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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.