Feel Good!

Today has been great and so much fun, because we met our dear friends for our Once-A-Month-Lunch Club, at Monroe's East End Grill. They are a fairly new restaurant establishment and because we've heard so much great stuff about them and their food, from Sandy Wolfmueller (Wolfmueller's Books) and other friends we decided to see for ourselves. And I am so glad that we did.

Right off of the bat, before we even parked I loved their color scheme, because it reminded me so much of our beautiful Big Foot Ranch colors, that orbs are always seem to be drawn to. Like the two orbs below, outside of my writing cabin.

Anyway, Monroe's East End Grill's parking lot was packed with vehicles and after we parked, happy people were everywhere and lots of laughter was coming from inside this awesome restaurant and outside of their pretty patio, where the six of us chose to eat our lunch.

Seriously, I cannot say enough good things about this wonderful restaurant. I would definitely give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating or ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, because the food was so delicious, the vibes were over the top, which is why everyone eating there was so happy. In fact, I loved this place so much I suggested to our Once-A-Month-Lunch Club that we meet here for lunch next month too, before I ate my tasty Brownie dessert.

Knowing that I needed to walk-off my delicious dessert, after lunch we walked behind the building and went next door to 1700 Water Street, the new home of the already famous East End Market.

The East End Market is this awesome multi-vendor vintage market showcasing all things unique, old and uncommon and it's owner/manager is the super-friendly Kate Howard-Marlow. 

The men followed Kris, Denise and me into the East End Market and when us girls walked inside our jaws dropped, because there was so much to see and to look at, and believe it or not the vibes were as good as Monroe's. 

I was instantly mesmerized by all of the cool stuff on display, as we took our time strolling around and checking out the store. And even though I didn't see any orbs floating around I was sure that they were amongst us, because they were probably just hiding.

While we had fun shopping around Denise tried on several different, beautiful ladies hats. Kris fell in love with Liz & Jim Cravotta's spaces and as she admired Liz's beautiful/whimsical for all occasion cards, I fell in love with just about everything else inside—especially that old saddle and the large painting of a Texas Longhorn. 

I suggest that everyone come check out the East End Market before or after eating lunch or breakfast or dinner at Monroe's East End Grill next door, which is located on Kerrville's east end of town, across from the River Trail Cottages.

And speaking of River Trail Cottages, (Newest Hotel Alternative) after a fun visit with the sweet, friendly owner, Kate Howard-Marlow, we adios-ed her and then we took our lives in our own hands and illegally jay-walked across the street to check out the inviting River Trail Cottages. And oh my goodness it is now most definitely the coolest place to stay in Kerrville and the vibes there were just as great as Monroe's East End Grill's and the East End Market's.

River Trail Cottages have 22 adorable, cozy cottages available for rent and an event center on-property perfect for family reunions, meetings and any social gatherings. The property also has lovely riverside pavilions, several fire pits, grills, picnic areas and more. And I had the hardest time leaving this enchanted wonderland, because of the beauty and peace that surrounded me. And just like the other two fine, east end establishments I must admit that I didn't see any orbs there, but I am positive they are around. 

Bottom   Line:  All three of these fabulous East-End places are such feel good places that I could have hung out there all day. I even daydreamed that I could lived there with everything (food, clothes, cottages, Guadalupe River, etc.) I need all within walking distance from one another. And I certainly would have stayed there much longer if Tony hadn't reminded me that we needed to get back home to check on our dogs. 

And before I finish writing this post tonight I want y'all to know that my loaf of zucchini bread turned out perfect and we loved it so much—Tony and I both ate two slices of it. Here are before and after pictures of my mouth-watering zucchini bread.

And last night after stuffing ourselves with this delicious bread, I sat down in my chair, with Big Al(ice) snuggling beside me and Little Debbie sleeping on my lap and I started reading this fabulous book that sweet Eileen gave to me for Christmas. Christmas at Grey Sage by Texas Hill Country author Phyllis Clark Nichols.

And reading Phyllis' book is so great that I could not put it down or better said, "I didn't go to bed until after midnight." And tonight I plan to spend my evening reading Christmas at Grey Sage until I finish reading it. Even though I don't want it to end, because I love this fabulous book.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

All Is Good Now!

