A Celebration of the Chisholm Trail in Texas
For a number of years in the 19th Century, the Chisholm Trail was a key route ranchers used to navigate their valuable herds to markets in the north. Novelist Larry McMurtry eloquently took us into that world in “Lonesome Dove,” his 1985 masterpiece which went on to win the Pulitzer prize for fiction. In Georgetown, Texas, thanks to the Williamson Museum, a bit of that time is remembered each October at their Chisholm Trail Days celebration held in San Gabriel Park. In its heyday, the famous Chisholm meandered right through Georgetown. At Chisholm Trail Days, folks enjoyed western music, a cowboy breakfast, learned how to lasso a little and perhaps sat astride a horse. They got to listen to stories about the Buffalo Soldiers from the very knowledgeable Horace Williams, the current head of Company A, 9th Cavalry, based at Camp Mabry, Texas.
Blacksmiths regaled everyone with their metallic endeavors. One thing I found particularly interesting was the different points of view regarding cowboy boots. One little guy, in a couple of frames, obviously loved his footwear, but another young man obviously had had enough! The culmination at each year’s event is when a herd of Texas longhorns make their way through the park. I’m thankful the Williamson County Sun allows me to document this event for their astute audience. By the way, the cowpoke who didn’t like his boots is my kind of guy. I’m Texan through and through, but those pointy cowboy boots are truly a pain!
A Tiny Bit of Music on the Square
If you attended Market Days last Saturday on the Georgetown Square, you may have had the good fortune to see 6-year-old Jordan Covington as he made a wee bit of music in front of his father’s guitar shop, Ken’z Guitars. Dad is not a violinist, but Jordan did seem quite taken with the instrument. He even attracted some paying customers, enough, according to dad, to purchase a new toy or two! “I need to let him take lessons,” said dad. From the looks of things, I think Jordan would love that. By the way, that is indeed a real violin, just very very tiny, like Jordan!
Roll Out the Pumpkins
Two Georgetown churches, First United Methodist and San Gabriel Presbyterian, have rolled out their pumpkins for the Halloween season. Both pumpkin patches are fundraisers for various charities. While San Gabriel’s pumpkins arrived on time last weekend, it took a little longer for the orange orbs to make their journey from Farmington, New Mexico to our Methodist friends. The initial arrival was scheduled for Sunday, but the driver’s truck broke down. Then, with a Tuesday date set, the driver got stuck in some sort of traffic jam and called the church with his dilemma. Finally, the huge truckload of pumpkins made it here Wednesday afternoon, with plenty of helpers on hand to unload 2,500 pumpkins. The first 6 photos are from First United, the last 6 from San Gabriel. Check them out if you’re in need of a pumpkin or two. These photos were taken for the Williamson County Sun.
Loving Our Animal Families
Recently, I was able to photograph two Blessing of the Animals ceremonies in Georgetown. One, held by Grace Episcopal Church, was in scenic San Gabriel Park on Sunday morning. A horse, a champion 10-year-old Morgan stallion named Ace (his full name is way long!) was there with his owner, Celeste Brown, for a blessing from Reverend Father Trey Garland. It was a nice morning. The last two photos included in this post were taken at Sun City’s Blessing of the Animals service. One of the blessed babies there was Bugsy, a 4-year-old rabbit who belongs to Lois Gallagher. Some don’t believe animals possess souls. I happen to disagree with that. From what I saw at these two services, these loving owners would concur. These are a few images taken for the Williamson County Sun.
Texas …. Has a Whorehouse In It!
Georgetown’s Palace Theatre has a lively offering this month, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” This production, directed by Ron Watson, will be playing weekends on their Springer Memorial Stage. If you’re in the area, or visiting, check this one out. As with most musicals, the tickets will go quickly so click on the Palace link above for yours.
The Basics of Fishing
In my little Texas town, there’s a park where I like to go with my fold-up chair and a book. It’s next to a creek that sometimes has a few fish, some elusive turtles, and birds who offer up their songs. It’s a quiet place. Occasionally, however, something will come along and catch my attention. A few days ago, I noticed a young man, accompanied by his two even younger fellows, sticks in hand, searching the creek banks. As it turns out, they were on a fishing adventure. The fishing was simplicity personified. They’d gone to the store and purchased line, hooks and corks, but rather than attach these items to a rod and reel, or even a cane pole, they used what Mother Nature provided, fallen limbs from nearby trees. For bait, they used crickets, grasshoppers, and the occasional tiny toad frog, all right there. It caused me to recall a time, when I was very young, going cane pole fishing with my great-uncle Harry on his farm’s stock pond (tank, if you will) in northeast Texas. Up there, we used worms we dug from the ground. And Uncle Harry had plenty of cane growing right there on the land. Back in the present, this story is also a reminder to always have a camera nearby. I learned that many years ago as a student at University of Texas in Austin. If you’re a photographer, always have the tools of your trade within reach. And I do not mean a phone.
