is for Texas, and the - Country Line Magazine

Transcription

in this issue
Features
texas songwriters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
“t” is for texas, and the “t chromosome” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
one stop for cleaning product ingredients . . . . . . . . . 14
great castell kayak race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
pbr finds inconsistencies with judges’ scores . . . . . . 18
cowboy josh peek flies in a f-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
The wheelbarrow is beginning to tip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
o.h. ivie back in toyota sharelunker fold . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
departm ents
Nashville Music News by Jennifer Asbury-Hughes . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Texas Music News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
’Round About Texas by Sandra Greaney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
on the air by Eric Raines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
coffee shop moments by D. “Bing” Bingham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
on the trail by Kendall Hemphill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
counting your chickens by Mike Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
The Texas Outdoor Zone by Larry LeBlanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
fishing report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine
w w w. c o u n t r y l i n e m a g a z i n e . c o m
512-292-1113
MAILING ADDRESS
9508 CHISHOLM TR • AUSTIN, TEX. 78748
LETTERS & COMMENTS
tj@countrylinemagazine.com or mailing address
E D I T O R | T. J. Greaney
P U B L I S H E R | G&G International
M A R K E T I N G D I R E C T O R | Sandra L. Greaney
sandra@countrylinemagazine.com
S A L E S D I R E C T O R | Jennifer Asbury-Hughes
jen@countrylinemagazine.com
C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S | Don Gordon, Cody Ryan,
Mike Young, Larry LeBlanc, Shirley Baker, Chris Mosser, Sandra Greaney,
Kendall Hemphill, Jennifer Asbury-Hughes, Christian Hughes, Dallas Seely
I
Love and Money, the
Oldest Profession
The oldest profession in the world is
held by women. They have been in the
business since early on. The trade is not
necessarily lucrative, and I am amazed at
how many women choose it as a career
path. I love that they do; I am a big fan.
My wife loves it, and if she could, it is all
she would do.
What — you thought I was talking
about … oh, no way. I mean a mom, a wife,
the keeper of the home. Eve was the first
mom, wife and the grandmother to us all if
you go all the way back. In society today,
the mom is the rock. She is the one the
guys yell to when they win the Super Bowl
or World Series. It is always the wife or
mom whom even the biggest ol’ boy wants
around when he is sick.
The wife or mom is also the one in
control of certain things most guys won’t
touch. Take the grocery store, for instance.
I am almost, just short of, evil-eyed close to
not allowed to go. I will get a list or a call
for a loaf of bread or gallon of milk. I will
get the occasional call to pick up a few big
steaks or diet soda. Beyond that, it is no
use. I am not wanted in the grocery store
aisles shopping for our home.
I tried going with her a time or two over
the last 16 years; not gonna make that
mistake again. When she goes, it is a slow
process where she compares, experiments,
works up and down the aisles in a very
deliberate fashion. I say let’s rock this out
and get home — wrong. She knows what
the kids need, what the house needs and
what I might need.
Coupons are a big deal. If she does not
get back $10 or $15 in coupon savings, she
feels like she did not do well. Another very
interesting sniglet is if she has, say, $200
to spend that day, you can bet it will be
almost to the dollar, after coupons, without
a calculator. I don’t know how she does it;
she just does.
When anyone is sick around our
house, it is always mom who gets the
call. Medication is strictly controlled
by her, and she knows who reacts and
how. She knows the substitute drugs and
homeopathic cures as well. Chicken soup,
cold wash clothes, heating pad, oatmeal
bath, stay home from school — all the
doctorin’ is from mom. I am for that in a
big way, especially when I am not feeling
well.
Most guys I know just slam some
painkillers or cold meds and hammer
on down the road. That is what I do.
However, when I am really sick, she steps
in and takes care of me. I have noticed,
though, that after all these years, some of
the glamour of taking care of the old man
has worn off and she has been known to
cut corners. I have even had her tell me
she was leaving to run errands and was not
sure when she would be back while I laid
on the couch sick. How could she be so
4 • Country Line Magazine The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine
cold? It could
not possibly
be that I am
being a total
un-nice sick
person?
Home
decorations
are another
thing moms
are in charge of that most guys don’t have
a say over. My wife has an affinity for rugs.
Seems every other week she has a new rug
replacing the old rug from the week before.
Candleholders, picture frames, towels,
tablecloths, drinking glasses. Things. I
don’t know how much they cost. I don’t
ask how much they cost. I know better
than to go there. She spends money on
things I see as frivolous and silly, but they
make our home a home and that is what
moms do. They nest. They create a home
inside the cave, the teepee, the wood frame
box with sheetrock on the walls.
Moms are the ones who love things that
don’t make sense to anyone. They take the
scribbled-on construction paper and put
it on the refrigerator door. My wife kisses
every card our kids have ever given her,
paper, note or whatever before she disposes
of them, if she ever does, that is.
Now, it has to be said that moms love
to be cared for as well. I have talked about
scrubbing the big pots in the kitchen
before. When we have large pans or pots
dirty in our kitchen, I jump in and clean
them. Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar
talks about how he will take his wife’s car
out early Saturday morning and fill it with
gas, run it through the car wash, change
the oil. These are things she could do,
but he does them as part of the care he
shows for her. Moms need to hear they are
appreciated and feel they are appreciated.
Kids don’t always understand it until later,
but, usually, they figure out that mom was a
pretty big help when they were young and
dumb. I know I did.
The Bible talks a lot about moms
and wives. It tells us just how much of a
blessing they are. Any real man worth
his weight knows that his wife, the kids’
mom, is a machine and deserves a Golden
Globe, a Heisman, a Red Cross Safety and
Medic award, a Purple Heart and a slew of
precious stones in her crown when she gets
to heaven.
Tell your mom you love her; hug your
wife. Teach your boys to honor their moms
and future wife.
Happy Valentine’s Day,
T. J. Greaney
Country Line Magazine Publisher
Kids Outdoor Zone
tj@countrylinemagazine.com
by Jennifer Asbury-Hughes
June Carter Cash
Makes History
The state of Virginia will be honoring
one of country music’s biggest legends
this year when they dedicate a historical
marker to June Carter Cash. The memorial
is one of eleven markers the state will be
dedicating to honor notable people and
places. It will be located in Scott County,
home of the First Family of Country Music,
the Carter Family.
Valerie June Carter was born in Maces
Spring, Virginia, in 1929. Before marrying
Johnny Cash in 1968 she was a member of
the Carter Family and Mother Maybelle
and the Carter Sisters. Among the family
she was known for her comedic manner
and her songwriting abilities. In 1967
Cash and Carter won a Grammy for best
Duet with the song “Jackson.” A year later
The Man in Black proposed to June live
on stage in London, Ontario. The couple
was married for 35 years. June Carter Cash
died in May, 2003. Johnny died only four
months later. It is easy to see why Virginia,
a state already rich in history, is honoring
such an important figure on American
Music.
Taylor Swift is a Super Girl
Taylor Swift is will be embracing her
inner-cartoon as part of a new comic book
series from Bluewater Productions called
Fame. The comic is to be based on popular
celebrity icons also including pop-star Lady
Gaga, rapper 50 cent, Twilight actor Robert
Pattinson and soccer icon David Beckham.
Bluewater president, Darren G. Davis said
of the comic, “Fame gives us the ability to
tell more interesting stories about a wider
variety of notable personalities,” and hopes
it will help broaden their reader base.
Bluewater Productions is also behind the
biographical series, Female Force that has
featured women such as Michelle Obama,
Princess Diane, and J.K. Rowling, author
of the Harry Potter series. The first issue is
due out May 5.
Shania Twain Lights the
Olympic Torch
Shania Twain returned to her home
in Timmins, Ontario in early January to
participate in the traditional passing of
the Olympic flame. Amongst a mass of
cheering fans, she reportedly carried the
torch 400 meters to Hollinger Park, where
she paused momentarily to wave to those
who braved the cold to be there with her,
before she lit the Olympic cauldron in
honor of the 2010 Winter Olympics. She
described the moment as a highlight of
her life.
The People Choose
Keith Urban
Heartthrob, Keith Urban isn’t just top
pick for wife, Nicole Kidman. He is also
the winner of the People’s Choice Award
for Favorite Male Artist, beating out Tim
McGraw, John Mayer, Jason Mraz and
Eminem for the trophy. “Thank you very
much,” Keith said to his shrieking flock.
“Thank you to everybody that voted for
this and everybody watching at home ...
this means everything to me.” He even
made a somewhat astonishing statement in
which he welcomed his fans to download
his music, even if illegally! “I really don’t
care,” he said. “I love the people here and
the music.”
“Uncle Sam” capturing the
public’s growing frustration
Fed up with political corruption and
so-called leaders who refuse to play by the
rules? You’re not the only one.
Driven by the same fiery spirit as Toby
Keith’s classic “Courtesy of the Red, White
and Blue (The Angry American)” and
with infectious country-bluegrass flare to
spare, a Cleveland based singer-songwriter’s
