Vol1 No4 Fall 2014 - Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country

Transcription

Publisher: Karyn Lyn
Editor: Greg Forest
Design & Layout: Lonesome Dove Design Studio
Columnists& Contributing Writers: Karyn Lyn, Greg Forest,
Kathleen Hudson, Joe Herring, Phil Houseal, Jil Utterback,
Steve Stainkamp, Gary Lockte, Mary Schenk, Genie Strickland,
Jerry Phillips, Betty Sharp,Brandon Curtis & Jack Armstrong.
Proof Reader: Claire Deboise, Jil Utterback, Scotty Kauffman
Web & Application Programming: The Music Office
Sales: Tony Griffith, Karyn Lyn, Brandi Allen
Cover & Page 38 Photos: Karyn Lyn
Fall Events in the Hill Country
Fall is in the air and the Texas Hill Country has something for
everyone. With cool weather, its the perfect time to get moving
and sample what the Hill Country has to offer. From Lost Maples
to Wimberley, its time to Fall Into Place!
Page 32
NEW FACES - NEW FOLK
Dalis Allen heads into the home stretch on her series about
the roots and mission of the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk
Competition. Over the years the contest has brought a lot of new
artists into the limelight and they all have a common bond.
Page 14
Heart Beat Celebrates Our 1st Year
Thanks to the support of great advertisers and writers, we have
been able to grow and improve our guide since the first issue.
There are great things ahead for Heart Beat and here’s a shout
out and a big heart-felt thanks to you, our readers.
Page 6
The Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country is published quarterly by Heart Beat Publishing PO Box 1204, Bandera,
Texas 78003. Opinions expressed in articles may not be those of the publisher and editor of the The Heart Beat
of the Texas Hill Country, its advertisers, writers or contributors. All content is copyrighted by The Heart Beat
of the Texas Hill Country and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the publisher. The
Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country is not liable for editorial content, typographical errors and any statements
or claims by advertisers or columnists. Subscriptions are $20 per year payable to The Heart Beat of the Texas Hill
Country at the above address. Editorial and advertising submissions must be received by the 10th of the month
before publication. All ad dimensions, prices and specifications may be found at our website, texasheartbeat.com.
4
Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country texasheartbeat.com
Jil Utterback’s Fall Feasting Fare
Fall is not just about turkeys, stuffing and cranberries. Jil shares
some tried and true recipes sure to please everyone around the
dining table. These cobblers, salads and special Texas dishes are
sure to please the most discriminating cowboy tastebuds.
Betty Sharp Puts Some Backbone In It
Page 27
Page 52
Although the name, Devil’s Backbone, might sound a bit scary,
its not a new horror film Betty is talking about but a geological
fault line that pushes up the Hill Country into a ridge that is one
of the best long-viewing vistas in Central Texas.
Phil Houseal - Just Play!
Phil addresses the newcomers to live music, with his recollections
of how he got started and the trials and tribulations of a budding
new performer. Could it be that practice might be the key
component? Read on . . .
Page 48
REVIEWS - Twin Texas Treasures
In Heart Beat’s quest to catch up on concert and CD reviews,
we have a double shot for you this month. Brandon Curtis was
at the Roddy Tree Ranch in Ingram, Texas for a concert by the
King of Texas Party Punk, Joe King Carrasco and Greg Forest
pays homage to one of Texas’ favorite groups now celebrating
over 40 years together - The Drug Store Cowboys.
Page 36
We’re Going “Hyperactive”with Apps
texasheartbeat.com
If you are reading our magazine on the web, we have now
added a hyperlink feature to our online addition that enables
you to visit the web sites of our advertisers and writers by
just clicking on the image. Also coming in September will be
the Heart Beat App. You can download the app free from our
website, the Google Store or iTunes to get event updates, special
announcements from our advertisers and many other features
directly on your cell phone or other portable device. Wach our
website for details. We bad. We digital.
Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country
5
A Thank You from Karyn, Greg & The Whole Heart Beat Family
With this issue of Heart Beat we have passed our first major milestone - staying
alive in the rough and tumble world of magazine publishing for a year. Heart Beat was
initially the brain child of our Bandera advertisers and, without even a magazine to
show as an example (only a mockup of the cover - which incidently graces this issue),
they kick-started us into the whole Hill Country.
In the short period that we have been in the game, we started with 48 pages,
grew to 52 and now 60 pages with a little help from our friends - the great advertisers
that have shown faith in our mission to be the best Hill Country tourist guide available.
Our distribution has grown from 15 locations to over 50 locations you can now pick up
a copy. Our territory has also grown and this issue we welcome the Wimberley family
of businesses.
We couldn’t be more proud of the writers that that have stepped up to bat and
fill almost half of every issue. They have made us downright literary and set us apart
from the “coupon book/infomercial” format that seems so prevalent these days. We are
lucky in the Texas Hill Country to have so many performing, graphic and other artists
- it seems we never have space to get to them all. But we will keep trying.
To celebrate our 1 year anniversary we have made some significant changes to
our magazine. The copy you now hold in your hand is our first issue featuring a Perfect
Bound binding which we think will make the magazine both easier to read and display.
Beginning this Fall, we are also releasing our Heart Beat App for Android and
iPhone devices! Looking for something to do? The app will let you use your cell phone
or tablet to check out events in the Hill Country and is sychronized daily with the
“Tonight in the Hill Country” page on our web site. Also beginning this issue, is our
web version of the magazine will be interactive. If you see an advertiser or author on
a page, just click their ad or banner and a new browser window will pop up directing
you to their web site.
Since Day One, we have endeavered to bring our readers a great romp around
Texas music, arts, history and trivia. We are helping advertisers in these hard economic
times to make advertising in our magazine both easy and the most affordable and cost
effective advertising platform in the region.
Hold on to your cowboy hats ladies and gentlemen. You ain’t seen nothing yet!
6
Photo by Clay E. Ewing
W
imberley is located in central
Hays County, between Austin and San Antonio
and its natural beauty has been inspiring artists
and adventurers for decades. This quaint
community, with its scenic vistas and worldclass shopping, provides a well-spring of
creativity for both visual and performing artists.
Fascinating theatre, studio tours and live music
complement natural treasures such as Blue Hole
Regional Park, Cypress Creek and Jacob’s Well
Natural Area.
Photo by Clay E. Ewing
NATURAL WONDERS & THINGS TO DO
The geographic center and the
aesthetic heart of the Wimberley Valley is
located at the confluence of Cypress Creek and
the Blanco River. In addition to the bald cypress
and pecan trees that line the riverbanks, cedar,
oak and grasses grow in shallow, clay loams on
the area slopes and beaches. The natural beauty
of the softly winding Blanco River, shaded
Cypress Creek and the stunning views of Lone
Man Creek call to artists, retired folks and
anyone seeking escape from city life.
Wimberley has been a retreat for
artists, musicians and writers for many years,
and hosts the popular Lions Market Day. From
March through December, it brings visitors
from all over the country every first Saturday
of the month to the 475-plus booths of art and
wares.
Most visitors come to enjoy the peace
and natural beauty of the area. The climate and
setting make Wimberley a desirable place to live
and a favorite vacation getaway. Visitors also
choose Wimberley as a central location near
many other popular Hill Country attractions.
texasheartbeat.com
GEOGRAPHY
Wimberley is situated in the Blanco River Valley
where Cypress Creek flows into the Blanco.
Extensive deposits of limestone make up the
white rocks and white stream bottoms common
to the area. It is about 1,000 feet above sea level
on the Edwards Plateau, with elevations ranging
from 850 feet to more than 1,300 feet.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF WIMBERLEY
Before the 19th century, the history
of Wimberley was that of the native tribes
that roamed the countryside setting up semipermanent camps along the streams. The area
