tag:tonynorris.com,2005:/blogs/letter-from-home?p=4Letter from Home2023-04-20T09:19:28-07:00Copyright Tony Norris 2022Under Western Stars with Tony NorrisUnder Western Stars with Tony NorrisTony NorrisfalseTony Norristony@tonynorris.comtag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/71937762023-02-26T00:00:00-07:002023-10-16T07:56:03-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #31<p>Description coming soon… February 26, 2023</p>27:55Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/71937752023-01-22T00:00:00-07:002023-04-20T09:20:37-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #30<p>Description Coming Soon… January 22, 2023</p>27:57Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/69761162022-05-20T12:31:55-07:002022-05-20T12:31:55-07:00Under Western Stars Steve Alston Episode #29<p>Description coming soon.</p>28:04Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/69760892022-05-20T12:25:43-07:002022-05-20T12:32:20-07:00Under Western Stars Sourdough with Steve Alton Episode #28<p>Description coming soon.</p>27:48Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/69654552022-04-24T13:00:00-07:002022-05-14T10:30:56-07:00Under Western Stars Jim Hassler Episode #27<p>Produced in association with Sundsounds of Arizona and broadcast the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 10pm. Cowboy poetry, stories, and songs about growing up in the west. See: www.sunsounds.org</p>
<p>Jim Hassler leaves the sound of the loons on his Washington State homestead to sing some of his favorite songs. The Old Double Diamond, Sweet Wyoming Home and Coyote My Old Friend flow into Night Herder’s Lament, Miner’s Song and Summer Wages.</p>28:01Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/69654542022-04-10T13:45:00-07:002022-05-20T12:33:04-07:00Under Western Stars Kevin Johns Episode #26<p>Produced in association with Sundsounds of Arizona and broadcast the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 10pm. Cowboy poetry, stories, and songs about growing up in the west. See: www.sunsounds.org</p>
<p>Kevin is an old road warrior,performing along a trail that takes us from an encounter with an ethereal maiden, Athena to a Bay in Mexico, a Cortez Sea getaway complete with coconut trees and moonlit waves. He applies his poets’ songcraft to the theme of eternal fire in A Fire That Will Always Burn and tells a story of life on the Grand Canyon Railway. He tells the tale of a young gunslinger in Jody and then whisks us off to the West with Desert Wind.</p>28:00Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/69062142022-02-24T13:00:07-07:002022-02-24T17:13:19-07:00Under Western Stars Wally Bornmann Episode #25<p>If you approach a flickering campfire, Wally Bornmann is the feller you want to find strumming the big guitar. He sings Red River Valley, Fishing For Chickens , Home On The Range and Navajo Rug - the song that sent him on a decade long walk-about. He reads from a novel in progress inspired by the song. </p>
<p>Produced in association with Sundsounds of Arizona and broadcast the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 10pm. Cowboy poetry, stories, and songs about growing up in the west. See: <a contents="www.sunsounds.org" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://sunsounds.org" target="_blank">www.sunsounds.org</a></p>28:00Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/69062122022-02-24T12:57:05-07:002022-02-24T17:26:02-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #24 -Jon Messenger<p> Out of the old rock Jon Messenger performs original pieces Sunrise, Jornada del Muerte and The Windmills Are Turning and deliverer a classic version of Spanish Johnny.</p>
<p> </p>
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<p>Produced in association with Sundsounds of Arizona and broadcast the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 10pm. Cowboy poetry, stories, and songs about growing up in the west. See <a contents="www.sunsounds.org" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://sunsounds.org" target="_blank">www.sunsounds.org</a></p>
<p>Sun Sounds of Arizona (a member supported service) providing audio access to information for people who cannot read print due to a disability.</p>27:09Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/68923602022-02-08T16:02:21-07:002022-02-10T10:31:02-07:00 Under Western Stars Anniversary Show Episode #23<p>Tony Norris reflects on the one year anniversary of Under Western Stars.</p>
