PRETTY POSIES

Tex was in Washington D.C. all last week. I had a very trying last half of the week. It started off Wednesday morning at 9:30 when I pulled up to the gate of a self- storage complex. I had made an appointment to meet the owner and sign the papers to rent a unit for 6 months. My car was loaded and I had an 11:00 appointment elsewhere. We are going to put some of our "stuff" into storage so we can move our "stuff" out to the ranch. We are certifiable and need to be committed.



After many phone calls and messages left in voice mail, I finally got the owner's daughter and she met me 45 minutes later. She didn't know where her mother was or why she didn't answer the phone. We had met the owner previously when we'd gone to look at the place to see what it was like. She seemed very capable and very nice. I guess being hot under the collar for 45 minutes paid off to the tune of 66 cents per minute. The daughter felt so awful about me waiting that she gave me the unit for $50 a month rather than the $55 normal charge. I would have rather paid the extra $30 and been on my merry way. Math is not my strong suit, so if the numbers are wrong, forgive me.



Later that day it was a trip to the bank...the first of many. I won't bore you with the gorey details, but a check not signed (ahem...not Nellie's fault) led to a wire transfer being sent, wire deposit returned because wrong beneficiary (ahem....bank's fault, not Nellie's), wire returned because they wouldn't accept a check from a bank account in a trust name and on and on. I finally had to open a NEW account in my name only. I had to keep going back to sign the paperwork on new attempts to get the dang money where it was meant to go.



When I walked into the bank on Friday afternoon, I told the 12 year old man-child that I'd been dealing with that I came to rent a room at the bank. Nice fellow, but geeze, when did they start hiring 7th graders to work in banks? So young! As far as I know, the matter is finally settled.



Tex knew I was NOT a happy rancher and came home with these when he returned from his trip.

Whew! I got through a post without mentioning food! It was a close call, tho. Last night Tex had to wrestle the camera from my hands as I attempted to snap a picture of the pasta dish I'd prepared. "Enough is enough, Nellie," he hollered. Sometimes Tex is so right and I am so wrong.

Nervous Nellie

P.S. Tex left today for Oklahoma City. I sure hope he doesn't have to bring me more posies when he returns on Friday.

BACK ATCHA, TEX!

I was determined not to let Tex show me up. Hey, he's lucky to be married to me, even if I do say so myself!

Yesterday he left the house at 6:55 after I had GOTTEN UP WITH HIM AT 5:30, FIXED HIS BREAKFAST, PACKED HIS LUNCH AND HANDED HIM A TRAVEL MUG OF HOT COFFEE BEFORE KISSING HIM GOODBYE. By 7:45 I was in the car on the way to the grocery store. I got home and put my stuff away and headed out again to a bunch of places for this and that. Lowe's, Target, jewelry store and various places in the mall.

I don't know about you, but a day like that plum tuckers me out. Yesterday afternoon I felt a powerful urge to nap. (Please don't tell Tex. I do feel badly that he can't snooze at work if he feels droopy.) Refreshed and perky after my nap, I started to prepare a gourmet dinner for Tex. No Bertolli in a bag for my hubby last night!

I made a Tortilla-Crusted Goat Cheese, Asparagus and Mushroom Quiche. Please note the garnished plate. We have to take points away from Tex for his presentation the other night. Tsk! Tsk! He failed to garnish the rim. Go back and look....not there.

I raided Tex's stash of wine (he fancies himself a sommelier) and chose a 2007 Porta Reserva Chilean chardonnay to serve with my quiche. I am sorry to report that because of global warming it was too cool to dine al fresco last night. Tex left for D.C. today so I get the leftovers!

This is not going to turn into a foodie blog, I promise. It's just that I'm having to vamp here for a couple weeks until there is something ranchy to blog about.

Nervous Nellie

WHY I LOVE TEX

(Despite the fact he wants to move me out to the boonies)


Honestly, I am a lucky woman. Just take yesterday, tax day. Yes, I know. I posted two days in a row. Unbelievable!

We got up at 5:30 and Tex was out the door at 6:45. I started cleaning the house at 7:30 and finished about 11:00 and went out for my 45 minute walk.

After I'd showered and had lunch (a PBJ), I spent time pricing things for our neighborhood garage sale on Saturday and posting on the blog. In my mind, I had put in a really full day. Dinner? Easy. There was a frozen bag of Bertolli mushroom lasagna in the freezer. And, as a bonus, I did have a loaf of artisan whole grain bread we could slice and do up with Smart Balance and garlic powder. I couldn't be more on top of things, could I?

At 5:30 Tex rings me up. He's at Market Street----he loves to shop there on his way home from work----and he tells me that he'll do dinner. "I'm bringing chicken and veggies for shish kabob," he said. Well, OK. Who wouldn't love a husband who goes to work all day and then comes home and makes you a gourmet dinner?

When he got home he asked me to be his sous-chef, cutting up the veggies, while he went out to run. Well, OK. I can do that. I poured myself a glass of wine and started "sous-cheffing."

What I love MOST about Tex right now is that he mailed in our tax return yesterday---all 27 pages---and didn't get an extension. He has been known to do that in the past. Now granted, he'd had it done for three weeks but waited until the 11th hour to do the final. That means there has been a mess in our computer/office/bonus room for the last three weeks. But, in years past I've had a mess for months in that room! Bless his heart. He doesn't trust anybody to do it right so he always does it himself. (Hmmm...maybe that's why he cooks so often.)