biting, socially conscious song is quickly
becoming the anthem of American
frustration.
Months after its initial release, John
Chaffee’s high-definition YouTube video
Texas Songwriters
acclaimed for putting State’s heritage to music
the momentous and heroic deeds of
early Texans and those who impacted this
land prior to statehood are passed from
generation to generation through historical
documents and other artifacts found on
library shelves and in museums. But the
motivations and passions of Texans —
those characteristics which have always
made make Texans unique — are more
accurately articulated through the lyrics
and music that resonate around campfires,
in dance halls and across radio airwaves
throughout the state.
To pay tribute to those craftsmen
responsible for the music that reflects and
inspires our rich cultural background, the
Texas Heritage Songwriters Association
(TxHSA) annually honors composers
who have played an important role in
defining and interpreting Texas’ distinctive
traditions. Honorees to be inducted into
the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame this
year are Clint Black (“Killin’ Time,” “Put
Yourself in My Shoes”), Mac Davis (“In
The Ghetto,” “Baby Don’t Get Hooked
On Me”) and Whitey Shafer (“That’s
The Way Loves Goes, All My Ex’s Live In
Texas”). The Awards Show and Concert
will be held March 7 in the intimate
setting of Austin’s Paramount Theatre.
for “Play by the Rules” is still a major
online sensation, and the track has
received substantial airplay across the
country. It also won “Best Country Song”
at the recent Hollywood Music In Media
Awards, and earned Chaffee a spot on Fox’s
Live Webcast The Strategy Room.
Chaffee, who is a dead ringer for
America’s iconic “Uncle Sam,” gives
voice to millions of his fellow frustrated
Americans with a concept that grew out
of his growing anger over a daily dose
of stories of corruption and scandal, not
only in our nation’s capital but also in
communities across the country.
A year after it was written and
recorded, its pointed lyrics seem more
prophetic than ever — bad behavior
clearly has no expiration date. A few reallife examples, as observed by Chaffee:
“Everybody’s layin’ off, government’s
hirin’ more” — As unemployment rises
and stays in double digits, more companies
are laying off employees every day, while
Uncle Sam is hiring new workers at a
rate of nearly 10,000 a month, and at
higher salaries than in the private sector.
Government must shrink, not grow.
Families know how to do that.
“Devil’s in the details, which you and
I won’t see” — How many of our 535
representatives have actually read the
details of the now infamous Health Care
Bill? And how many special interests
contributed to its language? It should be
mandatory that everyone who has a vote,
not only reads, but comprehends what is in
The atmosphere at the event, which is
always a sellout, is more reminiscent of
a “pickin’ on the porch” get-together
than a glitzy concert extravaganza. The
experience is down home and genuine;
not downtown and glamorized. The event
is the highlight of Texas Independence
Homecoming Weekend activities in
Austin.
Black, Davis and Shafer will be join
a star-studded fraternity of industry
icons including initial honorees Kris
Kristofferson, Freddy Powers, Sonny
Throckmorton and Sammy Allred to
last year’s quartet of Willie Nelson, Guy
Clark, Michael Martin Murphey and Allen
Shamblin. Many will be on hand for this
year’s show.
While most honorees are known best
in country music circles, songwriting
talents have impacted diverse genres of
music including gospel, pop, rock and
roll and blues. That diversity is reflected
in this year’s inductees. Mac Davis has
written songs recorded by artists ranging
from Elvis to Lou Rawls in addition to
his own numerous hits. Clint Black has
written, recorded and released more than
100 songs, a benchmark in any artist’s
career. That makes Whitey Shafer’s record
of having written more than 500 songs
for artists like legends Merle Haggard
and Johnny Rodriguez to contemporary
headliners like Lee Ann Womack, and
Kenny Chesney even more remarkable.
“Clint Black, Mac Davis and Whitey
Shafer are visionaries who understand and
appreciate our past and translate it into
music that has withstood the test of time,”
said Terry Boothe, founder of TxHSA.
“They reflect in rhythm and rhyme the
essence of our state’s musical heritage
and their composing talents have been
apparent for decades to performing artists
and audiences across the country.”
The Texas Heritage Songwriters
Association is a non-profit organization
founded in 2003. TxHSA named its first
honorees in 2006 and works closely with
the Center for Music History at Texas
State University.
For more info about the association or
how to get tickets for the March 7 show,
visit texasheritagesongwriters.com.
any piece of legislation, especially one as
mammoth as this. That’s called playing by
the rules.
“Superstars on steroids, docs dispensing
drugs” — Three newly announced names
come to mind: Manny Ramirez, Alex
Rodriguez, and at long last, Mark McGuire.
“How much longer will we sit and
never make a sound?” — Voters in
Massachusetts made a very loud sound,
which, hopefully, can help alter the ugly,
barren political landscape. Perhaps, in our
nation’s capital, those long hidden human
traits of common sense, honesty, and
public interest may be revived.
“Is there anybody out there, who’ll just
play by the rules?” asks Chaffee.
cookbook is said to include 27 of Zac
Brown and his buddies’ favorite recipes
including (of course) Southern Fried
Chicken, Farmer’s Fried Green Tomatoes
and Revival Peach Cobbler, all on
removable index cards with poems, songs,
stories and photographs to go with them.
The Southern Ground cookbook is currently
available for $24.99, but only at Cracker
Barrel Old Country Stores or through the
store’s Web site.
Zac Brown is Really Cookin’
If you have turned on a radio in
the last year, you are probably familiar
with Zac Brown Band’s feel good song,
“Chicken Fried,” but not everyone knows
that the front man, Zac Brown was a
former chef and knows his way around a
kitchen. So it shouldn’t be so surprising
that he is teaming
up with
Cracker Barrel
and
Americana
musician
John
Brown to
put together
a new cookbook
called Southern
Ground.
The
Gary Allan to perform for
PBR fans in Arlington
The Professional Bull Riders, Inc.
(PBR) is bringing a little bit more country
sizzle to its fans. The PBR announced
today a partnership with multi-platinum
country artist Gary Allan that will give
PBR fans more access to his music than
ever before.
Allan attended the New York
City Invitational recently to make the
announcement in person that he will
kick off the biggest one day event in PBR
history, the 2010 Dickies Iron Cowboy
Invitational presented by WinStar World
Casino, on February 20th, with a onetime-only concert. At the 2010 Dickies
Iron Cowboy Invitational, Allan will
be performing
exclusive and
never before
released music
from his
upcoming
album Get
Off On The Pain, in stores and online
March 9. Fans can pre-order the album at
garyallan.com.
In addition to this special performance
in Arlington, Texas, there will also be an
increased Gary Allan presence at all PBR
events leading up to the March 9 album
release, including music from the new
album playing during PBR events and
various prize giveaways (VIP tickets to an
upcoming PBR event, Gary Allan VIP
prize packs, CDs and much more!). PBR
and Gary Allan fans will also have the
opportunity to enter to win the trip of a
lifetime to the 2010 PBR World Finals in
Las Vegas.
For more information about the PBR,
Gary Allan, and the 2010 Dickies Iron
Cowboy Invitational presented by WinStar
World Casino, visitpbr.com or garyallan.
com.
The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine Country Line Magazine • 7
Reckless Kelly to release
Somewhere in Time
Live performances and listening parties
are scheduled around the anticipated
release by Austin roots-rock band Reckless
Kelly of its latest album for Yep Roc
Records, the rustic, rowdy and romantic
Somewhere in Time (Feb. 9), a collection
of songs written and co-written by cowboy
song legend Pinto Bennett and given the
RK touch — events that start in Austin.
The day before the Somewhere in
Time release, Feb. 8, Reckless Kelly will
host listening parties at two Maudie’s
Tex-Mex locations in Austin: at 5 p.m.
at the Maudie’s Café at 2608 West 7th
Street (Lake Austin Boulevard) and 6:30
p.m. at Maudie’s Too (1212 South Lamar
Boulevard). Free and open to the public,
meet-and-greets and taco bar and drink
specials (including a Reckless Rita) are
planned; Waterloo Records will be onsite
for pre-sale of new albums.
On the day of the release, at 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 9, the band will make an
in-store appearance at Waterloo Records &
Video (600A North Lamar Boulevard) to
preview cuts from the new album.
And on Friday, Feb. 12, Reckless Kelly
will play a CD release party at 9 p.m. at
Antone’s (213 West 5th Street, 512-320-
Somewhere in Time has the look of an
old-time unreturned library book with
an Old West cover straight off a Zane
Grey novel. Inside, songs and song lyrics
are organized like chapters — a feast of
fourteen love songs (like the first single,
“Best Forever Yet”), ballads and sweet,
funny cautionary tales about steering
wheels, whiskey bottles and learning your
manners. Bennett’s words (and vocals on
two tracks) combine with Reckless Kelly’s
guitars, fiddle, keyboards, harmonies and
roots-rock beat to make an unprecedented
recording.
Says Cody Braun: “This is a record
we have been talking about making for
over ten years and are so excited to have
finally gotten it done. These ‘hardcore
cowboy’ songs are what Willy and I grew
up listening to and were some of the first
tunes we learned as Reckless Kelly. This
record truly took us back to our roots and
reminded us how cool ‘true country music’
can be. Every one of the songs on this
record have a true story behind them, and
that is what makes Pinto Bennett songs
so powerful and timeless. This record is a
tip of our hats to Pinto Bennett and The
Famous Motel Cowboys for teaching us to
be true to our music and ourselves.”
Reckless Kelly has CD release parties
also planned for Bryan, Helotes, Dallas,
Corpus Christi and Houston. For more
info, visit recklesskelly.com.