<p>" Twelve full moons and twenty-four episodes after it's humble beginnings, Under Western Stars marks it's one year anniversary. Hear some highlights of the year and meet the able staff that helps me produce the show."</p>28:02Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/69062312022-02-07T13:15:00-07:002022-02-24T13:05:29-07:00 Under Western Stars Anniversary Show Video<p> Under Western Stars Anniversary Show Preview Video produced by Greg Hales.</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="KBM2dNBBlm0" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/KBM2dNBBlm0/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KBM2dNBBlm0?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/68509702021-12-24T12:35:52-07:002022-01-24T20:24:28-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #22 - Christmas 2021 Episode<p>Tony Norris invites you to hear Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry, Buck Ramsey's Christmas Waltz. Tony tells his tale of being snowbound in The San Francisco Peaks in The Best Christmas Dinner. Dolan Ellis sings Rock Springs</p>27:58Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/68509692021-12-24T12:33:42-07:002022-01-19T12:00:41-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #21 - Slim Rost<p>Slim Rost waxes philosophic and shares performances of original songs Adios to That Cowboy, Yee Ha What a Ride, Splice Pull and Tie and Steer Wrestler's Thinking.</p>27:05Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/68509672021-12-24T12:31:20-07:002022-01-19T12:00:04-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #20 - Bill Vernieu<p>Bill Vernieu shares his encyclopedic knowledge of cowboy poetry and western music. He performs Springtime On The Divide, The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill, Chilly Winds, The Bra and Coyote</p>28:00Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/68509302021-12-24T12:26:21-07:002022-01-19T11:59:16-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #19 - Bill Burke<p>Tony's music pardner of 40 years joins him on banjo and mandolin to perform Log Cabin Home in the Sky, Canned Goods and Leaving Cheyenne. Bill plays Ducks on a Millpond, Pretty Maid Milking Her Cow and the show's theme song Lost Indian.</p>27:48Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/67893152021-10-29T14:00:00-07:002021-10-29T14:00:03-07:00Sid Hausman - Grand Canyon Trail<p>My friend Sid Hausman singing Grand Canyon Trail. the title cut from the Roy Rodgers movie.</p>
<p>Also, please check out my <strong>Under Western Stars</strong> episode #15 - which features Sid Live.</p>
<p><em>Enjoy Sid'sVideo below...</em></p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="8kuWaKmz914" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/8kuWaKmz914/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8kuWaKmz914?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p><i>visit Sid at sidhausman.com </i></p>Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/68610472021-10-17T10:00:00-07:002022-01-19T11:23:46-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #18 Ken Ralston part 2<p>Ken Ralston is a veteran cowboy singer and poetry reciter and an expert outdoorsman and hunter. In this second of two episodes he performs Sonora's Death Row, The Face on the Bar Room Floor, Sweet Betsy from Pike, Lost Flanlins and Turkey in the Straw .</p>28:00Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/67762872021-10-14T16:22:48-07:002021-12-30T19:15:47-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #17 Ken Ralston part 1<p>Ken Ralston is a veteran cowboy singer and poetry reciter and an expert outdoorsman and hunter. In this first of two episodes he performs Arkansas Traveler, The Plains of the buffalo, Bear Hunters Bold and Pancho and Lefty.</p>28:00Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/67762862021-10-14T16:21:31-07:002021-12-30T19:16:50-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #16 Dean Cook<p><em>Dean Cook is in much demand on the cowboy poetry/ music circuit for his skills as a humorist, songwriter and poet. Here he performs Tall Tales and Treasures, Bob, Where Do You Go On The Bright Angel Trail, Silver Spurs and Grand Canyon Suite</em></p>27:45Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/67281342021-08-26T15:03:16-07:002021-08-26T15:03:16-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #15 Sid Hausman Live <p>Tony talks to Sid Hausman-- multi- instrumentalist, artist and author. Sid performs original songs Blue Horizon, Bill Pickett, Geronimo’s Land, Cactus Critter Bash and plays guitar, banjo, ukulele and bones.