As Luck Would Have It! or Another Surprise!

Last night, around 5:00, Tony and I went over, to the Lodge, to visit with our dear friend Maribeth. Kinky is out of town and he had asked Maribeth to babysit The Friedmans for him.

We stayed about an hour over there and we had a really fun visit with her. Maribeth was one of the first friends that I met when I moved to Utopia over twenty years ago. So, as you can imagine, we had lots of catching up to do.


After we adios-ed Maribeth, we took off and little did we know that we had a very big, not so good, surprise waiting for us, at the rescue ranch.

In the hour that we had been away from the rescue ranch, a gigantic, dead cedar tree, inside Miranda's pen, had uprooted and fallen down. And it was resting on the fence that it had nearly crushed. I blurted out, "Oh my goodness!" And sorry, I can't tell you what Tony said.

Then trying to find something nice to say, after what he had said, I said, "This is a blessing in disguise. If Kay and Richard had not come out yesterday to pick up Miranda Lambert, she could have been badly hurt. But fortunately, as luck would have it, she was gone. How lucky is that?" And as we drove past the downed, drowned tree, I said, "Tomorrow morning I am going to come out here and take a picture of that poor, dead tree."

And this morning, before we went over to visit Maribeth again, I took these pictures.

When we took off for the Lodge, we had another surprise awaiting us. We discovered that we had flooded sometime during the night and had been land-locked, but fortunately the water was receding rapidly, so we were able to cross the bridge safely. 

So today has been great after all. Early this afternoon, after I cooked lunch and we ate, Tony called our friend Aaron to ask him if he could come out tomorrow to help him cut up and remove the fallen tree and repair the fence. And Aaron said, "Yes." And that's about it for today.

P.S. I am still searching for a tiny, aluminum tin for Little Debbie to wear. So wish me luck!

Y'all have a great evening! 

Miranda Lambert Was Here! or Screen Writers Meeting! or Please Help Little Debbie!

Thanksgiving Day was wonderful, even though the weather was taking turns drizzling or raining. Tony and I got up real early, so we could start cooking the mixed vegetables and get things ready to prepare our rescued dogs their annual (People food) Thanksgiving dinner.

We put 3 large, 80 oz. sacks, of frozen mixed vegetable, that filled up 2 large, aluminum, baking pans. Then we put them inside the oven.

Then we drank some Donut Shop Coffee. While Tony showered Hazel and I sucked up all of the recently shed dog hair. Then it was my turn to take a shower.

Around 8:00, our good friend Aaron showed up, to help us prepare our dog's delicious turkey dinner. And because of the wet weather, we guessed that our friends might not show up, so around 8:30, the three of us started pouring all of the stuffing, garlic, cheese, eggs, cooked vegetables and ground turkey, into three, five gallon buckets, while the hot dinner rolls browned, inside the oven. Here is just some of the food that went into the buckets.

To our surprise, at 9:30, as earlier planned, our dear friends: Ellen, Kay and her husband Richard, arrived. And by 9:40, we went outside to serve our dogs their home/trailer-cooked Thanksgiving feast.

While Aaron and Tony fed our delicious, warmed dinner to our dogs, Ellen, Kay, Richard and I handed out hot dinner rolls and dog treats. Even though I couldn't take any pictures outside of our dogs enjoying their meal, because it was either drizzling or raining I can tell you that they loved it and they ate all of their vegetables and they licked their bowls clean!

After our friends left, to go home, I cleaned up our kitchen and then I started cooking our Thanksgiving dinner. 

Around 11:45, Aaron, Tony and I sat down, at the kitchen table and ate Karen & Terry's delicious Honey Baked, spiral cut ham, mashed potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce. I intentionally didn't serve dinner rolls or pies for dessert this year, because they are way too fattening and we didn't need to eat anymore extra calories. So, we had a great Thanksgiving Day and I hope that y'all did too.

This morning, it was still drizzling or raining outside, when Kay & Richard came out to pick up Miranda Lambert. They are planning to adopt her, in early December, but because of their tight schedules, they wanted to take her home and try her out, with their sweet Wolf Hound, until next Wednesday, when they will return her for only a few days. So needless to say, "Miranda Lambert was here."

Around 11:00, Tony and I jumped into Trigger and took off for Kerrville, because I had an important "screen writers lunch meeting" to attend with Lisa and Eileen, at the El Sol de Mexico Restaurant.

When we arrived at El Sol de Mexico, our favorite Mexican food restaurant, Eileen and Lisa were already sitting at a table for four. And before we could join them, Beto, our favorite waiter greeted us and then he took off to get us some iced teas.

