Only a couple of scenes taken this evening a little bit south of Granger, Texas. The warm light gracing that cornfield was enough to prompt a brief stop. The other photo, along the same road, shows a Waxing Gibbous moon, 95.7% visibility, glowing in the evening sky. The photo was taken under a railroad bridge crossing over the highway. I didn’t stay there long. 
Our weather forecasters were right. Storms moved into Central Texas around 8p.m. tonight. This post begins and ends with a field of horses. The opening photo is a few minutes before the turbulence came in. And for a while it was intense. In the end, the horses didn’t appear to be daunted by the dissonance. For now, there’s a bit of rumble in the skies, but mostly quiet. Tuesday’s temperatures aren’t supposed to get beyond the mid-80s. Good. 
Through the years, I’ve seen this day written two ways, with, and without, an apostrophe for the first word. The Associated Press Stylebook says go with the apostrophe. So there. These are some photos made today for the Austin American-Statesman. All were taken in Georgetown locations, including San Gabriel Park, Blue Hole Park and the Georgetown square. No, I don’t capitalize the “s” in square, but could be convinced otherwise. Maybe. Mostly fathers and sons, fathers and daughters, but the post ends with an older father and his grown-up son, taking a rest on the square. It’s nice to see that, too. 
The pandemic that’s affected all of us put a stop to the annual Juneteenth celebration last year, but not this year as the Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial Association held its 69th celebration this afternoon, Juneteenth now a national holiday. 
Even though many are fully vaccinated, the group wisely chose to hold this year’s observance outdoors, adjacent to the Shotgun House Museum, managed by the City of Georgetown and the G.C.C.M.A. Granted, it was mighty warm outside, but better to practice caution. A few folks wisely brought umbrellas to stave off the heat. And the grounds do have some nice shade trees. Local gospel singer Chad Jackson gets passionate when he sings. Chad was prepared, making good use of a towel while performing. The pastor of Georgetown’s First Presbyterian Church was comfortable as he and his 5-year-old nestled together under a tree. One attendee, near a beautiful mural of educator Mary Smith Bailey, brought along his 3-month-old puppy, Kaiju. Near the program’s conclusion, City Council member Rachael Jonrowe, who recently announced she’s stepping down after ten years, was honored with a plaque for her service, bringing a few tears. Ms. Jonrowe has been a wonderful public servant.
Fishing with Grandpa tonight at Taylor’s Murphy Park. They didn’t catch a thing, but saw a few turtles before calling it a night. 
As most know, I don’t travel very far to find things. I was looking for a nearby field of large sunflowers, but that didn’t happen, at least not yet. So I chose to find some smaller ones instead. And study them a bit. These five photos were all taken last evening, just blocks from home. I set up my tripod, snapped on a 300mm lens, then went to work. Of the five images, the first two are the same flower, as are the second pair. The only thing changed was how they were lighted. No layering, no stacking, just basic dodging and burning, except via Photoshop. The last are a pair I liked before day turned over to night. Small explorations. 
Bartlett is one of the charming communities I occasionally enjoy photographing. Situated in both Bell and Williamson Counties, it’s about 20 miles north of where we live and 50 miles northeast of Austin. The latest population figures say it’s a little over 1700, but that might change when the latest census figures come out. Although settlers began moving into the area in the early-1850s, it was officially a town in 1881, when the Katy Railroad began surveying there. It’s named for John T. Bartlett, a resident who donated much of the land. If cars and trucks weren’t passing through, you’d think you were living in the late-1800s. These are a few scenes in and around the town taken a few evenings back. 
I’ve honestly lost count of how many times one of my cameras has been pointed at these barns, nestled on a hill in very far Northeast Travis County, Texas. One of those photos hangs on our living room wall. 
Travis County is home to the City of Austin, but it extends almost to Taylor. This scene is about 12 miles from our Taylor home, very much a part of the Blackland Prairie. I was just passing through tonight, but the clouds merited a quick stop.
I wasn’t satisfied with photos made this evening to represent Flag Day in the United States, but decided to post these anyway. They’re from Taylor’s Heritage Square Park. 
Friend Diane Naivar recently asked if I could take some photos of their pond at their farm near Norman’s Crossing. The pond, you see, is one of the things going away as a 10-lane highway courses through the land where she and her husband Raymond have lived for 42 years. Raymond drove me around as I made photos. The majestic tree in the opening photo will be saved, but the new road is only feet away. I fear the root system may be affected. Like his father, Raymond is also a farmer. He says they can add another pond, but this one is spring-fed. Their pecan trees will also be taken for the road. I understand their pain. Members of my family had their Northeast Texas farmland scooped up to make way for a wider road. The photos show the pond, but a little more, including Raymond’s thriving corn crop. And a sunset. 