doesn’t boast any cave paintings or cliff art
from these early residents, but one can still find
evidence of their tenure in the stone tools that
they left behind and in the charred limestone of
their campfire sites. Fish and game were plentiful,
with buffalo and deer in abundance.
As a result of the Texas Revolution in
1836 and the period of the Republic from 1836
to 1845, veterans of Texas’ conflicts received
bounties in the form of land in Central Texas.
Settlers started moving into the Hill Country after
1845 because the land was available and cheap,
and the numerous springs and streams made the
area attractive for small farms and ranches.
In 1846, San Marcos was newly
incorporated and claimed fewer than 500
inhabitants. Seventeen miles to the northwest
was the small community of Glendale. This
village of hardy, generally poor settlers would one
day become Wimberley.
Now it’s your turn to be inspired and
discover the wonders of Wimberley, the jewel of
the Texas Hill Country.
EmilyAnn Theater
7
8 Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country texasheartbeat.com
texasheartbeat.com
Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country 9
10
texasheartbeat.com
11
Several years ago, I emailed a friend with a hangs
taken
simple question: “do you know a geologist who
could explain why the hill country has hills?” I
was hoping to talk to an expert, someone with
“credentials” who could tell me in a scientific
way how the hills we call home were formed.
I was sure there would be an interesting theory
as to why we have such lovely hills here.
So you may understand my consternation when I
received the expert’s reply. Out of the ether it came, a
simple question that puzzled me upon first reading.
behind me. It is a large panoramic,
from south of the river looking
northward, showing the town nestled in the
comforting arm of the Guadalupe River.
My friend’s observation is proven by the
photograph. The hills in the distance form a
flat horizon, as flat as any on the plains. Down
here in town, we’re in the part that’s been eroded
away. The river and the wind have cut through
layer upon layer of softer material, and our town
is down among the excavations, in the strata of
an ancient sea-bed, built upon fossilized silt and
muck, and the shells of ancient sea creatures.
If we live in canyons, they’re subtle ones. Here
“Probably the bigger question is: why do we have and there one can find a bluff or solid rock canyon
canyons?” she wrote. wall; FM 1340 toward Mo-Ranch offers a few
dramatic examples, especially just past Wagon
Her thesis was simple: the hills all around us Wheel Ranch. The other geologic material was
were the result of water and wind removing tons much softer, and left rounded canyon walls. We
of material, like Michelangelo freeing a goddess call them hills. Others might call them terraces.
entrapped in marble. What we see today – the
hills – are the forms of geology that were made of Either way, they’re pretty. So, if you want to
harder stuff, or stuff farther from running water. confuse distant friends, visitors, or strangers,
you could always introduce yourself as being
I received this at my cluttered desk at the print from the Texas Canyon Country. Because, in a
shop and remembered the photograph that way, that’s where we live.
joeherringjr.blogspot.com/
12
S
he is getting married! A world of
people connected by Facebook know this about
Lisa Beck who is soon to marry Art Crawford.
I first met Lisa at Pampell’s when she played in
Steal Hearts with Kathy Bauer. I heard her voice,
their harmony, and the questions began. Today,
writing this column, we talked more about her
life story. After two marriages, she decided to
follow her heart and her bliss. She committed to
playing music and started by returning to Texas
(San Antonio was her hometown) after 20 years
in Atlanta, and she picked Bandera. Her first gig
was at the Flying L Dude Ranch, and she wonders
today how she was hired. “I loved to sing, but I
certainly did not play the guitar well at all. After
that, I went to songwriters circles at Arkey’s
where I also met Art Crawford, He introduced
me to many new songwriters and musicians.”
Her life story includes a family where
her mother and aunt sang in an all girl’s quartet
on a radio show that aired right before the Buddy
Holley show. She grew up with harmonies all
around her house. Now she is not only in the
Art and Lisa duet, the Art and Lisa trio with
John Inmon, and the Art and Lisa full band,
but also the Backyard Betty group with Kathy
Bauer. Yes, she loves to sing and play. I caught
her one afternoon on a phone call to Alpine. She
was playing the Holland Hotel that evening. “I
do the booking for us, and this is our Western
tour. We will play Las Cruces, Soccoro, and
Red River. The Lost Love Saloon in Red River is
historic, and the owner, Steve, has invited us to
have our wedding on his ranch before we do the
gigs at his venue. He is known for his support of
the traveling musician! Photos of John Inmon, 3
Faces West, and the Lost Gonzo band will be on
the walls.”
Lisa has been part of my own
experience of music in the Hill Country as I
recently heard her at 1101 Bistro in Kerrville and
listened to her story of the day. “We played two
wineries this afternoon, took a short nap in the
texasheartbeat.com
car, and headed up here.” I watched the sun set
from the roof, ate a plate of wonderful calamari,
talked with the owner Tomas who also loves the
music, and heard great renditions of songs I love
(Townes Van Zandt to name one), as well as Art
and Lisa originals. Lisa on writing: “Writing is
a release for me. We have two CD’s and material
for two more.” I remind her in our conversation
how much I love her song “Learning to Breathe
Again.” And she told me, “And that is our most
requested song. Seems many people have had
this experience. I wrote this after a divorce, but
some people hear it as a song helpful in dealing
with death.” I suggested the archetypal quality of
the sense of being stifled or breathless. Joseph
Campbell would understand the appeal of the
song. We all have a time when we learned to
breathe again. Campbell would also understand
her advice to other women: “I say to follow your
heart. Don’t let others dissuade you from your
dreams. The culture did not support me in my
dream to sing. I was told not to play football with
the boys, and I was told to keep my place and be
quiet.” Campbell says, “Follow your bliss.”
Lisa has played the Texas Heritage
Music Coffeehouse at Schreiner to celebrate
women’s history month in March. We have asked
her to gather a women’s circle of songwriters for
March 2015. She was with us when Susan Gibson
came to my class and played the coffeehouse. I
hope to get Susan on this gig as well. Lisa is on
the road in August, and her husband (now when
you read this) Art, is a board member for THMF.
He has donated sound for the coffeehouse and
September 3 Johnny Nicholas is the featured
artist. Join us and say hi to Mr. and Mrs.
Crawford! Open mike at 7. Schreiner University
Lion’s Den. Art and Lisa will also perform at the
Heritage Music Day on Sept. 26, 9-1:30. Terri
Hendrix and Lloyd Maines will perform a free
concert that evening at 7:30.
Meanwhile, let’s all follow Lisa’s advice and do what
our heart says…follow our bliss. Ils sont partis. KH
13
New Folk! The 32 Finalists came to the 2014
Kerrville Folk Festival. The judging panel of 3
songwriters, this year Steve Seskin the current
Director of our Songwriters School and Greg
Greenway and Joe Jencks from the trio Brother
Sun, had a tough time deciding the six Award
Winners. They were Frank Martin Gilliagan
(Dickinson, TX), Matt Nakoa (Brooklyn, NY),
The Lovebirds (San Diego, CA), C. Daniel
Boling (Albuquerque, NM), Caroline Spence
(Nashville, TN) and Connor Garvey (Portland,
ME). They will be on tour in Texas in November
with their final gig at the Fischer Fest on Friday
November 7th.
Letters from Grassy Hill
New Folk Award Winners from 2012.
to bring generations of musicians and
songwriters together than the Kerrville
Folk Festival. I came to Kerrville first as a
listener, then as a participant, and finally as
an entrant into the songwriting competition.
I can’t wait to come back, now, as part of
a bigger movement, family, and history.
The Southwest Regional Folk Alliance has
also done wonders for me professionally,
creatively and socially. I was introduced to
SWRFA just as I was getting started as a
professional musician, and the conference
gave me an instant and affordable resource
for networking, educational resources,
professional development and creative
inspiration.”
Photo by Ira Hantz
Nicolette Good
“The Kerrville New Folk songwriting
Whit Hill
competition changed my life for the better
both as a songwriter and as a member of the
“I was honored to be chosen as a winner of
music community. The process of applying
the2012 Kerrville New Folk competition.