Houston Livestock Show and
Rodeo announces a stellar
line-up, again
Twenty-two star entertainers are
scheduled to perform at the 2010 Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo. Tickets went
on sale Saturday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m., at
all Ticketmaster locations including the
Reliant Park Box office.
The 22 different star entertainers
The Eli Young Band is one of the few Texas-based bands to be featured at the 2010 Houston
8424).
Cover
willand
be $18
and doors will
Livestock
Show
Rodeo.
open at 8 p.m. The Trishas start the show.
scheduled to perform at the 2010 Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo represent a
wide variety of musical genres. Together,
these superstars have garnered numerous
music industry honors, including 24
GRAMMY® awards, 78 Country Music
Association awards and 59 Academy of
Country Music awards.
Tuesday, March 2: Alan Jackson;
Wednesday, March 3: Dierks Bentley;
Thursday, March 4: Kenny Chesney;
Friday, March 5: Black Heritage Day
sponsored by Kroger Food Stores with
Mary J. Blige; Saturday, March 6: Jason
Aldean; Sunday, March 7: Jonas Brothers,
Demi Lovato; Monday, March 8: Tim
McGraw; Tuesday, March 9: Darius
Rucker; Wednesday, March 10: Rascal
Flatts; Thursday, March 11: Brad Paisley;
Friday, March 12: Ford presents Toby
Keith; Saturday, March 13: Blake Shelton;
Sunday, March 14: Go Tejano Day
sponsored by State Farm® with Pesado,
El Trono De Mexico; Monday, March
15: Lady Antebellum; Tuesday, March
16: Keith Urban; Wednesday, March 17:
Gary Allan; Thursday, March 18: Black
Eyed Peas; Friday, March 19: Eli Young
Band; Saturday, March 20: RodeoHouston
BP Super Series Championship with
Brooks & Dunn — The Last Rodeo Tour;
Sunday, March 21: RodeoHouston Xtreme
Bulls with Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber.
rodeohouston.com, 1-800-726-1313.
Texas Sapphires to release
new CD
The Texas Sapphires prepare to launch
their newest CD with performances all
over Austin.
The Texas Sapphires will celebrate the
Feb. 2 release of its latest CD, the steel-,
fiddle-filled and vocally commanding As
He Wanders with two Austin appearances.
The band will play an in-store show
of cuts from the new album at 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Waterloo Records
& Video (600A North Lamar Boulevard,
Charlie Robison takes a swing at the 2009 Celebrity Softball Jam at The Dell Diamond. This
year’s event is scheduled for Sunday, April 25.
512-474-2500).
The next night, at 11:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 4, the band plays a release
party at The Continental Club (1315 S.
Congress Avenue, 512-441-0202), during
the neighborhood’s First Thursday monthly
street fest. Cover will be $8. The Coveters
(featuring Suzanna Choffel, Dan Dyer,
Warren Hood and others) play at 10 p.m.
Texas Sapphires songwriters and lead
vocalists Billy Brent Malkus and Rebecca
Lucille Cannon have pulled together a
collection of songs for As He Wanders
that tell of life’s highs and lows and that
highlight band members’ singular and
collective talents for a wondrous country
sound known, loved and well-respected.
In addition to the release shows in
Austin, the band will also celebrate Feb. 12
at Floore’s Country Store in Helotes and
Feb. 26 at Dan’s Silver Leaf in Denton.
To listen to samples visit their Web site
at thetexassapphires.com.
Dixie Chicks are
One Chick Short
Sad, but true. The Dixie Chicks have
been in the studio, recording a new album,
but this time without lead vocalist Natalie
Maines. CMT reported that sisters (and
founders of the group), Emily Robison and
Martie McGuire are planning to release
that album through Columbia Records.
All three of the girls reportedly spent
the holiday with Lloyd Maines (Natalie’s
father), who co-produced Home in 2002.
According to him, Emily and Martie have
been cutting demos with and without
Natalie throughout 2009. “[Natalie
recorded] a little something with them
about a year ago,” he said. “I know that
Martie’s doing a fiddle record on her own,
and that Emily has been demoing some
of her (own) songs. I played on some of
those.” —Jennifer Asbury-Hughes
held Sunday, April 25, and will benefit
the Miracle League at Town and Country,
Little League of Austin and the Miracle
League of San Antonio.
The softball game will feature several
performing artists, including Reckless
Kelly, and stars from the sports world,
including NASCAR’s Kyle Petty and
former boxing champion Jesse James Leija.
Following the softball game, the audience
will be invited onto the field to enjoy a
concert featuring Reckless Kelly and Cross
Canadian Ragweed along with several
other acts. Festivities will conclude with a
fireworks display.
“We wanted to create an event in our
hometown that combines our love of music
and baseball all while giving back to the
community in a positive way,” Reckless
Kelly frontman Willy Braun said. “We’re
thrilled how this has come together. We
expect this to be a fun, family-oriented
event that can grow over the years and
help out some great chartities in Austin
and beyond.”
Last year’s event attracted more than
6,000 fans and raised more than $35,000.
Express Owner and C.E.O. Reid Ryan said
he expects this year’s event to be an even
bigger success.
“For many fans, the idea of watching
a softball game and a concert together
was a foreign idea,” Ryan said. “But once
fans got to the event and saw how much
fun there was to be had, it was a great
experience. All season long, we heard so
many comments from fans and people in
the community about how much of a great
time they had. We feel certain this year’s
event will be even better and raise even
more funds for the local charities.”
Country Line Magazine will again be
a sponsor for this wonderful event, so to
get more information on tickets and more,
visit countrylinemagazine.com.
Reckless Kelly and
the Round Rock Express
For the second straight year, the Round
Rock Express will team with Reckless
Kelly for a Celebrity Softball Jam at The
Dell Diamond. The 2010 event will be
“T ” is for Texas, and the “T Chromosome”
i h a d a f r i e n d r e c e n tly w ho sp e n t
three weeks in California. He told me
as we sat drinking coffee that Sunday
morning that he enjoyed the visit out
west but he was oh so glad to be home
in Texas. This is not the first time I, as a
fourth-generation Texan, agreed to that
statement. Even if you were not born in
Texas anyone who has spent any time here
begins to absorb the Lone Star state of
mind.
Tweed Scott, author of Texas in
Her Own Words, crisscrossed the state
interviewing all types of folks, famous
and not so famous to try and explain
why even transplanted Texans develop
such intense affection for the Lone State
State, resulting in what Scott coined, the
“T-Chromosome.” There were no clear
defining answers — it just is what it is.
Anywhere you go around the world, the
word “Texas” is recognized!
There is no way to get everything in
one list but here are a few of my personal
favorite destinations.
A few participants in Bandera’s annual Cowboy Mardi Gras.
Being located along a major flyway
for several species of birds, including
all types of waterfowl, white pelicans,
hawks and hummingbirds, makes Fulton
gumbo, plus enter the Mardi Gras costume
contest.
Another fun Bandera outing is their
Sweetheart Dance, which will be held
February 13. The dinner and dance are
sponsored by the Silver Sage Corral.
Almost Patsy Cline Band will perform
from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the Farm Country
Club. For reservations, call 830-796-4969.
And you can’t miss Old Bandera
Downs Trade Days, February 19-21, at
where else, the former Bandera Downs
Race Track. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
And booth spaces are available. Call 817832-9936 for more information.
Mason
Fulton’s annual Oysterfest is a fun time for everyone in the family.
Rockport/Fulton
Surrounded by the sparkling waters
of Copano and Aransas Bays and bathed
year-round by soothing Gulf breezes,
nestled among ancient, windswept oaks
and steeped in a colorful community of
cultures, Rockport is in a class of its own.
Rockport and Fulton are two communities
in Aransas County; one of the smallest
counties, in terms of land, in Texas.
Vacation time is a year-round affair. My
favorite hotel located in the RockportFulton area is the The Lighthouse Inn at
Aransas Bay. A Victorian-style boutique
hotel where you’ll find old-world charm,
modern amenities and a level of luxury
you might not expect at a laid-back, Texas
resort.
One of many fun events in Fulton is
their Annual Oysterfest at Fulton Festival
Grounds. This year, the Fulton Volunteer
Fire Department and the town of Fulton
pull out all stops to bring you a festival
even larger than 2009, the most successful
in the festival’s history.
and Rockport popular birdwatching
destinations as well.
In addition to the migrant species
above, the area is a year-round home to
several species of shorebirds, wading birds,
gulls and brown pelicans.
For more info, visit. rockport-fulton.org
Mason is a community with lots of
history. Settled from the south by German
immigrants, from the north and east by
English, Irish and Americans and from the
west, the Mexicans, the cultural influences
from all those groups are still visible today.
Agriculture was the lifeblood of the
community in the early days, and for many,
it still remains vital. Deer hunting and
viticulture (wine grape production) have
joined the landscape of cattle, peanuts,
watermelons, sheep and goats today.
Beautiful old buildings spread around
a charming town square that now plays
host to tourists who have made Mason a
destination, no matter what the season.
Mason is a place where time slows down a
bit and people still wave when they make
eye contact.
One must-see Mason spot is re-opening
this month on February 7 — Katemcy
Rocks. Katemcy is taking four wheeling to
a new level with over 400 acres of granite
rock providing an off-road experience like
no other in the state. Called the “Moab of
Texas,” Katemcy Rocks presents diverse
terrain for all levels of four wheelers, from
stock vehicles to extreme rock crawlers.
Visit katemcyrocks.com for more info.
Many of you know that topaz is the
state gem of Texas, but did you know that
Mason County is the only Texas county
the stone is found in? It occurs in granite
outcroppings principally in the Streeter,
