We didn’t get very much rain this evening in Taylor, Texas, but we did get a lovely rainbow. It stayed with us long enough to include some grain elevators I like quite a lot at Williamson County Grain. Short, but mighty sweet. 
September is the month when we begin to see autumn festivals. I’ll be covering one on Saturday in Bartlett, Texas. The photos presented here, however, were made at a festival in Edom, Texas in September 1978. Shreveport Journal staffer Steve Smith and I had heard about this one. It merited a drive out of Louisiana into the Piney Woods country of Northeast Texas. Founded in 1849, Edom’s been around a while, but has remained small. It’s in Van Zandt County, a little west of Tyler. The latest census figures I could find lists the population as well under 400. That’s probably about the right number for these 41-year-old images, too. As with events like this, my goal is more about seeing personalities and culture of an area. The clothing and hairstyles hopefully give you a sense of the time. Do kids, or adults for that matter, still enjoy walking on slippery logs? I like the gents relaxing at an Edom gas station while a lady possibly waits for a friend. And for a photographer to mosey on. And the family picnic under the still-hot Texas day. Ladies shopping for unique dresses and quilts. A fellow taking a rest from demonstrating his wood-chopping skills. Just little slices of life, friends. From back in time with good old Kodak Tri-X black and white film. 
Just a couple of photos tonight, friends. Both were made earlier this month along a county road a little east of Taylor, Texas. The farmhouse intrigued me. For years, I’ve noticed it, sitting back off the road, nestled under a stand of trees. Seeing it being readied for a move caught me off guard. Did someone purchase the house, moving it to an area not so overrun by development? I don’t know the answer, but wonder about the area it’s leaving behind. The friends made since coming to this area might know the answer. Just west of here were two venerable barns. They looked ancient when we moved here ten years ago, but I’m glad to see them still with us. Change is good, but some of us wish the prairie could hold on a little longer before developers take over. Drive around this area. Notice the For Sale signs on large chunks of land. It’s only a matter of time before it’s gobbled up. 
Sinus spells most of the day called for finding something soothing tonight. A drive through Coupland was pleasant, but as I meandered east, the area around Beyersville was just what the doctor ordered. At least it was for me. So there. 
The 150th anniversary service at Georgetown’s Wesley Chapel A.M.E. Church was close to three hours, but it was time well-spent on Sunday. Wesley Chapel was established in 1869. The building in these photos has been its home since 1904. These are some photos made before, during and after the service, beginning with the worship leader looking over her notes near a regal stained glass window 45 minutes before the start. And then there’s a church member sweeping out the entry scant minutes before the start, her 2-year-old nephew keeping a close eye on things. The church’s senior member, who will be 94 at the end of this month, was there, included in a couple of photos, one at the end when, with a bouquet of roses presented her, got help walking to her nearby home. Note that you might react to one or two images, but don’t take them out of context, please. The grouping is meant to tell the story, not a single photo. 
Sometimes it’s enriching to find one stretch of road and photograph just that. Every road, large or small, has a little something to say. This little road, not very long, is not far from Coupland, Texas. In a few minutes near sunset, I was able to find a Great Egret relaxing in a tree above a cow pasture. And a few bales of hay basking in the warm light. As you might know, I have an ongoing interest in our disappearing Blackland Prairie land. Some of it’s disappearing due to development. Our farmland is popular with subdivision developers. But then there are the old homesites and barns, slowly sinking into the soil, their time nearing an end. I found one of those on this road, too. That last one’s a little shadow play, stopping long enough to take a photo of my vehicle’s shadow through the passenger window, looking out onto a cornfield recently harvested. Yep, the shadow’s a truck. My normal wanderings are in a Honda, but occasionally an old truck seems to fit the bill. Not often though. Its gas mileage is awful. 
It was warm, but fun morning watching a group of women volunteers give maximum effort in helping to build a new Habitat for Humanity home for single mom Flor Candelario in Taylor. Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County hosted Women Build, where a group of women volunteers put on their hard hats to do some really heavy lifting. Note that male volunteers were there, too, doing work that required climbing and placing truss beams, but these ladies kept pace without a hitch. The male taking a group photo for Habitat is friend David Valdez, who was the personal photographer for President George H.W. Bush. He’s been volunteering with Habitat for years. Weather permitting, Ms. Candelario’s home will be move-in ready for her and her three kids by Thanksgiving. 
It seems to be a given that moonrises happen later than expected. This evening in Noack, Texas was no exception. This full moon, also called the Harvest Moon, finally made an appearance about 20 minutes past the time I expected to see it. Clouds were a problem. One finds other things to pass the time. A lovely sunset made tonight worthwhile. The Harvest Moon shines above a metal barn a little before 9pm tonight. And there’s the expected lunar closeup. Have a good night, friends. 
Thursdays won’t always be “throwback” days, but if something sparks my attention when looking through old film, then I go with it. A morning stroll through the files merited this photo made on September 15, 1975 in Shreveport, Louisiana, as a very dapper James Evans went about his leaf-raking task with energy and style. That tie was a bit loose, but just wearing it while getting a start on autumn leaf-raking made this a moment worth stopping for. The six years I spent working at the Shreveport Journal were among the most rewarding and productive days of this career, thanks in part to a great editor, Stan Tiner. He seemed to appreciate this desire to record everyday people doing everyday things. Or as I often call them, slices of life. Or found moments. They may not be big news, but everyone is a story. This was, of course, taken with Kodak Tri-X film, among the best products ever made. 
Since Taylor, Texas is my home, it seemed fitting that I cover their annual Patriot Day observance in commemoration of the events on September 11, 2001. Citizens and first responders gathered tonight at Heritage Square Park on a night where rain had just moved through. I’m keeping this one simple, but am always moved by the Ringing of the Bell, a firefighter’s tradition signaling to all the completion of service, a symbol of a comrade’s passing. It’s three rings, three times each. Simple and poignant. 
