High Plains Morning

Sometimes our connections from long ago echo back at us, like distant yawps circling a hoodoo in a canyon...Oh, sorry! I got a bit too poetic there for a moment. Maybe it's because the brilliant singer-songwriter Dana Sipos rolled back through Amarillo on her trip to Vancouver—and thankfully, she also brought her guitar.  Hear the full interview and in-studio set on the link below, and find out more about her music here.

Amarillo music lovers, you might know Joe Hendrick, the lead singer and harmonica player for the Average Joes band. Well, his friends – including Joe Quattlebaum & Buddy Squyres – are having a benefit concert for him after his recent diagnosis of lung cancer.

It's Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday today, so what better time to celebrate the beauty and inspiration of African-American art? Thanks so much to Alex Gregory of the Amarillo Museum of Art for stopping by the studio (on his day off!) to share details about two new exhibits showcasing pieces from multimedia artist Vanessa German and works on paper from the Kelley collection. Hear our full interview here:

Today we welcomed Dr. Alex Hunt back into the studio to discuss the forthcoming Southern Plains Conference 2020, with the theme “Representing, Modeling, and Imagining Water on the Southern Plains.” Dr. Hunt heads up the Center for the Study of the American West (CSAW) at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX.

Today on Growing on the High Plains, I'll be grinding up some old memories of my family as I reflect on natural cures and medicinal herbs . As the proud daughter of a "pill splitter" whose family has a long history of respect for "yarbs," I hope you enjoy learning more about how nature really can provide the best medicine. From mint to garlic to chamomile, there are many easy options available to gardeners looking for a healthy addition to their Spring planting. 

Folks, compiling this week's installment of Growing on the High Plains was no walk in the garden.  Since we'll be discussing some of my favorite culinary herbs, I had to be wise about which would make the cut (to be chopped).  I finally decided to keep it simple, showcasing a few of my favorite staple herbs and their many applications.

High Plains Morning was thrilled to welcome back Chamber Music Amarillo this morning. David Palmer, Michael Palmer, and Guli Manfredi stopped by to remind you that this Saturday, January 11th is their annual Concerto Extraordinaire!, the annual celebration of classical mastery in the Texas Panhandle. As always, it’s one night only & tickets go fast – so don’t miss it!

Today was a good one, folks. Thanks so much to Jackson Grimm and Nathan Evans Fox for stopping by High Plains Morning today and serenading the HPPR region with their dear and dusty tunes, even if they were hardly caffeinated enough for live public radio.

As we celebrate a new year, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to plot out some 2020 plans for planting. A lush, green herb garden is the perfect resolution, so today we'll dig in with tips and tricks for the perfect selection and set-up. Aromatic, medicinal, and edible, herbal plants enrich every gardener's kitchen, lifestyle, and lend a fresh scent to the air. We'll learn more about herbs next week, so stay tuned. 

While the “Season of Giving” is upon us, I asked Sabrina and Savannah from #HelloAmarillo & the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) to stop in and share about their event featuring nonprofits in the community.

Whether or not you're one of those souls who tend to get "that holiday feeling" as the season approaches, it seems fairly safe to say the jolly spirit is upon us at first glance of a particular potted plant. If you see a flash of flame-colored leaves erupting from a foil-wrapped pot, you know it's poinsettia time.

Thanks so much to Beth Duke for stopping by High Plains Morning to remind folks about a holiday tradition. Amarillo’s Electric Light Parade is how Center City welcomes the holidays: with a lighted parade rolling through downtown Amarillo. It took place on Friday, December 6th with an unprecedented crowd and list of participants. This year's theme will be "March of the Toys".

T'is the season for giving, so today's edition of Growing on the High Plains will consider the many ways gardeners can get some heartfelt holiday gifts knocked out with proper planning. From preserves to potpourri, there are many ways you can share your bounty with loved ones. In addition, I'll share some smart gift ideas for the garderners on your shopping list, young and old. Plus, it's always nice to remember those who once loved working the land but aren't able to do so anymore.

Today I'd like to share with you a story from a Thanksgiving past, and just a warning for all your traditionalists out there: it involves NOT wanting to make a turkey. From the hassle of baking the bird to figuring out a solution for the aftermath, it's a holiday memory I'll not soon forget. From my tableto yours, I wish a very happy Thanksgiving to all of our High Plains Public Radio listeners!

Thanks so much to Stephanie Price for stopping by High Plains Morning this week to remind us about the PPHM Open House, celebrating the holidays like it's 1890s.

Thanks so much to Joyce Knight of Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle for stopping by High Plains Morning today to share about two wonderful programs they have coming up. First, she told us about their Holiday Gift Basket initiative, providing a special meal package for the many poverty-stricken senior citizens and disabled adults who aren't able to have a traditional holiday dinner this year.

Music lovers of the Texas Panhandle, you won't want to miss this fabulous folk concert tomorrow night. Thanks to Starlight Canyon Bed & Breakfast,  those of us in the Amarillo-area have a chance to see Americana singer-songwriter Stoll Vaughan, live in concert. It's a donation show, so come out for a soulful serenade in a winter wonderland.

Today's Growing on the High Plains will walk you through a High Plains meadow to visit a familiar neighbor: "Achillea millefolium," also known as yarrow. Be it white or yellow, this medicinal plant has numerous applications that date back to ancient Greece (and it's said that even animals make use of it). But beyond the practical, the tiny flowers of the yarrow plant also happen to be quite lovely. My yarrow stocks are plentiful, so reach out if you'd like a starter. You can call me at 1.800.678.7444.

This week, High Plains Morning welcomed John Erickson, author of the series of 73 Hank the Cowdog books. (Yes, all of them!) He’s been at it for 37 years now, and he just released a new book: Finding Hank. It’s a large-scale hardback, fully illustrated, and marks a departure from the standard Hank books.

As we move into the season of steaming casseroles full of hearty vegetable side dishes, I thought it would be a fine time to bring up a common misconception regarding one of my favorite tubers: the  confounding sweet potato. Some call them yams, but is that correct? How are they different, and are they even "potatoes" at all? Listen up, and we'll peel back the myths about these starchy staples. I'll even share some personal history with sweet potato delights from my childhood and California cafes.

HPPR is thrilled to present the hometown release of 7th full-length album from Texas singer-songwriter, Susan Gibson. Catch her LIVE in concert in celebration of her new CD, The Hard Stuff. Don't miss your hometown, High Plains hero, SUSAN GIBSON. Please RSVP here….and please bring friends! We'll have a blast.

Here's the full interview from High Plains Morning!

We were happy to welcome back Kara Word, Director of Development at The Parc, to High Plains Morning this week to remind folks that this Saturday night, November 16th, they’ll host the 5th annual one-of-a-kind art show fundraiser,

Well, it's November, and the High Plains is well aware. Across our region, we've seen several episodes of the predictably unpredictable weather shenanigans we've all come to expect. Just in the last few weeks, we've seen the weather whip from blizzard conditions to the sunny 70s. But thankfully, we've just received our 2020 copy of The Old Farmer's Almanac. They're predicting a "polar coaster," this year, so buckle up! 

Folks in the TX Panhandle, don’t miss Ronny Cox, LIVE in concert, at Chalice Abbey (2717 Stanley, Amarillo) this Thursday night from 7p to 9p. The set will feature Ronny’s music, with help from his bandmates, Rad Lorkovic & Tom “Panda” Ryan. Relax for some fabulous folk from these traveling troubadours. It’s a $15 suggested donation, so come on out – and bring friends!