Enjoying the Light on the Square
Monday afternoon I was in Georgetown to purchase supplies for matting photos. Since the library was close, I stopped by to relax for a few minutes. About 5:15 or so, the sweet golden light poured in. Not one to pass up an opportunity, the laptop was shut down and I headed just up the road, to easily the most beautiful town square in Texas. The lights atop the buildings stay up all year, adding a little touch of class to an already pretty setting. Included here are the Masonic Lodge building (now Gumbos’s North), Antiques & Artisans (719 Main Street), the Williamson County Sun building (also Main Street), the M.B. Lockett buidling, now Burger University (corner of 7th and Austin) and the Mileham building, now home to a restaurant on the lower floor, The Hollow, and A Premium Blend School of Performing Arts upstairs. That one’s shown in the opening photo, the school’s lights adding warmth to a pretty evening. Topping it off, a waxing crescent moon. If you want more information about this area, take an electronic stroll
.
A Foggy Morning Begins
This morning, something awakened me just after 5a.m. I got up, sauntered around for a minute, then tried to go back to sleep. Just before 6:30, a decision was made: it was time to grab the cameras and head out the door. Early mornings, the time before dawn, are often wonderful times to enjoy, once you get yourself up and moving. Today was no exception. The forecast had called for morning fog, giving way to a partly cloudy day by afternoon. I happen to enjoy fog. It’s a visual equalizer, stripping down subjects to their core, not unlike black and white photography when you think about it. Anyway, the official sunrise, if there had been one, would’ve been at 7:28. I was trolling through East Williamson County’s Blackland Prairie roads well before 7, taking it all in. The photos taken here were all done in about one hour, the last one, the windmill, just before 8. With the exception of the featured photo, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, in Wuthrich Hill, the photos posted were taken in order. “Sunrise” was during the time at the little cemetery, also at Prince of Peace. In all, I drove 19.6 miles for this little outing. When you can, friends, get up and take it all in. Life’s too short to sleep it away.
Barns, Tractors and Cows
There’s a rickety-looking old barn, just east of Georgetown that I’ve passed hundreds of times. While full of character, for one reason or another, I passed it by on my treks between Taylor and Georgetown. Until Tuesday evening, that is. Returning from a shopping expedition in Georgetown, there was the barn, but added to the mix this time were cows, and a genuine John Deere tractor, one that has obviously done a lot of work over the years. With that combination of elements in one place, I had to stop. Thankfully, this section of Texas Highway 29 is blessed with a wide shoulder, providing a good spot for yours truly pull over without being run over! Looking at those sweet cow eyes sometimes makes me want to become a vegetarian again. Red meat is only on my plate one day a week as it is. Safe travels, friends.
A Sweet Evening Ride
This is what I happened on this evening, Bruce W. Menke, astride his horse called Otimo, who also goes by “Major.” At the end of a beautiful day near Taylor, Texas, this duo enjoyed a ride near sundown, something they do often. Scenes like this are among the many reasons I’m glad to be back in Texas. We have room here.
A Few Texas Scenes in Late December
Let’s make this a very short post. These photos are the result of yours truly just needing to get out of the house and ramble through the East Williamson County countryside tonight. While out, I saw a couple of farmhouse scenes, very blue in the crisp, late-day light. And a barn I’ve visited before. Finally, a group of grain elevators topped with a star, something I wished had come into my view earlier in the holiday season. Oh well. There it is. I think I like the black and white version, but will post both here for your perusal.
A Full Moon For Christmas
As is often the case, I find that taking, or looking, for photos, is good therapy. Christmas day (and evening) was no exception. Something I’d hoped to document this year was the Christmas full moon. Unfortunately, clouds arrived Thursday evening, staying with us throughout the day on Friday. Still, I was held out a bit of hope. Throughout the afternoon, my time was spent at San Gabriel Park, in Georgetown, watching fly fishermen doing what’s therapeutic for them. A 17-year-old, not afraid to show his love for his mama, took photos of them together at the park. That was nice. As day became night, still hoping, I headed to the Georgetown square, where I’d planned to wait for the moon’s arrival. I set up my tripod and did some long exposures of ornaments on the square’s tree. After an hour of this, however, it seemed I wouldn’t see this rare moon. Reluctantly, I packed up and made my way east, to Taylor. About ten minutes from home, the night sky seemed brighter. There it was, the moon in its full glory! Quickly finding a place to park, I snapped some quick shots in case it disappeared for the rest of the night. After all, the next full moon on Christmas is not expected until 2034. Grabbing those shots, I jumped in the car, thinking about where I might find lights high enough to juxtapose them with the lunar prize. Heritage Square Park, in downtown Taylor, gave me just what I needed, a little miracle.
