am fixin' to go over to the Lodge to visit with Kinky and to let him listen to the beautiful and touching song, Chum's Blues, that Chet O'Keefe wrote for Kinky's birthday.

Last Friday, Chet e-mailed me his song, Chum's Blues, so I could put it on my iPod and then play it for Kinky, on my Bose Deck. And I'll guarantee you that Kinky is going to love it, too, because it is a great song and Chumley Friedman was one of Kinky's favorite dogs.

Y'all have a great evening!

Space Cowboys!

Today has been great and I have two short stories to tell. The first one, Crossing Paths, is totally true and very condensed and the second short story, Space Cowboys, is sort of true, because today is Halloween Day.

Crossing Paths

Wednesday afternoon Tony and I stopped by Gibson's, so we could buy Eileen, our dear friend, a small gift to celebrate her last chemo treatment, because today, at the Koyote Grill all of our super volunteers/friends were going to give her a surprise "No Mo' Chemo!" party.

When we were walking up to Gibson's Tony spotted our dear friend Donna Hatch as she and I walked right past each other, because I am blind and because I was focusing on not tripping and falling on something and because Donna was focusing on the cool Christmas items for sale, outside the store. "Hey, Donna," Tony said, as she and I both turned around and recognized each other.

After a fun, but short visit with our good friend, I told Donna about Big Mama, the sweet Great Pyrenees that we rescued last week. "Ryan and I," she said, "have some dear friends that want to get a really big dog and..."

Yesterday afternoon as planned, Michelle came out to meet Big Mama and it was love at first sight for both of them, so she asked us if she could take Big Mama home for a few days so her sweet husband could meet Big Mama and they see how she got along with their two cats. And of course, we said, "Yes! Please do!"

This morning Michelle called me. She told me that they love Big Mama so much and that she got along beautifully with their two cats. "She slept on the bed with us last night and she loves to sit on our furniture! She is the perfect dog for us and we want to adopt her! She's so sweet and...." So thanks to Eileen for causing us to make a stop at Gibson's and for Tony recognizing Donna—Big Mama now has a fabulous, forever home!

Space Cowboys!

This morning when I got up I felt like something wasn't right and I couldn't put my finger on it. Then when I was drinking a cup of Texas Pecan coffee I had two signs or omens revealed to me—that today might not be so great. 

The first sign was when I noticed that Bob was no longer standing up, in the big chair, which Tony had made for me, eighteen years ago.

So when Tony came into the big room to get more coffee, I asked him if he had moved Bob and his answer was, "No." Then he looked at Bob and stood him back up, in the chair. 

As Tone was pouring himself another cup of coffee, I said, "Tony, yesterday afternoon when Hazel and I were vacuuming, I found one of Rick's friendship bracelets that he gave to you, on the floor, under the bench by the window. Would you mind picking it up for me, because my back is aching?"

Tony, bent down to pick it up and says, "Nance, it's not a bracelet. It's a dead centipede. You really need to get new glasses." Then he picked it up, so I could take a picture of the scary-looking thing, before he tossed it into the trashcan.

A few hours later, Tony and I took off for Koyote Grill, to celebrate Eileen's "No Mo' Chemo!" party with our dear friends. And that's when things got really scary.

We were fifteen minutes early and the very first ones to arrive, at the popular grill. I had thought it was a good idea to get there early, so we could surprise Eileen when she walked inside, but it turned out to be a very bad idea. Because when we walked inside we were immediately captured by a Star Wars Storm Trooper! And then he had the nerve to ask Tony to take pictures to document what he had done.

Even though I am smiling, in the picture above and looking friendly—I was faking it big time. Then one by one, as our dear friends arrived for Eileen's party, they were captured, too. To say the least, "We were in big time trouble. 

While we were pleading for the Star Wars trooper to please let us go party, two Space Cowboys rode up on their Space Quarter Horses and the cowboy and cowgirl were immediately captured, too. It was so terrifying!

Then the space cowboy had a brilliant idea and saved the day for all of us!