</p>27:59Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/67081852021-08-05T14:47:00-07:002021-12-30T19:20:35-07:00Under Western Stars #14 The EarthPicks<p>Tony interviews Elizaberh Lopez and Jeff Stuges about their original songs of the southwest and historic characters like Cochise and Ed Schieffelin.</p>28:04Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/67081662021-08-05T14:45:01-07:002021-08-26T15:11:48-07:00Under Western Stars #13 Sidekicks<p>Meet the sidekicks of cowboy heroes: Gabby Hayes, Andy Devine, Ken Curtis and others.</p>27:26Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66702802021-06-25T09:40:42-07:002021-08-26T15:12:14-07:00Under Western Stars #12 Cowboy Theme Songs<p>Tony visits the timeless music of TV and movie Westerns including Bonanza, Have Gun Will Travel,Gunsmoke, Rawhide and others.</p>27:54Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66702792021-06-25T09:38:54-07:002021-08-26T15:12:57-07:00Under Western Stars #11 Bill Burke Live<p>Tony interviews his long time music pard Bill Burke and they play the Old Double Diamond, Innisheer, Riding Down the Canyon,Blue Mountain, Old Paint and The Telling Takes Me Home.</p>28:09Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66702782021-06-25T09:36:59-07:002021-08-26T15:04:13-07:00Under Western Stars #10 Increase Your Attention Span<p>Tony challenges listeners to expand their attention span by listening to songs that exceed the industry mandated three minutes. Songs include California Joe, El Paso and The Dying Ranger. </p>
<p>Tony plays some songs that exceed the three minute commercial format and invite sustained listening. Songs include The Dying Ranger, Streets of Laredo and California Joe.</p>28:03Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66268432021-05-10T14:49:48-07:002021-05-13T17:22:50-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #9 Coyote my Old Friend<p>Under Western Stars Episode #9 Coyote my Old Friend</p>
<p> Learn about the coyotes role in the old West and see how it has adapted to it's new range.</p>
<p>Under Western Stars is a radio show produced in partnership with Sun Sounds. Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to print information and original programming to people who cannot read or hold print material due to a disability. Sun Sounds broadcasts the reading of over 200 local and national publications 24/7 from studios in Tempe, Flagstaff, and Tucson. </p>
<p> The recording engineer is Matt Sarnoski and technical help is provided by Jay Jacoby and Greg Hales, of Jumpstart Digital Arts https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/ .</p>27:40Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66267962021-05-10T13:49:07-07:002021-05-13T17:18:50-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #8 Ghost Riders<p>Under Western Stars Episode #8 Ghost Riders</p>
<p>Listen to the Rider of Loma Escondida, a tale of a ghost rider and and stolen gold and Stan Jones classic song Ghost Riders in the Sky.</p>
<p>Under Western Stars is a radio show produced in partnership with Sun Sounds. Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to print information and original programming to people who cannot read or hold print material due to a disability. Sun Sounds broadcasts the reading of over 200 local and national publications 24/7 from studios in Tempe, Flagstaff, and Tucson. </p>
<p> The recording engineer is Matt Sarnoski and technical help is provided by Jay Jacoby and Greg Hales, of Jumpstart Digital Arts https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/ .</p>28:20Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66267952021-05-10T13:47:34-07:002021-05-13T17:14:19-07:00Under Western Stars Episode # 7 the Camp Cook<p>Under Western Stars Episode # 7 The Camp Cook</p>
<p>Learn about the man who fed the cowboys, in songs and poems. From Boomer Johnson to the Goodnight Loving Trail.</p>
<p>Under Western Stars is a radio show produced in partnership with Sun Sounds. Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to print information and original programming to people who cannot read or hold print material due to a disability. Sun Sounds broadcasts the reading of over 200 local and national publications 24/7 from studios in Tempe, Flagstaff, and Tucson. </p>