A Texas Treasure
On a return road trip recently, I made it a point to go a few miles out of my way for a visit to Caddo Lake State Park, in Karnack, Texas. Until is was artificially dammed in the early 1900s, for oil exploration and flood control, the lake was the only naturally-occurring lake in Texas. A visitor to Caddo Lake State Park, where I took these photos, mentioned it was not only the state’s only authentic lake, but the only one in the entire southern United States. I’ll leave that to the experts. Whatever the case, this beautiful body of water in Northeast Texas, which also flows into Louisiana, is magnificent, taking in 25,400 acres. It’s also home to the largest cypress forest in the world and has abundant plant and wildlife, including owls, herons, eagles and yes, even a few alligators. During my brief visit, a heron, intent on breakfast, was my only feathered encounter. One famous part-time resident of the area is the Eagles’ Don Henley, raised in nearby Linden, Texas. And don’t forget Karnack’s famous duaghter, Lady Bird Johnson.
At one time, the area was inhabited by the Caddo Indians, one of many tribes forcefully removed from their homes during the 19th century. Much publicity is given to the Big Bend area of the state, but let me tell you, friends, Caddo Lake is magical.
Blue Santa, Making Christmas Brighter in Georgetown
When we returned to Texas a few years ago, I’d never heard of Blue Santa. Could there really be a “Blue Santa?” As it turns out there was, and is. Blue Santa is an annual holiday effort by local police departments and their helpers to make the season brighter for families who might otherwise go without. Georgetown, Texas has had a Blue Santa program for several years, conducted jointly by the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association with help from the Georgetown Police folks. I attended the group’s distribution to families on Saturday morning. This year, 700 Georgetown families received over 1800 gift boxes. There were plenty of volunteers to help out, among them policemen like a lively hula-hooping Sgt. Erik Grasse, who was there with his family to help. And of course, an actual Blue Santa was there to see kids, like the one-year-old experiencing her first wide-eyed Christmas. And two siblings, one named Lyric, 5, and his brother, Loyal, 10. The county sheriffs department here also conducts their own program, called, appropriately, “Brown Santa.” It’s all good.
The Church on the Hill
In West Taylor, Texas, along County Road 401, you’ll find Immanuel Lutheran Church, known around these parts as “The Church on the Hill.” Each year since we’ve been back in Texas, Immanuel presents their live nativity, their Pilgrimage to Bethlehem. My concern this year was weather. You see, it’s always been on the church grounds, but we’ve had a wet autumn. Not to be deterred, Immanuel, with a new Fellowship Hall at hand, moved things indoors, except, of course, for Nellie, the sweet donkey who belongs to church member Cecil Remmert. Note that Immanuel gets plenty of help each year from other churches in the area, and not just Lutheran, either. You’ll find Methodists, Brethren, and even Baptists as active participants in making things work. Immanuel was founded in 1888 by German immigrants. Its beautiful current sanctuary has been in place since 1916. These are a few photos from my visit last evening. Forgive that I spend so much time with the angels, but they are completely adorable!
An Enduring Old Bridge
Along County Road 366, in Eastern Williamson County, Texas, is an old truss bridge. It sits peacefully next to its replacement, a modern structure built of concrete and steel. I have no idea how long it has been at rest, but I’m glad it remains, elegantly passing over the San Gabriel River. Thankfully, the state’s Department of Transportation has let it be. The wooden planks of the truss are weathered, with a few boards missing, but it stays the course. On a recent evening, I sat down on those planks and admired the stars. I like that it’s still with us. Some things are worth keeping.
A Look Around Coupland
This is one of those occasional forays into a small Texas town. This time, it’s Coupland, Texas. According to the latest census figures, Coupland, in Southeast Williamson County, has 298 residents. It’s interesting to note, however, they do have their own post office. From my home in Taylor, it’s only 8 miles south via Texas Highway 95. Railroad tracks go through the town, but I’ve not seen much train traffic in visits there. Coupland is home to the Coupland Inn and Dance Hall, which closed for a few years, but is up and running strong now. There’s a caboose and depot station. The local folks are in the process of raising funds to bring this bit of history to life again, thank goodness. The town is also home to sculptor Jim Huntington, who you can find more about
. Huntington was born in Elkhart, Indiana, in 1941, and spent years in New York, San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles before slowing his pace and landing here in 1994. He does gargantuan sculptures, many of them visible right there in in his Huntington Sculpture Garden. Those lucky enough to have seen the 2003 movie, “Secondhand Lions,” starring Robert Duvall, Michael Caine, Kyra Sedgewick and Haley Joel Osment, might recognize some of Coupland in the movie, although a resident I chatted with last evening mentioned the producers misspelled the town’s name, calling it “Copeland.” The last photo in this post is of the old truss bridge just outside town. If you watch the movie mentioned, that’s the bridge at the end. I pulled this frame from a 2014 visit to the bridge due to current construction on that road. Hopefully, they’ll keep the bridge intact.