to the competition encouraged me to learn
It has been an absolutely life-changing
about the legacy of songwriters at Kerrville,
experience, hugely gratifying and important
but also to learn about new musicians and
to me on a variety of levels. I am not a young
writers of my own generation. There is
“troubadour” like my fellow winners this
no place else in the world that does more
year, but, rather, a middle-aged mom with
a day job – and a deep and abiding love of
songwriting which I have nurtured for the
past 20 years. Learning I was a finalist was
thrilling and the trip to the festival for the
competition taught me much about myself as
an artist. The introvert side of me dived into
the heady richness of the campfires, meeting
strangers, opening up and hearing such great
and inspiring music at every turn.
The finalists immediately forged a
community that I will never forget. Likewise,
the six winners quickly became close friends.
As we stood onstage after the winners’
concert, we were handed information about
the New Folk tour – something I’d never
expected. We also learned about our SWRFA
scholarships and other opportunities.
I decided to take advantage of
everything I could. SWRFA was thrilling and
fun – and the New Folk tour, well, I’ll never
forget it. We traveled together and backed
each other up and met (and stayed with)
lovely, kind people and reveled in each other’s
music. Really – being onstage with such an
amazing, diverse group of artists was such an
honor. Thanks, New Folk. Thanks, Kerrville.”
meant something to them. I have done many
of these competitions, and never has a win
elicited such a huge response from folks on
my mailing list, on Facebook, and at my
shows. That was such a wonderful surprise
- and I am thrilled to be added to the list
of past winners which includes so many of
my songwriting heroes. However, the New
Folk experience is so much bigger than the
competition. The connections -- musical and
otherwise -- and the sense of community
that pervades the entire Kerrville Festival
are what make the whole experience so
extraordinary. When you are a solo touring
songwriter, you spend an inordinate amount
of time alone -- you are a one-man/woman
enterprise most of the time -- but a festival
like Kerrville feels like one enormous
homecoming party where you get to see so
many of the folks who you love -- and whose
music you love -- along those dusty paths
and around the campfires. And those are the
connections and experiences that feed you
and keep you inspired and moving along
your normally solo path.“
Tom Prasada-Rao was an
Award winner in 1993.
Jimmy LaFave in 1987
Tish Hinojosa in 1979
Edie Carey
“This was my second time in the New Folk
Competition, and this time I was lucky
enough to be among the winners. One of the
lovely benefits is that so many people know
and love the festival and the competition
across the country, and so winning really
texasheartbeat.com
Stay tuned for interviews with these
artists and more. I am so delighted to have the
opportunity to tell the New Folk story in Texas
Heart Beat!
1
16
Ingram, Texas - A Holiday Shopper’s Delight
17
18
texasheartbeat.com
19
texasheartbeat.com
21
20 Steps to Creating a Successful Blog for Your Band - Part 1
By Lance Trebesch
Make quality content. Just writing a blog is not
enough. You have to make sure what you are
writing is good content. No one will comment
or read your blog if the content seems worthless
and poorly written. Also, write grammatically.
Misspellings are one of the most painful things
to witness in blogs.
B
Work on the title. The title is a necessity. The
first thing people look at and what makes them
read your blog is the title. Titles that hint of
content with lists and bullets also draw people in
due to the pleasing layout and more white space
of lists. If the title perks their interest, they will
click on your blog to continue reading. Take the
time to think about an interesting title and log
which titles draw more readers.
logs prove to be a tricky field to
conquer, especially when it comes to gaining an
initial reader-base. However, once you get that
reader base, great potential for increasing your
online reputation is created. Successful blogs
keep their status by following these 20 rules from
Submit to directories. After creating a good
the start and throughout their blog’s lifetime.
content-and-keyword-rich blog, submit it
Focus the topic. Thousands of different blogs to different directories. Top Blog Area and
exist on the web. Only the well-established ones BlogFlux are two good sites to submit blogs to
can post general news and see success. Instead, according to category of blog. Another option is
focus your blog around a niche. The more to write just one blog for an established blogging
narrow the subject, the more likely you will get a site in the rock music industry and tell them
why they should feature your blog on their site.
steady reader base.
If they choose to put the blog on their site, you
Search similar blogs and subscribe. Because will see greatly increased traffic.
there are so many blogs on the internet,
chances are somebody somewhere will also be
talking about your subject. Find these sites and
subscribe to them so you get instant updates.
The best action to take is to read up on these
blogs and know what they talk about regularly.
Get a friend to submit your blog to Digg,
StumbleUpon, Technorati, Netscape, and
Reddit. These search sites generate a ton of traffic
to your site if viewed frequently (or “digged,”
“thumbs up” “favored,” etc). However, people
view down on you if you constantly submit your
own content to these sites, so instead, make a
buddy submit your blogs, videos, or podcasts to
these sites one or two times a week. Eventually,
your good content will make it to the homepage
of these content-search sites, generating an
unimaginable amount of traffic to your blog.
Create business relationships. By helping out
someone else and their blog in some way, they
will in return help you and your blog out. One
good example is devising a list of online radio
stations you can submit your music to and give
them the list so they can use it for their benefit
as well. By becoming business friends, you
Ping every site. Some submission
can promote each other by talking about one sites allow you to ‘ping’ them, which means they
another’s webpage, music, blog, etc.
22
get an automatic update when you post a new
blog. This is good so they always have your latest
posts in their records. These sites also allow you
to put in key tag terms. By inputting a tag term,
your blog will pop up if someone searches for the
term you used. For instance, if you are writing
about electric guitar comparisons (tag terms)
and the searcher inserts “compare guitars,” your
blog will show as a result. You must utilize pings
and tags to increase your blog popularity.
Write regularly and stand out. The only way
to gain a steady reader base is if you write a blog
regularly. The best blogs update their content
daily or sometimes several times a day. As an
upcoming artist, though, weekly will suffice if
you write on a consistent day around the same
time every week. In addition, you need to
stand out from other bloggers. Write properly,
but use your personality. Personality keeps
the blog interesting and keeps readers coming
back. In addition, the readers like to be treated
as humans, so drop the business lingo. Blogs
are for entertainment, so engage your audience.
Write for them.
Host your blog on your website domain. Using
a different host for your blog not only confuses
your readers, but also reduces the amount of
quality traffic to your site. The only smart way
to host a blog is through your own website. If
readers like what they read, or you mention
something about your music in the blog, they
can easily navigate to your website to find out
more information. Creating a blog serves the
purpose of promoting your music online, which
you can only do if you reader can easily access
your website from your blog.
This is the end of part one of the two part series
to creating a successful blog. Part two goes into
more detail on how to promote your blog and
see additional success in the first weeks and
months of your blog.
texasheartbeat.com
23
25
Love Creek’s Patio Cafe:
If you’re looking for a quaint country
cafe, Love Creek’s Patio Cafe is a Hill Country
treat, especially with lotsa apple treats! You can
sit outside on the picnic tables and enjoy the crisp
country air, or sit inside the covered patio (hence
the name “Patio Cafe”) with gravel flooring, and a
wood burning stove for when the Texas hills cool
off. You order from the food wagon by viewing
the display boards that offer spicy pepper jack
burgers with applewood bacon and yummy sweet
n’ spicy pickles.
Castroville Cafe:
Everyone needs to drive to a
small town every so often and check out
local shops and local products/cafes. So