The Art & Joy of Rodeo at Windsong Farm
Jim Bob Clayman, along with his wife, Kelly, rodeo athletes for many years, spend much of their time these days at Windsong Farms, where they pass along their equestrian skills to a mostly younger generation of riders. They’re joined on their Georgetown, Texas spread by their boys, Payden Cash Clayman and Ryden Rope Clayman. One of the highlights of their instruction each year is their Clayman Rodeo, held right on the premises. The competitors take part in barrel racing, breakaway roping, team roping and pole bending. There’s a calf scramble for the little folks, plus a really funny rodeo clown!
This year’s rodeo, held last Saturday, is their 21st. If the crowd on hand to watch is any indication, I think they’ll be around for many good years to come. Here are a few photos I took for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
Art & Wine in the Square
The picturesque square in Georgetown, Texas was the scene for this weekend’s Art & Wine in the Square event. More than 50 juried artists were on hand with some very nice work. There to take in the action with their owners were Karly, a Chiweenie, Athena, a Great Dane, and Darvy, a Sheltie. While their owners checked out the art and wine, these babies were intent on each other! Wine tasting was added to this year’s happenings. It proved to be a popular tent! For thirty dollars, visitors could sample wines from fifteen area winemakers in a relaxed setting with relaxing tenor saxophone melodies provided by Rodney Howell.
Welcoming the Chilly Lilies!
Wonderful red flowers, sometimes called chilly lilies, are sprouting up all over Central Texas. Around here, they’re generally a good sign that cooler weather is coming (thankfully!). Officially, they’re known as Oxblood Lilies, but also schoolhouse lilies. Whatever you call them, these flowers bring out the smiles for those who see them. These crimson beauties have their origins in Argentina, but gained popularity in our area when German settlers began planting the bulbs in large numbers. The examples posted here are from the yard of my Taylor neighbor, Alfredo Delgado. “They just pop up every year!” he explains with a grin as he allows me to traverse his yard for about an hour in search of the best light and angles.
Another Visit to the Skies
As those who follow my work might know, photography is not only my work, it’s often a soothing therapy. A frequent spot I particularly like is the lake at Murphy Park, just a little over a mile from our house. The variety of birds, in the skies, and on the lake’s surface, continue to enthrall. Many of the locals are not too fond of many of these creatures. As I understand it, some leave the lake and begin nesting in neighborhood trees, creating a bit of a mess, they say. So far, that hasn’t been a problem where we live. Honestly, it would have to pose a serious health threat before it would bother me anyway. Watching the birds soar, then gather at the lake, is a balm for the soul. Also, they apparently leave this area as winter approaches. I’m willing to take in their therapeutic value for now.
Clouds, Rain & Sun
These are just a few photos I’ve taken in the last few days relating to nothing in particular. Storm clouds, roads coated rain and a nice fellow in ambling down a country road as sundown approaches. As is my habit, I often take photos as a form of therapy. That last shot, the truck moseying along a dusty road at day’s end, sums up some things I like about Texas. I was at my car, watching the approaching sundown, when the fellow in the truck stopped, rolled down his window, smiled and asked “Need any help?” “No thanks,” I replied, “just watching the sun go down.” He smiled again and headed on down the road. That’s his truck in the photo. Nice state, Texas.
