“I got my “Judge” for Texas rattlers; it also makes a great ladies’ home defense weapon.” You’re looking down a cavernous muzzle and you think, “I’m in a heap o’ trouble. This ain’t no dumb city slicker on the other end of that shiny Taurus revolver. If he’s packing ‘ 00’ buckshot or Colt […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for the 'Authors' Category
Deep in the Heart of Bandera
Bandera has always had a special place in the memories of anyone thinking about the Texas Hill Country. The colorful history of the County includes tales of Indian raids, settlement of the Mormons and Polish families, exciting experiences at area Dude ranches, Texas Rangers, Longhorn cattle drives up the historic Western Trail, just to name […]
Read the rest of this entry »Dinner Belle
As they are passed among family and friends, the sharing of recipes is a treasured tradition. It is easy today to go on the internet to find a recipe and read its reviews, but there is something special about pulling out that recipe with the name on it of who gave it to you. Several […]
Read the rest of this entry »Sports Behind the BS (Johnny Football’s Autograph)
Remember the controversy created by allegations that Johnny Manziel profited from the sale of his autograph? I do. Pundits and the public alike were calling for Manziel’s head. The amount of profane comments I read describing his character made me pause and reflect. Let’s assume Johnny Football did sell his autographs. Is this really a […]
Read the rest of this entry »Bandera Tenderfoot
Most of the other writers featured in The Heart Beat are seasoned veterans of the Bandera, and Texas Hill Country scene. Me, I’m a tenderfoot having only lived in Bandera for a little over a year. When approached to write an article, for The Heart Beat, my first response was, “About what?” After all I’m […]
Read the rest of this entry »Traditions
As we approach the holiday season, I reflect on years past and all I have to be thankful for. Our families have dwindled down to a mere few and the miles between us prohibit our getting together as often as we would like. Grandparents are gone, in some cases, parents have passed on, as well. […]
Read the rest of this entry »Gravel Roads
“I close my eyes wishing we could be, at the end of a gravel road” I’ve spent most of my life on gravel roads. They’re called dirt roads, county roads, caliche roads but by any name, they’re still gravel roads. That’s what we called them in Tennessee where I grew up. Some of my earliest […]
Read the rest of this entry »Women in Texas Songs and Stories
After finishing a book of interviews with women in Texas music(2007/UT Press), after submitting a story to new book, Her Texas: Story, Women and Song, featuring poets, artists, songwriters, and me as an historian (?), after listening to many stories of women at the 2013 American Studies Conference at Baylor, I am compelled to share […]
Read the rest of this entry »Now Is the Time For Next Year
The nights are cooling and the days are shorter, and it is finally time to take a break from the garden until spring time, right? WRONG! Now is the most important time of the year to prepare your garden soil for next year’s production. Common sense tells us that when your garden soil is depleted […]
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