<p> The recording engineer is Matt Sarnoski and technical help is provided by Jay Jacoby and Greg Hales, of Jumpstart Digital Arts https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/ .</p>27:19Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66267942021-05-10T13:45:47-07:002021-05-13T17:09:39-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #6 Romaine Loudermilk<p>Under Western Stars Episode #6 Romaine Loudermilk</p>
<p>Meet Romaine Loudermilk, an Arizona character who gave us some of our best cowboy songs.</p>
<p>Under Western Stars is a radio show produced in partnership with Sun Sounds. Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to print information and original programming to people who cannot read or hold print material due to a disability. Sun Sounds broadcasts the reading of over 200 local and national publications 24/7 from studios in Tempe, Flagstaff, and Tucson. </p>
<p> The recording engineer is Matt Sarnoski and technical help is provided by Jay Jacoby and Greg Hales, of Jumpstart Digital Arts https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/ .</p>28:00Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66204692021-05-03T13:56:55-07:002021-05-06T18:09:54-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #5 More Horses #2<p>Under Western Stars Episode #5 More Horses #2</p>
<p>Ride the trail with Tony across the Australian outback and fleeing hostile Indians on the Western frontier and witness a tearful farewell.</p>
<p>Under Western Stars is a radio show produced in partnership with Sun Sounds. Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to print information and original programming to people who cannot read or hold print material due to a disability. Sun Sounds broadcasts the reading of over 200 local and national publications 24/7 from studios in Tempe, Flagstaff, and Tucson. </p>
<p> The recording engineer is Matt Sarnoski and technical help is provided by Jay Jacoby and Greg Hales, of Jumpstart Digital Arts https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/ .</p>28:32Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66204682021-05-03T13:55:15-07:002021-05-13T09:34:45-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #4 Horses #1<p>Under Western Stars Episode #4 </p>
<p>From The Tennessee Stud to the Little Blue Roan Tony takes you for a ride.</p>
<p>Under Western Stars is a radio show produced in partnership with Sun Sounds. Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to print information and original programming to people who cannot read or hold print material due to a disability. Sun Sounds broadcasts the reading of over 200 local and national publications 24/7 from studios in Tempe, Flagstaff, and Tucson. </p>
<p> The recording engineer is Matt Sarnoski and technical help is provided by Jay Jacoby and Greg Hales, of Jumpstart Digital Arts <a contents="https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/" target="_blank">https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/</a> .</p>28:37Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66053112021-04-15T16:17:52-07:002021-04-22T17:58:30-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #3 Gone to Texas<p>Under Western Stars Episode #3 looks at the different journeys people made "Going Out West". From his grandpa Henry Newyears Norris' leave taking of post Civil War Illinois to the experiences of Sweet Betsy from Pike, Tony leads us down dusty roads.</p>
<p>Under Western Stars is a radio show produced in partnership with Sun Sounds. Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to print information and original programming to people who cannot read or hold print material due to a disability. Sun Sounds broadcasts the reading of over 200 local and national publications 24/7 from studios in Tempe, Flagstaff, and Tucson. </p>
<p> The recording engineer is Matt Sarnoski and technical help is provided by Jay Jacoby and Greg Hales, of Jumpstart Digital Arts https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/ .</p>28:25Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66053102021-04-15T16:15:38-07:002021-05-13T09:36:39-07:00Under Western Stars Episode #2 A Western Childhood<p>Under Western Stars Episode #2</p>
<p>Tony talks about the geography and characters of his Western childhood. </p>
<p>Under Western Stars is a radio show produced in partnership with Sun Sounds. Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to print information and original programming to people who cannot read or hold print material due to a disability. Sun Sounds broadcasts the reading of over 200 local and national publications 24/7 from studios in Tempe, Flagstaff, and Tucson.</p>
