From Wednesday evening, a stormy scene over downtown Granger.   Turbulent skies.

Call them what  you like,  but here  on the Blackland Prairie I call them prairie grass.   You’ll see them gathering near planted fields this time of year.   Whipped around by the Texas wind, getting proper focus is challenging.  It’s a task.   Potential storms are filling the skies here tonight.   We do need the moisture.   For now, just these grasses.

When people think of vultures, they picture them on the ground, fetching a meal from the  roadside.     If  you see them in flight, however, you might understand why I think they’re elegant birds.    While driving near Granger Monday evening, I noticed several dancing through the airwaves.   It was a good to see them at work.  I spent about fifteen minutes watching them.   These birds deserve our praise.

Easily my favorite grain elevators to photograph.   From a recent outing close to Coupland, but actually (barely) in Travis County, Texas.    Just this tonight, friends.

These were also taken this weekend at Georgetown’s Red Poppy Festival, but the focus here is on All Things Wild Rehabilitation, a wonderful group of folks.   Whenever possible, I like to call attention to their work.   Four photos are offered.  The first is of Helen Laughlin, the group’s president, holding Polly, a duck that came into their care after being found missing most of her beak.   A Southwestern University student designed a prosthetic beak for Polly.   That will be surgically secured to Polly on Monday at a clinic in South Austin.   The second photo is a 2-year-old visiting with Polly.    All Things Wild helps a lot of animals.   The third photo is of Kim, a friend who volunteers at All Things Wild.  She’s holding Penny, a recent addition.  Because Penny has health issues, she’ll be an ambassador, meaning she’ll be taken care of for all her life.   The last shot is of a pair of 4-month-old possums enjoying a little play time.  When they and their siblings are old enough, they’ll be returned to a natural habitat.  Nothing said here will come close to giving this group the kudos they deserve.

A snippet of Georgetown’s Red Poppy Festival is offered tonight.   The three-day event concluded on the town square today.   These are from Saturday and today.   Today’s venture there was to photograph the Popp Pup Parade.   You don’t need a lot of words with this post.   They’re just slices of life seen this weekend.

The beginning of a very hectic weekend of work started this morning in a parking lot at Georgetown High School for coverage of the 22nd Annual Red Poppy Bicycle Ride, sponsored and conducted by the Georgetown Sertoma Club.   500 cyclists were already pre-registered, but I think they added another 200 or so entrants this morning.   Mile distances were varied, including 14, 28, 40, 60 and 100 miles.   Bailey had a good seat on the back of his human as they prepared to embark on a 28-mile ride.  Bailey’s been training with dad, but this was his first time for a big event.  Monica, a Sertoma Club member, was gussied up in all things poppy, answering questions before she rode in the 28-mile event.   In past years, I’ve traversed some of the course to photograph cyclists in their element, but this year’s ride bumped right up to the annual Red Poppy Festival.   Needless to say, I skedaddled quickly after the ride start in order to secure a parking spot near the very busy Georgetown town square.   Something from the festival might be posted tonight, or may wait until Sunday.   It’s a busy weekend!

A view this week  of a thriving corn crop growing near New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church.   Mentioned many times, but upon returning to Texas in summer 2009, that 104-foot tall spire was an inspiring presence for someone spent almost three decades in the snarls of metro-Atlanta traffic.   I’ve read it’s the most-photographed church in Texas.   Maybe so.    It’s still wonderful to see.

Taylor’s SPJST Senior Living  is holding their  their 22nd Annual Fishing Tournament today and Friday.   400 pounds of catfish were loaded in a huge tank on the center’s grounds.   This event slipped by me last year, but not this go-round.   Each fish was measured for length, then returned to the tank.   The event continues Friday, with awards, followed by a fish fry at 6pm.   Williamson County Precinct 4 Constable Paul Leal, joined by several members of his team, were on hand to help out.   That’s Constable Leal, trying to coax an angler to kiss the fish.   She was going there!   It’s a wonderful and heartwarming event to attend.

Some good time spent at Taylor’s rookery this week.   You probably know this, but it’s among my favorite places to be when not wandering around the prairie.  This post even includes a grackle.  Don’t disparage grackles in my presence.   I think they’re wonderful.