Halloween On Main Street
Until we moved back to Texas a few years ago, photographing Halloween trick-or-treaters held little interest. The idea of a grown man wandering along a neighborhood street, snapping photos, just didn’t sit well with me. Until, that is, I discovered Main Street in Georgetown, Texas. This street of graceful old homes, large and small, is nothing short of amazing. Main Street residents, for the most part, encourage both children and intrepid photographers. Now, when Halloween comes each year, I can’t wait to get out there again for my friends at the Williamson County Sun. Here are a few from this year.
A Visit to Granger, Texas
Maybe small towns are the same all over the country, but my landscape is right here in Texas. I will therefore, from time to time, pay a visit to Texas small towns. So far, there’s not a specific population that qualifies them as “small,” but I’m thinking less than 5,000, probably a lot less. We’ll have to see. No rules here, folks. One right up Texas Highway 95 from my home in Taylor is Granger, the subject of this post. The sign coming into Granger lists its population at 1,419. It’s an adorable little town, steeped in Czech culture. If you took away cars and electric lights, friends, you could almost imagine yourself back in the late-19th century. That’s probably one reason they decided to shoot scenes for the 2010 remake of the movie “True Grit” here. One of the things I like about Granger’s main street, Davilla Street, is that a portion of it is still paved with cobblestones. That’s Davilla Street in the opening photo. Also included here: the old City Hall building, no longer in use, but still around, right next to the Cotton Club, a restaurant and club that draws folks from all over….a homecoming parade for the Granger Lions football team….the lights of Lions stadium aglow on the next night’s big game, grain elevators not far away…. etc. Oh, and Sissy Spacek’s paternal grandparents hail from Granger. Her grandfather was Arnold Adolph Spacek, a local grocer who also served as the town’s mayor at one time. According to my Taylor neighbor across the street, a Granger native, Sissy spent a good bit of time here when growing up. He’s quick to point out, however, that she changed the pronunciation of her last name. It really should be like this: Spa (as in “health spa”) and Check (as in Czech). Hollywood, I guess, wanted something snappier. Also included here is Crossroads, a bar that’s been around a long time. Here are a few photos from a small Texas town. More later.
The Good Shepherd
A while back, in March 2011, while on an evening bicycle ride on the country roads in East Williamson County, Texas, I came upon a man, accompanied by his dog, as they herded a large flock of fluffy sheep along County Road 345, a peaceful road with very little traffic of any kind. A few days later, in my car this time, and with cameras, I returned. This deserved documentation! The man was Rosalio Rodriguez, and his herding dog was Charlie. During a slow period recently, I decided to see if they were still around. Indeed they were. Rodriguez, now 61, and Charlie, now a lively 8-year-old, were once again shepherding their sheep, about 60 head, up and down that same road. Rodriguez works at a machine shop in Pflugerville. Each morning, he gets up at 5a.m., reports to work by 6:30, and is home by 4. The routine doesn’t vary much. He and Charlie herd their flock out of his 5-acre pasture onto the roadside, where the sheep fill their bellies for a stroll that often takes two hours. Not one time have I seen him actually whip the sheep. It’s only a deterrent, it seems. It’s nice to see them again. I hope to return next Spring when shearing time comes around.
Enjoying a Cool Afternoon Together
In Central Texas, the last couple of days have been quite wet. We needed the rain, of course, but at the same time, it kept many of us indoors. On Sunday afternoon, the rain stopped and the temperatures dropped, thank goodness. Glenn Cook and his 5-year-old son, Leo, headed to Georgetown’s San Gabriel Park for a bit of father/son bonding via soccer. Despite his age, Leo appeared to be quite good at this endeavor. He plays (and dad coaches) on a 4-5 year-old league. The Cook family, you see, just moved to Georgetown a year ago, from Glenn’s native England. Soccer is quite a big deal there. Leo’s been kicking the ball since the tender age of 2. Get outside, enjoy the day, and your family.