while in Castroville delivering our mags, I
visited with the locals, asking their personal
recommendations on where to eat, as we all
know, locals know what’s good and what’s
not. When they mentioned Castroville Cafe
was in a historical house and had been there
many years, they didn’t need to say anymore.
Just a block away from the main drag (hwy
90), sits a charming historical house-turnedrestaurant.
First thing on the menu that
grabbed me was the butternut squash and
Tomato Basil soup, two of my favs, but
because butternut squash is not as common, I
ordered it, and I am glad I did!
Or on the lighter side, and my personal
favorite is, their special homemade pimento
cheese sandwich with a luscious blend of cheeses
and the chicken salad sandwich with apples, apple
chutney, pecans and other special ingredients that
makes it truly a Love Creek delicious delight. The
Patio Cafe is known for their world famous apple
pies and apple cinnamon ice cream; they also have
apple jams, apple syrups, apple coffee (I highly
recommend the beans over ground), AND, you
can even go home with an apple tree or two, or
three (it’s better to plant more than one so they
don’t have apple anxiety). The Patio café was
listed among the Top 40 Small Town Restaurants
in Texas by Texas Monthly Magazine and has been
featured on the History Channel, Food Channel,
and Editable Magazine. Please check out our
inside cover for details on the annual Pumpkin
Patch.
Besides the creamy flavor of fresh
butternut squash that took over my pallet,
my paired fried egg sandwich, served on a
crunchy ciabatta roll dressed with red pepper
jelly and topped with Vermont smoked
bacon made my trip worthwhile. They also
offer two signature sandwiches that I was
told I had to try called “The Landmark,” and
“The Alsatian.” Castroville is a historical
community, continuingt o preserve and
showcase the Alsatian cuisine, heritage and
architecture.
Apple Store/Cafe (830) 589-2202
14024 State Hwy 16 North Medina, TX 78055
Open Daily 11am–3pm for Lunch.
Castroville Cafe (830) 538- 2400
309 Lafayette St, Castroville, TX 78009
Mon-Sat 11am-3pm & Sun 11am-4pm.
texasheartbeat.com
27
T
definitely didn’t ring a bell, but his description
he two preeminent amenities of of it did. “You had to go downstairs into the
living in Bandera – live music and the eclectic place,” Homer said. “It was right there on Main
assortment of people you meet here – are often Street.” The Silver Dollar? Formerly known as
overlooked in a taking-it-for-granted way by The Fox Hole, the Legendary Silver Dollar must
those of us who call Bandera home. In the past have been known briefly, at least to musicians,
twelve years, I’ve met people from virtually every as “Bill’s Cowboy Bar”. Bade can also claim artist
state and all over the world. I’ve sold books to credits on the historic Sarg Records label. (Sarg
tourists from Great Britain to France to Russia, a recorded people like Larry Nolen, The Pearl
total of 14 countries which is a stronger testament Wranglers, Floyd Tillman, Adolph Hofner and
to the international tourist trade flowing through young fellow by the name of Willie Nelson.)
the county than to me as a writer. I’ve shepherded, Homer Bade is walking Bandera
interacted and worked with writers, TV and film music history. He and Lila gave us their contact
producers from China, South Africa and Canada, information and you better believe I’m going
among others, who are equally fascinated with to call him and interview him about every bit
the look and sound of the area. (We’ll get back to of Bandera music history he embodies. That
the music shortly, I promise.)
information will find its way into The Bandera
You just never know who might be at Music History Project Hall of Fame (BMHoF),
the next table, on the next barstool or chair. I’ve which has awarded Arkey Blue, The Silver
sat beside captains of industry, local eccentrics Dollar, The Silver Spur, Larry Nolen and many
and a charming burlesque queen from Las Vegas. others, in its primary mission as a History
The first few years I lived here, my life was in Project. Music is an integral part of Bandera
thrall to my business, the Cabaret. There were history and that music draws people from all
a few hours a day snatched for sleeping and the over the world. It even draws musicians who
occasional trip to Kerrville, but when you own played here decades ago, musicians who helped
a music venue, it rules your life. (See, I told you create the history of this unique place.
we’d get back to music.) The bonus was meeting
and hearing, live, the amazing Country Music You just never know who you’re going to meet
Hall of Famers and Texas music stars like Larry in Bandera.
Nolen, Hank Thompson, Dicky Overbey, Al
Dean, Johnny Bush and younger talents like
Charlie and Bruce Robison and Jack Ingram.
HEART BEAT OF THE WEB
The other day I met Homer Bade.
Name doesn’t ring a bell? Homer and his lovely
wife, Lila, were visiting old memories in Bandera Heart Beat is developing a double shot of apps
from their home in Cuero, and found their way for both Android and iOS devices. Download
today for the latest events and special
to the Frontier Times Museum. The Museum
is another amenity of this county too often announcements to your cell phone or portable
neglected by those of us who live here. Homer device. Watch our web site for release dates.
Bade and his wife walked into the Museum, took
a stroll around the exhibits, then stopped to chat
at the front desk.
It seems Homer, 81, is a steel guitar
player who still plays at some of the old dance
halls. He recollects playing Bandera with a band
called “Southern Air” [Southernaire/Southern
Air] at venues like the Silver Spur Dance Hall and
a place he remembers as “Bill’s Cowboy Bar.” That
FALL EVENTS
IN THE HILL COUNTRY
RECURRING
Wimberley’s Second Saturday Gallery Trail
Second Saturday of every month.
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Wimberley Square
We Got Yer Goat BBQ Cook-off
September 19-20, 2014
Blanco County Fairgrounds. Johnson City,
(512)-775-9497
Texas Street Customs Car Show
2 pm - 5 pm Third Saturday every month.
1111 Main Street, Bandera
Comal County Fair & Rodeo
September 19-28, 2014
701 Common St. New Braunfels
(830) 625-1505
Bandera Indoor Flea Market
American Legion Post 157 Bandera
9 am - 3 pm -Third Saturday every month.
205 12th St, Bandera, TX 78003
(830) 796-7528
Annual Symposium
Sep 20, 2014
National Museum of the Pacific War
500 E Austin, Fredericksburg
(830) 997-8600 ext #204
Blanco Market Days
Old Blanco County Courthouse Square
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Third Saturday every month.
830-833-2211
Hill Country Art Festival
September 20, 2014 | 10am - 5pm
All around Comfort, TX.
(830) 995-3131
Wimberley Market Days
First Saturday of every month.
601 FM 2325, Wimberley, TX
(512) 847-2201
SEPTEMBER
The Wimberley Playhouse
“Young Frankenstein”
Weekends September 12 - October 5
450 Old Kyle Rd, Wimberley, TX 78676
(512) 847-159
Professional Bull Riding (PBR)
September 13, 2014
Gillespie County Fairgrounds
530 Fair Dr. Fredericksburg
(830) 997-2359
32
Exotic Wildlife Association’s
Annual Shrimp Broil & Social
Sept 20, 2014 Albert Dance Hall. 5pm-1am
(830) 456-9421
Fall Wine & Food Festival
Sep 27, 2014 - Texas Vineyards & Beyond
329 1/2 E. Main St, Fredericksburg
(830) 990-9199
Just A Chili Cook-off
Sept 28, 2014
Blanco, at Yett Memorial Park
1813 US 281 S., Blanco, TX
OCTOBER
Kerr Arts & Cultural Center
“Bigger Than Texas” Show
October 1 - 4, 2014
228 Earl Garrett St, Kerrville, TX 78028
Phone:(830) 895-2911
Cailloux Theater
“Journey Across Europe”
7:30 pm Thursday October 2, 2014
910 Main St, Kerrville, TX 78028
(830) 896-9393
Fredericksburg Oktoberfest
Friday October 3 - Sunday October 5, 2014.
Time: 10 am - 6:00 pm
100 West Main Fredericksburg Texas
NOVEMBER
The Wimberley Playhouse
“The Two Noble Kinsmen”
November 14 - December 7, 2014, 7:30 pm
450 Old Kyle Rd, Wimberley, TX 78676
(512) 847-1592
Fredericksburg Antique Show
November 15-16, 2014
530 Fair Drive, Fredericksburg, TX
Uptown Quilt Show
Oct 10-11, 2014 Uptown Blanco Textile Studio,
317 Main Street, Blanco, TX. 10am - 5pm
Veteran’s Day Memorial
(830) 833-1579
Nov 11, 2014
National Museum of the Pacific War
Comfort Village Fall Antiques Show
500 E Austin, Fredericksburg, TX
Saturday October 18 Sunday October 19, 2014. (830) 997-8600 ext #204
All Day Event
Comfort Park, 403 Hwy 27, Comfort, Texas
Mercedes-Benz Car Show(MBCA)
Cailloux Theater
The Game’s Afoot
Friday October 24-Saturday November 8, 2014.
910 Main St, Kerrville, TX 78028
(830) 896-9393
Lost Maples Season Colors
Late October - Early November (check web)
Lost Maples State Park | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
37221 F.M. 187, Vanderpool, TX
Phone: (830) 966-3413
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/lost-maples
Wurstfest
2000 S State Highway 16, Fredericksburg, TX
(830) 997-2359