So, back to the food. Here's a picture of the dinner Tex prepared after a long day at work, a long run and a long conversation with a neighbor after his run. I didn't think I was ever going to eat! I'm certain it was better than the beans and cornbread at that fundraiser in Gordon last night. Of course, Max Wheeler and the boys didn't play music for our enjoyment.

Tex did the chicken, onion, red pepper and green pepper on kabobs and they were seasoned perfectly. He gave the fingerling potatoes and the brussel sprouts a shot in the microwave before he put them on the grill. (He did more than you see on the plates---we have leftovers for lunch today---yipee---I don't have to eat PBJ)

We dined al fresco at our little table on the porch and I knew not to complain about eating dinner so late. I savored the meal and the fact that our tax return was sent off on time.

This post has absolutely nothing to do with building the house except for one tiny, nagging thought. I tried not to think about living at the ranch and Tex calling me to say, "Don't worry about dinner. I just came across a road kill and will be home in 10 minutes to throw it on the grill."

BON APPETIT!

Nervous Nellie

LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE

AND, I DON'T MEAN BECAUSE I'M STUCK IN THIS!!!

Gordon, Texas, population 516, is far away from the madness and headaches of the big city. They play six-man football at the high school. It's common for the whole town to be invited to pot-luck dinners.

Gordon is home to the oldest operating Ford dealership in Texas (1910 - ?). Last time we drove by the place there were two new cars in the showroom, which is on the right in the picture. The side of the building has two more "big picture windows" where you can see into the showroom.

This is the hardware store. If they don't have it --- you don't need it. You should see inside!

This is the Gordon Clinic where I'll go to be treated for my snake bites and gunshot wounds. (See previous posts if you are scratching your head.)

The Methodist Church we will attend and where we will give thanks that I survived the snake bites and gunshot wounds. (I will survive......won't I???)

Gordon Post Office. Bet I won't have to wait in line for 20 minutes like I sometimes do in Keller.

Below is the Texas Windmill Cafe. They serve the best French fries and burgers you'll ever eat. Two weeks ago we were eating lunch there and struck up a conversation with a couple in the booth across from us. We'd never met them. They invited us to look at their house (they'd just built) and we followed them back to the ranch and got the tour. Everyone we've met out there is super friendly and helpful.

Today we got an email invitation. Here's what it said:

W.K. Gordon Center for Industrial History of Texas is hosting a STAR PARTY!

Saturday, 24 April 2010

Bring some lawn chairs and enjoy the night sky with us! Presentation on backyard astronomy by Dr. Michael Hibbs begins at 7:30 pm. Telescopes will be provided but feel free to bring your own.

FREE ADMISSION

Todd and Liz gave us a super-duper telescope for Christmas after we bought the lot because they knew we'd be star gazing. I think Tex and I will mosey on out to Gordon on the 24th, super-duper telescope in tow. One thing I'll have to check on, tho! The invite didn't say WHERE the event is going to take place. I'm pretty sure we've never seen the "Center for Industrial History" in Gordon.

This is the brand new Gordon Library and Museum. Many, many people put in long hours to renovate the old building and now it's a shiny gem on Main Street. I'm going to donate my books when we move.

Not long ago we received this email invitation:

IRS PO MAN'S DINNER

Join us for the IRS Po Man's Dinner sponsored by the Gordon Community Library and Museum.

Home-cooked cornbread, beans and wonderful desserts. The date - 4/15/10 of course, when your taxes are due. At the Gordon ISD cafeteria. 5:30 pm til 7:00 pm.

Max Wheeler and the boys will be playing for your entertainment. Donations will be welcome to benefit the Gordon Community Library! Door prizes and fun!

Y'all come, you hear!!!

I'd give anything to go to that shindig tonight, but we can't. Sure hope they do it again next year on April 15. Instead of being 75 miles away, we'll be only 3 miles away. You can bet we won't be stuck in gridlock traffic on the two lane road into town. Ah, life in the slow lane!

Happy tax day!

Nervous Nellie

*!#@%&#!

Langford Construction sign on our lot

HOLY MOLY!! The train has left the station! These guys are all on board and I'm running down the tracks behind the train trying to decide if I want to jump on the caboose. Uh, we were actually out at the lot last Saturday deciding where to place the house. You can't see me.....I'm on the very edge of the cliff getting ready to jump after taking this picture.

Below from left to right:

GIL --- The "Git 'er Done Guy"

DAVID --- The "Darling, Dependable Builder"

TEX --- Maybe "My Soon-to-be-Ex" (Just kidding....we celebrated our 43rd anniversary on April 1. We are different, aren't we? Who gets married on April Fools' Day?)

PHIL --- "Phil the Phoreman" who will oversee construction

First decision! We have to slam the house up against the build line to the left to maximize the space for the outdoor kitchen/patio area on the right side. This is where the 70' width of the house ends.

Phil the Phoreman staked out the whole house this week. Now we have to go back out to determine whether it has to be moved any from front to back, again to accomodate the patio area.

Sweet Phil the Phoreman sent me these pictures yesterday with this sweet message: "Your house is now snaked out, I mean staked out. I was able to suck out the snake venom."

I'm writing this post from the hospital. I went into cardiac arrest when I saw these pictures.

Phil the Phoreman was surprised by this serpent when he was on the lot "snaking it out." He caught the rattler and put it under the sign to take pictures just for me. Then he killed it.

Well, it almost killed me! Tex and I will meet with Sweet Phil the Phoreman tomorrow, but I'm staying in the vehicle and shouting my comments to them from the road. Production of the "Fang-Bang-Thang" can't come soon enough for me.

Nervous Nellie