As soon as we sat down with our dear friends, Eileen, Lisa and I immediately started discussing the Longmire video that we are going to make with our friends and volunteers, in hopes that the entire Longmire cast and crew will invite us to be, on location with them, when filming an episode of their upcoming Season 5. 

We came up with a funny plot and the great news is Little Debbie, our new ranch mascot, is going to star in it, too!

I can't divulge the actors or the plot, because of secrecy, but I can tell you that Little Debbie will be wearing an Alien-helmet. In case you have not read my two Cowgirl Sisterhood fictional, cliffhanger novellas, Lynda makes Carol and me Alien-helmets to wear, that she guarantees will help us attract Aliens.

In my fiction novellas, Lynda makes these shiny Alien-helmets for friends. Basically, they are aluminum, pot-pie pans, with two holes punched into them, so she can tie pretty ribbons to it, so we can tie them upside down, on our heads. They look like these and please note that mine has the pretty pink ribbons and the other one is for our guests to use.

Anyway, for Little Debbie to be in our funny, Longmire spoof, that hopefully will go viral and hopefully get all of us invited to be on the Longmire set during filming, Little Debbie has to be wearing an Alien-helmet, like mine, that is the size for a Chihuahua to wear.

So I am asking all of y'all to please help me find Little Debbie a tiny, aluminum, pot pie tin, that I can punch holes in and tie pink ribbons on. I plan to Google it tonight, but any help in locating one would be greatly appreciated, because time is of the essence. Please help Little Debbie. And that is about it for tonight.

Y'all have a great evening!

Rum!

Today has been great. Late this afternoon Kinky called me to invite me to go on a hike with him and The Friedmans.

When I arrived at Kinky's Lodge he asked me to come into his office, because he and wanted me to listen to the new song that he and our good friend, Sean Rima, have written.

I sat down next to his desk. Then I listened to Kinky play his beautiful, Guild guitar and sing the beautiful song and it blew me away and I told him so. So, he sang it again for me to my delight.

I would tell you more about Sean's and Kinky's co-written song, but right now it is a secret and not for me tell.

Kinky, The Friedmans and I went on another thirty-minute hike and it was a lot of fun. During our hike we went into the woods and then followed a difficult path, with sliding rocks, back to The Lodge. And all I can say is that I am glad that I didn't stumble and fall.

After our fun hike, we went inside the Lodge and continued to visit for awhile.

I just got back home and am fixin' to start cleaning The Cabin, because tomorrow morning our friends/volunteers are coming out early to help us cook our dog's their annual (People's) Thanksgiving dinner. And I don't want our trailer to look like we live here, so I have a lot of tidying up to do before morning.

I am already charging my camera, so I can take a lot of pictures tomorrow and I will post them tomorrow night, if I am not too tired.

Tony, Roy, Belle, Beau, Little Debbie, Big (Al)ice and I want to wish all of y'all the best Thanksgiving Day ever!

P.S. I told my sister all about my egg nog fiasco and she laughed, and then she told me that Mom & Dad used rum in theirs.

Y'all have a great evening!

YUK!

Today has been great. This afternoon Tony and I went to Kerrville. Our first stop was at Randy's & Lisa's Save Inn restaurant. Tony and I ordered the same thing, too. We had The Daily Special, which was totally delicious. It included a trip to the soup & salad bar, roast beef, mashed potatoes and okra and iced tea.

Then we drove across Sidney Baker Street, to go to the Home Depot, because I wanted to look at their gas-powered generators.

Then we went to the liquor store, that is about five doors down from Tractor Supply, so I could buy a small bottle of bourbon to add to the egg nog. Not sure what to buy, I ended up purchasing a bottle of JIM BEAM, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, because it was on sale.

Our last stop was at the big H-E-B. While Tony was outside filling up Trigger, I was inside speed-shopping. And on my way out of the grocery store, June and I spotted each other. She was pulling a grocery cart out. We waved to each other and then she half-hollered, "Tony's parked over there! Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Thanks! Have a happy Thanksgiving, too!" I hollered back.

When we got back home, Tony helped me put up the groceries. Then I decided to make an egg nog for myself. I added about a half a jigger of bourbon, to my favorite coffee mug and then I filled it with egg nog and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

After I stirred it, I took a big sip of it, with Tony watching me. "Yuk!" I said.

Tony started laughing, and asked, "What?"

"Omg, this tastes horrible! It tastes fine, just like it's suppose to taste, but it's been so long since I drank bourbon or had an egg nog. I can't believe I actually used to like this stuff." Tony continued to laugh. "Here Tony, you try it."

"No thanks. I'm not an egg nog man, even with bourbon. You drink it."

