I initially balked at doing this post.  It might make people uncomfortable.   At times, however, we need the discomfort.   When in Georgetown today, taking other photos, I saw this man.   I know he is homeless.  And that he struggles with demons I don’t understand.   It was raining and cold today in Georgetown, unusual for spring in Texas.   The pandemic has many sad stories.  Georgetown, like many communities around the world, has closed its library.   It has closed its public restrooms.   For a few years I’ve seen this man sheltering at the public library.   Before the restrooms were closed, he had use of it.  He’s checking his belongings in front of a closed restroom here.    Don’t get me wrong.  I understand the reasoning behind the closures, but then those like this gentleman end up falling through the cracks.   No answers here, friends.  It’s doggone sad. 

At this time of year I’m keeping a close watch on the growth of crops along  the Blackland Prairie.   These two photos were taken in East Williamson County this week.   The first photo was at the end of a warm and clear day, not far from Bartlett. The other photo was taken tonight on rainy and quite cool (for this area) evening   in the Wuthrich Hill area.  That’s Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in the distance.

The rain held off on this Thursday morning in Georgetown as I observed members of The Caring Place team while  they distributed shelf stables  during their Drive Through Food Pantry.   The pantry, which takes place each Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am-noon, has come up with a way to deliver much-needed food to people who need it.   Recipients remain in their cars while Caring Place staff loads their trunks, back seats, or rear hatches.   In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this group found a fine way to continue serving their community. The lively lady in the last two photos is the group’s Executive Director, Ginna O’Connor, doing a grand job of directing traffic.   By the way, recipients  don’t have to prequalify to receive help, either.   I like that.

Do cows practice social distancing?   The cow in the opening photo seems to have it figured out.   Those longhorns, however, might need a little more direction.  One thing’s certain ….. they all have plenty of room to stretch out in Beyersville, Texas.

These recent photos were taken on the same evening along a nice county road a little east of Granger, Texas.  I’d say more, but this time  let’s just call it farm country.  

This virus encircling the globe is affecting everyone.   Despite what they might say, kids really want to be back in their classrooms.   In Georgetown, Texas,  the city’s public school system, like most, is on hold.   In order to keep things going, the district is providing Chromebooks for families who aren’t able to have computers at home, also providing mobile hot spot connections.   On this very wet day in Central Texas, I visited Mitchell Elementary School as staff provided laptops for families.  The computers were cleaned and packaged in large manila envelopes for delivery.  Online learning might not be perfect, but it can work.   It was hard not to notice faces of children, sitting in the family cars, looking out their  windows at their school, their teachers, nurses and administrators.    We’ll get through this.  Y’all be careful.   These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.

When spring comes around each year, I vow not to post wildflower photos.   And each year, I seem to veer from that notion.   One of the beloved places I like to visit is Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, in Wuthrich Hill.   Note that Wuthrich Hill is not technically a town.  It’s an area.   This year wildflowers adorn the grounds around the church, the cemetery and the serene pond.   These were taken on a recent visit to one beautiful part of the Blackland Prairie.  

Two pretty simple photos tonight, friends, both near Granger, Texas.  The opening photo is a grab shot, a boy practicing social distancing as he rides his bike on a cool spring night, joined by two canine buddies.   The second is a few miles east of Granger, near sunset.   I’ll leave it at that.  Be safe.

Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Gardens, in Georgetown, Texas, is a place I go from time to time to take away a little of life’s stresses, at least for a while.   Although it’s close to a major toll road, once you’re there, you forget about its presence.   My first visit there was probably 9-10 years ago, when the Austin American-Statesman did a story about it.   At the time it was one of only two green burial grounds in Texas.  A “green” burial is quite natural, no embalming.   Today they offer traditional burials and cremations, too.   All that aside, it’s just a relaxing and beautiful place.  Spring’s arrival brings wildflowers.  On my recent visit this week, Texas Bluebonnets and Texas Paintbrush were abundant.   A trail leads to a little pond.  Standing on the observation deck, if you look closely you occasionally  see a passing car on the toll road, but somehow you don’t seem to care.   It’s a healing place.  Some of us need that.

While I always appreciate agriculture, it so happens that this week, March 22-28, is National Ag Week, hosted by the Agriculture Council of America.    There hadn’t been a plan to photograph three farm-related images.  It just worked out that way.   The first photo was taken on a very foggy morning, a regal tree surrounded by young crops.   The second photo was taken early this afternoon.   This morning had also been foggy.  When the photo was made, the fog had just begun to lift, leaving us with an interesting set of tonalities.   That’s not photoshopped to look that way, friends.   The final photo was made tonight, the sun back with us, a healthy field of wheat in the far reaches of East Williamson County, Texas.   Every week is Ag Week here.