A Unique Circus Appearance
We’ve had a great deal of wet weather in our area. While the moisture was welcomed in drought-ridden Central Texas, it proved to be a challenge for the performers at the Kelly Miller Circus, who brought their act to Granger, Texas on Wednesday for two performances, courtesy of the Granger High School student council. It was so wet, in fact, the troupe wasn’t able to put up their big top tent as planned. The show must go on, and it certainly did! The ring and seat were set up, sans covering. Attendees were treated to an open-air event, complete with a backdrop of grain elevators. In small-town Texas farm country, it just looked right. Nobody seemed to mind a bit. Children had a grand time, but so did those long past childhood. There’s nothing like a circus to bring out your inner kid! These were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
These Grannies Are Amazing!
The Georgetown Recreation Center was a hopping, dribbling place to be Saturday when the Fire Ants, joined by the Old Glories, took on the Louisiana Crushers in a a fast-moving game of Granny Basketball. To learn more about the sport click here, but in a nutshell, granny basketball is meant for ladies of a certain age who want to stay in the game, in this case on the basketball courts around the country. Their league was founded in Iowa in 2005, but has grown, with teams all over the country. For Saturday’s event, the Crushers team drove 6 hours, from DeRidder, Louisiana to take on their opponents. The Crushers prevailed, winning 49-33, but everyone had a grand time, score aside. To join the league, women have to be at least 50-years-old, but most of the ladies I saw were well beyond that. The Fire Ants’ oldest member is 81, for instance. Nationally, there’s an 89-year-old taking part. How cool is that? Now in my sixth decade, I recall, growing up in Texarkana, girls were cheerleaders, pep squad members, or in the band, but didn’t get to take part in organized school sports activities. Thank God for Title 9. I like the last photo a lot. That’s Crushers player Ruby Washington, getting a hug from her grand-children, including 3-year-old Darius Washington. Ruby’s son lives just up the road, at Fort Hood. He brought the family to town for the game. It was a sweet thing to see. These are photos I took for the Williamson County Sun.
“Fun Day” in Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown Partners in Education held their 2nd Annual Fun Day last weekend at the San Gabriel Community Center. The kids enjoyed a great deal of fun games and got to see some interesting exhibits, like an inflatable planetarium provided by Girlstart. The three young ladies in the opening photo are the 6-year-old Smith triplets, Olivia, Grace and Isabella. They’re posing for photos with signs indicating the year they’ll all graduate from high school, one of the numerous activities in which children participated. These photos were taken for the Williamson County Sun.
Fog Envelops Murphy Park
The little lake at Taylor’s Murphy Park is always a spot to view the area’s avian wildlife. Normally, however, photographing this setting can be distracting. Near the lake are some buildings that don’t lend themselves to a pastoral setting. So it was a pleasant surprise, when on my Tuesday morning walk, I noticed the fog had rolled in. Those buildings, while still there, became virtually invisible to the eye. Thus, a few photos for your perusal.
Fog Rolls Into Texas
It seemed proper to find some imagery to mark Texas Independence Day. Initially, I was not liking the weather, rainy and cold most of the day. But as night enveloped East Williamson County, Texas, the fog rolled in, enhancing the beautiful landscape. Spending 35 years away from Texas causes me to have an even greater appreciation of where I grew up. Even though I hail from Northeast Texas, in the Piney Woods part of the state, this Blackland Prairie part of the Lone Star state has really grown on me. When we left Georgia, I kind of longed for moving back to my tree-laden area, but economics led us here, near Austin. It’s been the right thing. The ocean has always been fascinating, so expansive and open. But this beautiful farm country is my “land ocean,” and that’s okay.
Chicks Gone Wild (And a Curious Kitty)
It seems chickens are becoming a popular addition to yards everywhere, and not just here in Texas. People are seeing the economic advantage of really going local when they can just step out to their hen house and gather a few nice eggs. With that in mind, Georgetown Farm Supply held their “Chicks Gone Wild” seminar Saturday. About two dozen people came to learn all they could from Abby Brewer as she gave some great tips on the care of all kinds of chickens. That’s Abby in one of these photos with her prize-winning rooster, a show bird. As I was getting ready to head out, one of the store’s staff wanted me to see Crusty, one of the two store kitties, as she demonstrated her feline curiosity to check out a cage full of bantam chicks. Thankfully, Crusty made no progress on getting in there. These photos were taken for the Williamson County Sun.