Chisholm Trail Days for 2015
Since coming home to Texas, it’s been a pleasure to attend the Williamson Museum’s Chisholm Trail Days for the Williamson County Sun, held each October in Georgetown’s San Gabriel Park. This was the 10th year for the festival, which celebrates our cultural heritage. The Chisholm Trail route actually passed right through Georgetown, coming up what is now Austin Avenue. This year’s event included a Friday night campfire dinner in the park, complete with cowboy cooking over open fires, with pinto beans, with and without jalapenos added, and really nice-looking apple, peach and blueberry pies prepared in dutch ovens. The main event on Saturday was well-attended. Attendees got to visit with Buffalo Soldier reenactors from Austin’s Camp Mabry. For the first time this year, Native Americans were here, including brothers Gideon and Miles Mouse, 3 and 4 respectively. The boys, dancing since they could walk, are the children of a Cherokee father and Iroquois mother. The day concluded with a longhorn cattle drive through the park. I’m told that the first year or so, the cattle drive came through the Georgetown square, but organizers felt this a safer venue for all concerned. Here are a few photos from both Friday and Saturday.
Pumpkins!
This is one of those posts where I don’t need to say a lot. Pumpkin patches have arrived in Georgetown, Texas, with plenty of choices for shoppers at two area churches, including First United Methodist Church and San Gabriel Presbyterian Church.
When I visited the patches last weekend, there were ample good scenes everywhere, including one young fellow who couldn’t quite lift his pumpkin, but had no trouble at all pushing that sucker along. Daddy came along to do the heavy lifting. These patches are both church fundraisers, good places to spend your money and your time.
National Night Out in Georgetown, Texas
National Night Out, an event which fosters positive community relations between first responders and the communities they serve, was held last Tuesday in Georgetown. The Georgetown Housing Authority, where these photos were taken, hosted one of the bigger block parties in town. In this time, when relations are strained to the hilt around the United States, it’s good to see these events. The fellow in the opening photo, City of Georgetown police officer Robert Jones, stands as an example of how people can come together to make things work in harmony. You could see the compassion in his eyes.
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“Young Frankenstein” at the Palace Theatre
Just in time for Halloween, Georgetown’s Palace Theatre is “putting on the Ritz” with their production of “Young Frankenstein.” It’s a continually-moving bit of work that should keep audiences entertained throughout. A number of the Palace regulars are in this one, including Craig D. McKerley (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein), Emily C. Niswonger (Elizabeth), Pete Munoz (Inspector Hans Kemp), Nikki Bora (Ziggy), Betty Ortwein (Frau Blucher), Brandon Blake (The Hermit) and other names you’ll recognize. The Monster is played quite well by Clint Cox, who looks to be a pretty big fellow in real life. Ashlee Zoch, playing Inga, is new to the Palace stage, a welcome transplant from Houston. The show, directed by Palace Artistic Director Mary Ellen Butler, will be on the Springer Memorial Stage weekends through November 8.