Omg, today has been hectic, but fortunately all is good now. Except I know that I need some peace and quiet, so this is a short post for tonight, because I'm fixin' to go make some delicious, healthy, homemade zucchini bread and try meditating again.

My ✮✮✮✮✮ Allrecipes zucchini bread recipe calls for cooking the loaf for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour, so I am planning to meditate while the bread is baking. And because it has been a beautiful warm day (right now it is 68 degrees outside) I plan to put our dogs outside while I meditate/growl, so not to scare them.

If my bread turns out great I promise to take a picture before we eat it and I'll post it tomorrow night.
Here is the link to Mom's Zucchini Bread (soon to become Cousin Nancy's...) recipe that I found on
allrecipes.com

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

This Lotus Position!

Yesterday and today have been great, except I watched this new movie, Beautiful Boy, on Amazon this afternoon and I loved it. Watching Beautiful Boy was a real eye-opener for me,  but it depressed me until I talked to our dear friends Kris & Jim. And by the time I adios-ed Kris & The Mineral Man—I was no longer depressed and I was back to laughing.

But back to the movie, I must say that Steve Carrell's acting was incredibly great along with the other actors. The story and plot were fabulous, but the subject matter—drug addiction was so scary. I think everyone should watch this movie, because it is a real eye-opener about drug addiction/abuse and it needed to be addressed and become a priority before it kills and destroys so many families.

Now I am off my soapbox. (I know you're saying, "Thank goodness for that.")

This morning, I slept in and it was so wonderful to wake up with all of our dogs snuggling next to me. I was so warm and cozy sleeping with them that when I woke up I stayed in bed with them for over twenty minutes, before doing my habit—"Today is going to be a great day!" Loud clap and then jumped off the bed.

Early this afternoon, after cooking us lunch and cleaning up the kitchen I walked 4 Fast Miles with Leslie Sansone, while Roy and Henry snored on the couch. And while secretly Little Debbie and Big Al(ice) happily tore up and shredded an old throw blanket, in the bedroom.

After I walked the four miles with Leslie, I was so thrilled with myself that I had exercised—I ate the last slice of my homemade cake that I had made the other day. And I washed it down with a glass half-full of 2% milk.

Then of course I felt guilty for indulging myself, but I quickly got over it. But then seeing the sad, upside down smile on Tony's face when he looked into the refrigerator and discovered the cake was history and that was almost too much for me to bear.

So, to bring back some peace and harmony into my life, I decided to try to meditate, again. You see, yesterday afternoon my dear friend, in Costa Rica, sent me this great link to this app for meditation for beginners.

Last night I tried meditating for the very first time and it was weird and pretty cool at the same time and it sort of freaked out our dogs—especially Little Debbie.

I think the reason it freaked her out was I streamed the meditation session for beginners, from my iPad to my awesome harmon/kardon blue-tooth speaker, and it was pretty loud, with this guru's deep voice chanting.

And I probably made her more nervous, because I was sitting on the floor, in front of the wood burning stove, trying to sit in this lotus-position with my palms turned face up and my head tilted upward with my eyes closed—and repeating, after him, these strange sounds.

So all that I can figure is Little Debbie must have thought that I was growling at her or that I was temporarily possessed. Anyway, I only tried to meditate for about 15 minutes. And I did it again today after Tony promised me that he would stay outside with our dogs until I had finished meditating.

And speaking of finishing, I guess that is about all for tonight. Life is good—knock-on-wood.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

Shangri-La!

Yesterday and today have been great, but not real exciting, so to speak.

Tony and I worked next door yesterday morning and after that he and I cleaned our cabin and then we went to Kerrville to wash and dry a load of clothes.

While our clothes were washing, the next block over, Tony and I went to buy a few groceries at the big H-E-B and we made back in time for the final spin cycle.

After we loaded our clothes into the dryer, I put an extra quarter in so the dryer would go for 40 minutes, because Tony and I had decided to go to Louise Hays Park, so he could take pictures while I went for a walk.

The reason I wanted to go for a walk is because my dear friend Mari and I have vowed (New Year Resolution) to meet at the park, at least once a week to walk-away-the holiday pounds.

Anyway, going to the park yesterday was not such a great idea, because it was so windy—it felt much colder than it actually was.