Oct 31-Nov 9, 2014 | (800) 221-4369
Hunter’s Roundup
Oct 31, 2014 6-10pm
Uvalde County Fairplex
2319, W Main St, Uvalde, TX
(830) 591-9040 | (830) 278-3361
texasheartbeat.com
Nov 15, 2014 | 10aa - 2pm
31445 IH-10 W., Boerne, TX
(512) 497-9012
Wild Game Dinner
Nov 22, 2014
530 Fair Dr, Fredericksburg, TX
(830)-997-5508 | (512) 358-1000,
Texas Gun & Knife Show
Nov 22-23, 2014 | Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4.
Event Center, 3705 TX 27 East. Kerrville,TX
(830) 285-0575
Peddler Show - Perfect Street of Shops
November 28 - 30
530 Fair Dr, Fredericksburg, TX
(512) 358-1000
33
Bandera never seems to slow down.
snacks. It’s free and you’ll love the music! If later
For a in the evening is more appealing to get out and do
small community we always have lots to do something, try you skill at Bingo at the American
and this summer was no exception! So what’s Legion in Bandera and in Pipe Creek.
planned for the last quarter of the year? Take a As for events, well, Bandera is the
deep breath, you’re gonna get tired just reading best at throwing a party. Got to check it out! In
about it! For more details, locations, contacts September there will be an Antique Tractor Pull
and times go to www.banderacowboycapital. on the 12th and 13th at Mansfield Park. On the
com, and click on Events.
19th through the 21st is the Rumble on the River
Bandera folks can’t seem to live the produced by the Biker Rallies of Texas. Bring
quite life in the Hill Country like most folks. your ride, you’ll want to ride some of the best
We just have to have an event! The first Tuesday runs in Texas.
of each month we get a kick start with the Down at the Lake you have to save
Cowboy Capital Opry. Got to go, at least once. September 27th (11am-10pm) for the 34th
The music is awesome and always a surprise. Annual Cajun Fest. Great Cajun food, music
You never know who might show up and often and fun! Don’t miss it! Arts and Crafts and did I
it is a well-known musician just wanting to mention the food? All Cajun,
jam with their friends. Small fee to get in with October brings some great fall venues.
refreshments and door prizes. Best kept secret It starts with the ultimate festival for children.
in Bandera.
It’s The Great Hill Country Pumpkin Patch in
Every month you can count on the Medina. Hay bale maze, music, storytelling,
Farmer’s Market where you can buy fresh, petting zoo, pumpkin painting, scarecrow
locally grown produce and lots of homemade building, apple orchard tours, pig races, barrel
goodies. Jams, jellies, breads, and yum. They train, cider making, gee , and , oh, yeah, you can
won’t disappoint! We also have a Market Day buy pumpkins! Every weekend and Mondays in
the first Saturday of each month April thru October. School tours on Thursdays and Fridays.
November. Great finds there. And Stroll across October 4th includes the Frogs for
the street to the Book Sale at the Kronkowski Freedom Ride that benefits the Navy Seals. All
Library. Good Books are priceless. Once a vehicles are welcome. Starts at 11th Street in
month Bandera features Classic Car Night at Bandera. Then stay overnight for the Annual
Fat Boyz. Bikers and trucks are welcome too. Cabrito & BBQ dinner that benefits the Medina
Or check the schedule for the Rusty Wheel. Livestock and Wildlife Association on October
They have classic cars show off at their venue 5th In Medina.
too. The first Friday of each month stop by St October 18th you have to go to the
Stanislaus Catholic Church for the Knights of Ranch Heritage Days at the Hill Country State
Columbus Fish Fry. Some of the best fish ever! Natural Area. Free Fun Family Event featuring
Of course Saturday’s between noon Ranch skills, Music and stories, antique tractors,
and 4pm you can stroll Main Street and catch Chuck wagon cooking, Branding Irons, Horses
the Bandera Business Associations’ Cowboys and cattle, Working dogs with sheep and goats,
on Main program. Features a shootout at coverd wagon rides and a giant rocking horse
Heritage Plaza with performances by the Little Wrangler Rodeo. Dress western if you can
Bandera Cattle Company Gun Slingers. Great and bring a chair. Can’t Miss this!
Show and the kids get deputized and get a Sat - Sun on the 25th and 26th The
badge to prove it. Be watching the calendar for Bandera 100K, 50k, & 25k Race is being held at
the Cowboy Camp and Song Circle at Frontier the Hill Country State Natural Area. This ought
Times Museum. Bring your chair and some
to get you moving! Best Run in the State!
Oct 31st is the 52nd Annual Hunter’s BBQ and
Outdoor Expo. Texas size Live Auction, Live
Music, BBQ, exhibits, and lots of entertainment.
Sponsored by the Bandera County Chamber of
Commerce. Great Food and awesome auction.
November the 8th the Bandera American Legion’s
hosts the annual Bandera Honor’s Veterans Day,
Event begins at 9:00 AM on the Bandera County
Courthouse lawn with family displays and
continues until 4:00 PM. Music starts at 10:00am
with the Official ceremony at 11:00 AM and
parade at noon. Free BBQ sandwich lunch for
veterans & their wives. Additional food available
for purchase. See military displays, concessions,
and more.
On the 15th join the Bandera Walk for
Diabetes. Registration 7:30 AM Start 9:00 AM
Hosted by the Arthur Nagel Community Clinic,
the Second annual 5K Walk for Diabetes is part of
the American Diabetes Association’s Community
Walks aimed at stopping diabetes.
Fit into all of this activity is Thanks
Giving! You can be sure Bandera has lots to
be Thankful for! For more information visit
BanderaCowboyCapital.com and click on Events,
Yee-Haw, Ya’ll
texasheartbeat.com
35
Around 1987 I walked into the pub
at the Inn of the Hills and discovered a great
“new” band, The Drugstore Cowboys. The
band was brimming with talent and I became
an immediate fan. Dub Robinson, the band
leader, has years of performance and production
expericnce and each member of the band can
front a band in their own right.
Dub started out with KBUC radio, a
legendary Texas country station and was part
of Mann’s Hoedown when he hooked up with
Paine Tommy McKay. That was the core of the
new group who hit the road as Gary Stewart’s
band. In Ft. Meyers Florida, opening for Hank
II, the band was joined for the better part of a
set by Greg Allman and burned down the house
receiving 5 encores. Bosephus was not happy.
The band has 40+ years under their
belt and a huge repetoire culled from each
members time as band leaders. There is 160 years
of combined musical experience on display each
time they take the stage - which is about 150-200
nights a year.
When I asked Dub what advice he
had for upcoming musicians, he had some very
pragmatic advice, “Have a Plan B.” Judging by
their success, Plan A has served the band well.
The Cowboys are playing a special
show with John Arthur Martinez September
13th celebrating the 10th Anniversary of
Hondo’s on Main in Fredericksbug. It is sure to
be quite a gala so mark it on your calendar.
Also on November 16th you can be
a part of the Drugstore Cowboys new CD and
DVD. They will be taping at another legendary
Texas Music venue - John T. Flores Country
Store. Wear your best boots!
36
2014
1985
1995
1975
ITS A PARTY PARTY WEEKEND!
Joe King Carrasco in Concert
Roddy Tree Ranch - Ingram, TX
Review by Brandon Curtis
T
here’s a reason Joe King Carrasco
is hailed as one of the most influential figures in
Texas music culture. Known as the â€œKingâ€
of the Tex-Mex genre, Carrasco is known to
deliver a truly captivating experience through
his Latin rhythms and his exquisite blending of
multi-cultural tonal flavors. His unique style
provides a fresh approach to the typical mariachi
and polka ballad, and although Spanish guitars
and steel drums are lacking, even Tex-Mex
purists can find artistic beauty in Carrasco’s
performances.
While many may only see Carrasco as
an exclusive Texan musician, his passport and
personality speak volumes of the locations that
influence his musical identity. In the early stages
of his career Carrasco frequented between
Austin and Los Angeles, not only to benefit
from their eclectic live-music venues, but also
for the opportunities to develop his own musical
persona. Touring in the South American
countries of Colombia and Bolivia exposed
Carrasco to the rich melodies and nuances of
the distinct Spanish-American cultures that
pervade throughout his artistic work. Even
his own style is a reflection of his personal
influences. As a teenager he was profoundly
inspired by musicians like Doug Sahm and the
Tornadoes, Julieta Venegas, and vocalists from
the Blues era. Within the upbeat pulses of his
Tex-Mex tracks are inter-genre overtones, often
taking the form of a wild guitar solo or vibrant
variations in the percussion section.
Included in Carrasco’s musical
entourage during his performance at the Roddy
Tree Ranch in Ingram were Albert Besteiro,
Vince Mejia, and Chuggy Hernandez. To say
Carrasco gave an exhilarating performance