Grit and Katemcy areas. It is usually found
in streambeds and ravines but occasionally
can be located atop the ground.
You can enjoy topaz hunting
throughout the year except during the
months of November, December and early
January, when the ranches are closed for
the deer season. Currently, only a handful
of Mason County ranches offer the public
the opportunity to go topaz hunting. They
charge by the day; you keep what you
find. In fact, since there is no commercial
mining of Mason County topaz, hunting it
yourself is one of the main ways of finding
it. You may hunt topaz at either Garner
Seaquist Ranch (325-347-5413) or Lindsay
Ranch (325-347-4052). Be sure to call
before you had to either location.
No matter where you’re from, once you
have stepped across the line into Texas,
everything changes. If you get infected
with the “T-Chromosome,” you’re done
— might as well get to looking for a burial
plot under the Lone Star skies.
Check out traveltex.com for a neverending list of Texas adventure ideas. You
may not see it all, but you’ll have a ball
trying! —TJ Greaney
Bandera
The “Cowboy Capital of Texas” is a
bustling little town with everything you
need to immerse yourself in the Texas
wrangler culture. Horseback riding,
shopping, eating, bed and breakfasts, river
activities and more will fill your days in
this awesome Texas town.
Plan a stay around one of their festivals
or activities. There are also a ton of very
kid-friendly opportunities available.
This month, February 5-6, Bandera
features its Cowboy Mardi Gras Weekend.
Friday night you can find Cajun, zydeco
and western music at honky tonks. Then
check out the Cowboy Mardi Gras Parade
at noon on Saturday. Enjoy jambalaya and
Mason’s charming and decidedly western downtown.
ADVERTI S I NG
“There’s no place like this place,
anywhere near this place, so this must
be the place,” reads a sign on the porch
at Texas Hatters. Just one of the many
Manny Gammage-isms you’ll find there.
Texas Hatters is one of only a
handful of true custom hat makers in
the United States. They started over
seventy years ago
under the founder’s
name, Marvin
Gammage, the
hat making tradition
remains in the family
into the third and
fourth generation. Now
officially named after
the second generation,
Manny Gammage’s
Texas Hatters, Inc. is
lead by Manny’s daughter,
Joella Gammage Torres and
her husband, David A. Torres,
with Manny’s widow, Norma
and Joella’s son Joel Aaron
Gammage working right
alongside them.
At Texas Hatters, they don’t just
make hats that fit better than store
bought, they fit them to your face, your
style or even the personality you want
to have:
A Dallas doctor once walked in and
asked for a hat to wear with his buddies
on the weekends. This mild-mannered
doctor/professor emeritus had a secret
life as an ax throwing, trick riding,
1900s style cowboy. He rode off into
the sunset with a hat that was a cross
between a John Wayne and a Tom Mix.
An Austin lady wanted something
like the high fashion runway models
were wearing, but that would last more
than a season. She sashayed back to
Austin with a wide brimmed version of
the Mad Hatter’s hat, grinning like the
Cheshire Cat.
A lady attorney from San Antonio,
who loved wearing hats to protect her
fair skin, wanted a better fit in a classic
feminine style. She now greets the court
in a hat like Bergman or Bacall might
have worn.
Whether it’s for wearing on the
ranch or out dancing, Texas Hatters can
suit your style, even if you’re hard to fit.
A long, tall cowboy walked in one
day, complaining of his brand-name hat
biting his forehead
and gaping over his
ears. Not only was
his old hat re-blocked
to a perfect long-oval for
his head, he bought a
custom made 100%
beaver fur felt hat as
well.
A businessman
from Houston with
several hats he’d been
gifted over the years had
a different complaint all
together. Seems his hats
were so tight over his
ears that they bobbed up
and down when he talked
or chewed. A wide-oval was what he
needed; long-oval was what he had. A
couple of re-blocks and a custom made
fedora put a smile on his face a mile
wide.
Using their unique talents for hat
making, watchful eyes for picking
complimenting colors and styles for
each customer and listening ears for
hearing what the customers want and
need from their hats; the folks at Texas
Hatters can top almost any choosy
customer. They really are, “As modern
as yesterday, with tomorrow’s ideas,” as
Manny once said.
Check them out at texashatters.com
or in person at 911 South
Commerce Street in
Lockhart, Texas.
Oﬃcial Hatter
ADVERTISE
HERE
and access our loyal readers!
15 years, over 2 million copies
… a Texas tradition
512-292-1113
sandra@countrylinemagazine.com
countrylinemagazine.com
of Texas
Hey, Moms: One stop
for cleaning product ingredients
the soap and detergent association
(SDA) has launched Ingredient Central,
an online gateway to where consumers can
find specific cleaning product companies'
ingredient information.
Ingredient Central is available at
cleaning101.com/IngredientCentral.
The page describes where and how
companies will provide information about
the specific ingredients in their cleaning
products.
“Checking out Ingredient Central
is an easy way for consumers to find out
how SDA member companies are sharing
information about cleaning product
ingredients,” said Nancy Bock, SDA Vice
President of Education. “This outreach
effort is part of our industry’s ongoing
efforts to provide consumers with more
information than ever before about the
cleaning products they use safely and
effectively every single day.”
Ingredient Central launched January 1
and provides consumers with information
about the ingredients in products in four
major categories: air care, automotive care,
cleaning, polishes and floor maintenance
products.
Consumers will notice that the
Initiative allows companies to use a variety
of formats to help them learn about the
ingredients in the products they are using.
Companies will be sharing ingredient
information on the product label; on
the company website; through a toll-free
telephone number; or through some other
non-electronic means.
The site will continue to evolve in
the coming year as companies provide
additional information about cleaning
product ingredients.
Chemo-Sabe.org is planned for June 5,
starting at 9:30 p.m. in Mason and ends in
Castell with a live music festival.
Our outreach is helping people during
chemotherapy right here in the Texas Hill
Country.
We focus on helping those in our
communities that face cancer and
it’s impact on family and quality of
life through music and patient navigation.
Please come help in this unique effort to
make a difference.
The put-in is at the bridge next to the
Llano River RV Park at the Hwy 87 Llano
RE C I P E
Saturday Morning
Blueberry Pancakes
SE R VES 2
Take time one Saturday and make
pancakes for your family. The
blueberries can be substituted for
raisins, apples, bananas or other
fruits. The early morning before the
rush of the day can be a memory
maker your kids or grandkids will
enjoy. — Shirley Baker
FILLING
1 lb. ground beef
¼ cup chopped onion
½ tsp. oregano
¼ cup chopped green pepper
½ cup fine dry bread crumbs
1 tsp. salt
¾ cup flour
¼ tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. sugar
1 9-inch ready-made piecrust
1 tsp. baking powder
River overpass.
We have special guests again from the
Expedition School who will give a brief
training prior to the race and provide
rescue and EMT support as well as count
heads! Last year we had 160 boats in the
water.
Proceeds go to our 501(c)(3)
charity and tax-deductible receipts are
available for your gift.
You may register the day of the race
at 8 a.m. Please note, we cannot provide
refunds on pre-paid registrations.
Friendly with Affordable Rates
Residential & Commercial
We honor His excellency
in dependability
& trustworthiness.
S ERVES 4-6
4 oz. tomato sauce
H&S (High Spirited) Cleaning Service
JoAnn 512-658-2908
Carrie 512-294-9263
Cheeseburger Pie
Take time one Saturday and make
pancakes for your family. The
blueberries can be substituted for
raisins, apples, bananas or other
fruits. The early morning before the rush
of the day can be a memory maker
your kids or grandkids will enjoy.
Great Castell Kayak Race
in memory of Judith Lynn Curtis
a fundraising event to benefit
RE C I P E
Green Cleaning Household Special
Just $69.95
Call for details.
Hurry! Offer expires feb. 15, 2010.
cannot be combined with any other offers.
½ tsp. salt
CHEESE TOPPING
1 tbsp. margarine
8 oz. sharp cheese, grated
1 egg
½ tsp. salt, dry mustard,
¾ cup milk
Worcestershire sauce
½ cup blueberries,
1 egg
washed and drained
¼ cup milk
extra margarine for the pan
1. In a large bowl, sift together the
flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Set the bowl aside.
2. Melt margarine in a small
saucepan. Crack the egg into a
medium-size bowl, then add the milk
and melted margarine. Whisk egg
mixture until it is well mixed.
3. Add the flour mixture to the egg
mixture. Whisk again until both
mixtures are blended together.
4. Put extra margarine in the
saucepan and heat it on the stovetop
on medium heat. It is hot enough
when the margarine starts to
bubble.
5. Use a measuring cup or a small
ladle to spoon the batter into the pan
to make 4 pancakes, then put some
blueberries on top of each pancake.
1. Heat oven to 425˚F. Brown beef
in small amount of fat and drain.
Add remaining filling ingredients
and mix well.
2. Put filling in prepared pie crust
and prepare cheese topping.
3. Cheese topping: Beat egg and
milk together. Then add seasonings
and grated cheese; mix well.
4. Spread cheese topping evenly
over filling. Bake for 20 minutes.
Serve with sauce made of remaining
tomato sauce and equal amount of
chili sauce.
SHIRLEY’S HINTS
Stubborn stain in casserole dish? Add
boiling water and 3 tablespoons salt to dish.
Let stand ’til cool, then wash as usual.
6. Cook your pancakes on medium
heat until small bubbles appear
on the top. Use a spatula to lift the
edge of the pancakes to see whether
they’re light brown on the bottom.
When they are, flip them over with
the spatula.
Getting rid of excesss grease in roasting
pan? Sprinkle first with salt. Wipe with damp
sponge or paper towel, wash as usual.
7. Cook for another few minutes until
the pancakes are light brown on the
other side. Serve and enjoy!
No time to wash dishes with egg on them?
