Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park  spreads out over 2,965 acres near Marietta, Georgia.   It includes an 18-mile network of unpaved trails.  It’s the site of Civil War battles in from June-July 1864.    Thousands of runners have made it a destination  for many years, yours truly among them.   Not noticed, however, was all the natural offerings around us.   We just pounded our feet in the dirt, intent on finishing the run.   Walking has been the preferred form of exercise for a while.   When slowing down, you see things.  You document them.  Like Joro Spiders, native to East Asia, but prevalent in the American South now.  You won’t see them in Texas yet.  From this week’s visit to an area where we lived for almost three decades.

A few very quick photographs taken in downtown Meridian, Mississippi on the way to Georgia.  It’s a picturesque town of a little under 35,000.    It was nice to see a windmill.

From a recent visit to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and cemetery in Wiuthrich Hill, Texas.  It’s been a subject for years.   A photograph taken years ago hangs on our living room wall   It’s an  exceptional  space.

At times just a windmill combined with a setting sun is enough.   An offering on a busy week of traveling.

Just embarking on this  week’s long road trip this morning, this sunrise appeared just as the journey began.   It merited a brief stop.  

Several of these daily walk photographs were taken in Georgetown, others in Taylor.   They’re offered a little sooner this week because a long road trip awaits.   Photos will be hit and miss, but we’ll see how it goes.   Green heron fledglings seemed to be everywhere.   And squirrels.  

The Georgetown Independent School District began their school year this morning.   These photographs taken for the Williamson County Sun were at George Washington Carver Elementary School, where 672 students are enrolled.   First Day of School photographs have been a part of the toolkit since 1974, beginning in Tyler, Texas.   These days, school districts don’t begin on the same date.   When growing up, they were universally right after Labor Day.  The faces, however, remain the same.

Noticing the abundant grasses seen on the prairie this week.   From Granger to Coupland.

There’s a bunch of photographs here, taken over two days this weekend at the Texas Senior Pro Rodeo Association’s visit to the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.  These are men and women who have been a part of this sport for years.   The minimum age for entry is 40, but there are quite a few in their 60s, 70s and 80s.  This is such a  life-affirming group, so inspiring.   This photographr in his mid-70s can’t imagine doing what they do.  A favorite entrant who shows up every August will turn 80 in October.  This year his family was there to watch grandpa.   His 8-year-old grandson was happy to visit with a horse called Hombre.  A few action shots, but some good faces, too.