would be an understatement: at one point
texasheartbeat.com
during the show he cavorted down from stage,
navigated through the floor of dancers and
jumped onto a table to display his prowess of
playing his guitar behind his head. The crowd
was also treated to an impromptu accordion
solo from Fritz Morquecho who joined Carrasco
improvising with the band during the set.
Carrasco himself is an improviser who considers
the art as essential to musicianship as being able
to read sheet music.
Music is an outlet for expression
Carrasco said.
(There is a) fine balance between
reading and improvisation.
Considering his induction into the
Texas Music Hall of Fame and his growing fan
base, Joe King Carrasco is undoubtably one of
Tex-Mex music’s most profound individuals.
When not touring throughout the Americas,
Carrasco can be found entertaining at his
famous Nacho Daddy restaurant and bar in
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where he currently
resides. Due to his dynamic concert experiences
and explosive antics, it’s no surprise that many
know Carrasco not only as a patriarch of TexMex but also as the original “Party King.”
37
Hidden in the hills of the western Hill
Country is a natural gem that attracts thousands
of people each year. Lost Maples State Park is
reknowned for it’s natural beauty, especially every
fall when the maple trees and Texas red oaks turn
color.
Lost Maples has actually been popular
for centuries - the area was home to a large
population of Indian tribes including Apache,
Lipan Apache and Comanche tribes which
threatened the region well into the 19th century.
The park showcases the best in Edwards
Plateau plant and wildlife, with all kinds of terrain
ranging from limestone canyons, clear streams
and springs and wooded slopes. Bird watchers
will delight in the abundance of species including
the green kingfisher, the endangered blackcapped vireo and golden-cheeked warblers who
nest and feed in the park spring and summer.
As you stroll along the creek, the
shoreline is bathed in red, gold, yellow and green
38
- a wonderland for photo buffs looking for some
great shots of some of Texas’ most beautiful
scenary.
There are hiking trails for every level
of fitness, from a short stroll down the creek to
longer hikes up into the hillsides.
The park offers a wide variety
of outdoor activities including picnicking,
camping, backpacking, sightseeing, hiking,
photography, bird watching, fishing, swimming
and nature study.
For overnight guests, the park offers
two types of camping sites - 40 primitive hike-in
camping sites ($10) and 30 campsites with both
water and electricity ($20) . In the fall these sites
fill quickly so make your reservations as early as
possible.
For more information and updates on
the status of the folliage, call the number above
or visit their web site for the latest news.
D
avid “Snuffy” Jackson started as a photo journalist with his high school paper in the
days when you had to have a darkroom. These early years gave him an eye for composition, people’s
faces and street photography. Although many people diss “Photoshop” imaging, David embraces it.
“When Kodak quits making film stock, the writing is on the wall. No more smelly chemicals and
waiting for photos to process. One click will accomplish what used to take me hours”
When asked what the most difficult images to capture are, “Lightning bolt,s as it is a hitand-miss process sometimes requiring dozens if not hundreds of long exposure images.
David’s advice to beginning photographers, “Just go shoot! The more you shoot the
better you get and you may find your niche more quickly. Hang out with other photographers, they
are dying to share how they get the great shots.”
texasheartbeat.com
Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country 39
Game Calls That Work
G
ood spring rains and promising
field reports lead me to speculate: This may be
the best deer season we have had in a very long
time. So what are you waiting for? Get serious
this season and bag that wall hanger of a lifetime!
I am often asked: Beyond shooting
true and scouting hard, what factors contribute
to a successful trophy deer hunt? A banker friend
once told me: “I am not a better hunter than the
rest; I can just afford to hunt where there are lots
of trophy animals.” Certainly, selecting a locale
where there are good animals—like the Hill
Country—often makes a great hunter out of a
mediocre one.
Make sure your equipment—and
its operator—is fine-tuned. When it comes to
shooting—a rifle or a bow—practice, practice,
practice… Beyond that, luck often plays a role in
success. So too, product. I rarely endorse hunting
gear, unless it’s phenomenal. And I never endorse
anything that doesn’t work as advertised. So
when I discover a tool of the huntin’ trade that
is really effective, as in gangbusters, I feel it’s my
duty to share it with other hunters.
So I will.
Certainly, some gadgets catch more
hunters than wild game, but that cannot be
said of a game call I have used with uncanny
success—the Hands-free Grunt Call by Knight
& Hale.
We all learn by trial and error—such
is true of game calls. I’ve used them, and I’ve
pitched ‘em when they haven’t performed. Bow
hunting bucks in south-central Kansas several
years ago, perched between spindly hackberry
trees, I tried Knight & Hale’s hands-free call.
I like this call because it comes with a lanyard
that I can easily hang around my neck. When I
‘lip’ this lightweight device and gently inhale, it
makes sounds that literally drive rutting bucks
wild.
As I write this column, I am sitting
down, looking outside the window with my
40
grunt call hanging from my lip like one of
Bogart’s smokes in an old Hollywood flick.
And as I type, I can see I am driving Bubba, my
recently turned 7-year-old Blue Heeler lying at
my feet, nuts.
Note to Self: Bucks love this game call;
Australian Cattle Dogs do not!
The first buck I lured in was over 150
yards away, walking diagonally away from me
in a harvested milo field near Winfield. When
the buck heard the call, he stopped dead in his
tracks, turned and ran toward me, slamming on
the brakes 20 yards shy of the tree I was seated
in.
Editor’s Note: Bucks don’t climb trees.
When you call in an animal to shooting range,
STOP CALLING. Keep it up and your buck
will spook. That deer wasn’t the one I wanted,
but the next day I called in a nice 10-point to
45 yards and harvested it with my BowTech bow.
I double-lunged that buck and went home with
his trophy rack, all that delicious venison—and
another tried and true game call.
I have successfully used my Knight
call on south Texas, west Texas and Hill Country
muy grande bucks as well as Kansas bruisers.
I haven’t used it farther afield, so I won’t swear
that this game call works on Iowa or Oklahoma
bucks, but I wager to say it will. Unless Iowa and
Oklahoma bucks speak a different language.
Most hunters are eager to share their
success tips with others. So if you have a great
story you’d like to share, give me a call (Ph. 432296-8813) or drop me an email (stains1767@
gmail.com; ).
2900 E. Main
Uvalde, TX 78801
830-278-4000
www.oasisoutback.com
Gunshop
In-house Gun Shop
Limited Gunsmithing
Cleaning
FFL Transfer
Special Orders
Bar-B-Q & Grill
located inside the store
texasheartbeat.com
41
Varied and unexpected environmentally
related events are the norm for our fascinating
Hill Country. Interesting things have happened
here on the Farm this Spring. We were headed
into the summer under the worst drought
conditions in 70+ years when suddenly in May
we get over 7” of rain followed by 2.64” in June.
Ground that has appeared barren for months
is suddenly supporting knee high vegetation of
every kind imaginable.
My Master Naturalist training tells
me to let it go. Diversity is a good thing. The
tall grass and forbs will control erosion while
providing a home for all kinds of living creatures.
Beautiful butterflies will feed on the nectar of
the wildflowers, beautiful birds will come to eat
the butterfly larvae and the wildflower seeds.
The list could go on, but uncontrolled diversity
would also include chiggers, fleas, mosquitos,
scorpions, centipedes, and even rattlesnakes and
copperheads.
Even on a large working ranch that
was depending on cattle, sheep, and goats, as
was the case with earlier stages of Hill Country
development, ranchers were advised to graze
half of the forage produced on their pasture
land, but to always leave enough leaf area for the
plants to regenerate to provide more grazing at
a later time while continuing with enough root
system to control erosion.
It makes sense that the take half leave
half concept should apply to yard mowing as well
as grazing, especially considering our expensive
and limited water resources. Businesses that are
tourist oriented need a short grass alternative.
The same folks that gave us the graze
half leave half theory have worked at alternative