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Everything Under the Sun (City, That Is)
The Sun City Kiwanis Club held their huge Sun City Garage Sale last Saturday morning. It’s held twice a year, in the Spring, again in Autumn. The sale is a fundraiser to assist kids with their education needs, from elementary school right on into their college years. Naturally, I forgot just how crowded this event can be. Arriving a few minutes after its 8a.m. start time, my parking place was not close! When I got there, however, it was total pandemonium. Taking it all in was Lilo, a 3-month-old English Bulldog who came with her human friend, Erik Arguelles. She seemed to attract as much attention as the bargains. These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
Learning the Art of Rodeo
Kelly and Jim Bob Clayman have been training folks the art of horsemanship at Windsong Farm, in Georgetown, Texas for many years. Their students, mostly a youthful group, get the chance each October to demonstrate some of what they’ve learned at the Clayman Rodeo. Jim Bob and Kelly are both rodeo veterans. I spent a lovely Saturday afternoon and early evening taking it all in. Primarily, students focus on things like barrel racing, pole bending and events that call on their roping skills. Generally speaking, you won’t see any bucking bulls or broncos at this event, but you will see the respect the kids have for their horses, and the love of all things equestrian. One barrel racer even had a Go Pro camera mounted on her helmet! Of course, kids in the audience each year get a chance to pull a ribbon from a calve’s tail in the calf scramble. Finally, let’s not forget the audience members, like the two 5-year-olds near the end of this post, and a 7-year-old lady who already knows how to use a real camera! These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
Sun City’s Pink Waterfalls
While on another assignment in Sun City, Texas Saturday morning, driving by Legacy Hills Golf Club, I saw something vibrant and amazing: the waterfalls coursing through the already-beautiful landscape were flowing pink! Completing my other assignment, I determined to stop by and ended up staying close to two hours, tripod and camera in hand. Note (as if I have to say it … duh) there is no manipulation in these photos. I found out that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Legacy Hills and another Sun City course, White Wing, teamed up for a Rally for the Cure, a golf tournament to raise funds for cancer research. The water, of course, is a hit you over the head reminder, done in an inspiring way. Here are a few photos from my time on the course. At times, the water looked pink, other times purple, with a little red thrown in, too. It was breathtaking. For more information about breast cancer awareness visit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. By the way, Komen began in Dallas, in 1982.
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Georgetown’s Amazing Bark Park
In one of my wandering moods Wednesday, trying to get a grip on sinus and allergy-related issues, my drive took me to Georgetown, Texas. It was a pretty afternoon, with a gentle breeze, perhaps a bit warm, but that was okay. Initially, the plan was to drive by San Gabriel Park, but then I remembered that Georgetown has a Bark Park, on Holly Street. I’ve driven past it a few times, but never stopped for a visit The overused word “wow” comes to mind. This Bark Park is amazing! Nestled under a canopy of healthy pecan trees are six acres of fun, for big dogs, small ones, and everything in between. There’s even a fenced-in area inside the larger part where small dogs and their owners can safely play. One doggie mom, with her three active pooches, found time for a jog around the perimeter a few times. Her well-behaved babies occupied themselves with trying to get a squirrel. This park, open year-round from dawn to dusk (weather permitting), is one of the gems in this Central Texas city north of Austin. These photos were taken for my pals at the Williamson County Sun.
A Visit to New Corn Hill, Texas
Last weekend, my cameras and I spent time at the annual church bazaar for Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Since returning to Texas, in 2009, I’d ridden by this church on bike rides into the countryside. The first sight of it, from a distance, is something special. Like so many structures around here, you can see things from great distances. Holy Trinity qualifies. In North Williamson County, Texas, it’s above Walburg. From there, you travel up F.M. 1105 for a few miles, quickly pass through Theon, and there it is, in New Corn Hill, Texas. The post office lists this as being in Jarrell, but it’s New Corn Hill, quite near what was once just “Corn Hill.” But I ramble. The bazaar itself was a splendid event, with whopping amounts of food served in the parish activity center. Once the meals were done, the tables cleared, followed by a live auction, with a great auctioneer, Buddy Johnson, from Thorndale. In an adjacent room, bingo was a hopping place to be. Luckily, I decided to sit close to 6-year-old Mason Danek, with his grandmother, Barbara Danek. Of all the many people playing, Mason actually won, right in front of my lens! On the church grounds outside, polka music, performed by several gentlemen of Czech heritage, was plentiful. Among them were Edward Kopecky, leader of the Funtime Czech Band, who played the accordion, but often switched to his trombone, or a trumpet. Also playing a mean accordion was Willie Vrabel, who attends Holy Trinity and just enjoys performing and visiting with friends. There were games for kids, a raffle, too. I couldn’t leave Holy Trinity without a visit into the sanctuary of the church, here since 1913. Others had the same idea, including friends Nina Blevins and Olivia Anderson, and Andrew Palousek. Now in his 60s, he enjoyed a visit to the area leading to the bell tower. As a child, he attended Holy Trinity, doing duty as a choir boy. He has fond memories of climbing the bell tower ladder for a good hiding place with fellow choir boys many years ago. Outside the church, after way too much good food, Charlie Halm opted for a short nap on the grounds. Recalling how the church appears late in the day, I went home, looked at a few images on the computer, then returned for the exterior photo posted here. I’m glad I dd. It was a good day, another opportunity to learn about the culture of my area. These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
The Autumnal Equinox
Yesterday, at 3:21a.m. Central Daylight Time, the Autumnal Equinox quietly began its time. For my area, it was cool: the day began with temperatures in the 60s. Of course, it warmed to 95 by day’s end, but at least we can start to think about dropping temperatures. I began this collection of photos, all in Georgetown, Texas. before dawn, paying a quick visit to the town square, then on to Blue Hole Lagoon (the opening photo), where I noticed walkers out already. And a Great Blue Heron some folks called Harry as he foraged for fish. Moving on, I stopped by San Gabriel Park, where a pedestrian bridge out since the Memorial Day floods was once again intact. Everyone I met was happy at that development!