"I can't," I said, as I poured my nostalgic, holiday drink down the drain and rinsed out my mug. "I guess we can give Kinky the bottle of bourbon."

"No save it," Tony said. "You can use it when you make Peach Whiskey Chicken...."

Y'all have a great evening!

Busted! or A Star Is Born!

Today has been really great. This morning I was sitting around, in my sweatshirt and sweatpants drinking coffee with Tony when our dogs started barking outside and inside. So Tony went outside to see what was going on.

A few minutes later, Tony walked back inside The Cabin, and said, "Gerry's here!" Then Gerry walked inside our trailer, too.

After howdies and hugs and giving our dear friend some delicious Donut Shop coffee, I confessed, "Gerry, you'll have to forgive me, because I totally forgot about you coming out this morning and us making a holiday video for our rescue ranch. I remember setting the date and I even have it written on my calendar. This is what happens when you get my age."

That made Gerry laugh. "You're busted," Gerry joked and then he and Tony teased me about me being forgetful.

Our dear friend, Gerry Olert, is the very best videographer, editor and producer, in Texas and we've been best friends since 2005 and he is the only videographer that our rescue ranch uses.

We had a fun visit until we ran out of coffee. Then Tony and Gerry went outside, so Tony could finish doing the morning chores and Gerry could get his cameras, etc. while I quickly took a shower and dressed, in my uniform: navy turtleneck, 501 Levis, navy, zipped-up hoodie sweatshirt, pink Justin Gypsy boots and my white, Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch cap.

When Gerry was ready to shoot me, outside, for the holiday video, I asked him if it would be okay if I held Little Debbie, because Little Debbie is already well known and this would make her even more famous. Gerry had no problem with her being the star, in the video. And Little Debbie couldn't wait.

So fifteen minutes later, Little Debbie and I stood back, in front of the fence, Gerry took aim, adjusted the sound quality and then he shot us. I did all of the talking and Little Debbie didn't. And when Gerry had finished shooting/filming us, I thanked him and then I joked, Thanks to you a star is born! Little Debbie is fixin' to become even more well known than she already is. In fact, right now I'm appointing her our official Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch mascot."

Before we left to go eat lunch together, at the Medina Apple Store, I started to write Gerry Olert a check for making us a holiday video, but he told me not to, "This one is on me. Seriously, no charge..."

So, on behalf of Kinky, Tony, our rescued dogs and me I want to thank our dear friend, Gerry Olert, for being one of the first to help make our rescue ranch's 2015 holiday season great. "We love you, Gerry!" 

And that's about it for tonight.

Y'all have a great evening!

Queen Anne!

Today has been great. Late this morning, Tony and I went to Kerrville to buy dog food and for me to pick up a few groceries.

While we were at the big H-E-B, Tony was over on the dog food isle, filling up a grocery cart and I was a few isles down, putting a gallon of 2% milk, into my grocery cart, I saw a woman putting a couple of egg nog cartons into her shopping basket and it brought back fond memories. The last time I drank egg nog, was in 1989, at my parents home, in Fort Worth and it was on Christmas Eve.

Mom and Dad never drank hard liquor, except on Christmas Eves. Every year, the day before Christmas Eve, Dad would go to the liquor store and purchase a medium sized bottle of bourbon, a few cartons of ready-made egg nog and a couple of boxes of Queen Anne Cordial Cherries, in dark chocolate.

None of my family was all that wild about those chocolate covered cherries, but we would always eat them, because it was my father's most favorite Christmas treat.

Feeling nostalgic about those wonderful Christmas' I spent with my family, I put a quart of egg nog, into my cart and then I back tracked a few isles and found the Queen Anne Cordial Cherries display and put a box of them into my grocery cart, too. Then I continued shopping.

Fifteen minutes later, I met Tony at the truck and he loaded up our groceries. As we were driving through the parking lot I told Tony that I needed to go to the liquor store. After he gave me one of those looks, I said, "I bought some egg nog and I need to buy a bottle of bourbon, because...."

When we arrived at the liquor store, it didn't look open to us, so I jumped out of Trigger and went up to the door, because I couldn't read the store's hours. Then I went back to the truck and climbed back inside. "It's not open on Sundays," I stated. "I thought liquor stores were open at noon, on Sundays"

So, Tony backed out of the parking space and drove us home, with the radio turned off, because I did not want to listen to anymore depressing world news.

When we got back home, Tony helped me put up our groceries and then we went outside to do some mowing, because the sun was shining brightly and the temperature outside was perfect, because I was wearing a hoodie sweatshirt and he was wearing a light-weight jacket.

We ended up using the riding lawn mowers, and we mowed down the grass and weeds, in Baxter & Honey's pen and Dr. John's pen. And they look so beautiful. So, mission accomplished.