Sprinkle with salt ’til ready to wash.
Copper bottom pans need cleaning?
Sprinkle salt on wet surface dampened with
vinegar. Rub with cloth or paper towel. Rinse
and wash as usual.
—SHIRLEY BAKER
O
Opinions vary as to who was the
original Valentine, but the most popular
theory is that he was a clergyman who was
executed for secretly marrying couples in
ancient Rome in spite of Emperor Claudius
II, who felt that marriage weakened his
soldiers. Whatever the full truth is, Feb.
14 was officially declared Valentine’s Day
way back in A.D. 496, by Pope Gelasius.
Through the centuries, the Christian
holiday became a time to exchange love
messages, and St. Valentine also became
the patron saint of lovers. The spirit of
love continues today as valentines, candies
and flowers are sent to and from all ages of
hopeless romantics. My recommendations
for Valentine’s Day vary from gift ideas to
events and other activities planned for this
month in the hill country I so dearly love.
Gift Ideas
Take a picture of yourself holding
a large paper heart and send it to your
Valentine on their phone, via e-mail or
print it out and make a homemade card
with it!
Download your favorite songs and make
a customized CD for the one you love.
Create a scrapbook with photos, tickets
stubs from concerts and events you’ve
attended together or maybe even a wine
labels from a bottle you’ve shared.
Plan a time to head out for a romantic
drive and park somewhere! Maybe even
pop in that ol’ love song CD you just made.
Hand write your Valentine a love
letter (no cheating by typing or e-mailing
it). Then burn the edges with a match for
added effect and role it up in a scroll and
tie with a beautiful ribbon. Don’t forget
to put a squirt of your favorite perfume or
cologne on for an added touch.
If all that sounds too mushy for you,
come out to the Austin Marathon together
or any one of the following events listed!
around austin
feb 6 Parent-Child Valentine Dance
at Twin Lakes Family YMCA is open to
families with children 5-15 and besides
dancing and having loads of fun, you will
also be served a spaghetti/lasagna dinner,
receive a 5x7 photo keepsake, have a
chance to win raffle prizes and more! 512250-9622, ymcagwc.org
C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters”
at Paramount Theater. This funny,
provocative and wickedly witty theatrical
adaptation is known to be one of the “most
successful shows in the history of Chicago’s
Mercury Theater.” 866-977-6849,
austintheatre.org
feb 13 Changing Faces of McKinney
Falls Nature Hike Join in for a one-mile,
one-and-a-half-hour adventure through
the park and discover how volcanoes,
ancient seas, Native Americans, Texas
revolutionists, and even you, have changed
the landscape of the park! 512-243-1643,
tpwd.state.tx.us
feb 14 AT&T Austin Marathon Take
part in one of the largest marathon in
by Sandra Greaney
the United States right here in Austin.
youraustinmarathon.com
Feb 24 Lemonade Day Kickoff Event
at Austin Children’s Museum. Lemonade
Day is a free community-wide program
designed to teach kids entrepreneurship
through the power and simplicity of a
lemonade stand. Kids get to keep and
make their own money! Presented by The
Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas
and sponsored by the Trilogy Employees
Foundation. 512-472-2499, austinkids.org
feb 28 Groovaloo at Long Center for
the Performing Arts. See them live — the
hip-hop-influenced winners of NBC’s
recent Superstars of Dance competition.
An eclectic group of the world’s most
renowned freestyle and hip-hop dancers,
combines the authenticity of A Chorus
Line and the energy of STOMP. 512-474LONG (5664), thelongcenter.com
a little bit farther
feb 14 Central Texas Renaissance
Faire in Dale. This family friendly event
will have merchants selling their wares
to food along with all sorts of
entertainment like medieval singing,
belly dancing, and even jousting!
centraltexasrenaissancefaire.com
feb 27 4th Annual Run for the
Bluebonnets in Bastrop. Get your running
shoes on for the 4th annual “Run for the
Bluebonnets” 5K and kids’ 1K is slated to
be held in Fisherman’s Park in Bastrop.
signmeup.com
EVERY SAT. | Sunset Valley Farmers
Market offers local fruits and
vegetables at the Tony Burger Center.
sunsetvalleyfarmersmarket.org, 280-1976
next month
march 5 Cowboy Breakfast and the
official kickoff of the Star of Texas Fair
and Rodeo. Presented by Farm Credit, the
Cowboy Breakfast serves up a hot breakfast
with live music, all free to the public.
austinrodeo.com
March 7 Zilker Park Kite Festival
Kites of all kinds — gigantic kites,
homemade kites, crazy kites! You will see
hundreds of them in the air and maybe
a few in the trees. Take your own, or just
hang out and watch. zilkerkitefestival.com
March 12-21 SXSW The music and film
industries, plus other movers and shakers,
come to our city to discover the next hot
musical act or independent filmmaker.
sxsw.com
March 19-20 La Pasadita at Rodeo
Austin The biggest party at Rodeo Austin’s
BBQ Cook-Off is celebrating its 21st year
with cold beer, great BBQ and live music!
It’s all to help send Texas kids to college, so
bring some cash for their tip jars and join
in the fun! More info at lapasadita.org, or
on their Facebook page.
chec k m y c a len d a r e a ch m onth fo r
new a n d u pco m ing e v ents ! if y o u
h av e a n e v ent listing y o u ’ d li k e u s to
m ention , gi v e m e a sho u t at s a n d r a @
co u nt r y line m a g a z ine . co m
all month
ANYTIME | Donate blood! Give the gift
of life — with just a single donation you
can save lives. Go by 4300 N. Lamar in
Austin or 2132 N. Mays in Round Rock to
donate. 206-1266, inyourhands.org
every SAT & wed | Austin Farmers
Market Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and
Wednesdays, 3-7 p.m. at Republic
Square Park (4th and Guadalupe).
austinfarmersmarket.org
Enjoy the Ride —
Rose Bowl 2010
m
My 2010 started with preparations
for the National Championship trip to
Pasadena. I proudly hold the titles dad,
husband, musician, Bucky and Bob Show
producer, and radio host, but over the
past eight years, the title “Dish Boy” has
given me the most education about how
to live life.
My “Dish Boy” job requires me to stand
on the sideline and capture all the sounds
of the game … hits, claps, yelling, trash
talk … I hear it ALL, amplified a million
times through a huge microphone that
looks like a giant salad bowl, hence the
name “Dish Boy.” This title includes locker
room, post game and interview privileges.
Over the years, I’ve tried to transform
myself from the biggest wide-eyed
Longhorn fan into more of a professional,
while still enjoying the game. This was my
planned approach for the California trip.
My last-minute travel arrangements
resulted in the longest travel day of my
life. Bob Cole and I decided to broadcast
to Austin from Fox Sports Studio outside
Pasadena. Bob was traveling with his
family so we decided to meet up. In theory
it was a great idea … until we realized that
we’d have to get up at 2 a.m. to actually
make it on time to our destination. With
two hours of shut-eye, Bob and I were
exhausted, but who needs sleep? This is the
National Championship!
By our third cup of coffee, we were
on-air from California, broadcasting to
Austin people who wished they were the
ones experiencing our sleep deprivation.
After four hours on the air it was actually
time to get ready for the “Granddaddy of
Them All.”
Upon arrival, I made my way onto
the field as Bob prepared to give his deep,
distinguishable introduction of “The
Showband of the Southwest.” After what
seemed like an eternity, the season was
bearing down on this electric evening
and the “Dish Boy” was ecstatic. The stars
would align, as they had in 2005, and I
would be swimming in a field of orange
confetti in four short quarters.
As the people started jockeying for
their overpriced seats, I started to persuade
myself to not get caught up in my duties
and actually let some of the experience
“soak in.” At a game of this caliber, it’s
important to just stop for a moment and
trap a few images for later reflection …
the mountains outlining the Rose Bowl
… Ricky and Vince within arm’s reach …
Josh Groban and Flea playing the National
Anthem … fireworks … flyover … then
the “thump.” Texas kicks off THE game of
college football.
After four minutes, the excited
confusion of being at the National
Championship game quickly evolved into
confusion as to why Colt McCoy was
on the sideline surrounded by trainers?
For four quarters, the pride of the Texas
Longhorns never faltered as the team fought
the impossible with shoulder pads and grit.
In the post-game Texas locker room, tears
inevitably fell as a season, an era, and — in
some cases — a career had come to an end.
All that remained now were the images of
the ride that got them there.
It was in that locker room that I
thought about the years these guys had
devoted to football. Friday night lights
laced with dreams of burnt orange jerseys,
two-a-days that seemed to last forever in
that thick Texas heat … now just tidbits in
their minds. Colt had probably started his
ride with a game of backyard catch with his
dad … sadly, on this night he would end
his college career in the Texas locker room
the exact same way.
As I finished packing up my gear, I
heard a player’s voice say, “Well, it was
a good ride.” The comment stunned me;
these guys had obtained so much more
than any crystal trophy could possibly offer.
This team had been part of a ride … full
of potholes and glory, team failures and
phenomena.
Truthfully, aren’t we all on a ride …
trying to get somewhere that at times
seems unattainable? This championship
game had just exemplified how we can
strive for goals and dreams beyond
ourselves and, equally important, enjoy the
journey that takes us there. —eric raines
Starbucks isn’t
a rodeo bull
T
Traveling from a small town to the
big city can be exhausting. For my wife and
I, it takes preparation and that begins with
our personal space.
Personal space in a rural community
ranges from about a quarter mile to across
the street. For big city dwellers, it extends
from six to eighteen inches — less on the
crowded East Coast.
Without this mental adjustment,
walking on a city sidewalk, nose to toes
with everyone else, is like having too many
pigs in a pen. In extreme cases, ears and
tails get nipped.
Arriving in the city, communication