After about 3 hours, I switched into my walking clothes and strolled a gentle six miles on the San Gabriel River Trails. The hike took me past a really nice little area near Booty’s Road Park, the water flowing nicely around bits of lichen, the insects feasting on yellow flowers. I ended my autumn experience by taking in the waxing gibbous moon at Georgetown’s First United Methodist Church. These photos were for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
Dove Hunting Season in Central Texas
Recently, I spent a little time with dove hunters in my area as they participated in dove hunting season, which runs from September 1 through October 25 in Central Texas. The fields in the Taylor area are apparently a popular destination for hunters. On the first day, the land Wilbur Brinkmeyer shares with his son, Ted, was the place to be for hunters who drove from Louisiana and Alabama for the chance to try their skills on this slice of the Blackland Prairie. Daniel Campbell, from the Louisiana side of Toledo Bend, came with his daughter, 17-year-old Kaitlyn Campbell, shown in the opening photo. On hand to help retrieve game was Reno, the Brinkmeyer family’s resident dog. Hunting is an activity that’s never held my interest, but I support those who participate. They, like my 84-year-old deer hunting father-in-law, who has hunted since he was a kid growing up in Arkansas, seem to be doing it without any agenda. As with my father-in-law, the hunters I spent time with for this series of photos planned to put the game on their supper tables. The hunters I’ve met through the years aren’t to be confused with some gun rights advocates who feel the need to parade around public places toting AR-15 assault rifles and the like.
The good hunters I’ve been around just want to do what others have done since the dawn of time. That, as far as I’m concerned, is their right, if done responsibly.
A Perfect Place to Fly a Kite
Chicago may be the windy city, but I’m hear to tell you that Taylor, Texas, where we live, is the windy town. When we moved back to Texas, in summer 2009, we settled in Taylor, a city of a little over 15,000 people on the Blackland Prairie. After years of the clutter and traffic in Atlanta, Georgia, we wanted some wide-open spaces and low density. I did find, however, that if I wanted to take a bicycle ride into the lovely countryside, that needed to be done very early in the day. If you wait too late, most days the wind has picked up a lot, making pedaling a chore. So it made perfect sense for the City of Taylor folks to start their own Kite Day last year. This year’s second annual Kite Day, at Taylor Regional Park, was again well-attended, with many colorful kites and excellent breezes. There were store-bought kites aplenty, but also some interesting homeade ones, like the “invisible kite” 72-year-old Willie Gore made using clear Saran Wrap and scotch tape as his primary materials. The only way to spot it was to look for its colorful 16-foot length of tail. Now fast-foward 7 hours after the event was over. Passing through the park, I noticed a lone kite gracefully floating above. Closer inspection indicated no person attached to it. Apparently, this one got away from its owner, but before sailing into oblivion, its strings caught the very top of a light post. That’s it in the final shot. It seemed an appropriate way to conclude the day in the windy town of Taylor.
