The Georgetown Animal Shelter is offering their Valentine’s Special through February 17 (Sunday).   Instead of the usual $75 adoption fees for pets,  this week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, it’s only $14 for adult dogs or cats, including spaying and neutering, microchipping and all the appropriate vaccinations.   In hopes of giving them some publicity, I stopped by Sunday afternoon and found volunteer Joan Shaffer hard at work with the cats and dogs (Joan’s the opening shot).   Joan also played fetch with Princess, a two-year-old Pit Bull.  Eight-year-old twin sisters Brianna and Jacqui Spencer got to romp around a play yard with Dusty, a lively two-year-old pooch.   I’m hoping mom and dad follow through and make Dusty a part of their home.   As of Sunday, the shelter housed 27 cats, 23 dogs and one bunny rabbit named Thumper.   These babies need good homes, folks.   Give the Pit Bulls a chance, too.   They get a horrible rap.   Visit their site at the link above for more information.

Throughout a long career in photojournalism, various terms have been used to describe the kind of photos I find so very fulfilling.   Some of the most common ones:   enterprise photos, standalone photos, feature photos and wild art.    The phrase  I’ve always used to describe them, however, are slices of life.   For the most part, that’s what they are, little tidbits that don’t necessarily have “news value.”     To my way of thinking, the bad news has always been out there to report.   Case in point:  local television news.   If some of my slices of life are considered fluff by the cynics, so be it.   I truly believe many people like to have something to make them happy.  These four photos, recent offerings to the Williamson County Sun, are what I’m talking about:  Ralph Culler enjoying a bike ride at Berry Springs Park & Preserve, Tom Walker on a fishing trip to Granger Lake, Barry Kennon paddle-boarding on the San Gabriel River and a lightning storm near Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.    Look for the good things out there.  Bad things will find us if we let them.

When the stresses of life get to be overwhelming, it’s good to have a special place to go.   For me, it’s usually someplace outdoors, away from the hustle and bustle.   A place I find restful and life-affirming is, of all things, a cemetery:  Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Gardens.  This beautiful twenty acres in the San Gabriel River Valley, is just east of Georgetown, a stone’s throw from Texas Toll Road 130.   Even though you can hear cars in the distance, it’s like they’re not there.   At least for me, that is.   There are, of course, final resting places (even an area set aside for children who have died), but also walking paths in the woods nearby, complete with a natural spring-fed pond that’s so restful.    When I’m here, I feel closer to the Creator.   The photos from this recent visit weren’t meant to be for publication, but some of them made their way to this weekend’s Williamson County Sun.   Find peace, wherever you are.

In case you haven’t noticed, Girl Scouts around the country (or their parents!) are making the rounds and taking orders for their delicious cookie treats.   I recently spent  a Saturday morning  with 10-year-old Alley Luna of Georgetown as she worked her neighborhood door-to-door with the help of her mom, Connie, and Emily, 20, her older sister, also a former Girl Scout herself.   Alley’s a member of Girl Scout Troop 455, based at St. Helen Catholic Church.   Alley had to deal with a number of folks who didn’t bother to come to the door, but it was still a good morning:  Alley sold 45 boxes in three hours!   These are some photos I shot for the Williamson County Sun.   Cookies are available through February 22 so don’t miss out.

The towns of Taylor and Georgetown both commemorated the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday.   Taylor, a town of 15,000 where I live, had a low-key event that included a 20-minute march.   The first two photos in this post are from Taylor.   Georgetown, half an hour to the west and about three times Taylor’s size, had a bit larger event that also began with a march and concluded at Macedonia Baptist Church.   I covered both celebrations for the Williamson County Sun.    After so many years covering MLK events in Atlanta, Dr. King’s hometown, these are very scaled down events, but no less important.

The Austin American-Statesman’s Claire Osborn had  a story in today’s edition about the 52 amazing, talented members of the Westwood High School Symphony Orchestra in Round Rock.   In October, the musicians competed against 29 other high school symphonies around the state and won the top prize.   They’ll be showing off their skills next month at the annual convention of the Texas Music Educators Association being held February 14 in San Antonio.   In high school, I was a band and orchestra kid (clarinet), but never this good.   This group is under the able direction of Susan Williams (opening photo).    Let’s hope we keep funding programs like this in our schools.  It’s important.

The fabulous Palace Theatre on the Georgetown Square is coming on strong at the start of a new year with “Dearly Beloved,”  a modern-day comedy  set in small-town Texas.   The families are getting ready for a wedding, but more than anything, it focuses on the stresses and relationships of the Futrelle sisters, Honey Raye, Twink and Frankie.    I’m not sure if these actors are native Texans, but they’ve sure got it right!    You can’t go wrong with this one, folks.   It’s directed by Mary Ellen Butler, the Palace’s  artistic director.    It plays weekends through February 3.   Don’t miss it if you get the chance to go.

48 hearty members from The Worship Place, an interdenominational church in Sun City, Texas toted buckets of water last Saturday morning during their “Walk for Water” fundraiser.   During Walk for Water, participants made a 1.4 mile round trip walk from the church to Sun City’s pond, where they gathered water in their buckets and returned to the church.  Among the walkers was 82-year-old Bill Harrah, carrying a bucket that belonged to his father, born in 1888.    The walk’s goal was to raise funds to  help dig a water well in a remote town in Nicaragua, where clean water is not easy to come by.   13 members from the church will join others from Living Water International next month to dig the well.   Dr. Kelly Barnett, Associate Pastor at The Worship Place, was happy to report the group raised over $10,000 for their efforts.   The photos accompany a  Williamson County Sun story by Joyce May.

Just after New Years Day last week, I headed to the Georgetown Recreation Center to photograph an intense hour-long cycling class led by instructor Laura Lucenti-Quiroz.   There, I watched about 15 very fit folks peddling working through their session.   The photos accompanied a Williamson County Sun story on staying in shape in 2013.   Nobody had to convince this hearty group!    Through the years, I’ve been a marathon runner and cyclist, but I’d have been hard-pressed to keep pace with this group.    Stay fit, friends.

The beautiful 26th District Courtoom of the historic Williamson County Courthouse was the New Years Day setting for the induction of elected officials, including Jana Duty (District Attorney), Dee Hobbs (County Attorney), Betsy Lambeth (425th District Judge), Valerie Covey (Williamson County Commissioner), Deborah M. Hunt (Tax Assessor), James R. Wilson (Sheriff) and Tom Maynard (State Board of Education).   The fellow saluting at the posting of the colors is Judge Dan Gattis, the day’s master of ceremonies.   I particularly liked the emotion of Betsy Lambeth,  embracing her father, Curtis Figer, and putting on the judge’s robe made by Betsy’s mom, Billie Figer.    It was also fun to watch 2-year-old Hunter Hobbs, oblivious to all the pomp and circumstance.