Normally I don’t offer posts that tend to be only interesting to area folks, but perhaps this one can touch someone.   If you’re in Williamson County, Texas, and you read the Williamson County Sun, you no doubt know the story of Lt. Charles Woodruff McCook, a Georgetown native , a graduate of Georgetown High (1938) and Southwestern University (1941).   On August 3, 1943, Lt. McCook, then just 23, was the pilot in a World War II mission over Burma.   The bomber, a B-25, came under heavy fire, crippling the craft.   McCook managed to gain enough altitude for some crew members to parachute to safety, but the craft  then went down, taking McCook’s life.  His remains, without identification, were taken to Hawaii for burial, along with other unknown soldiers.   Fast-forward 82 years, where DNA technology confirmed his identity through a family member, a nephew, John McCook.   This week, Lt. McCook’s remains came home to Georgetown, where he was laid to rest in Georgetown’s IOOF Cemetery. A B-25 similar to the one piloted by Lt. McCook did a flyover.   A procession beginning at VFW Post 8587 wound through Old Town and the town square,  passing Southwestern University en route to the cemetery.   A very large group of motorcyclists participated in the procession.    Nobody who knew Lt. McCook is alive, but that nephew, his sister and a great-niece (John’s daughter) were there.   John is the man placing flowers on the coffin just before burial.  His sister, Diane, is holding the flag.  John’s daughter, the great-niece, is on active duty in the Air Force. This is a sweet story.   It surprises me more newspapers and television stations weren’t there

Maybe it’s a poor analogy, but many of my favorite works of art were created by Norman Rockwell.   His work always brings joy.   On rare occasions a subject will  inspire me enough to recall Mr. Rockwell.   This 5-year-old does that.   I won’t give you his name, but mama gave permission to take his photo this week.   Prior to seeing the family, I photographed mama’s horses.  We chatted for a while.  The little guy’s expressions and countenance were impeccable, a bit of Americana in rural Texas.  

The Blackland Prairie landscape is revealed as a cornfield is cleared in Bell County, Texas.

Driving through Granger at sunset last evening those skies  looked good enough for a photograph.   These are along East Davilla Street.   While observing the changing light, a little pooch, maybe no more than five pounds, meandered across the road.  Thankfully, even though tiny, motorists noticed her.   She was on a mission, hopefully to get home.  On the way back to the car, a Waxing Crescent moon provided one more photograph.   Granger is a small community a few miles north of Taylor.  I stop there often.  

Friends living in East and North Williamson County, Texas are no doubt aware that corn harvest time is here.   Thousands of acres are being whittled down by combines.   Even with rapid development in this area so close to Austin, farmers are getting the job done.   This past few evenings have been spent with farmers Shaun and Steven Raesz, brothers who took over the reins from their father, Arnold Raesz, not long ago.  They’re assisted by many helpers, among them cousin Cooper Raesz, 14.   Cooper is already an expert at navigating a tractor and grain collection bin.    The second farmer who has graciously allowed me to tag along is Aaron Martinka.    Aaron has plenty of help, too, including his brother Adam, his son Evan, 13, and “retired” farmer Larry Svehlak.   Like Cooper, Evan knows how to drive a tractor!   Shaun and Steven are harvesting 3,600 acres.   Aaron is harvesting 4,000 acres.  They’ll be busy for a while, working well into the night.   While each farmer produces a little sweet corn for family and friends, their main crop is utilized for poultry, livestock and deer feed.   Even with growth, farm equipment has to use our roads to travel from field to field.   Be considerate of what they do.  

A gentle horseback ride this evening in Taylor, Texas.   Folks do ride horses here.

As sunsets go, this one wasn’t bad.   A scene a few miles east of Granger, Texas.

The focus tonight are calves.   It’s a pretty simple theme, no long collection of words.    Sometimes subject matter falls into place.   Just three photographs tonight, friends.

Every photograph  is from daily walks this week was taken in Taylor.    These are small-town strolls.     You won’t see any rural landscapes during these outings.    And so far, the chosen tool for these photos is an inexpensive Olympus OM-D E-M10 equipped with a Panasonic Lumix zoom lens, 45-150 mm.   In the micro 4/3 world, that’s equivalent to a 90-300 mm.   It gets the job done.

One taken this evening,  a pastoral scene just west of Taylor.   It’s intriguing to find out there’s enough energy left after a busy few days.   We do what we can.