Remembering 9/11
Fourteen years have passed since that sad day, September 11, 2001. It’s a date where the question “Where were you on 9/11?” has become commonplace. I distinctly recall being in an elementary school classroom, in Cobb County, Georgia, on an assignment for my newspaper the Atlanta Journal & Constitution. The specifics of why I was there aren’t clear, but I do recall an announcement over the school’s speakers that “something was happening in New York.” Classes took a back seat to all of us, kids and adults alike, watching television screens at the school as the horror unfolded. It brings to mind where I was on November 22, 1963, in Mrs. Henry’s 6th grade classroom at Grim Elementary School, in Texarkana, Texas, when classes stopped to hear of President Kennedy’s death 175 miles away, on a street in Dallas. Fast-forward to last Friday, where members of the Georgetown fire and police departments once again returned to school district’s athletic complex, where they climbed the stairs to commemorate the 1900 steps of the World Trade Center. For Central Texas, it was a humid, sticky morning, but they were again up to the task. Friday evening, at dusk, my town of Taylor, 30 minutes east, had their annual Patriot Day observance, something they’ve done each year following 9/11. Even though Friday is high school football time around here, people showed up for this. The last photo, a Taylor firefighter, an honor guard member, ringing the department’s bell, was resonant, and moving. These are photos I took for the Williamson County Sun, the first eight from the climb, the final ones from Patriot Day.
Becoming (A Little) Gentle in Spirit
This is a followup post to something I watched a while back, where horse trainers paired with wild mustang horses, only recently in the western wilds, got to know one another. These spirited and beautiful horses, to put it mildly, were not too trusting of the touch of human beings. Considering how us two-legged creatures have treated one another, I understand their reticence. The Mustang Heritage Foundation, a Georgetown-area non-profit group, has for some time brought these horses in touch with their human counterparts. Last time I visited, when the horses were only weeks removed from remote areas, it amazed me to watch the gentleness the trainers exhibited. After that event, the trainers were tasked with working with their new charges for a hundred days, to see if they might be “gentled.” These photos were taken a few days ago, at the Williamson County Sheriff’s Posse Arena, in Georgetown. The trainers, some dressed in costumes, demonstrated what they had been able to do. This coming weekend, in Fort Worth, horses and humans will gather for the Extreme Mustang Makeover. At the conclusion, those wishing to adopt one of the horses can do so at auction. These photos, for the Williamson County Sun,
, are a testament to how these mustangs, while still full of spunk, were willing to allow the touch of a child’s hand.
The Most Oat-Rageous Festival in Texas
On Saturday morning my wanderings, for the Austin American-Statesman, took me west, to Bertram, Texas, to cover their annual Labor Day weekend event, their Oatmeal Festival parade. Just a couple of miles from this Burnet County burg on the cusp of the Texas Hill Country, are what remains of an even tinier place, Oatmeal, Texas. Oatmeal is mostly relegated to history these days, but it’s close enough for the folks in Bertram to have a festival in its honor. And it was indeed well-attended. The parade was delightful, with decorated bicycles, plenty of beauty queens, a high school marching band, the Plungettes, from Marble Falls, an actual dumpster attached to a car, and of course, Oatie, the festival mascot, there to greet visitors. Like any parade, candy goodies were tossed to attendees. 8-year-old Timothy Edmundson was quick to grab a Tootsie Pop while the parade ambled past. In Texas, a parade just wouldn’t be complete without horses. There were big horses, but small ones, too, like the ones ridden by Arturo Mendez, and his little sister, Araceli. Arturo was having a good time, but Araceli didn’t seem to be feeling the fun. But new five-year-old friends, Macaila Lewis and Lyla Kramer, seen in the final photo in this post, were having a grand time! I like the festival’s slogan: The Most Oat-Rageous Festival in Texas. The culture in my area never fails to inspire.