<p> The recording engineer is Matt Sarnoski and technical help is provided by Jay Jacoby and Greg Hales, of Jumpstart Digital Arts https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/ .</p>28:00Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/66053052021-04-15T16:10:56-07:002021-04-22T17:45:44-07:00 Under Western Stars - Episode #1 Welcome to the West<p>Welcome to the first episode of Under Western Stars, produced for Sun Sounds [https://sunsounds.org/] the radio service for the visually impaired and hosted by by Tony Norris. Under Western Stars is an audio exploration of all things Western with live songs, stories and archived recordings with Tony Norris as your guide.</p>
<p>The recording engineer is Matt Sarnoski and technical help is provided by Jay Jacoby and Greg Hales, of Jumpstart Digital Arts https://jumpstartdigitalarts.com/.</p>28:00Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/65533572021-02-28T14:00:00-07:002021-03-11T12:36:01-07:00 Under Western Stars - On the air again.<p> Recently I was asked to produce a series of cowboy programs for Sun Sounds, the radio service for the visually handicapped.. I was delighted for the opportunity to do my schtick on the radio once again. My radio career began long ago and far away….. </p>
<p> * * * </p>
<p> </p>
<p> The engineer lowered the needle to the record and a momentary scratch and pop was followed by the tremulous guitar notes of the Ventures playing “Apache.” I spoke into the mike. “This is 1450 AM RADIO KENA Mena, Arkansas and you’re listening to … the Bearcat Prowl.” The year was 1967 and with several schoolmates I was hosting a weekly radio show of news and events that we judged of interest to students in our little mountain town of 3,000. I would pore over the teletype paper spooled on the floor for unusual and quirky news items to read. Our broadcast rolled out across rumpled mountains and trickling streams, the chugging freight trains and buzzing highways. The mystery and romance of my voice coupled with compelling music traveling the invisible air waves to unknown recipients was sublime. </p>
<p> In my childhood living room stood the upright Philco, tall and round shouldered like the refrigerator’s little brother, housed in a fine wooden cabinet with a huge green eye for a dial and an open back that revealed a tiny dusty mechanism of wires and glowing tubes. We listened to Fibber McGee and Mollie, Gunsmoke, Lum and Abner and Gangbusters. There were many live music shows including the Grand Ole Opry and the Big D Jamboree broadcast from nearby Dallas. I recall tense moments as we gathered around the radio and tracked the progress of a tornado through little Texas towns like Wink and Grit and Idalou, all the time the airwaves were crackling and popping in concert with the storm’s electrical activity. </p>
<p> When the sun went down border stations like powerful XERA used transmitters as strong as 500,000 watts to blast their messages north from just inside Mexico. Their signal was potent enough to make headlights on parked cars glow and people reported picking up transmissions on farm gates, iron bridges and metal fillings in their teeth. Luminaries such as Mother Maybelle Carter sang “Wildwood Flower” and offered baby chicks with guaranteed live delivery. Dr. Brinkley revealed the miraculous possibilities of his goat gland operations for men with flagging libidos. Wolfman Jack began to channel the dark textures of Muddy Waters and Lightnin’ Hopkins from out of the chaos and weave a new story with rock-a-billy and western swing. </p>
<p> Mama’s radio sat in the kitchen window. Once white plastic, it had yellowed to an even tan, but it faithfully delivered the pleas of radio evangelists like Brother Ray T Pedigo, Missions to Japan . Mama drew comfort from gospel songs like “How Great Thou Art.” Mama would mail off her dollar in a folded envelope addressed to Box 54 Dalhart, Texas. </p>
<p> Sue and I spent a winter living off-grid with the two small children in an old school bus in the remote woods of West Virginia. Once a week I would start the engine and run it a few minutes to keep the battery charged, primarily so we could listen to the AM radio. The Wheeling Jamboree delivered bluegrass and country tunes. I was impressed with the powerful performances of Mollie O’Day, then in her 80s singing “Tramp on the Street” live from Huntington. Snake handling preachers chanted in a bombastic tongue that was often unintelligible. Outside the bus the creek gurgled and the screech owls hunted meadow mice in the fragrant dark. </p>