Georgetown’s Christmas Stroll
The town square in Georgetown, Texas was a grand place to be this weekend for the annual Christmas Stroll. Temperatures were still a tad chilly at the start of Saturday morning’s parade, but a little extra wrapping made it all good. The parade, as is tradition, concluded with Santa Claus, this year his ride a horse-drawn carriage. Adding to the Stroll’s fun was Whoo Village, sponsored by Grace Bible Church, where you could get a Whoo hairdo, have fun on a bungee ride, or any other number of activities. Georgetown Church of the Nazarene brought its Bethlehem Village to the square again this year, too. Here are a few photos I snapped during my Saturday visit. It’s good to see the older folks among us showing some Christmas spirit, too.
A Gentle Evening at Southwestern
For the past several years, it’s been an honor to cover Southwestern University’s Candlelight Service for the Season of Advent. Each year, in early-December, two services are held in Lois Perkins Chapel. I attended the first service last evening. This annual service began one hundred years ago this year. In its first year, 1915, it was called the Christmas Carol Service, then under the guidance of Mrs. C.M. Bishop, wife of University President Bishop, with help from Laura Kuykendall, teacher and expression, later to become the Dean of Women. If I’m stressed, or sad, this peaceful gathering is a somnolent balm for the senses.
Color Along the Trail
Just the other day, Thanksgiving in fact, I decided to take my daily 5-mile stroll in Georgetown, at the San Gabriel River Trail. It was a cloudy and cool day, with intermittent rain showers. What got my attention, however, was the lovely palette of colors along the way. In South Central Texas, we don’t get the the splashy color you might see in New England, but it’s there. After my walk, I spent several hours, cameras and tripod in hand, traversing areas I found inspiring, including San Gabriel Park, Rivery Park, Chandler Park, Bootys Road Park, and a few areas in between. At Chandler Park, a dad and his son shared a kayak, while Georgetown Fire Chief John Sutton enjoyed a Thanksgiving afternoon run with family members at Bootys Road Park. On Saturday, after another assignment fell through, the trail wandering continued, where I even spotted a buck crossing the trail at one point. He didn’t stay in my sights long, preferring the peacefulness of the woods. The clouds and rain, if anything, enhanced the experience. The San Gabriel River Trail is a little slice of heaven.
The Lighting of the Square
Once again this year, I had the honor of photographing Georgetown’s annual Lighting of the Square.
Although cold and pretty wet, the crowds came to take in the magic of one of the most beautiful town squares anywhere. Rather than get wordy, I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.
Dominoes at the Gin
This may or may not be common in other places, but farmers getting together for a friendly game of dominoes has been a tradition in many parts of Texas. When not in their fields, it’s been a good way pass the time and catch up with old friends. My wife had childhood memories of the farmers on her mother’s side getting together in their little domino hall in Streetman, Texas back in the 1950s. In Granger, Texas today, a group regularly gets together for a few games at the Blackland Co-Op Gin. The fellows I watched figure their games date back to at least the mid-1970s, so long, in fact, the dominoes are personalized with the gin’s name on them! When weather slows down farm work, it’s a good place to be. I do like that some of these venerable traditions continue.
A Palace Tea Party
In conjunction with the Palace Theatre’s incredible production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” currently running on their Springer Memorial Stage, the theater hosted a tea party Saturday evening, complete with cast members on hand to inspire and enthrall the children. 52 kids signed up for the fun. I was happy to see at least a couple of little boys among that group. The children were particularly enchanted with Palace regular Kelsey Kimble, who stepped in to be Belle in order to get Kristin DeGroot onstage on time! Near the end of the 90-minute party, Belle treated the children with a bit of story time. Since this was only minutes before the curtain call for the night’s show, it was good to have an extra, really good “Belle” on hand! The kids were happy, and that’s what counts.
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Comes to the Palace
Georgetown’s Palace Theatre is presenting Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” on their Springer Memorial Stage for this holiday season. The very colorful production, directed by Ron Watson, will be keeping people happy through December 30. In the role of The Beast is Ismael Soto III, a gifted young fellow who’s graced this stage many times before. Everyone, however, is just grand. I’ll let the photos do the talking on this post.
.