grass species that can survive our frequently
harsh conditions while at the same time provide
some erosion control, and harbor less of the
possible pests. One of the first choices for testing
for the required qualities is a true native grass,
Buffalograss
Our Natural Resource Conservation
Service, The Agrilife Extension folks as well as a
42
number of private plant breeders have done a lot
of work with this native cultivar.
I will quote the sales pitch from the
Ecological Solutions publication of the Native
American Seed Co. located in Junction, TX.
“ Buffalograss a 5-8 inch short, sod-forming
grass. Lives on as little as l2 inches of water per
year, spreading by seed and surface runners.
Buffalograss has no natural diseases or pests,
does not respond to fertilizer, and withstands
extreme hot or cold. Found from Minnesota
and Montana down to Mexico, thriving in all
types of soils, environmentally responsible
alternative to Bermuda or St. Augustine.”
Keep in mind that this company is
selling seed. Here on the Farm I’ve been planting
small patches of this stuff for over 20 years, and
I’m sold on its value as a potential short grass
lawn for large areas. Everything the Native
American Seed Co. says is true, but there are
some other factors that folks should be aware of.
Before undertaking extensive plantings. (l The
seed does not germinate evenly, This is true of
almost all native seed. The DNA in every seed
is a little different. This enables the species to
survive, but not necessarily every individual. (2)
Buffalograss seedlings grow very slowly. They
start as spider web thin wisps ¼ to ½ “ long. These tiny wisps are apparently
very tough and retain life under extremely
harsh conditions waiting for environmental
improvements such as rainfall to occur. (3 )
The varieties I have tried have almost no shade
tolerance. (4) Buffalograss prefers deep soil, but
is not particular what kind--sand, loam, caliche,
clay are all OK (5) Buffalogass does not compete
well with other grasses and weeds under what
we consider good conditions. It prefers drought
followed by wet, and it does not need fertilizer.
(6) It will turn brown quickly when drought
conditions set in, but turn green very quickly
even with light rainfall.
These six observations are certainly
not meant as discouragement, only as factors
that anyone contemplating plantings of this kind
of lawn area should be aware of.. As mentioned
at the beginning of the article some interesting
things happened on the Farm this Spring. Our
recent lengthy drought followed by adequate
rainfall has resulted in positive developments
with our Buffalograss trials. The tough little
wisps of grass, and dormant seed took advantage
of the conditions and spread significantly. We
have a number of fair sized patches of the grass.
Due to our prior experiences our efforts
to encourage the spread of this environmentally
adapted naturally short grass will involve (1)
setting our mowers relatively high 3 ½ to 4 inches
attempting to keep weeds and KR Bluestem
from going to seed while adhering to the take
half leave half theory. (2) Resist the temptation
to fertilize the small patches of Buffalograss
because this will encourage the weeds and other
competing grasses more than it will the Buffalo.
(3) We will refrain from overseeding the patches
of Buffalo with Rye grass in the fall because the
Buffalo does not like competition.
Nothing can ever be simple, but by trial and
error and sharing experiences, we will continue
to learn and improve our techniques of caring
for our fascinating Hill Country environment.
texasheartbeat.com
43
44
O
However, it is important that citizens and
prospective jurors understand that while that
belief is important to our sense of well-being and
security, it has to be tempered with the realization
that police officers are human too. They do make
mistakes, they do hold grudges, and they often
use their positions of authority for the wrong
reasons. A word of caution about police officers
in general (and please understand that this is not
an indictment of all police officers): any person
who has a psychological need to be a police officer
probably does not have the psychological makeup
to be a good police officer and will probably abuse
Elected judges and prosecutors who their authority at least occasionally.
know little to nothing about criminal laws and
procedures are curable flaws. Some minimum
I write this, not as a complaint about our
experience requirements to hold those offices system of criminal justice, because as I said when
would be a good step in the right direction.
I started, we have the best system in the world.
ur criminal justice system is the
best system in the world. In most countries
judges decide whether a person is guilty of a
crime and judges decide what is the appropriate
punishment. Our founding fathers were
brilliant, thinking men, who recognized the
inherent dangers of having a governmental
official decide the fate of individual citizens.
But, with that said, our system is not perfect.
There are flaws that can be corrected, and there
are flaws that cannot.
Incurable flaws are simply human
errors. We are all human and we will all make
mistakes. We make observations about others,
and make presumptions about them and their
actions based largely upon our own personal
experiences and interactions with others.
The politically correct movement calls this
“profiling” and rages against it. But, to stop
people from making assumptions about others
based upon their appearance and actions would
require a fundamental change in human nature.
It simply ain’t gonna happen. So that “flaw”,
the habit of making assumptions about people
accused of crimes, is not curable and it will
never change.
I write this simply to say that forewarned is
forearmed and if you are called for jury duty, be
aware of the human errors that negatively impact
our criminal justice system, and be aware of your
own assumptions and prejudices as you enter the
courtroom. For our system to work, ordinary
citizens have to give more than lip service to the
concept that a person is innocent until proven
guilty.
In our system of justice, people who serve
on criminal juries, and even those who are called
but are not selected, will almost always enter the
courtroom, sit down, look around, and wonder
to themselves what law the Defendant broke.
After all, they wouldn’t be there if they hadn’t
done something wrong. That is simply human
nature. If you believe in our system of justice,
(and I do), you have a fundamental belief that
police officers don’t arrest and accuse innocent
people.
texasheartbeat.com
45
46
Over the years I have become
increasingly suspicious of commercial products
intended for the home and garden. These
products are heavily marketed by high dollar
advertising firms who dominate print and visual
media.
Perhaps the most dangerous of these
products are those used for household cleaning
and for common pest problems at home and in
the garden. Without naming names, suffice it to
say that if it kills pests by means of volatile oils it
is not safe. You can recognize them by the way
they smell. Yucky!
There are so many safe alternatives.
I’d like to provide you with several tried and
true “recipes” which you can make at home for
pennies on the dollar. Best of all, these recipes
do not “slow kill” you, your kids, or your pets.
By the way, the safe alternatives are
by way of “essential oils” instead of high priced
volatile oils.
The basic recipe will be 6 to 7 drops
of the particular oil(s) listed below, a half cup
of white vinegar, a “squirt” of quality dish soap,
preferably “eco-type” available at most grocery
stores, gently mixed into 1 ½ gallons of warm
water. That’s it!
Spray or pour…whatever you like.
You can test the mixtures for skin sensitivity by
spraying a small amount on your forearm. If you
are going to get a reaction (which is rare), it will
usually occur within 20 minutes. Most adults
and children should not have any problems with
any of these recommendations. It is generally
safe and effective to spray your clothing with
any of the mixtures.
If you are looking to get a basic starter
set of home essential oils, the top 4 oils to get
are Peppermint, Lavender, Spearmint, and
Cedarwood. These four oils will cover all insect
categories and they are the least expensive oils
to purchase. Hint: for a pleasant and effective
household cleanser, try mixing the preceding
four oils and mop your hard surface floors.
Wood, tile, linoleum, etc….this mixture works
great on all these floor surfaces.
All of these oils can be purchased
texasheartbeat.com
at various sites online. And, if you like, you
can purchase from me at https://garylochte.
my90forlife.com
Because the oils are used sparingly,
even one ounce of oil will make many gallons of
product, possibly saving you hundreds of dollars
and decreasing detrimental effects on the health
of your family and your pets.