differences are an issue.
At home, people stop and talk
when they meet. Chatting is almost a
requirement in ranch country. This is how
far-flung neighbors stay in touch with
each other’s lives. It’s the glue that holds a
spread-out community together.
City folks will have no doubt you’re a
stranger. Communication, if it happens, is
terse, direct and “in-your-face.” Shouting
occurs in direct relationship to the number
of sirens and amount of bus traffic.
In the city, friendships are based on
mutual interest, rather than geographic
proximity. Neighbors are something you
don’t acknowledge. If a city dweller doesn’t
know the name of the person living next
door—they look it up in the phonebook.
Assisting someone in trouble isn’t being
neighborly. It’s called a fund-raiser and may
end up on TV news.
When my wife and I travel, we often
take our dogs.
City dogs leave behind the same sort of
presents as ours do on the ranch. However,
their owners are required to deal with the
end result differently than we do. City people carry little plastic bags
in their pocket when they walk their
dog. This makes it easier to remove the
little treasures their dog leaves behind.
They turn the bag inside out, recover the
misplaced item and seal the bag. Then they
toss everything in the nearest garbage can.
This is where I get in trouble.
What does a big city visitor do if there
are no waste receptacles nearby? The
thought of putting a bag of digested dog
dinner in my coat pocket leaves me luke
warm — to say the least. After all, I have
a good idea of where my dog has been
hanging out.
At home, we scoop the leavings up
with a shovel and pitch it into a field
over the yard fence. However, I don’t
recommend this in the city. You may end
up in a fistfight if someone’s standing on
the other side.
In the city, coffee is stronger and
more expensive than at home. Flavors like
Almond Roca and Hazelnut have nothing
to do with a farm crop at this end of the
consumer cycle. Here Starbucks is a coffee
shop — not a line of high-dollar rodeo
bulls. Nor is Biscotti an Italian sports car. It
is a piece of dry bread that city people eat
with their coffee. At home, we give our dry
bread to the chickens.
If you’re traveling to the big city — I’ll
bet you’re going to appreciate home when
you return — we sure do. — D. “Bing”
Bingham
B ing B ingh a m is a w r ite r , r a nche r a n d
sto r y telle r . H e ’ s the one with a d a z e d
loo k in the big cit y. I f y o u h av e a n y big
cit y t r av el tips to pa ss a long , conta ct
hi m at bing @ bingbingh a m . co m .
by Kendall Hemphill
A
The Dash
A friend once told me about a
funeral he’d attended, where the minister
delivering the eulogy talked about the
deceased’s dash. He said, “Our friend here
has died. And he’s going to be buried. And
he’s going to have a tombstone. And on
that tombstone there are going to be two
dates — the date when he was born, and
the date when he died. And in between
those two dates there’s going to be a little
dash. That little dash represents an entire
lifetime. All any of us gets is that one little
dash.
“What you do with your dash is up
to you.”
When Lee Coffman retired from the
U.S. Army, after twenty years of service,
in 1989, he figured he’d done just about
everything with his dash he was going to
do. He planned to spend the rest of his
life fishing (Lee had never married). He
bought a bass boat and got started.
But that didn’t last long, because Lee’s
dash wasn’t anywhere near done yet. After
a few weeks he was bored, and on a visit
to see his sister at the school where she
taught, he decided to embark on another
career. He decided to become a teacher. So
he did.
I met Lee not long after that, because
he had started dating Suzanne Machen, of
Brady. The Machen family had already had
a huge influence on my life, and I was glad
Suzanne had found someone she seemed to
be happy with. And the more I got to know
Lee, the more impressed I was with him.
Lee was one of those people you
couldn’t look at without smiling, probably
because he was always smiling himself. He
was outgoing, friendly, loud and gregarious.
He didn’t just say hello, he was like Dolby
Surround Sound on a stereo system. He
boomed HELLO. It would have been
impossible to ignore him if you’d wanted to.
Once, when the subject came up, Lee
told me he’d been in the army. That was
all he said. “I was in the army.” But when
I attended Lee’s funeral recently, I learned
that Lee was in the army like Alvin York
was in the army. Like Audie Murphy was
in the army. Lee wasn’t just in the army.
He was a hero.
Lee dropped out of 11th grade to enlist
in 1969, on his seventeenth birthday. By
the time he turned eighteen he was leading
a platoon of forty eight men. He became a
Ranger and a Green Beret, and eventually
retired as a First Sergeant. He served three
tours in Vietnam, and earned twenty one
medals. Not just the ‘I Was There’ medals.’
Lee was awarded the Silver Star, the Cross
of Gallantry, the French Croix de Guerre,
PBR finds inconsistencies
with judges’ scores
The Professional Bull Riders Rules
and Regulations Committee determined
in an emergency meeting Jan. 16 that
there was a significant
inconsistency in
judges’ scores at the
Sacramento Classic
Jan. 15-17, and that
disciplinary action
was required.
Longtime judge
Jeff Shearer, one of
four judges at the
ARCO Arena on Saturday night Jan.16,
will be suspended for five events.
“We saw a problem, so we met and
rectified it,” said Jay Daugherty, Senior
Vice President of Competition. “Jeff has
been one of our best judges for years,
but we have a zero-tolerance policy on
something like this.”
In the second to last ride of
the event, Shearer
gave Elliott Jacoby
an 18 (out of a
possible 25) for his
ride on Necessary
Evil. The score was
well below the other judges’
range of scores (21.5, 22 and
21), and resulted in Jacoby
losing out on the event title
by half a point.
The Rules and Regulations committee
determined that the inconsistency was
unreasonable. As a
result, Shearer will
be suspended for
five events. Once he
returns, he will be
subject to indefinite
probation, with zero
tolerance for error
going forward.
“In any judged
sport, there will be differences of opinion,”
Daugherty said. “But a major inconsistency
like this can go to the heart of our
credibility. This incident is a small blemish
on Jeff’s otherwise stellar career as a PBR
judge, and I’m confident it won’t happen
again.”
Shearer will be eligible to return
on Feb. 26 at the Enterprise
Rent-A-Car
Invitational in St.
Louis, Missouri.
“… a major
inconsistency like
this can go to the
heart of
our credibility. ”
and the Bronze Star with four oak leaf
clusters. And five Purple Hearts.
Now, I have no idea what Lee did to
earn those medals. But I know the Silver
Star is the third highest award a member
of the U.S. Army can receive from the
military, and it is only earned through
conspicuous gallantry in combat. And
I know that, when commendations for
medals are submitted to the upper echelon,
they are usually bumped down a notch,
which means Lee was likely put up for a
Distinguished Service Cross. And if so, he
probably deserved it.
The Bronze Star is right behind the
Silver Star, and Lee earned five of those.
Which means he probably deserved five
more Silver Stars. Besides, of course,
being wounded five times while serving
his country. If Lee Coffman wasn’t a hero,
neither was Jimmy Doolittle.
And then there was Grenada. Lee’s
unit served there during the political coup
in October 1983. His unit, at one point,
got pinned down in an old building. Their
radio had been shot up, so they patched
together an old telephone line they found,
and managed to get hold of an operator.
They used a credit card one of the guys
had with him, and called their base in
Tennessee. When they finally got someone
there to believe who they were, and where
they were, air support was finally sent to
help them out.
When the movie Heartbreak Ridge was
made, that incident was depicted using a
squad of Recon Marines. And the role of
the unit CO, Lee’s part, was played by Clint
Eastwood. And he never mentioned it.
I ran into Lee, just a couple of weeks
before he died of a heart attack at age 57.
He was just as loud, just as friendly, just as
happy, and just as full of life as he’d ever
been. I can almost still feel his handshake,
and hear his HELLO. I can definitely still
feel his warmth.
Lee left his wife, Suzanne, to raise their
two sons, Bradley and Ryan, without their
father. That won’t be easy, but there were
never a couple of boys who had a greater
role model to follow in a dad. Any way you
look at it, Lee Coffman was a hero and a
Great American, and he did more with
his dash than just about anyone else I’ve
known …
Ken d a l H e m phill is a n o u t d oo r h u m o r
col u m nist a n d p u blic spe a k e r . W r ite to
hi m at P O B o x 1 6 0 0 , M a son , T x 7 6 8 5 6 o r
j eep @ v e r i z on . net
All-Around Cowboy
Josh Peek flies in a F-16
the 140th wing, colorado air
National Guard, took all-around cowboy
Josh Peek for a ride in an F-16 in January.
The tie-down roper and steer wrestler,
from Pueblo, Colo., had the opportunity
to spend the day at Buckley and learn
about the increasing importance of the Air
National Guard and their role in national
defense.
“I had a thrilling and exhilarating
experience,” Peek said.
The Colorado National Guard is
marked its 150th anniversary on Jan. 23,
and in an effort to educate the Denver
community about the Guard’s missions and
heritage.
Along with being a Colorado native,
Peek won the all-around and tie-down
roping titles at the National Western
last year, making him a natural choice to
promote the Guard and the Denver rodeo
which ran through Jan. 24, is in its 104th
year.
The F-16 orientation flight
program Peek took part in is part of a
comprehensive outreach program, through
the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force
for Public Affairs. As part of the Air Force’s
community outreach efforts, orientation
flights provide Americans who, because
of their position and contact with various
public organizations, can make positive
contributions to public’s understanding of
the roles and missions of the Department
of Defense. An F-16 flight provides
firsthand opportunities to view the quality
and capability of our people and weapons
systems.
