Several good hours were spent today at The Williamson Museum’s 17th Annual Pioneer Days, held at the Old Settlers Association site in Round Rock.  It’s always a good event to document, but since this is National Preservation Month, it’s even better.    The Old Settlers Association site is adorned with historical structures, some of them moved here from other parts of Central Texas.   I love the 1800s-era structures at the site.   This post focuses on people, but opens with a very old tricycle resting inside a cabin.    The lady spinning sheep yarn with an 1890 spinning wheel was neat.  She kept referring to “her.”   When asking who “her” was, she explained that was Viktoria, the name she’s given to her wheel.    That’s neat.   As were members of the Buffalo Soldiers group, Company A, 9th Cavalry, based in Austin.   If you’re not familiar with Buffalo Soldiers, look them up.   There were opportunities to step inside many old cabins.  One from Gabriel Mills was built in the early-1850s, restored in 1975.   There were blacksmiths from the Balcones Forge group.   Kids learned how to shell corn and how to wash clothes using a washboard and lye soap.  And how to write their names using a feather pen in a one-room schoolhouse.   Covering Pioneer Days is always a cherished assignment.

It’s a bit stormy tonight in Central Texas.   These were taken earlier this evening as I wandered around a bit in East Williamson County.  Two are from Bartlett’s city cemetery.   The artificial palm tree graces a gravesite  of someone who passed last year.  The other one  has been there a long time.   The horses (there are two) were unconcerned with approaching weather.   As I was passing through downtown Granger a huge bolt of lightning filled the sky.  Alas, I was driving, but pulled over and watched the skies for twenty minutes before  realizing I’d not get another chance at a lightning photo.   We make do.

Maybe it’s not always wise to accept what we see in a weather forecast.    Storms were predicted beginning after 4p.m. today.   Perhaps the rain will come in a while, but for a few minutes this evening I was able to view an almost full Waxing Gibbous moon, at 99.7% visibility. This is above the rookery at Taylor’s Murphy Park.

Wednesday’s moonrise was early.   You could see it, but against a grayish sky, it didn’t translate so well.   As darkness set in, it just got cloudier.   For a few moments it was clear enough to see beyond a tree at Taylor’s Murphy Park, a speck of warmth against the blue night sky.  The tree dominates, of course.    Rain and storms are predicted this evening.   I don’t anticipate a sighting unless the forecast changes.    So just a lunar snippet for now.

Sunset nears over Christ Lutheran Church in Noack, Texas.   I’ll leave it at that, friends. 

Our storms from late-autumn and winter had an impact on many.   Zion Lutheran Church in Sandoval felt the effects, including portions of its roof seared off, with paint and wood impacted as well.  The first photo was taken in late-January, when Zion was in rough shape.   The other photos were taken late Monday.   I’m happy to report repairs and restoration is moving right along.   What follows is a bit of Sandoval area history.  The East Williamson County area was first  settled by Carl Streich in 1882.   First settlers included German, Austrian, Swiss and French immigrants.  Zion Lutheran Church was established in 1893 by 26 families.  For years services were conducted in German.   The original church was across the street, but a new church opened in 1932.   That is the one you see here, still an active congregation.    As is my style, the photos presented are simply impressions while observing light.  Restoration  work continues.

Just three photographs from downtown Granger taken this evening, beginning with a Waxing Gibbous moon, at 86.3% visibility, shining under an American flag.    Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, the structure built in 1916, dominates the scene in the second photo.   The post concludes with Granger City Hall, built in 1908-1909.  It’s still in use today.   May is designated as National Preservation Month.  The church and city hall fit right in.  

The Farmers State Bank began in 1912 in Georgetown.  The space  on the town square has been home to The Williamson Museum for a while.   While taking photos of this weekend’s Red Poppy Festival I would occasionally step inside the museum, a respite from the ongoing noise on the square.  This was taken early Saturday morning, light gracing the tiles that have been here for well over a century.   Museums embrace history.   As does the person offering this post.

The Pop Pupp Parade was among the events held today in Georgetown on the final day of their Red Poppy Festival.  Sponsored by Wag Heaven, a local pet supply store, it’s always fun.   Dogs chasing (and catching) discs, plus a costume contest.   Proceeds benefit the Georgetown Animal Shelter.    Dogs are nifty beings.

The Red Poppy Festival began on Friday evening as storms neared their end.   These photos were taken this morning, when the skies were clear, but temperatures were just over 50 degrees at the start, plus the wind gusts at times neared 40 miles per hour.  By the time my photo assignment was complete it was still windy, but the mercury climbed to the low-70s.   These are all from today, a bit of this and that, focusing on vendors, a parade and folks enjoying musical acts.   All activities aren’t included here, just a snippet of things.  The festival continues through Sunday afternoon on the Georgetown square.