by Phil Houseal | Aug 9, 2023 | All Articles, Music, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
Aug 9, 2023–Here’s a life lesson for aspiring musicians: “The more you play, the more you play.” That’s the motto of a recent Hill Country resident, who also, oh, happens to have been the fiddler for Asleep At The Wheel for eight years. “I still feel like a student,”...
by Phil Houseal | Aug 2, 2023 | All Articles, Events, History, Music, People of the Hill Country
Aug 2, 2023–In one of those anomalous alignments of the universe, I’ve been asked several times recently how I came to live, work, and write in the Texas Hill Country. There’s a romantic version, a Hitchhiker’s Guide version, and a screenplay version of my origin...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 27, 2023 | All Articles, Events, History, People of the Hill Country
July 26, 2023–From time to time I tire of “real” news and turn my hand to “Not Newz.” It’s outrageous, obtuse, and yet, increasingly plausible. Camels Return to Texas Hill Country The U.S. Agricultural Research Station has received federal funding to reestablish...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 5, 2023 | All Articles, Education, Food, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
July 5, 2023–Soap in a sock, batteries in the dishwasher, and banana peels on burns. These are a few of your favorite hacks, according to responses to my online request. I always regret crowd-sourcing my column, but sometimes it’s fun to let people try at home what I...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 1, 2023 | All Articles, Events, History, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
June 1, 2023–Deb Rouse has been named Executive Director of the Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation by the Board of Directors, assuming full duties in July, 2023. Rouse feels ready, both professionally and personally, to step into the role of Executive Director of the...
by Phil Houseal | May 17, 2023 | All Articles, History, Music, People of the Hill Country
May 17, 2023–(Note: Last week I wrote about my stint as an extra in the movie Barbarosa, filmed around Fredericksburg in 1980 and starring Willie Nelson and Gary Busey. On what was to be my last day on the set, the film crew hired me as a stand-in for actor Danny De...