Doing The Prairie Fest With Elsie Hotpepper

I made it to the Prairie Fest sometime after 3 in the afternoon. I knew there were going to be a lot of people on the Prairie as soon as I saw the number of cars parked.

Way more people than last year. It seems to me that each year the Prairie Fest seems to grow 50% bigger. Give or take a percentage or two.

I was intending to participate in World QiGong Day with Master Martha, with me thinking the QiGong Demo Group Participation thing took place at 5. As I often am, I was wrong, it took place at 3.

I learned this when I found myself suddenly accosted by QiGong Master Martha. I'd been wandering around Prairie Fest looking for Elsie Hotpepper, when I ran into Martha.

After talking to Martha, for awhile, I called Elsie, she answered, I told her I was by the band, talking to QiGong Master Martha. And that we were too late for the Group QiGong.

As I talked to Elsie Hotpepper she said she was also by the band. I spied someone who looked like Elsie. I asked Elsie if she was wearing pink. Both Martha and I saw Elsie look down to see what color she was wearing. Who goes out in public without knowing what color they are?

Elsie and I talked to Martha for awhile about our counter-revolutionary activities and then Martha's young daughter and her old boyfriend showed up. So, it was time for Martha to go.

Elsie and I then wandered around Prairie Fest. Due to wandering, and talking to Elsie, I forgot to take very many pictures.

At one point we ran into Don Young, who did not, apparently, know that Elsie and I know each other.

Elsie had never actually seen the Tandy Hills, so we followed a big group of hill walkers out to the hills so Elsie could see the best place to stand in Fort Worth for the first time.

I met Louis McBee today. He was in a booth with a lot of initials. I think, NCTCA. Some subversive group of Texans, near as I can tell. I liked Louis McBee. He was funny. He told me he'd been told that I had killed my blog. This was news to me.

There was some politicking going on on the Tandy Hills today, but it had to be done in a subtle way. Blatant Politicking was Strictly Forbidden.

This made it a bit challenging for Elsie and me to do our bit to convince voters that they need to vote for Adrian Murray and John Basham for positions on the Tarrant Regional Water Board.

I did see one politician today, who seemed to be politicking. Costumed, near as I could tell, to look like a Yellowjacket Bumble Bee.

Kudos to Don Young. Job well done on Prairie Fest 2010.

Looking At The Prairie Fest Cauliflower Wildflowers & Beetles

You are looking at the Prairie Fest, in the distance, today, at noon, from the top of Mount Tandy.

A lot of rain fell last night. And a thunderclap or two banged loud.

I knew the Tandy Hills trails would be muddy. But I needed to aerobicize myself. Doctor's orders. Combating my high blood pressure, elevated, due to a recent Toxic Person Sneak Attack causing me undue, uncalled for stress.

I figured that the two hills accessed from the top of Tandy Mountain would be dried out enough to hike without gaining height due to shoe mud buildup. I was half right.

I am feeling a lot better now that I've oxygenated my blood flow.

Elsie Hotpepper called this morning, asking how to find the Prairie Fest. And wanting to know what time I'd be making an appearance. Elsie told me she'd call again when she knew what time she and her entourage would be arriving on the Tandy Hills. That call has yet to arrive, but Elsie did make an interim call while I was on my way to go hiking, to tell me that the arrival time was still undetermined.

I saw an unusual new Wildflower today. Until I learn different I am calling it a Texas Cauliflower Wildflower.

I thought of Betty Jo Bouvier today on the Tandy Hills. Yesterday Betty Jo verbalized an aversion to my details about my encounters with Texas critters, like snakes and cockroaches.

What made me think of Betty Jo today was a big black beetle scurrying over the trail.

I wonder if this is an Ironclad Beetle? I was bombarded by Ironclad Beetles, years ago, while sitting outside, at sunset, at a Burger King in Roswell, New Mexico.

Tandy Hills 2010 Prairie Fest Today In Fort Worth

After a year of preparation, Prairie Fest is ready.

Come on in!

• Ride your bicycle. We have a secure bike corral.
• Bring your leashed pets. We have watering stations.
• Bring your appetite. We have good food and drink.
• Bring your open mind. We have green exhibitors who will inform and challenge you.
• Bring your kids. We have PrairieLand.
• Bring your eyes. We have the Best Wildflower Show in north Texas.
• Bring your ears. We have a stellar musical lineup.
• Look for the Prairie Fest electric GEM car and pedicab shuttle service to get you here.
• Bring your friends and family to celebrate our connection to the natural world.
  

From The Top Of Mount Tandy The View For The 2010 Prairie Fest Is Clear With No Clouds On The Horizon

In the picture, way in the distance, you can see a downtown Fort Worth skyscraper, or two, sticking up above the foliage, from the top of Mount Tandy.

This was the noon Friday view. The day before the 2010 Prairie Fest is set to populate the Tandy Hills with a lot of people.