Dragonflies, And The Presence of Water
Photography can be many things. It can be photojournalism, or, if you prefer, documentary in nature. Maybe it’s portraiture, perhaps a vehicle to sell something. It’s my belief that the main function of this medium I cherish is simple communication, whatever form that make take. With this post, what you see is the result of an afternoon spent reading a little, but then just observing. On recent morning walks, my steps have been taking me past a little creek that courses through our Taylor city parks. Adding to the pleasurable experience has been a Great Egret, gracefully standing in shallow water as I pass. She doesn’t move much. My guess is she’s nesting nearby, standing sentry over her family. With that in mind, yesterday afternoon, fold-up chair, book, water and camera in tow, I sat down near that spot. Alas, she wasn’t there. Maybe hers is a morning ritual? After a while, I decided she wouldn’t make an appearance. Instead, what began to fascinate me were almost-transparent dragonflies, darting over the gently-flowing water. Eventually, the pull of image-making dominated, the book set aside. What I soon determined was this: auto-focus doesn’t fare so well with tiny, see-through creatures. Manual focus was needed to make this work. Thankfully, my 60-something year-old eyes managed to do okay with that, even with a 300mm lens. Dragonflies, being what they are, however, didn’t make this easy. More time passed. Then I began to notice the flow of the water, the reflection of the blue Texas sky a sweet thing to see. The first few photos focus (no pun intended) on a tiny winged world, but finish with water. And a feather floating by. I didn’t get my egret image this day, but that’s okay. I communicated a little.
Sterling Gloves Boxing Tournament
A good bit of Saturday afternoon and evening my work focused on the 4th Annual Sterling Gloves Boxing Tournament, held again this year at Georgetown High School. The tournament was begun by longtime boxing trainer and coach Herb Fulton, who oversees Eight Count Boxing Club. This year, the event had grown enough to continue bouts on Sunday. The photos you see here were all taken on Saturday for my friends at the Williamson County Sun. Boxing is not a sport where I’ve ever been a participant, and it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I will say that those who train very hard at it are in better physical condition than the majority of our population. They’re a determined lot.
Kidfish Returns to Taylor, Texas
After a year’s absence due to scheduling conflicts, Kidfish returned to Taylor’s Bull Branch Park on Saturday morning. Just before the big event, the park’s lake was loaded up with 400 pounds of catfish. A few of those were caught, but the kids were having a great time just snagging a little perch or two. Children ages 16 and under participated filling the park with happy kids. It was all for fun, a catch-and-release affair, but all the fish caught were measured to determine a winner. While I was there, a young man caught a 23-inch long catfish, but the little lady in the opening photo almost beat that, with her 22.5 inch fish! Read the link above about Kidfish for more information about this group who supports not just the fun of fishing, but environmental responsibility and stewardship for what we have.
Having a Lively Time at “Damn Yankees”
The Georgetown Palace Theatre’s Springer Memorial Stage filled with a splendid cast last night for the dress rehearsal of “Damn Yankees,” playing here every weekend through September 27. I could expound incessantly on just how fine this Ron Watson-directed production is, but the best thing to do is experience it in person. Everything came together, with choreography by Jesee Smart, music by Austin Kimble, costumes by Ramona Haass and lighting by David Sherline. The lighting was particularly fine. My rule of thumb on plays is this: if the light works well for photography, it will be a good experience for the paying audience. They got it right. The cast members are all good, but I really enjoyed the performances of Robert Cross, a Palace regular (he’s the fellow in the bright red hat), and Palace newcomer Dara Hasenkampf, playing Lola. Lola is at times a blond, and also a fiery redhead. Put this on your calendar if possible. These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
A New Day Dawns at Carver Elementary School
At the end of the last school year, the original George Washington Carver Elementary School said goodbye to its teachers, students and staff. It was a bittersweet time of moving on. This morning, bright and early, the new Carver Elementary School opened its doors for the first time, welcoming over 680 kids to its doors. While I love old schools, I must say this one is quite nice. And there’s room to grow, a very important thing in fast-growing Georgetown, Texas. Here are a few images I took for the Williamson County Sun this morning. For 40 years, I’ve covered the first day of school, in three states. It never gets old.
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