Flying High in Taylor, Texas
For the last few days our local weather forecasters told us to expect rain, beginning Thursday night and continuing through Saturday. In drought-prone Texas, of course, we like rain. We need rain. The concern in Taylor, however, was their much-publicized, first-ever Fly a Kite Day. The Taylor Parks & Recreation Department put forth a lot of effort to make it a success. When I got up Saturday morning things were looking grand! It had rained much of the night before, but the day began with very cool temperatures in the low 60s (cool for us, anyway) and a good, strong wind. So it was that families turned out at Taylor Regional Park, kites and strings in hand. As morning progressed, the winds got stronger. Temperatures actually dropped. Just as the event was winding down, Mother Nature let loose with a steady stream of rain! The timing couldn’t have been better. It was cool and windy when we needed it, but wasn’t it nice that the moisture came when it did? And it’s rained all day, it’s still raining as I write this Saturday evening. It’s all good. Some of these photos are scheduled for an upcoming issue of the Williamson County Sun
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Dove Hunting Season is Here
Shortly after moving back to Texas in 2009, I headed out on a bike ride into the countryside on an early September morning. One of the joys of living on the Blackland Prairie is all the open roads and fields. The scenery is fantastic. What caught me off guard, however, were gunshots being fired from those fields! My first thought was: these folks don’t like guys riding around in tight shorts! No worries though. Upon my return home, I found out it was the start of dove hunting season, an event which only lasts the month of September in these parts. While I’m no hunter, it’s a part of the culture here I respect. The hunters like the ones pictured in these photos taken Sunday afternoon for the Williamson County Sun were having a grand time participating in their sport. C.J. Tannehill, the young lady pictured, shares her love of hunting with her dad, Mike Tannehill, who along with her dog, Leon, was along for the day’s adventure. And Jesus Flores, longtime hunter carrying on a tradition begun by his now 100-year-old father.
A Grand Church Bazaar in Granger, Texas
Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, in Granger, Texas, had another huge church bazaar at their Parish Hall over the recent Labor Day weekend. The venerable church is celebrating its 125th year in this town of a bit over 1,400 people. The church bazaar, held for more years than anyone can recall, is a celebration of food. Members smoke brisket, fry chicken, season the green beans, boil 500 pounds of potatoes and stir huge quantities of coleslaw. The event is held on a Sunday, but members start smoking those tender briskets the night before around 9 p.m. Other members arrive early Sunday morning around 4:30. Once the feast is completed, the doors to the huge hall open at 11a.m. Attendees could sit down in air-conditioned comfort and enjoy their meals. For those on the go, a to-go line was set up outside. In all, about 1,500 meals were served. In addition to the food, folks could also play a few rounds of bingo and bid during a live auction. Those wanting more could end the day by coming to a dance, complete with a Czech band.
Water Colors
Last night, close to sunset, I headed to our little lake at Murphy Park. On recent walks, a particular bird that interested me there was my goal. Alas, the bird was nowhere in sight. However, during my brief minutes there, water lapping against the bank became an interesting subject in itself. As the sun went down, the skies around it changed colors every couple of minutes, creating a nice pattern among the water’s waves. Once the sun was below the horizon for the day, the color palette transformed itself into a black and white event. It’s good to find a subject for my camera. That bird is still on my radar though.
A Fascinating Sport
Through the years, I’ve covered a lot of the traditional sports. For the most part, they’ve all been enjoyable and, at times, fun. This weekend, however, as many friends headed to football fields, I found myself in a completely different world as I photographed the 3rd Annual Sterling Gloves Boxing Tournament, held in a gymnasium at Georgetown High School. The sport of boxing, perhaps more than some, builds discipline and focus in its participants. That discipline can be an asset as one grows into maturity. Sure, it has its negative aspects, but I really think its character-building points are a plus. I don’t know about other boxing tournaments, but I liked that every participant had to pass a physical exam before entering the ring. And if a boxer appeared to have a problem, a doctor was right there to help. Presented here are photos taken for an upcoming story in the Williamson County Sun.
Ahead of Dawn’s Early Light
A few weeks back, on an early-morning walk, a garage door opened before sunrise. A lady appeared, holding the flags of the United States and Texas, one in each hand. Reverently, she placed them in holders before going back inside. I thought it was a poignant few moments and made a pact with myself to try to photograph it if I could drag myself out of bed in time. As it turns out, Teresa Day has performed her task for 30 years without fanfare, most recently in Taylor, Texas, her home since last year. Unless it’s raining, she honors the flags 7 days a week. On Flag Day and July 4th, only the American flag flies. On Texas Independence Day (March 2), the flag of the Lone Star State billows by itself. It was quietly impressive, particularly since Day is going about her task with her foot in a cast, nursing a fracture. At the end of each day, the flags come down, at rest, awaiting a new dawn.
A Fun Production, But Don’t Bring the Kids!
Georgetown’s Palace Theatre is taking a walk on the wild side with their current offering, “The Full Monty.” This lively undertaking, directed by Mary Ellen Butler, takes place in present-day Buffalo, New York. It’s a tough play to photograph without giving a sense of its theme, but I tried my best to keep the images PG. The Palace is clearly indicates these performances are not for children, but from my time taking photos recently, I think it’s more the language than the lack of clothing that would be a cause for concern. Have fun if you go. It’s on the Springer Memorial Stage through September 21. These images were created for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.