Last night's predicted rain did fall. But not in amounts sufficient to muddy up the trails of the Tandy Hills.

Today had been forecast to be stormy. That is still the forecast, chance of rain and severe storms. However, it is not windy, no storm front seems to be blowing in, the sky is blue, the temperature, coming up on 4 in the afternoon, is 81.5.

It seems as if the Weather Gods have decided to grant Fort Worth and the Prairie Fest a reprieve from nasty weather.

I hope I have not jinxed this. Maybe I should knock on wood.

Fort Worth's First Earth Day April 22, 1960 Saving The Tandy Hills For The Future

I did not realize til I got incoming this morning from Fort Worth's Top Watchdog, Don Young, that today, April 22, was Earth Day.

I worded that poorly. I knew April 22 is Earth Day, but today, that fact failed to register til Don Young reminded me.

Okay, that was worded slightly better. I'm losing my ability to communicate, apparently.

I wish I could have celebrated Earth Day with an early morning swim. But, my pool lost all its water.

The first Earth Day was on April 22 of 1970. It was a BIG DEAL. Protesting was very popular back in those days. If I remember right, on the original Earth Day, some very bad Viet Nam War news hit the public, as in Nixon had expanded the war into Cambodia.

I wonder if Steve Doeung remembers when the Viet Nam War came to Cambodia?

The Cambodia expansion caused all sorts of protesting. If I'm still remembering right, these were the protest episodes that saw the murder of 4 Kent State students by National Guard troops.

We live in such calmer times these days, though the naysayers don't seem to realize it.

Don Young's incoming had a very interesting bit of history in it.

On April 22, 1960, 10 years before the first Earth Day, the Fort Worth City Council, led by Mayor Thomas A. McCann, agreed to purchase the land now known as the Tandy Hills Natural Area.

From the city record..."a resolution enacted by the City Council of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, at a meeting regularly held on the 22nd day of April, 1960, does promise to pay, $138,250..." for the Tandy Hills land.

I don't know what $138,250 is worth in 2010 dollars, but it sounds like Fort Worth got a super bargain back in 1960.

Who knew Fort Worth was so Progressive, so Green, so long ago? The foresight of Fort Worth's 1960 City Council and Mayor preserved a prairie wonderland for generations to come.

Which will be celebrated this coming Saturday at the 2010 Prairie Fest.

See you there!

Tandy Tulips Sort Of Coloring Up The Tandy Hills Before A Possible Big Storm

Like I said couple days ago, the Tandy Hills Prairie finally got the memo telling the sleepy Wildflowers that it was time to wake up and add color to the place.

As you can see, the Tandy Hills Wildflowers are doing a good job of it. I don't recollect the Prairie being quite this lush and green before. A big benefit of a wet Fall and Winter. I guess.

And just in time for Saturday's 2010 Prairie Fest.

The current weather forecast is casting a little potential cloud over Saturday's Big Event.

A really big, really strong weather system is advancing from the West. It is due to potentially hit the Tandy Hills on Friday, with the storming ending by Saturday morning.

From my limited experience with the reliability of weather forecasting in these parts, I'll believe the storm when I see it. There are too many variables that come in to play, here, that can drastically alter a forecast.

I saw a new Wildflower today that was not coloring up the Tandy Hills. Due to being white. Is white a color? I guess it is. Well, actually it was predominantly white, with a pink center. This Wildflower looked sort of like a miniature tulip.

So, while awaiting proper identification, I am calling this Wildflower a Tandy Tulip.

Growing A Tandy Hills Prairie Fest T-Shirt

Incoming info from Don Young about a special high fashion opportunity available at the Friends of the Tandy Hills Natural Area Headquarters Booth at next Saturday's 2010 Prairie Fest....

Like everything at Prairie Fest, we aim for the lowest possible impact to the planet and the people living on it. That includes the Prairie Fest t-shirts. We could have saved money by going with conventional cotton t-shirts but that's not our style. (A single t-shirt made from conventional cotton represents about 2700 liters of water and 1/3 pound of agricultural chemicals.)

Our t-shirts are 100% Texas-grown, sweat shop free, organic cotton produced by SOS From Texas. The beautiful, full-color PF logo is silk-screened on the front with our proud Sponsors listed the back.

For 2010, Prairie Fest t-shirts are available in Peace Green, Panhandle Sky Blue and White (bleach-free). Find them at the FOTHNA headquarters booth in all sizes. Price: $16. each. (All profits go to FOTHNA a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation)

Below is a video that shows you how SOS From Texas grows a shirt from start to finish:

The Tandy Hills Are Coming Alive With The Sight Of Color

I am back from taking the Tandy Hills Natural Sanitarium Area headache cure.

The cure did not work. Now I'm hoping lunch takes the pain away. I made Poblano Corn Potato Turkey Soup this morning. With a lot of Garlic. I'm sure it'll have a very medicinal effect.