I have just finished eating two Queen Anne Cherry Cordials and to my amazement they were very tasty and they immediately brought back those fond memories, that I cherish. I've already put "Buy Bourbon," on the top of my shopping list, so the next time that we go to Kerrville I can buy some. And that is about it for tonight. Long live the Queen (Anne Cherry Cordials)!

Y'all have a great evening!

Truck Trouble!

Yesterday, after I wrote and posted on my blog, Tony and I went outside to put the blue tarps up, on the Egg Palace, because a cold front was due to arrive late Friday night. And while we were out there working a UPS truck arrived to our surprise.

The friendly driver had a gift to deliver to us sent from our friends, Karen and Terry C. It was a Honey Baked Ham for our Thanksgiving dinner! And to say the least, we were thrilled to get it, because for the past several years, these super nice people have sent us these delicious hams. "Thank you Karen and Terry for making another one of our Thanksgiving dinners great. We wish you a happy Thanksgiving. And please come visit us when you can."

After we had finished working, on the Egg Palace, I went over to Kinky's, because he had called me, while we were outside to invite me to come over and go on another hike with him and The Friedmans.

Yesterday, when I wrote that there hadn't been a lot to write about for the past few days, the only thing that I forgot to mention was that Kinky and I have been going, almost every day, on late afternoon hikes, with his four precious dogs aka The Friedmans.

When we finished our long hike around the ranch, Kinky invited me to come inside for a visit. After we had discussed his new idea for the title of his latest book, he told me another funny Willie Nelson quote. Then we matched wits trying to remember the names and dog breeds of U.S. Presidents. Then said, "Nance, I'm hungry. I don't feel like cooking and I don't want to drive to town."

"Let's go up to Koyote," I suggested. "Tonight's their all you can eat catfish buffet." And seconds later, I was on Kinky's phone calling Tony to see if he wanted to go eat catfish with us.

Twelve minutes later, we drove up and parked Trigger right next to Mr. Green Jeans, Kinky's green Chevy pickup. Then Kinky walked up and greeted us.

During our fun, delicious meal, we waved to Sarah, who was working behind the counter. "Happy Birthday, Sarah!" The three of us said. Then our good friend, Sarah, came over to our table to greet us, thank us for her birthday card and visit with us. And she brought with her three, big slices of her chocolate birthday cake to enjoy.

After we finished eating, sweet Sarah asked if Tony would please take a few pictures of her and Kinky and then get her husband to take a few pictures of her posing with Kinky, Tony and me. "It will cost you $10.00 a picture," Tony joked, as he focused her camera on them. Here are a couple of pictures that Sarah posted, on her FaceBook page:

Following the fun photo-shoot, Sarah asked Kinky if he minded her posting his picture with her, on her FaceBook page. "Do it!" Kinky said. Then Sarah asked me how Little Debbie was doing? I told her that she was fine and then Kinky started laughing, and said, "I don't believe this! Everywhere I go somebody is always asking me about how Little Debbie is doing."

"That's because Little Debbie is famous, Kinky!" Sarah said. "She's even got her own blog and I...."

And a few minutes later, we adios-ed Sarah. And as we went out the door, Irene, another one of our favorite employees there, half-hollered, "Y'all have a great night!"

"Good night, Irene," I half-hollered back to her.

Then Kinky chuckled, and joked, "Nance, that would be a great title for a Country song." Seconds later, we adios-ed each other and climbed into the trucks. Tony and I took off first.

When Tony and I were walking up to The Cabin, I heard the phone ring, then I heard Kinky's voice, "Tony, Nancy. Nancy, Tony. Pick up the phone! Nancy, Tony. Call me!" As soon as I picked up the phone, I heard click.

I immediately checked the Caller I.D. to discover that Kinky had called us from his cell phone. So, I immediately punched in his phone number, thinking that he must of had truck trouble and needed our help. But once again, I was wrong.

"Nance, do you know where @#$ Wallace Creek Road is? There's a woman, on Wallace Creek Road, who stopped me. She is lost and she can't find the address where she is supposed to meet up with her boyfriend...." Kinky adios-ed us after he had talked to me and then Tony, about the address, because we weren't any help at all, because we know our neighbors, but not their addresses. Bottom line: Her boyfriend found her and she was pretty mad.

As I finish writing this tonight, I plan to write for a few more hours and then I'll decide which television show to watch. And because, there isn't much to choose from, I've narrowed it down to:
Turkey Fried Easy or Best Christmas Lights Ever. But since sweet Karen and Terry have sent us another delicious Honey Baked Ham, I am going to watch Best Christmas Lights Ever.

Y'all have a great evening!