The Space Cowboy invited the Star Wars Storm Trooper to Eileen's celebration party and then he went and showed him the beautiful "Lucky" cake that Lisa had ordered for Eileen's party, made by Creative Cakes By Sharon! 

And because it was a "Lucky" cake it touched the Star Wars Storm Trooper's heart, because he collects horseshoes and is fascinated with cowboys, he decided to set us free and then a good time was had by all!  

Please note that the Star Wars Storm Trooper ate two, heaping servings of the delicious cake and then he vanished off into thin air.  Here are two of our dear friends thanking and adios-ing the Space Cowboy for thinking fast and saving the day for us, as he and his Space Cowgirl rode off into the sunset. Talk about one lucky day for all of us!

Y'all have a Happy Halloween evening with a happy ending like we did today!

Short!

Today has been great, even though it was a quiet day out here. So I am going to keep it short tonight,  to give y'all a break from reading my latest too long posts, that took me hours to write and hours for you to read.

Late this afternoon, after catching up with some rescue ranch paperwork I decided to go outside and work on my new/used RV, that I've recently named The Mother Ship. Before I started doing some painting inside the RV, I decided to do a little cleanup outside, that Chet O'Keefe cleverly named Area 51.

I only spent about ten minutes, outside, cleaning up Area 51 and there is still plenty of cleanup work left for me to do, but I quit early, because I was too excited about starting my painting project. And that is about it for tonight.

Y'all have a great evening and rest your eyes!

Craig Johnson! or Robert Earl Keen Beer!

Today has been great! This morning after doing our chores outside, I came inside The Cabin and checked my e-mail and Fay's made me smile. She wrote me a note telling me that a co-worker friend of hers was interested in Big Mama, but she needed to know if Big Mama was good with friends.

So, I immediately called the sweet, recently widowed woman. When I told her what was going on, she said, "Big Mama was great with my grand children." When I asked there ages, she said, "Two, seven and twelve..." When I told the nice lady that I hope Big Mama gets adopted by Fay's friend, because Toronto, Canada, would be a perfect climate for her—she totally agreed with me. Then we adios-ed each other and I immediately shot back a "good news" e-mail to Fay.

After I told Tone about the possibility of Big Mama getting adopted, he was thrilled, too. Then I called Kinky. "Kink, do you want to meet us for lunch?"

"Yes," Kinky said. "Let's eat at Randy & Lisa's Save Inn. How about 1:15?"

Tony and I arrived, at the Save Inn, five minutes before Kinky arrived and our lunch was delicious and we did a lot of laughing. After we had finished eating the super nice waitress removed our plates and handed us our tickets. "Hey Kinky," Tony said. "Since your birthday is this Saturday, we'll treat you to lunch today."

"Thank you very much," he said, as he handed his ticket to Tony.

Our next stop was at Wolfmueller's Books, so I could pick up the latest Longmire book that Sandy & Jon bought for me, at the Texas Book Festival, they attended this past weekend. When we walked inside their fabulous bookstore our friend, Robert Earl Keen, was standing by the checkout counter, visiting with Sandy & Jon.

After greetings, Sandy told us, "Robert Earl has brought us some of his new signature beer to try. It's just come out and it is made with Texas honey and it is brewed by the Pedernales Brewing Company, in Fredericksburg." Then Jon showed us a can and then gave it to Tony to try tonight. We had a fun, but short visit with Robert Earl before he adios-ed us.

As soon as Robert Earl had left their store, Sandy & Jon handed me the book Wait For Signs: Twelve Longmire Stores by Craig Johnson. Then Sandy says, "We met Craig Johnson and we had a fun visit with him. He is the nicest man and he signed your book to you, Cousin Nancy!" Her exciting words gave me instant goose bumps, because I am such a big fan of Longmire and now I can actually brag that I own an autographed Longmire book. "Did you check out Craig Johnson's website last night?"