If that does not work, maybe a nap will cure me. I think I've mentioned previously my inability to take a nap. Well, a few weeks ago that ability returned. Why? I don't know.

The 2010 Tandy Hills Prairie Fest is only about 10 days away, Saturday, April 24. I was pleased yesterday to see that the bags of trash, that had been collected awhile back by the Brush Bashers, have been picked up.

The Tandy Hills seem to have finally gotten the memo that it is time to color up the place. I saw a lot of wildflowers making their first appearance of the year, today.

I've no idea what these stalks of pink wildflowers are called. I'm sure someone, somewhere, does know the proper name. What I do know is they are a very spectacular wildflower.

I saw the above wildflower in only one location. It'll likely be popping out all over in the coming days. It seems like I should know the name of this guy, but my failing memory woe is preventing me from accessing that information.

Okay, it is time to take the soup headache cure. I hope it works. I don't like feeling this miserable.

Master Martha Will Be QiGonging April 24 At Fort Worth's Tandy Hills Prairie Fest

You are looking at a group of Texans in, I think, Veterans Park in Arlington, celebrating the 2009 World Tai Chi/ QiGong Day.

I mentioned Tai Chi/ QiGong yesterday in regards to the upcoming Prairie Fest on April 24.

This morning I came upon information that elaborates on my slightly erroneous information that I blogged yesterday.

I had identified the QiGonger as a nurse known as Dr. M. F.

I assumed the doctor title came from being a doctor of QiGonging. I was wrong.

First off, the QiGonger in question is not a nurse. I was misinformed regarding that. The QiGonger is known as Martha Fiddes, Master of QiGonging.

Master Martha has a QiGong Website. From that website I learned that, "QiGong is a system of health care that is over 2500 years old. It refers to the ability to use breathing, postures and gentle exercises, meditation and focused intention to allow the natural energy in the body to flow correctly. When energy flows in the body correctly the body is AT EASE. When there is an interruption in the flow of energy we have DIS-EASE. We practice QiGong to prevent disease and to provide self-healing once disease occurs. Traditional Chinese Medicine includes QiGong as a vital form of medical care."

World Tai Chi/ QiGong Day is April 24, 2010, the same day as the Prairie Fest.

Here is what Master Martha has to say about that, "On Saturday afternoon I will provide a QiGong and Sunstyle program at the wonderful Fort Worth Prairie Fest at Tandy Park. Our practice will start at 3:00 PM. Again, no experience is necessary, just a willing heart and smile!"

You can also visit Master Martha's website for more information about QiGong. You will want to have a magnifying glass due to the font size being very very small. It must be a QiGong thing to help exercise your eyes.

On The Tandy Hills With A Membrum Virile Daisy & Tai Chi Qi Gong

A Self Anointed Botanist (SAB) hiked the Tandy Hills with me for awhile today.

Few wildflowers are yet coloring up the Texas Prairie. I did see one today that seems to have popped up since my last visit.

The SAB claims the name for this wildflower is a Membrum Virile Daisy.

On the way to the Tandy Hills today I took the freeway to Beach Street, due to needing to go to the bank. Bluebonnets have sprouted up along the freeway. A sure sign the annual Texas Wildflowers display is on its way, way later than the norm.

It is 3 weeks til the 2010 Prairie Fest. I learned from SAB, and just minutes ago had it confirmed, via email from the source, that a nurse, I'll call Dr. M. F., is going to be at the Prairie Fest at 3pm doing a demonstration of Tai Chi Qi Gong in celebration of World Tai Chi Qi Gong Day. Dr. M. F. will be giving a Free Class in Tai Chi Qi Gonging.

Don't ask me, I've no clue either. I do know that Dr. M. F. has traveled out of Texas to get training for this thing she is going to demonstrate and that she is something like a Black Belt. I was in an Asian Market in Arlington's Chinatown with Dr. M. F. once and she did some Tai Chi thing on me that involved me standing on one foot with my eyes closed, if I remember right.

I will be blogging more details about Dr. M. F.'s Prairie Fest Qi Gong demo and class when they become available to me. Why? Because I said I would.

5th Annual Fort Worth Prairie Fest Littering Up The Tandy Hills With Flyers

Today is Day 2 of Project 20, a clandestine effort in cahoots with a Washington cohort. It is easier to use the words "cahoots" and "cohort" in one sentence than you might think.

My pool has warmed up enough that I managed to, almost, make being in it, aerobic, this morning. But, having failed to truly achieve water aerobia, I really amped it up on the Tandy Hills today. Hiked for about an hour. Fast up 6 hills instead of my standard 4. I think I will easily be ready for a Port Aransas beach in a month or so.

I found some well-preserved litter whilst hiking the Tandy Hills today. Flyers advertising the April 24, 2010 5th Annual Fort Worth Prairie Fest.

I made it to Prairie Fests 3 and 4. I don't know if I'll make it to Prairie Fest 5.