So while Tony snapped pictures of the adorable geese, etc. I was marching down the path, as fast as I could, in hopes of breaking a sweat and getting warmer. Bottom   Line: It didn't work, because I was so cold and wind-blown that I was miserable. So I guess you could say that wasn't much of a reason to write about it last night. And that is why I didn't.

This morning Tony and I once again went to work, next door at the beautiful Escondida Resort. We love working over there, because the staff is so much fun and super nice. And on top of that the place is so beautiful it is like being in Shangri-La.

After working a few hours each, we came back home and I cooked us lunch. Our lunch was okay, but it wasn't anything to write home about. So, after I cleaned up the kitchen I decided to bake us a cake as a reward for the bland, tasteless, unexciting, healthy lunch that I had prepared.

I made the cake from scratch, from a recipe that I had found in an old issue of Southern Living magazine, at the laundromat. And to my delight—Tony loved the cake.

Early this evening Tony and I went over to visit Kinky and Marcie and to our delight Chet and Willy had already arrived. You see, our dear friend Chet O'Keefe had come in, from Terlingua, to help Kinky and Rick do some recording for Echo Hill Records.

Tony and I had a really great visit with Kinky, Marcie, Dylan and Chet and the best news is they are coming over here tomorrow for a longer fun visit.

As I finish writing this tonight—life is good.(Knock-on-wood.)

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

Big Foot!

Today has been great, even though it has been cold, overcast and rainy for the past couple of days or since last year.

This morning I was getting cabin fever and was badly in need of warmer, dry and sunshiny days.

So, since the weather was nasty and cold outside I decided to do something positive inside—I walked 4 Fast Miles With Leslie Sansone. And sadly that is about all of the latest breaking news from Big Foot Ranch in Medina, Texas.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

Happy New Year!

Today has been great and I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! It would not take much to make this a happier New Year than last year was for me. And I am not complaining, because 2019 is going to be a great year for all of us.

Of course, seeing is believing it will be a happier New Year. And I already like 2019, because I am so very grateful for so many things. And I already have Little Debbie's care package to look forward to.

You see, a few weeks ago our dear friend Kent Perkins got on Facebook and he told Tony that he and his sweet wife, Ruth Buzzi, know and are good friends with the real Little Debbie that those tasty snacks are named after.

Anyway, Kent told Tony that they were talking to Little Debbie and they had told her about our rescue ranch and about Tony and I rescuing (our) Little Debbie. And their Little Debbie loved it. And our Little Debbie loved it, too. And this is a picture that I took of Little Debbie after we had rescued her and a year before we had to have her eye removed.

And this is a picture of the other Little Debbie and a painting of her that is used on those famous, delicious Little Debbie snacks.

When Kent & Ruthie came to visit us recently Kent told us that their friend Little Debbie and our Little Debbie had a few things in common, but I am not at liberty to disclose. 

Anyway Kent asked me to please send him some pictures of our Little Debbie so they could pass  them on to their famous friend. So I sent Kent the link to Longmire-Texas Style starring Little Debbie and a few pictures including these two along with the one that I took of our Little Debbie sitting with Ruthie & Kent on our couch—and Tony's feet.

After completing that task I Googled their Little Debbie and soon discovered that Debbie McKee-Fowler is the original Little Debbie and then I read this awesome, Huffington Post article; "Real-Life Little Debbie Is All Grown UP (And Doing Well!)." And it made me so proud that I had named our Little Debbie after this great woman. 

As I finish writing this post, on January 1, 2019, I am excited to tell y'all that a few days ago Kent told Tony that Little Debbie (McKee-Fowler) has told Ruthie & Kent that she is honored that we named our Little Debbie after her and that she is sending us a Little Debbie care package filled with Little Debbie snacks, a personal letter from her along with an autographed picture! And I believe that this is proof enough that 2019 is already a great year. Little Debbies Rule!

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

Half Empty!

Today has been great. I've done nothing but write, cook, nap with our dogs and then write some more. So there really isn't anything exciting to talk about, except that after posting on my blog last night—Tony, came into the kitchen and announced, "If you don't mind, I think I'll finish off this bag of Fritos. It's half empty."

I told him fine, because I've hidden the unopened bag of Fritos in the back of our closet.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!