Take a Cruise at the Palace
Wow. The Georgetown Palace Theatre’s newest undertaking, “Anything Goes,” is a fast-moving production. This show, on the theater’s Springer Memorial Stage weekends through March 29, marks the directorial debut of Scott Shipman, taking a spin at directing his first Palace production. Regular visitors to Palace shows are familiar with Shipman’s acting chops, most recently in the title role of “Shrek.” If Thursday night’s dress rehearsal is any indication, he does okay giving directions, too. I’m no reviewer, but know what works. And this does. Give it a spin. These are among the photos I did for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
Here Comes the Brides (and Grooms)
One of the fun things I photograph most years for the Williamson County Sun is the annual Georgetown Bridal Show, held again this year at East View High School. Vendors set up their booths to show off their offerings for the happy couples, like Stacey DelSignore and her husband-to-be, Joshua Gamboa, pictured in the opening shot. Diana Eickholt and her fellow, George Jackson, were really enjoying the sleep number bed! Before the models took to the stage for the actual show, 18-month-old Jackson Hartzog, a well-dressed little guy, romped near the rose petals adorning the stage, but not for long. The organizers didn’t see young Mr. Hartzog as part of their show! Good luck to future couples out there.
Early Morning in Jonah
Rising well before the crack of dawn has always been somewhat painful, but when I am able to make that plunge, the payoffs can be sweet. The quality of early light, which can degrade quickly as a day progresses, is a reward. The Jonah School is a spot I pass when traveling along Texas Highway 29, between Taylor and Georgetown. It’s an interesting structure, long and lean. Since 1922, it’s weathered many Texas seasons. Sometime back in the 1970s, the community of Jonah, just a lull in the landscape, incorporated their school system with the Georgetown public school district. Thankfully, the school building has remained, recast as the Jonah Community Center. I’ve wanted to represent the school here on my blog, but alas, in broad daylight, it wasn’t so inspiring. Until Sunday morning, that is. I was trolling along about 6:30a.m. One lone light added just the right amount of texture to the scene. Since another early assignment awaited, I only stopped here for about 7 or 8 minutes. The result are the photos you see here, with no magical Photoshop devices. As dawn neared, the blueness of the sky lessened, quickly settling on gray matter on this cloudy day. When you can, get up early. Enjoy what you see.
Summer 1979 at JD’s Grill
During what I call my golden years at the Shreveport Journal, I discovered a very nifty (and compact) eating establishment downtown. JD’s Grill was tiny, dwarfed by everything around it. When I made these photos in August 1979, JD’s was a hopping place. Total seating capacity was about 8 diners. Folks in Shreveport came here in droves. JD’s was always busy. During down times after lunch, you were likely find a fellow sipping his coffee and reading the Shreveport Journal for the latest news. When JD had a few rare moments, he’d enjoy his pipe. Remember, this was back in the day when a fellow smoking his pipe was okay. If JD is still among the living, I expect he’d be pretty old, but often wonder if he passed his little grill on to other hands?
Having a Play Day at the Rodeo Arena
When something I’d plan to photograph didn’t pan out on Saturday, I trolled around Georgetown for an alternative for my friends at the Williamson County Sun. As luck would have it, the Williamson County Sheriff Posse Rodeo arena was buzzing with activity. Throughout the year, the Brushy Creek Saddle Club conducts their play days. “Play days” are just that — low-key riding fun in a non-stressful and fun setting. These events are usually dominated by young women since the men, or so I’m told, move on to actual rodeo activities early-on. So it was a good thing I happened by and saw little Wyatt Tucker as he ambled along with his horse, Shorty, in tow. When it comes to equestrian pursuits in Texas, many folks begin at an early age. Wyatt will turn 2 next month. There to support Wyatt were his mom and dad, Codie and Lance Tucker, and also his grandpa, Jeff Burruss. Lance and Jeff are both old hands at this kind of thing. It’s natural, then, that Wyatt would be right at home. Here are a few photos I took during Saturday’s fun.