A Visit To The Little Red Barn
It’s been a while since I made a stop at one of my favorite structures, the little red barn near Jonah, Texas. Last evening, after completing a difficult freelance assignment, I decided to unwind with a visit. The rain had been pouring steadily for most the previous 24 hours, but finally, the skies cleared. It was a very pleasant and cool evening. Before the sun went down, the light was truly golden. For this post, I’m tossing in the farm house that shares this bit of land, such a nice old house it is! Also included is a snapshot of my very handy rubber boots. Us old Boy Scouts always come prepared. The fields surrounding the barn were loaded with Blackland Prairie mud! I should mention how grateful I am for the family who owns the property for allowing me to pay an occasional visit to their barn. If I had the funds (and I may figure it out yet), I’d make them some prints. Did anyone notice the little sliver of moon last evening? It’s included in a few of these images.
A Moody Cemetery Tour
Each year, the Williamson Museum, in Georgetown, Texas, conducts a tour of the city’s I.O.O.F. Cemetery. It’s a self-guided affair, where visitors stroll through the grounds. Along the way, museum docents, in the roles of people buried where they stand, tell a bit about that person. Just as last Saturday’s tour began, the bottom dropped out, the skies filling with rain, heavy at times. Being the troopers they are, the docents stayed the course. And people showed up to listen. The weekend before, early Saturday rains forced cancellation. This time, event organizers were determined to make this happen! For me, the rain just added to the allure of the cemetery. I love these places. Shortly after coming home to Texas a few years ago, I visited this cemetery, coming upon the gravestone of Nannie Morrow, the eldest daughter of Sam Houston. Born in 1846, she married Captain Joseph Clay Stiles Morrow, the family settling in Georgetown. Captain Morrow was a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. That grave, of course, was on tour last Saturday. And that dapper young fellow in the straw hat, under the pecan tree? That’s docent Philip Jones, who played the part of Frank T. Roche, an early editor of the Williamson County Sun, my client for this assignment.
Veterans Day in Sun City, Texas
Again this year, I was honored to attend the annual Veterans Day observance at the Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza, held in Sun City for my friends at the Williamson County Sun. As usual, it was completely packed, with probably well over a thousand people in attendance. Among those on hand was a little boy holding the American flag, 2-year-old Jake Cisneros, who came with his grandma, Rosanne Cisneros. Jake’s great-grandfather, Raymond Gomez, was a World War II Navy veteran who was at Pearl Harbor. He died just last year. This is always a poignant event to cover.
A Visit to Sharp (Texas)
Maps, old-fashioned maps, the kind you see in a road atlas, are something I enjoy. It’s easy to spend hours looking at names of places. Coming home to Texas a few years ago, I discovered a town in Milam County called Sharp. Since it was only about 45 minutes from our home in Taylor, I had to check this one out. Sharp is tiny, a dot on the map, along F.M. 487, not far from Cameron, or Rockdale. The latest census figures I found for it lists the population at around 75. My wife and I saw at least one resident last evening, taking a shirtless stroll on a night too cold for that particular attire. It was founded in the 1870s by William Franklin Sharp, an area physician. It prospered with the addition of a Presbyterian church, and later, in 1896, the Davis General Store (in the opening photo), also called Sharp General Store, opened for business. It was a hub of the community until it closed in 1985. People, many of them farmers, would spend hours on the front porch, visiting. There’s also the Sharp School building, almost next door to the general store. In 1900 Sharp sprouted a post office, which closed six years later.
The school system there began in 1931, eventually including nearby communities of Lilac, Duncan, Oakville, Friendship, Val Verde and Tracy. In 1960 the school system consolidated with the Rockdale Independent School District. The first three photos are of the store, the final two, the school. This is just another of my little slice of life towns in Texas.
Thorndale, Texas
Thorndale, Texas is a town in Milam County with a population of just over 1300. If you’ve seen the movie “The Rookie,” starring Dennis Quaid, you’ve seen the baseball field (Thorndale High) shown in this series. The hollowed-out building, along Main Street, was once home to a bar, according to gent walking with his wife when I was here earlier in the week. These are a few images added to my continuing project documenting slices of small-town Texas.
Wurtsbraten in Walburg, Texas
On an otherwise serene Monday evening this week, Walburg, Texas was smoking, at least it was at Zion Lutheran Church and School as the church held its annual Wurstbraten, their biggest fundraiser of the year. In this community nestled in the northern reaches of Williamson County, German culture was celebrated with a huge feast of sausage, all 13,100 pounds of it handmade by church members, then lovingly smoked out back before being served up in the school gymnasium. For those preferring to take their meals home, you could get a to-go plate, including the sausage, and sides of sauerkraut, coleslaw, green beans, sweet potatoes and bread, all for $10. As usual, the line of cars was long, but the lines moved quickly. This is always a fun event to cover for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