A New School Year Begins
The start of a new school year usually creates a very long day for me, but it’s one I particularly enjoy. This one began even earlier in Georgetown, Texas, as Williamson County Sun writer Jonathan Adams and I shadowed the Georgetown Independent School District’s new superintendent, Dr. Fred Brent. He’s included in the last two photos from this post. The other photos are my usual fare, but I hope you enjoy them. One pretty cool thing happened at Mitchell Elementary School, where principal Rob Dyer, answering the call to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, allowed himself to have large tubs of ice water poured atop his head. He did this not once, but three times today, for three separate school pep rallies. He’s a pretty cool dude (is that a pun?). Anyway, teachers, parents and students, have a grand year.
Barbecue Time in Taylor
For a short time, folks in Taylor, Texas weren’t sure the town’s Taylor International BBQ Cook-Off would continue, but the Taylor Chamber of Commerce came to the rescue last year, providing area residents with a lot of competition and fun at this year’s 37th annual event, held at Murphy Park. 40 teams competed in categories that included beans, seafood, poultry, pork, wild game and beef. 4-year-old Chance Michna was there with his own miniature smoker, a gift from his grandmother. The little smoker was cast iron and looked like it would do the job, but Chance was just having a grand time. The judges had a good time, too, particularly the ones judging wild game. “Wild game” can be just about anything. The most interesting wild game this year appeared to be frog legs, which everyone seemed to enjoy, despite some interesting facial expressions! Taylor’s mascot is the duck. It was interesting to note a duck ensconced in a tree as she took care of her babies high above the action. Thankfully, she didn’t become an entry in the wild game category. In Taylor, of course, ducks are revered.
A Summer Makeover for St. James
While on my daily 5-mile stroll through Taylor this week, I noticed work crews toiling at their task, scraping weathered, peeling paint from the facade of St. James Episcopal Church, a beautiful, iconic structure built in 1893. When I shot these photos, the late-day sun cast a long shadow of the steeple across a steep roof as David Lopez continued his task. The church was formed in the 1870s, the current structure following its congregation. Miguel Zuzinga, who lives just up the street, is overseeing the work. The church has been in front of my cameras a few times before. I particularly like the peaceful courtyard and the statue of Saint Francis of Assisi. It’s a contemplative place. It’s hard to resist the way the light plays on its surface of any area of this building. One of these days, maybe I’ll visit the sanctuary and take a few photos there, including images of their 1914 organ. It’s nice to see history preserved.
A Sizzling Summer
Unless you’ve been living in a climate-controlled cave, you may notice our traditional Texas summer heat is coming on strong. For the last several days, temperatures have been teetering in the 100-degree range, not enough, of course, to deter a group of strong-willed ladies as they did their hour-long boot camp workout at San Gabriel Park recently. They get together 3- 5 days a week as part of Carole’s Funky Fitness Gym, based in Georgetown, Texas. Smartly, they took regular hydration breaks. And on Saturday, I trolled around the Georgetown square, finding a father-daughter duo relaxing in a spot of shade with their old-fashioned fans during Market Days on the square. Just down the street, at the Georgetown Art Center, welcome relief was readily available at their free splash pad. If I didn’t have cameras with me, I’d have joined in the fun! Stay hydrated, but don’t let the heat keep you indoors. There’s too much to see and do.
Shake, Rattle & Drum Roll!
Georgetown’s Palace Theatre has offered a treat with a beat to kids this summer with their “Shake, Rattle & Drum Roll rhythm workshops, geared for kids ages 7-15 and taught by Ed Francis, a longtime percussionist who teaches this lively art at his Round Rock studios. The workshops at the Palace, however, are free of charge for those who register in advance at the Palace’s website. More about Mr. Francis can be found here. The classes are held each Wednesday, from 6-8. I didn’t know what to expect before going, but found Mr. Francis to be a wonderful, engaging presence. The kids loved him, even 2-year-old Quinn Fulgham, pictured in the last photo. Quinn was too young for the lessons, but that didn’t stop him from taking in it all in from his seat as he watched his older siblings. At the end of the sessions, the kids will give a show on the Palace Theatre stage. That’s scheduled for August 27th.
The End of a Beautiful Day
There’s not much I can add to this small selection of photos taken at the conclusion of a very fine summer day in Central Texas. These photos were taken at areas in East Williamson County, where we live. They include fields of corn at the end of its cycle, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and of course, a windmill.