"Oh my goodness! Yes I did," I said. "I loved looking at all of the Longmire merchandise for sale and I wanted to buy all of it." That made them laugh and then they agreed with me. "I especially loved the beautiful buckled cuff, the pink Sheriff coffee mug and the pink Longmire t-shirt. As soon as I pay down my credit card a little bit more, I plan to buy those items and a cap or two. And he is good-looking too."

Sandy agreed with me and then Jon said, "He's a down-to-earth man and very easy to talk to. We felt like we had known him all of our lives..."

After we had talked about loving Craig Johnson's Longmire books and the A&E Longmire series, Tony and I adios-ed them. Then we went down the street to early vote and then we went to the big H-E-B, to pick up a few more groceries.

Our last stop was, at Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic, to pick up Ginger, the sweet, four-year-old, overweight Boxer that we rescued last week. When we arrived at the clinic Susan, Kathy and the vet techs raved about what a sweet dog Ginger is and what a cool dog she is before they went to get her for us.

When Ginger entered the lobby her stubby tail was wagging wildly and that instantly confirmed everything nice the staff had just told us about her.

On our way home, I rode in the backseat with Ginger and she was great and seemed very comfortable riding in cars, as she constantly kissed my face or tried to sit in my lap. When we got home Tony put Ginger in my pink writing cabin's front yard. Then we went and got our cameras so we could take pictures of her to post. Here are two of the best ones I took of Ginger.

After I shot Ginger with my camera, I came back inside and took pictures of the Robert Earl Keen Beer can, before Tony put it into the freezer, so it wouldn't take long for him to taste it. Then I took pictures of my treasured Craig Johnson autographed book, so I can prove to all that I really do have a signed book by him.

Then I started writing this for my blog. Kinky called me around 6:30 to ask me what time and what channel the Cowboys are playing on. I told him that I didn't know, but I would find out. Then I asked Tony and he said, "7:00 on channel 206." So then I called Kinky back and told him and then we talked for over twenty minutes. And that is about it, because I'm fixin' to watch the Dallas Cowboys RedSkins game.

Y'all have a great evening! (And Carol, I am glad that you're back home and I will call you in the morning after we do our chores.)

The Coffee Pot! or What About Bob!

Today has been great, but first I want to catch y'all up with what has been going on. Thursday morning Tony and Rick went to the Old Timer, in Medina, to drink coffee with Tony's old friends, before they picked up the sweet, four-year-old, female Great Pyrenees, to bring to the rescue ranch.

When they arrived back at the rescue ranch, they put Big Mama in the alley next to Miranda Lambert, in hopes that they would bond quickly and become roommates. But ten minutes later, while the three of us were inside The Cabin eating breakfast, our dogs started barking outside, so we went out to the front porch and saw Big Mama, running past our parked vehicles, heading up the tall hill, behind our trailer.

As we hollered for her to please come back, she quickly disappeared into the woods. So, Tony and Rick jumped into Kermit and took off looking for her while I quickly phoned all of our good neighbors to be on the lookout for Big Mama.

As soon as the men returned home, I was frantic about Big Mama running off, so I jumped into Trigger and drove all around Kinky's ranch and the ranch before you get to Echo Hill. When I returned home, Tony reminded me that we had to go to Kerrville, but I didn't want to go, because I wanted to stay home just in case Big Mama returned or one of our neighbors called about seeing the Great Pyrenees.

Two hours later, when the three of us returned home, from Kerrville and after me having said hundreds of silent prayers about Big Mama returning safely back to the rescue ranch—Big Mama was standing next to our front yard gate! So when Tony parked Buttermilk, we all opened the car doors and called for her to jump into the Expedition. The good news is she jumped right into the backseat with me. Big Mama was home at last! Talk about make my day great!

After Tony and I put Big Mama, in Tom Landry's Escape Proof pen and took Tom out and put him in the alley beside her we jumped into Kermit and went up to The Cabin, so I could check Carlton's messages and call our nice neighbors to let them know that Big Mama was back home.

