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.

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

.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.