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.

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.

Summer camps, it seems, are becoming more popular as the years go by.   With so many electronic distractions to keep kids indoors, it’s good to see parents allowing providing the chance to engage in activities that take them outside to breathe in a bit of fresh air.   For older kids, there are overnight camps, but the younger set aren’t left out.    Day camps are quite popular.   One such day camp I visited this week at San Gabriel Park in Georgetown was Camp Peniel, geared for boys and girls ages 6-10.   Camp Peniel, a Marble Falls-based group that’s been around since the 1940s, is based on Christian principles.  Their motto: “Adventure With a Purpose!”  The group also conducts a number of overnight camps.  On my visit, the kids engaged in canoeing, bubble blowing contests, archery, story times and Twister, to name a few.   Thankfully, the camp began early and concluded in the early-afternoon, avoiding the Texas summer heat.   These photos are among the selection I shot for the Williamson County Sun.

I walked into the garage this morning and found this sweet little lady (fellow?) atop my car.   She was a bit shy, but also somewhat curious as I grabbed a camera to record her visit.  In an ideal world, I’d have an iguana, but in the meantime, it’s nice to have these visitors for a while.  They’re prevalent in my area of Texas.  After a few minutes, this one hopped off and scurried away in search of bugs.

Joseph Jackson Gwatney died June 8 in Williamson County.  The remains of this  71-year-old United States Marine Corps veteran were left unclaimed by family members.  With nobody to claim the body, Tara Strain, a Senior Patient Representative at Seton Medical Center Williamson, where Gwatney died, got on the case, tracking down three of his friends and getting Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown involved.   Today, a memorial service was held to honor Gwatney at the funeral home.   For a man with no family, he got a good sendoff.   A Marine Corps Honor Guard was on hand, presenting his friends (opening photo) with an American flag.   The final photo shows Larry Eason, one of Gwatney’s friends, holding the urn with Gwatney’s ashes as he gets ready to leave after the service.   Eason, a long-haul truck driver, plans to take the urn with him to spread his friend’s remains all over the country.  These photos go with a Joyce May story in the Williamson County Sun.

I’ve been observing the birds at Taylor’s Murphy Park lake recently.   So far, I haven’t nailed down what I want there, but it’s never good to miss an opportunity to record photos of Taylor’s beloved ducks.   That’s even more fun when the golden light of late day or early morning helps us out.   The three photos here were from late-day.   The water was reflecting a pretty Texas-blue sky that made things come together.

Georgetown’s town square is a fine place to visit any day of the week, but during the summer months, Friday evenings are really special.   Each Friday evening  this summer, from 6:30-8:30, the courthouse lawn is filled with free musical entertainment, courtesy of the Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau.   It’s a great place to bring your blankets, chairs and take in the ambiance of one of the nicest, friendliest Main Streets  in North America.   Last night, my cameras and I were there to record the happenings.   Music was provided by Annie and Kate, two very talented sisters only in their mid-teens, but well worth a listen.   Among those having a good time were 88-year-old Fred Aiello (in the opening photo) as well as 14-month-old Leyton Bustos, having a flying blast with his daddy, Frank Bustos.   If you go, get there early to be sure you get a good spot.  Or, if you own a pickup, follow the lead of Georgetown residents Evan and Erin Vanderbilt and put the rear bed of that puppy to good use!   These photos were taken for the Williamson County Sun.

In Central Texas today, we have a bit of a cloud cover, making things a bit more tolerable.   Just two days ago temperatures were approaching triple digits.   That’s not unusual for Texas.  Heck, I expected it to come much sooner.   I went in search of weather-related photos, landing  first at Lake Georgetown, where three friends from Cedar Park were enjoying a dip in the cool waters there.   Teens all, their youth brought them up the side of the cliff again and again for more jumps.   Then I met Georgetown resident Jarred Lewis near the end of his one-and-a-half hour daily workout at San Gabriel Park.   Mr. Lewis a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served 8 years, doesn’t miss a day.  “I actually like this weather!” he explained as he poured a bottle of water atop his head to cool off.   If you’re out in the elements, be smart, stay hydrated, be cool.   These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.

My car required a new catalytic converter, but before taking the test again, the mechanic suggested we take a long drive to break that baby in.   So we wandered below Victoria the other day to check out Port Lavaca.   As coastal areas go, it was okay, but they had one of the worst Dairy Queens ever.   What’s one to do?   Well, I grabbed a camera and pointed it skyward to a couple of seagulls.   You can’t go wrong with these birds, even if they’re angling for a handout.