There were only two messages to listen to and they were both back-to-back and from Sandy Wolfmueller, "Nancy, please call me." Second message, "Nancy, we found a stove top percolator for Rick! Call us as soon as you can. Bye"

I called Sandy back and then I went outside to tell Rick, "Sandy and Jon found their old, copper bottom coffee percolator, in the bookstore's basement and they want to give it to you. They said for you to return the one you bought at Gibson's..." Then we came back inside The Cabin, so we could check my e-mail, because they had just sent me a picture of their aka Rick's stove top coffee percolator.

Friday was a great day, too. Our great friends/volunteers came out and walked our dogs. When all of us went to The Koyote Grill to eat lunch together, Kris & Jim "The Mineral Man" had belated birthday presents for me. When Tony and I walked inside Koyote this was sitting in a chair, at our long table. Tony and I started laughing. Then Kris said, "His name is Bob." Then Kris or Jim took this picture of me meeting Bob and falling in love with him. And Kris and Jim also gave me two, super cool alien guitar picks!

When Tony and I got home, I put Bob in the chair and took his picture. Then I stood him up next to where Roy was sleeping. The pictures say it all.

Early Friday evening, Rick, Tony and I jumped into Buttermilk and we took off to go pick up Drew, in Kerrville, who was going to ride with us to the Hunt Store, where Chet O'Keefe was performing. 

When we arrived Chet and his dog Willie were already there and so were our many friends. While Chet was doing a sound check I took this picture, before Chet started playing. And please note that the cool dog, standing on the roof, that Willie is watching, is owned by John & Vicki Dunn, the super nice owners of The Hunt Store. Chet's concert was great and Tony and I had so much fun visiting with our friends and listening to Chet.

Saturday was a great day, too. Around 10:00, our good friends, Denise and Bruce, from New York City, came out for their yearly visit with us and it was a lot of fun. While they were inside The Cabin drinking coffee with us, Rick was outside packing his things into his rental car, because he was headed to Wolfmueller's Books, to pick up his new/used copper bottom, stove top coffee percolator, before leaving town. And ten minutes before Denise and Bruce adios-ed us, Rick adios-ed us. 

Later in the day, a nice family delivered Rylie, their sweet, eight-year-old, female Dachshund, that they could no longer keep, because their children had become allergic to the dog. And Tony and I put her in the alley next to Buddy & Ringo Starr's pen, in hopes that she would soon bond with the boys. Here is a picture of little Ringo playing with his best bud.

And here's a picture of Ringo Starr, who is only about a year old. He's a great dog and has stolen every one's hearts. He's great with other dogs, not hyper, not a digger or a climber and he loves to ride in cars. Several of the volunteers think that he is a Chi-Weenie. 

Two hours passed before we put Rylie, in with Buddy and Ringo, her new roommates. I tried to take her picture for over thirty minutes, but because they dogs were playing and having so much fun, I never got a great picture of her. So, in the next few days I will be posting her picture so y'all can see her.

Today has been great. This morning Chet came over and ate breakfast with us, before heading back to Austin, because tonight he is playing at the Strange Brew.

Early this afternoon, Tony and I went outside to take pictures of Big Mama. When we went into her pen, she was happy to see us and she could not wait to kiss us. She seems to have settled in and she and Landry seem to be working it out through the fence. Here are two pictures that Tony took of this super sweet, four-year-old, gentle giant dog that has stolen my heart.

Before I finish writing this, I want to apologize for writing such a long blog tonight, but I wanted to update everyone. This evening I am going to work on my third novella and then watch a couple of Longmire episodes before going to bed. And tomorrow we plan to pick up the super sweet, overweight, female Boxer, that is currently at Hoegemeyers. 

Y'all have a great evening!

Chet O'Keefe @ The Hunt Store Tonight—Starts Playing at 6:30!

Chet just called me. For those of you coming to hear Chet O'Keefe play at The Hunt Store tonight, he will start playing at 6:30, instead of 5:00. It's going to be fun and we hope we see y'all there.