En Plein Air
During my years in Georgia, it was rewarding to observe a group of artists who felt a keen sense of connection with being outdoors, toting their easels and painting supplies to places that inspired them. They would meet at specific locales to observe and create art that spoke to their vision. “En Plein Air” is French for “In the Open Air.” These happy sessions were called paint-outs. Returning to Texas, I’m happy to report Plein Air groups are abundant here, too. I recently spent a Saturday morning at Georgetown’s Blue Hole Lagoon, where artists from Austin and Sun City chapters were hard at work. As a first-grader at Grim Elementary School, I got a D- in art. When the teacher asked us to draw a person, my “person” had a head, legs and arms, but no body. “Where’s the body, Andy?” Miss Bertha White asked? I gave her a curious look before she scribbled that ugly grade on my work of art. So it that I became a photographer, but I really appreciate the ability of people who can create so well. These photos were taken for the Williamson County Sun
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Good Light in the Texas Skies
At times, when feeling overwhelmed, a dose of visual therapy is helpful. For me, perhaps, that comes all too often. The good news is I don’t have to drive too far to get an emotional boost. East Williamson County, Texas is literally just down the road. The county roads near home are open and inviting. When the Texas wind isn’t too much, I can hop on my bike and enjoy the scenery up close. But the roads, and sky, are always there. And so is my camera. The little church, Prince of Peace Lutheran, sits atop a gentle hill, on County Road 417, in a place called Wuthrich Hill. A field of horses grazes along County Road 414. And a tank, as we call many ponds in Texas, adds a nice touch to a darkening sky on County Road 424.
Bowling At Its Finest
My Saturday was filled with much work, all of it rewarding. The final stop of the day was at Mel’s Lone Star Lanes, in Georgetown, Texas. The entire bowling alley was the scene of the mens’ bowling competition for the statewide Special Olympics Winter Games. Inspiring athletes arrived from all over Texas, most of them accompanied by their coaches, but also their loving families. Let me tell you folks, these guys had all the right moves. One particular young man I’ve photographed a few times since returning to Texas was Jared Friemel, a Georgetown resident and graduate of Georgetown High School. In his senior year, Jared was crowned Homecoming King. Jared is an inspiring young man who now works for the Round Rock Express, our area minor league baseball team. His Special Olympics team is the Cen-Tex Rockets. That’s Jared in the first few photos. These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
It’s Cookie Time!
This past weekend, it was cold and somewhat rainy here in Central Texas. When I began my search for Girl Scouts selling their very popular cookies, my expectation was that they, and their parents, had decided to bag the whole thing for another day. Not so! Everywhere I went in Georgetown, Sun City and Jarrell, there they were, wearing those big smiles and bright eyes as they hawked Samoas, Thin Mints and all the rest. One lady even bought 12 boxes of cookies. “I’ve got a few family members,” she explained. Get out there and help the Girl Scouts in your area. They’re motivated young ladies who aren’t afraid of a little hard sales work. Sales continue through March 1. These photos are among those taken for my good friends at the Williamson County Sun.
The Allure of Grain Elevators
Grain elevators are certainly not exclusive to Texas. They can crop up anywhere agriculture blooms across the continent. Since moving back to Texas, however, they come into my line of sight a lot more often. I like their shape and the way they put their indelible marks on the landscapes they inhabit. Right here in Taylor, there are a few. These photos were taken last night, and again this morning, at Williamson County Grain, Inc. Just for fun, I went wandering early last evening. The way the fading light fell on these cylinders was interesting. A bit of moon was good, too. If you follow the photos presented here, you’ll see how the golden, warm light quickly fades to a colder scene as the sun goes down. I also drove around to the other side and checked them out from the point of view of a really pretty sky. This morning, I visited them again for a different look, as seen in the last three images. Because of a cloud cover, the light was a little less warm, but a herd (?) of grackles ambled past to add to the fun. You can always count on grackles around here. And grain elevators, too.