Top: Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association rider Josh 'Jack Daniels' Peek gives the 'thumbs-up' that he is buckled in and ready just prior to his F-16
orientation flight at Buckley Air Force Base, Jan 8, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. John Nimmo, Sr.); Bottom: U.S. Air Force Major
Marc ‘Kidd’ Garceau, F-16 fighter pilot, 120th Fighter Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, and Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association rider Josh Peek
pause for a photo prior to his orientation flight, Jan 8, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. John Nimmo, Sr.)
TEXAS SERVICES AND PROFESSIONALS
Home of the best little meat market in South Austin
JOHNNY G’S MEAT MARKET
Wild Game
ProcessinG
sPecialists
OFFICIAL
IB
DISTR UTIO
SPONSOR
INT
N PO
Fresh-Choice Beef, Pork, Sausage
Wholesale/Retail
Wild Game Processing
Tanglewood Biz Park • 11600 Manchaca Rd, Ste H • Austin, TX • 512/280-6514
True Texas spring water bottled right
here in Austin. Don’t buy bottled
city tap water when you can enjoy
natures pure refreshing spring water.
Keepin’ It Local!
Home or Office Delivery
Call Today! 512/280-4037
Official Water of
The Texas Outdoor Zone
Texas Proud!
GET YOUR BUSINESS
IN FRONT OF OUR READERS!
JOIN OUR
SERVICES DIRECTORY
CALL FOR DETAILS
512-292-1113
by Mike Young
i’ve got some thoughts for
the City Council of Austin and wanted
to share them with all of you, so here’s my
open letter to them, dated Jan. 20, 2010.
To Whom It May Concern: It has come
to my attention in the past two weeks that the
Austin Planning Commission is considering
the adoption of an ordinance that will prohibit
its citizens from owning roosters. I have
also been led to believe that this action was
precipitated by complaints about the excessive
noise created by these birds.
Now while I will agree that it is the nature
of a rooster to crow and, in larger numbers,
the sound can certainly be irritating, I submit
that the noise ordinance already in effect
should be more than enough to handle the
problem. Austin, the Live Music Capital of
the World, sets acceptable decibel levels for
bands, shuts down parties that are too loud
and even tickets unattended barking dogs.
So why not impose penalties for the nuisance
caused by noisy roosters?
In my capacity as Manager of Callahan’s
General Store here in Austin, I have seen
the interest in all things chicken virtually
explode over the last two years. We are not
doing anything differently than we have in
the last 28 years that I have been associated
with Callahan’s. People tell me that it is the
economy. Eggs, milk, and groceries have
sky-rocketed in price, not to mention the
gas it takes to get to the store. Chickens lay
eggs, and that’s a start. Roosters allow for the
perpetuation of the species, and they will also
protect the hens from some predators, like
cats. And if your rooster is not big enough to
frighten away a would-be predator, the noise it
makes will certainly alert the owner.
Another strong consideration that I
personally hear voiced quite a bit is that a
lot of folks want to know where their food is
coming from! If one feeds the chickens, helps
hatch the chicks, or gathers the eggs, then that
person is basically in charge of the process
from start to finish. Couple this with free
range chickens eating the bad bugs out of your
yards and supplementing them with USDAcertified organic feed, and you are about as
“green” as you can get. This gives a lot of
people a certain peace of mind, one of which is
me. Not only are we providing an ecologically
sound service to the community, but our
sales in the area have been significantly higher
over the past two years. Roosters, as a part
of the flock, allow for the continuation of the
species. Many times, I have found it very
difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a certain
breed of rooster from a commercial hatchery.
However, given time, one can be found in a
backyard flock.
One last thing — about half of the three
to four hundred large birds we sell every week
are roosters, and probably 95% of those are
eaten. They come to us around five months
old, and are typically bigger than hens the
same age: thus a better bargain. During the
last cold snap, the numbers of birds sold
increased dramatically. These are not wealthy
people buying these birds. For the most part,
they are newly arrived immigrants, and I have
come to believe that this is an important part
of their diet.
So, in closing, I would like to ask that the
committee not ban the sale and the ownership
of roosters in Austin. Thank you for your
consideration, and if more information would
help, please call.
Sincerely,
Mike Young
512-385-3452
If you have any input, for or against,
please contact the City Council. Adios!
The wheelbarrow is beginning to tip
one of the top stories of 2009
concerning agriculture was how much
negative press the industry received.
Documentaries like Food, Inc. and
Dirt! The Movie and writers like Bryan
Walsh, who delivered a broadside against
modern food production practices in Time
magazine, have always given those in
agriculture indigestion.
But how many farmers and ranchers
have really taken them seriously? Few, I
believe. We might want to start thinking
in that direction.
When it comes to food, activists are
taking the moral high ground farmers
and ranchers have held for so many
years. The safe, affordable and abundant
food supply mantra we have chanted for
so long, although true, has been turned
against us. We are accused of producing
an overabundance of empty calories with
no concern for promoting healthy eating
habits. Industrial agriculture is turning
America into a nation of obese slobs.
Cheap food is killing us, so their
arguments go.
Six months ago, I thought the only
people listening to these trains of thoughts
were so far out in left field and so few
in number that they didn’t make any
difference. I think differently today.
A couple of weeks ago, I received a
personal e-mail from a lady concerning
a recent Texas Agriculture Talks blog
entry, “Five Reasons You Will Pay More
For Food,” which we also ran in the pages
of Texas Agriculture, a publication of the
Texas Farm Bureau (Nov. 6, 2009).
Here’s, in part, what she had to say:
“The food industry
is funded, owned
by a handful of
corporations who
are ultimately
concerned with one
thing — profit.
And in the name of
that, they truly do
not care about the
local farmer, they do
not care about the
quality and safety of
our food and do not care about the health of
our nation’s people. And right now, they are
dictating what we eat and the way we eat.”
She continued: “Food, Inc. did a very
good job of following local farmers who now
work for these large corporations, the pittance
of a compensation they receive for their hard
labor, the terrible living conditions of the
animals we are eating, the hefty penalties
applied to these farmers if they do not follow
the sometimes ridiculous rules the corporations
pass down to them. And the threat of losing a
contract, and a livelihood is such that farmers
who know better are going along with it, even
though many of them are up to their ears in
debt.”
Still more: “Obesity is on the rise, cancer
is on the rise. Girls are now starting their
menstrual cycles at younger ages than ever
before. Why is this? I
would argue that our
nation’s reliance on
bad food (fast food)
which has helped fuel
the current direction
of the food industry
and the huge reliance
on hormones in our
food chain and the
pesticides used may
have something to
do with our sick
nation.”
Rants from some ultra-liberal activist
pushing an anti-modern agriculture
agenda? Hardly. The thoughts come
straight out of Food, Inc.
But they are being repeated by a lady
who said she loves “Texas Farm Bureau,
love[s] the stance they have taken on
eminent domain and, for the most part,
agree[s] with the political opinions offered”
in the organization’s publications.
Worse still, it wasn’t a public answer
“… the huge reliance
on hormones in our
food chain and the
pesticides used may
have something to do
with our sick nation.”
to a blog or editorial. It was a personal
response to me. Why? Because she is
concerned.
You know how one too many bricks
can topple the entire wheelbarrow? That’s
what’s happening in agriculture today.
Consumers are hearing too many negatives
about the food they eat and the way it is
produced. Those who oppose the methods
we use to produce safe, abundant and
affordable food have taken us to task.
What they are saying is neither ethical nor
true, but that wheelbarrow is starting to
tip.
They are pushing the right buttons
to gain consumers’ attention. They are
effectively using food safety and health
concerns in an attempt to dismantle the
modern agriculture miracle that feeds
America and much of the world.
It’s time agriculture pushed back —
before that last brick brings the whole
stack crashing down. The lady who
e-mailed me said she yearned to hear from
the farmers and ranchers who produce her
food.
Why aren’t you talking to her? —Mike
Barnett
by Larry LeBlanc
T
The weather last month was
something, I guess it was a prime example
of the global warming that a dying
minority is still hangs on to. I was forced
to go outside once during that bitter cold
and take care of some business and if this
is the weather pattern continues I have a
bad feeling that I may be delving into the
fine art of ice fishing.
Well I had the pleasure this past week
to speak to Bobby Goforth of Conroe who
is one of the foremost crappie anglers in
our county and he participates in many
crappie competitions all over the country
and he was telling how he caught a two
pound crappie on the lake last week. You
see the fish are still there you just have to
know how to catch them. Oh, it also helps
if you have the clothing and the guts to
get on the water in that weather, which
cuts me out of the equation.
Bobby is such a dedicated crappie man
that he makes his own jigs. He was telling
me how he finds the underwater structure
where crappie will be hanging out and
what to try once they stop biting on a
brush pile.
One thing that was brought up was if
© hi d d enl a k e r v r a nch . co m
Crappie is a game
fish that draws
serious anglers
A big crappie caught at Hidden Lake RV Ranch in Jacksboro
a large predator shows up, like a garfish,
the crappie will stop biting and will go
into hiding. At that point unless you wish