<p> Visit my website www.tonynorris.com to hear archived episodes of Under Western Stars and sign up for my mailing list. Donations are gratefully accepted at Venmo @Tony-Norris-3 or PayPal Tony@tonynorris.com. </p>
<p> </p>Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/65693322020-11-26T08:00:00-07:002021-03-09T15:48:15-07:00A Tradition of Thankfulness<p>Our Royal Palm turkey tom and his hen were intended for the Thanksgiving table. Each afternoon as they were released with the chickens to free-range and eat bugs and weed seeds, they didn’t miss an opportunity to display their magnificent crisp formal white plumage tipped in fretted inky black. The tom jumped up on a bench to be at eye level with me. He pointed out that at best he would only reach 12 pounds at maturity. “If you’re going to feed a houseful you’ll need one of those center-fold bronze broad-breast turkeys!” he gobbled. I saw his point. I felt very presidential as I pardoned them on the grounds of their esthetic contribution to the holiday season. I’ve bought cars for less than their organic, church-going, hand-fed replacement cost. Sixteen souls joined us for turkey with cornbread stuffing, corn and oyster casserole, yeast rolls and … I was reminded of a Thanksgiving morning long ago. </p>
<p>Jimmy took the Winchester pump .22 from the tiny room we called the library. The gun had an octagonal barrel and looked like the rifle in every cowboy show you ever saw. Jimmy knew how to shoot it. </p>
<p>The early morning shadows made charcoal silhouettes of the bare pecan trees. I followed my brother through two bob-wire fences and across a rustling sea of dead Johnson grass. The honeyed light made me think of a song I’d heard on the radio. I began to sing. “Oh what a beautiful morning…” Jimmy shushed me before I got to the line about the little brown maverick winking its eye. </p>
<p>The short grass prairie rose toward a small limestone hill. The first of several black-tailed jack rabbits exploded into a crazy zigzag lope—dodging mesquite bushes and clearing 4-foot clumps of prickly pear cactus in graceful arcs. </p>
<p>Jimmy raised the rifle and steadily followed the fleeing form. He fired, and I watched the rabbit cartwheel and come up wobbly but still running. The rifle cracked again and the rabbit skidded to a stop. Like an eager dog, I feinted at bull nettle and fresh cowpies—my bare feet lifted high to retrieve the game. The 2-foot body was hot and the black stippled fur was sticky with blood. When my arms were full Jimmy turned toward home. </p>
<p>The woodstove glowed as we stepped into the kitchen. Mama bent forward and peered into the firebox, one hand gathered her loose skirts as the other poked at the fire with a metal rod. An oval granite roaster filled with pinto beans roiled in a red boil on the front burner. A pan of purple turnips and their dark greens from her garden simmered on the back of the stove. In the oven two black cast-iron skillets of cornbread sent up little wisps of steam. The meal had been ground from our own corn on the stone grist mill that Daddy powered from the PTO of the tractor. </p>
<p>Jimmy brought in the quartered rabbit pieces and Mama washed them, salt, peppered and dusted them with flour. She began to fry rabbit in a big skillet until a platter was piled high with browned pieces. She sprinkled flour from her hand into the skillet and then poured milk. She hummed as she stirred the gravy. </p>
<p>Old Rowdy was barking his “people” bark in the front yard. I looked out to see Aunt Dela and Uncle J E pull up in their station wagon. Odela was Daddy’s baby sister. J E managed a typewriter supply company and they lived pretty well off on a little ranch nearby. She had no children but a Chihuahua she called Baby. The dog had a chair with a cushion at the table and she would fry chicken livers for it. </p>
<p>“Alice I had an extra turkey so I brought it over for you and the family,” Aunt Dela said. She told my brother Tommy to get the turkey from the back of the station wagon. “There’s dressing and some rolls and a pecan pie too,” she said. At the table I looked from golden turkey to fried rabbit and sighed. </p>