The Art of Sharing a Tree
There’s a Great Blue Heron in Taylor I often see on my daily walks. She’s an elusive girl. Several times, I’ve returned to her area with my camera, but return home with nothing to show for it. One cold and cloudy recent evening, however, there she was, perched in her tree above her little creek. Rather than just fly away this time, she remained steadfast while my lens eyed her up for forty long minutes. Even a pesky squirrel didn’t faze her, as the furry little rodent hopped all around. After a time, the squirrel moved on, probably in search of a nut. The bird took a hint and departed, too. I still don’t have the heron image I’m looking for, but persistence will pay off down the road, at least I hope it does. It might be wise to emulate the patience of a big bird.
It Feels Like Spring!
Central Texas has been blessed with some really nice weather this week. It may be about to change this weekend, but get out and enjoy it while it’s there. These scenes are from Georgetown’s San Gabriel Park and were taken for the Williamson County Sun.
Having a Tea Party
Prior to “Beauty and the Beast,” East View High School’s first full-fledged musical production held last weekend, the school held a Prince and Princess Tea Party for area elementary school kids. Over 60 little folks, boys and girls, came for the fun. Cast members, in full costume, helped with the doings, dancing and serving for everyone. The food and drink was good, the colorful costumes grand. These are some photos taken for the Williamson County Sun.
A Few End of Day Features
This evening ended without locating a particular bird that interested me. In this instance, it was an owl, near Granger, Texas. He/she eluded my camera. In the place of my little feathered friend, I present these few images, taken at the end of another pretty Central Texas day.
Just One More Bit of Livestock!
If you thought I was done with the livestock show on that last post, think again. Here are a few more from the Williamson County Livestock in beautiful Georgetown, Texas.
The Highs & Lows of the Livestock Show
Livestock shows are one of the events I truly enjoy. For the kids who take part, it’s the drama of life played out in dusty barns as they give it their all for themselves, perhaps for the glory of their 4-H clubs or their F.F.A. chapters. In Texas, livestock shows are an indelible part of our culture. This will be the first of two posts on the Williamson County Livestock Show. Here, my focus is on 11-year-old Colton Stark, a Georgetown youngster who showed his three hogs, Bacon Junior, Grave Digger and Psycho. Bacon Junior fared well for Colton, earning him a second-place ribbon. After that, however, it was hard going. Grave Digger, through no fault of his own, experienced sciatica problems in the arena. Psycho, as his name implied, was healthy, but somewhat reluctant to take directions from Colton. There to offer support and comfort were Colton’s mom and dad, Craig and Brandi. And his good friend, Gunner Clapper, also 11, was there for him. That’s Gunner in the next to last photo. Young Mr. Stark will do well in life. He’s got spirit and determination, even if this day didn’t end as well as he’d liked. These photos accompanied a Williamson County Sun story by Joyce May.
Remembering Dr. King
For the past few years, since returning to Texas, I’ve covered the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday observance in Georgetown for my friends at the Williamson County Sun. Compared to my years working this holiday for the Atlanta Journal & Constitution, this one’s pretty small, but no less important. One thing that organizers remarked on this year was the presence of Georgetown’s Mayor, Dale Ross, as an active participant, both in the march and attendance at the celebration service at Macedonia Baptist Church. Normally, it’s my habit to not promote elected officials here, but it was nice to see Mayor Ross reaching out in the spirit of unity. Thus, he’s on my site, too. As well as Georgetown City Council member Rachael Jonrowe. And let’s not forget police chief Wayne Nero. Good for them all
. Here are a few photos from this year’s observance.
A Superstar at the Palace
Years ago, when “Jesus Christ Superstar” broke new ground on stages around the world, I didn’t have the chance to see an actual live production, but quickly purchased the soundtrack, one of my very well-worn tapes (does anyone remember tapes?). You can’t miss with lyrics by Tim Rice paired with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. So it was a great pleasure to visit Georgetown’s Palace Theatre for their recent dress rehearsal of the production last week. This local production, ably directed by Palace Artistic Director Mary Ellen Butler, is worth a couple of hours of your weekend, assuming you can get tickets. Creighton Moench, the young man in the title role, is passionate in his Palace stage debut. When not onstage, Moench continues working on his PhD in Ethnomusicology at University of Texas at Austin. He’s a busy young man! Another fine performance was Clifford Butler, in his role as Judas. If you can get tickets, make it a destination. It runs weekends through February 15. These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
