A Visit to Florence (Texas)

So many years away from Texas continues to give me an appreciation of the small towns that comprise our 254 counties.   One of them is Florence, Texas, in Williamson County.   Florence is about 40 or so miles northwest of Austin.  According to the 2010 census, their population is a little over 1,100 people.   For many years, those traveling from Georgetown to Killeen would automatically drive through,  along Texas Highway 195.   Now there is a bypass taking travelers around this delightful town.   That is indeed regrettable.  Florence is friendly, compact and eclectic.   On Saturday, I paid a visit to Florence for their Florence Friendship Festival, including vendors, a parade, an auction to benefit the local chamber of commerce and even a washers tournament.   While there, I met 7-week-old Aubrey Pfitzner, Harold Ramm and his wife Tommie, married 68 years, a Cathoula hound named Her (yes, Her) and her partner and owner, Robin Roche,  Olivia Combs (Miss Friendship), Paris Johnson (Little Miss Friendship) and auctioneer (and veterinarian) Dr. Woody Ray.   A few others are included in this post.   Coinciding with the festival was a used book sale at the Eula  Hunt Beck Public Library.   While there, I had a chance to meet novelist Elizabeth Moon, a Florence resident whose writing I admire a lot.  The last photo in this post is Ms. Moon, showing off her recently-knitted pair of socks before strolling home to get in her daily 1500 words.   These photos are for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.   Enjoy the little towns when you can.