to move on you have to get rid of the
predator if you plan on having a chance at
catching more crappie at that one spot. In
the case of a marauding gar one way to get
rid of it is to catch it so you change your
tactics and fish for gar for a while. If you
catch it you can then go back to crappie
fishing.
Another thing that Bobby mentioned
about brush piles is you normally fish over
the top of the brush as most agree that a
crappie will rise up to take a bait and not
dive for one. If they stop biting Goforth
said he will drop is jig down beside his
trolling motor where the transponder for
his fish finder is so he can see his jig on
the screen. He will then lower the jig to a
limb and tap the limb with the jig and he
proclaims that will sometime bring a strike
from a nice sized crappie.
When into serious crappie fishing
Bobby said he always brings along some
minnows just in case the crappie does
not like his jig offerings. He said he know
some serious competitive crappie men that
will even insist on seining for minnows in
the lake in which they plan to fish.
I did not think about how devoted
some folks can get to the art of catching
crappie, but I guess that was lack of
thought on my part. When the angling
population of our country will spend more
money on fishing for bass than golfers do
on their sport it is only normal that those
devote to other fish species like crappie
can really become devoted to the sport.
We folks here in Texas have the best of
the best when it comes to fishing as we can
either become devoted to any one species
of fresh or salt water fish or we can fish the
entire scope of fish available to us. It does
not get much better than that.
Red numerals etch the darkness,
illuminating the room — it’s 12:28 a.m.
Anticipation of the day has made sleep a
shallow doze; I awake two more times and
finally get up just before the alarm chimes at 3
a.m. I turn it off quickly, hoping not to disturb
my wife anymore than I already have. The
smell of coffee is still fragrant in the kitchen
from brewing it only hours before. I sit with
a cup preparing the mental game plan: map
study, pre-fishing, talking to other anglers,
watching the weather countless times, and
rigging my baits with what I feel is the best
approach for the existing conditions. I dress
in so many layers that I never know what
to tuck into what. Hoping the weather will
not be as severe as predicted, but knowing
that it will be much worse on the water. I
hook up the boat and wait for my partner to
arrive. We put his gear in the boat and we’re
off! Seeing other people towing their boats
in the dark always makes me feel like maybe
I’m not as crazy as I thought.
As we arrive at the launch area, a long
trail of taillights greets us. We prep the boat
for launch with the gusto of a Nascar
pit crew. After launching and jockeying
for a parking spot, you must then find your
partner on the dark shoreline covered
with boats. Then we idle over to the lights
where we draw our take-off number from
the always-smiling Joy. Floating in the vast
sea of boats, we wait. The sun is starting rise
and still people keep coming. Chad Potts
crackles on the microphone asking if we can
hear him with 200 outboards running and
spewing two-stroke smoke. We recognize a
few faces and exchange well wishes — good
luck, guys!
At the start of the tournament, Chad asks
everyone to remove their hats and stand. He
then delivers a prayer of thanks and for the
safety of all participants. The Star Spangled
Banner plays next — it’s a solemn moment
as all competitors stand with their caps on
their hearts. But, as soon as the anthem is
over someone yells, “Play ball,” and the first
boat takes off!
We weave through all of the boats to
make sure that we are in line when our
number is called. Jeff Welsch checks live
wells as we drive by and makes sure that you
know your weigh-in time. We idle past the
buoy and then we’re off! —d on gord on
Skeeter Bass Champs
Lake Belton
Feb. 6
Weigh-in at Temple Lake Park
Results next month
New Grande Bass Products
Available soon at Cabela’s, Academy and
Gander Mountain: 8-inch Mega Tail-Worm,
Mega Claws-Craw (grandebass.com)
Take care of her …
your boat, that is
I
It’s that time again for most to
start adding a “to do” list on their boat…
With the recent warmer weathers, many
are taking off the covers to reveal what
winter has left them to maintain for a future
outing. For the avid angler, it is just routine
maintenance. Whether the boat is new or
old, some good ‘ol TLC should keep “her”
running smooth.
First and foremost is getting “her”
feeling good with a clean coat. Best overall
cleaner for a boat is distilled water and
vinegar. This will not hurt the gel coat.
Next would be applying sun block (or
wax) preventing future damage to the top
coat. While cleaning check for any and
O.H. Ivie back in
Toyota ShareLunker Fold
O.H. IVIE RESERVOIR AND OTHER WEST
Texas lakes suffered from drought from the
late 1990s until 2004, when rains came
again.
The drought took two forms: low water
and few big bass caught.
The fish drought ended January 16,
when Ben Blaine of Merkel landed a
14.02-pound largemouth bass from O.H.
Ivie. It became Toyota ShareLunker No.
475.
“We’ve been expecting it,” said
Bobby Farquhar, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department (TPWD) inland fisheries
regional director from San Angelo. “About
six to seven years after the end of a drought
you usually see the big fish start to come
out.”
Blaine caught his fish at 5 p.m. in 12
to 15 feet of 48-degree water on a DD-22.
The fish was 25.5 inches long and 21.25
inches in girth.
Five ShareLunkers have come from the
lake previously: three in 2000 and two in
2002. “All those fish were from the original
stockings in 1990 and 1991,” Farquhar
said. “When the lake went down, we had
too many bass, and they didn’t grow. We
changed the regulation to let anglers keep
two fish under 18 inches, and that plus
the rise provided better conditions. There
were lots of adult fish in the lake, and they
produced strong year classes in 2004 and
2005. I would not be surprised to see more
ShareLunkers. We’ve had several reports of
12-pounders being caught in the last year.”
Another West Texas reservoir
rebounding from the drought of the late
1990s is starting to pump out monster
largemouth bass.
On Jan. 19 Falcon International
Reservoir produced a 14.4-pound Toyota
ShareLunker for Bryan Aubin of Zapata.
No catch details were available other
all plastic and rubber fittings, tube, and
such that might have dried or cracked over
winter or the previous year.
Next would be an overall check of
fluids and battery levels. Make sure the
batteries are fully charges, and have the
proper levels of water (yes, water in your
batteries). If you used a winterization
product, maintain as directed. With
the raising of Ethanol in fuel at the gas
stations, it is suggested in newer motors to
run a stabilization product, marine grade
treatment with each and every tank of fuel.
Factor this in to your fuel bill.
With out hesitation, take care of any
outdated insurance, registration and trailer
tags. This will keep you out of trouble
come time to hit the water. Make sure all
of the proper emergency devices and extra
maintenance tools are stocked, working,
and on board.
Replace spark plugs, check for wear
on plug wires, assure there are no nicks on
the prop, change/fill gear lube, inspect fuel
lines, lubricate and clean all necessary. All
this and it doesn’t assure you will make it
than the time of catch, 9 a.m.
The fish was cared for until pickup
at Robert’s Fish ’n’ Tackle, an official
ShareLunker weigh and holding station.
Proper handling and care are important
factors in survival of big fish, as shown
by Toyota ShareLunker 474, caught from
Falcon on Dec. 20 by Debbie Baker.
“That fish came in very stressed and
in poor overall condition,” said Jim
Matthews, hatchery manager at the
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in
Athens, where ShareLunkers are kept.
“The intensive crew has been treating her
continuously for stress-related infections,
and she has made a very good recovery.
She has eaten several rainbow trout, which
is a big step to recovery. DNA testing
shows she is a pure Florida bass, so if things
continue to improve, we hope to spawn
her this season.”
Official Toyota ShareLunker weigh
and holding stations are certified by Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
inland fisheries biologists to have the
proper facilities and equipment for keeping
to the water without a proper trailer…Air
pressure, dry rot of trailer tires, and secure
cranks before hooking up to your truck.
It is often said “a boat is a whole in the
water, you throw money into.” Also, “the
best days of owning a boat is the one you
buy it and the day you sell it.” True, many
times I have felt both of these, but then
again, what about the memories I would be
lacking without one!
Hunt Hard, Fish Harder, Fish ON!
—C ody Ryan G r eaney T O Z T eam, C ody@
texasoutdoorzone. com
B e one the fi r st th r ee people to sen d m e
a n e m a il a n d ta k e y o u r pic k of so m e
f r ee Vicio u s ™ F ishing L ine a n d ge a r , o r
$ 1 0 0 off of a f u ll - d ay g u i d e d fishing
t r ip ! C o d y @ T e x a s O u t d oo r Zone . co m
F o r m o r e info on pl a nning y o u r ne x t
fishing a d v ent u r e , conta ct C o d y R ya n
at co d y @ T e x a s O u t d oo r Zone . co m o r
512-576-2200.
© r obe r ts ’ fish ’ n ’ ta c k le
R
Skeeter Bass Champs
Bryan Aubin caught this 14.4-pound
largemouth bass from Falcon International
Reservoir on January 19. Toyota
ShareLunker 476 is 25 inches long and
21.5 inches in girth.
big bass alive. Station personnel receive
training in how to care for the fish and are
on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week
to receive fish.
A list of the official holding stations is
at tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/
tffc/sharelunker/holding/.

is for Texas, and the - Country Line Magazine

Transcription

Similar documents

THE TEXAS HEAD START DIRECTORS` ROUNDTABLE

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 11 am to 1 pm Texins Activity Center

Village at Cedar Park

Riparian Flyer – Pedernales River on December 5, 2015

Cotton Defoliation Turn Row Meeting

20090605 TWT_2

KTSU 90.9 FM 13th Annual Tennis Classic

20090515 TWT_2

Star Creek Ranch

Media Producer Aida Barrera