For example: What do you use to
eliminate ants in the house, or in the garden? Try
Peppermint & Spearmint oils.
Aphids in the Garden: Cedarwood, Hyssop,
Peppermint, Spearmint
Beetles: Peppermint, Thyme
Caterpillars: Spearmint, Peppermint
Chiggers: Lavender, Lemongrass, Sage, Thyme
Fleas: Peppermint, Lemongrass, Spearmint,
Lavender
Flies: Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage
Gnats: Patchouli, Spearmint
Lice: Cedarwood, Peppermint, Spearmint
Mosquitoes: Lavender, Lemongrass
Moths: Cedarwood, Hyssop, Lavender,
Peppermint, Spearmint
Plant Lice: Peppermint, Spearmint
Slugs: Cedarwood, Hyssop, Pine
Snails: Cedarwood, Pine, Patchouli
Spiders: Peppermint & Spearmint
Ticks: Lavender, Lemongrass, Sage, Thyme
Weevils: Cedarwood, Patchouli, Sandalwood
Use often, …your home and garden environment
will smell great and be pest free!
47
A
beginning guitar player once
asked me for advice on how to get ready to
play music professionally. He was memorizing
chords, watching online videos, and listening
to tunes he liked. After a frustrating discussion
- during which he deflected every suggestion I
threw at him - I finally said, “If you want to play;
play.”
That was not smart-aleck advice. It
really is true.
I thought back to how I got into
playing music “professionally.” I was in high
school. Sure, I had taken drum lessons. I tried
to form a band with my 8th grade friends, but
there wasn’t much repertoire written for drums,
coronet, and organ. I drummed along with
records, and even played as my Dad squeezed
out Nat King Cole tunes on his Lowry organ.
But one night I was lying on the living
room floor watching a talent contest broadcast
from the Iowa State Fair. Instead of listening
to the singer, I was focused on the stage band
drummer. After a few songs, I literally jumped
up and announced, “I can do that!”
I drove into the nearest bar (in small
towns in Iowa, they exist at the rate of three per
block). The first one I came to had three old men
playing country music. I noticed there was no
drummer, so I walked up to the singer and asked
if he needed someone to play drums. He looked
at me and said, “Get up here.”
I started my drum career that very
night.
No amount of preparation can prepare
you for playing. I was terrified. And I wasn’t very
good. I rushed; I missed beats; I was sloppy. But
as I pounded along every weekend for the next
several years, I learned what it took to play music
with others. I learned how to listen, how to play
with substitute musicians, how to back up bad
singers, how to entertain surly and tipsy crowds.
I learned how to play even when I
didn’t feel like playing. I learned how to fake
playing when I didn’t know the song.
I don’t know if other musicians
48
experience this, but I discovered a strange
phenomenon while working with a newlyformed band in Colorado. We lived together
and rehearsed for many weeks, putting together
a large set list to get us through a four-hour
gig. Before we booked ourselves in a club, we
thought it would be a good idea to invite friends
and relatives to a backyard party so we could
play in front of a live audience.
Photo by Phil Houseal
Good thing. We weren’t nearly as
prepared as we’d thought. During rehearsal,
you have the luxury of starting and stopping,
working out tricky passages or even starting
over. But in front of an audience - even a friendly
one - you are working without a net. You kick
off a song, you’d better have the correct key and
tempo. If you forget the lyrics, you make them
up. If you blow the lead, you just keep going (old
Floyd used to say if you mess up a lick, the next
time it comes around you mess it up the same
way, so people think you meant to do it).
But once we got through that
shakedown cruise, we were ready. We owned
those songs, and went on to play up and down
the foothills in all types of clubs.
As I finished visiting with the young
guitar player, I realized the advice applies to us
all, whatever we are endeavoring to accomplish.
My brother, who is a successful investor, warns
me to avoid “the paralysis of analysis.” If you
want to sing; sing. If you want to write; write. If
you want to dance; dance.
Anywhere you live, there are ample
opportunities to perform. Sure, take lessons.
But here in the Texas Hill Country, there are
unlimited places and opportunities to put
yourself in front of friendly audiences. Go to
Luckenbach and sit on the fringe of the song
circle. Sing at a karaoke night. Invite yourself to
any of the jam sessions that range from country
music to dulcimer to ukes to accordion. Find
three guys just a little bit better than you and
start a practice band. Invite your family over, and
serve them BBQ and beer so you can guilt them
to stay and listen.
Here is my advice, young man: If you
want to play guitar; play guitar. Start a band.
Write a poem. Try out for the play. Join the choir.
Before you know it, you’ll be giving
advice to some young kid who wants to play as
good as you do.
Phil Houseal is a writer, educator, musician, and
owner of Full House PR, a public relations firm
that tells the story of your product, service, or
business.
texasheartbeat.com
49
texasheartbeat.com
51
S
thoughts, it occurred to me that this place had a
special aura beyond spectacular beauty. It had
to do with the chain link fence that keeps people
from tumbling down hill.
We found dozens of tributes to
individuals and some to animals along the
fence. Crosses, purchased and handmade, bits
of jewelry and flowers, signs—even a collar for
a dog named Ollie—were threaded in the chain
link.
Our first thought was of memorials
to those in roadside accidents, but that didn’t
seem to fit. A woman near us said these were
tributes to those who loved Devil’s Backbone.
I think she’s right. These are tributes not to
sad accidents but to treasured lives. No matter
one’s difficulties, the beauty of a special place is
healing. This is a good place to honor memories.
o far, all the ghosts I’ve met have
been friendly. But would they be in a place called
Devil’s Backbone? If I stayed late enough at the
scenic overlook on FR 32, would an ethereal
conquistador on a stallion float by? Would I hear
the pounding hoofbeats of ghost horses, perhaps
carrying displaced Indians or sad Civil War
veterans? Would I hotfoot it back to the nearby
bars, only to have locals tell of encounters with
spirits who both warned of danger and played
tricks?
I didn’t get a chance in July to test my
courage in a faceoff with a ghost, but I did refresh
my spirit. It’s a gorgeous drive on 32 between 12
and 281. It’s a gorgeous drive anywhere in the Hill
Country, but there is something mystical about
looking across the Balcones Fault Zone while
standing on the Edwards Plateau. My geologist
friend says the legendary ghostly sounds may
I hope to sit all night under the stars
be caused by rock formations, not paranormal phenomenon. I’m going to bring her with me along Devil’s Backbone someday. I’m not sure
sometime and have her explain that. I’ll pass it what I’d do if I heard unexplainable sounds
or saw an apparition, but what an adventure
on when I understand it.
It’s important to pay attention to the it would be! Just for fun in the meantime,
winding road--not the view--when driving there’s “Ghostly Chills, the Devil’s Backbone
32. As a Wimberley Visitor’s Center volunteer 2.” Compiled by Bert Wall, who was a Texas
cautioned, please don’t park on the side of the rancher and historian, this short book of scary
road. Heading west on 32 from 12, the scenic stories is perfect Halloween storytelling. It’s
overlook is on your right, just a short distance available online along with a wealth of material
about Devil’s Backbone.
past the bars on your left. It’s a lovely place.
A venerable site for Texas stories is
My travelling buddy and I sat for quite a while, gazing at the formations. I’m not much of Texasfolkloresociety.org. Look for their older
a picture taker, but artists and photographers will anthologies in libraries. I checked out 1965’s
want sketch pads and cameras. I’d rather keep “Coyote Wisdom.” It takes me right to the heart
memories in written words. As I wrote down my of Texas legends.
texasheartbeat.com
53
54
54
texasheartbeat.com
55
Sam & Lou Miller
Proprietors

Vol1 No4 Fall 2014 - Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country

Transcription

Similar documents

fantastic fabric prices! quilting cottons

How it works… Get moving….hop a bus and see Waco!

Vol2 No1 Winter 2014-2015 - Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country

Private Drinking Water Well Basics

4 WEEk - Bear Grylls Survival Race

`News from the Hill` Rooty Hill Public School

Friday the 13th! June 13th-14th, 2014

Rush Hour Rewards can save you money Join us for CoServ

Eating well as you age

Vol 3 No 1 Winter 2016 - Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country

IT`S NOT TO LATE TO JOIN!

La Bandera - Aurion Resources Ltd.