<p>At the end of the day I don’t remember if there was any rabbit left on the platter. I do remember that Mama had fried the hell out of the meat. I’m still grateful for the bounty of our red-clay garden—and all the fresh meat my brother Jimmy provided for the table when I was growing up. And I’m thankful for Aunt Dela’s surprise turkey.</p>Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/64545882020-10-13T08:45:56-07:002022-05-17T06:49:43-07:00Oh that autumn light....<p>A few light frosts have nibbled at the edges of Sue's garden but the half acre of coyote gourd is still untouched. It's grey-green pyramid shaped leaves, each as rough as a shark's skin, wave in the cool breeze. When the hard freeze lays them low it will reveal hundreds of hardball sized fruits fast losing their tiger stripes of green and fading to a soft straw color. Sue is canning tomatillo sauce, apple sauce and dill pickles.</p>
<p> I've been learning how to live stream on Facebook and I almost have a handle on the tech side of things. After a performance drought of several years it's gratifying to connect with an audience again. My irregular slots on Desert Southwest Open Mike have been fun. Check them out to hear performers from all over the country. Sun Sounds, the radio service for the blind has asked me to do a monthly one hour program on Cowboy music and stories. When I get lined out I'll tell you how you can listen in. I am planning a Halloween show for the whole family with original songs and scary stories to be live streamed.</p>
<p>I hope you're able to get out and enjoy the crisp fragrant weather.</p>Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/64016742020-08-04T20:55:25-07:002020-08-04T20:55:25-07:00Monsoon Unfolding<p><span class="font_large"> It's the first week of August and the monsoon has been flirting with my dusty pines for a couple of weeks- the big fat drops exploding in the the needles a hundred feet up and falling as a fine mist on my face. The smell is intoxicating . The full moon rose last night over the cinder hills to the East. It was plump and a rich butter yellow and it climbed into the sky like a hot air balloon with places to go. Just a hundred and forty miles South the temperature soared to 113 degrees. I'm not going to complain about 93 degrees in Flagstaff.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"> I'm learning the ropes to stream performances online. I've had some good coaching and I have the basic tech tools to pull it off. I invite you to tune me in on Thursday when I kick off the evening of music with Desert Southwest Open Mike. [link here] Be sure to say hi if you tune me in. If you miss the live stream you can watch the archived performance later. I'm experimenting with monetizing my shows by posting a donate button for Pay Pal and Venmo. Please fell free to make a modest [or ridiculously generous] tip."Feed the hungry musician".</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Let's stay in touch.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Warmly,</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Tony Norris</span></p>Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/63379812020-06-01T08:13:03-07:002020-06-01T08:19:26-07:00KNAU Music Series: Play Me A Song<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/441526/e0064047fb52be972bdc553827a8d3c77ae0d0bf/original/tony-norris-pic-0.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Gillian Ferris is producing a series on KNAU called Play Me A Song. It reaches out to the local community of entertainers and gives them what they crave most in these times: an audience. </p>
<p>I am featured today and I sang Tim Henderson’s song Morgan. Sometime I’ll tell you the whole story. </p>
<p>Look for my online concert on<strong> June 5th 5pm</strong>. This link should take you to today’s segment. </p>
<p><a contents="https://www.knau.org/post/play-us-tune-beach" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.knau.org/post/play-us-tune-beach" target="_blank">https://www.knau.org/post/play-us-tune-beach</a></p>Tony Norristag:tonynorris.com,2005:Post/63379802020-06-01T08:10:01-07:002020-06-01T08:10:01-07:00Stories - Long before I wrote stories...<p>“Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them. I suppose it’s an early form of participation in what goes on. Listening children know stories are there. When their elders sit and begin, children are just waiting and hoping for one to come out, like a mouse from its hole.” </p>
<p>― Eudora Welty, One Writer's Beginnings</p>
<p><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/441526/a1cbd3f7942aa17c67635333c389107ba053d3f2/original/82963886-10158275433332645-1461627776564985856-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Tony Norris