Last week, while taking photos of downtown Coupland, I met Skittles, the General Manager of Coupland Dancehall, an iconic space which opened in 1904.   During our brief visit I asked if they still offered dance lessons.   Sure enough, they still do!    From 2-4p.m. on Sunday afternoons, folks interested in learning  how to swing to some danceable music can just show up for the lessons, taught by owners Russell and Erika Kinder.   There’s no cost for the lessons, but Russell and Erika are happy to accept tips and donations.   Photos offered here were taken during Sunday’s session.   Most Fridays and Saturdays you can find live music playing, very danceable stuff.   There’s a teen night on Thursdays, too.   Texas dance halls are an iconic component of Texas culture.   I’m glad some traditions continue.

When returning to Texas in 2009, a park I soon fell in love with was Berry Springs Park & Preserve, a wonderful county park in Georgetown.  The thing that initially drew me to the space was a large grove of old-growth pecan trees.   We had several of those trees in my front yard when growing up in Texarkana.  While many of the park’s pecan trees are still a draw, the entire space is exceptional.    Included here are photos from a visit there late last week.

With much stormy dissonance tonight, I hadn’t expected to see a full moon, but was fortunate to see a lunar presence over the pond at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, in Wuthrich Hill.    This little body of water isn’t a “tank,” just a gentle spot near the church.   It’s my preference to show you the moon as you might see it with your own eyes.  Closeups are nice, but I like  to see what you see.   Context is good.

Has summer heat come to your area yet?   It’s been here for a while.   Now that school is out, more families in Central Texas find their way to Blue Hole Park in Georgetown.   These were taken there today.  Note  the identical twin brothers.    Blue Hole is a special section of the San Gabriel River.  One of the neatest things about Blue is that it’s free.   On busy days, however, be sure to get there early.  Parking can be tough when temperatures rise.  

Many chores to do today, but I managed to stop by Taylor’s Murphy Park tonight, observing the rookery, joined by a Waxing Gibbous moon, almost full at 98.8% visibility.    It was an evening adorned with sweet blue evening light.  

Although the  village of Coupland is small, around 300 folks, the community has a dance hall, resident artisans and artists, a church and a school.   There’s also a once-active railroad depot, plus a nifty caboose.   The Coupland Dance Hall, opening this post, was built in 1904.  A few years ago Coupland planned to transform the caboose into a little museum.   Maybe area residents can tell us more?    At any rate, these few photos were just an exercise in watching early-evening light.

It was an evening with not much to see, but a wheat harvest found its way to my lens east of Granger near sunset tonight.   I could’ve made this post with only the opening photo, but waiting on the sun to actually go down was a pleasant sight on the Blackland Prairie.

An area in Southeast Williamson County, Texas sometimes fulfills my need for serenity.   Folks who live around here know Beyersville, a few miles east of Coupland.  It’s an area, not a town.   Some years ago, a person who helps maintain Mager Cemetery thought it might be an interesting subject.   And through the years it’s not disappointed.   Sometimes I take photos in the cemetery itself, but also  love the views from there.   These were taken Saturday evening.   Before sunset  cloud cover stepped aside for a smidgen of sunlight.    As most know, exploring a subject is a worthwhile pursuit, but the opening photo could probably cover my appreciation for this area.   The Blackland Prairie is being recast, but preserving its essence is worthwhile.

Thankfully, the few drops of rain that fell in Sun City, Texas this morning didn’t become a deluge as at least 1500 people visited the Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza for their 20th Memorial Day observance.   This year’s keynote speaker was Texas Governor Greg Abbott.   Two photos of him are included at the end of this post.   On events like this, my preference is to omit elected officials, without regard to their political affiliation or belief.   Their presence in coverage takes away from people not usually given attention, taking the air out of a room.    On my Facebook and Instagram accounts Governor Abbott isn’t included.   You can see him here, or in Wednesday’s Williamson County Sun.     Moments I like take precedence here, like the father and daughter in the opening photo, she an active-duty Marine Corps member, dad a retired Marine.   They’re saluting as the National Anthem is played.   Another favorite are two World War II veterans having a nice visit.   The fellow on the right, Ernie Columbus, is 103, still sharp as a tack.   He remembered to ask how my eyes were doing, recalling cataract surgery in late-2021.   That’s neat.  Sometimes  I can’t remember last week!   That’s also Ernie’s hand holding a medallion given to him by a member of the governor’s staff.    Enough of this stuff.   Just look at photos.  And remember who Memorial Day honors.

Yet another day when another post was planned, but plans changed when a text landed in my inbox.   “Good morning!  Happy Sunday!  Would you want some sweet corn?”   But of course I would!  Tonight’s post includes photos of what I brought home from my farmer family friends, but also two generic cornfield scenes.    Arriving at the farm, I washappy to bring home some squash and cucumbers, also grown on the farm.   While most of the corn grown in our area is used for livestock consumption,  most farmers grow a bit of sweet corn.   I just finished two ears of very fresh corn.   So very good!  No farms, no food.