Thanks to friend Ann States for suggesting this photo of The Last Drive In Picture Show marquis  might be more appropriate as a monotone.     She’s right.

While taking a leisurely drive through Texas today,  two places we stopped to admire were The Last Drive In Picture Show (Gatesville) and the Clifftex Theatre (Clifton).  The photos are basically snapshots since I don’t like shooting in the middle of the day, but since we couldn’t stay, I did what I could. Drive-Ins and theaters are close to my heart.  Until his disabilities from World War II made the work too hard, my father was a theater projectionist, mostly at drive-in theaters in Texarkana.   When I was  very young (3-5) daddy would take me to work with him some nights at the Joy Drive-In Theatre, on Highway 67 West.   The projection room was fascinating!   In my teens, I worked at Texarkana’s two-drive in theaters, the one mentioned, plus another on the Arkansas side of town.  Both were owned by the same person.    I did a bit of everything, taking tickets, working the concession, cleaning up the lot after shows, etc.    For entertainment, a few of us would take in a movie at Texarkana’s Paramount Theatre, a grand structure dating back to the 1920s.   Years ago, when it closed, Texarkana’s H. Ross Perot funded its restoration. Renamed the Perot Theatre, it  offers live theater and music in its new life.  I’m not sure if they still show movies.   Clifton’s Cliftex Theatre, which opened in 1916, is the state’s oldest movie theater. The Last Drive In Picture Show and Cliftex both show first-run movies.  Texarkana’s two drive-ins are long gone.  In Georgia, I think Atlanta’s Starlight Drive-In is still in business.  In Texas, there’s one in Ennis.   I wish there were more of them.   A few movie memories, friends.  Apologies for the lousy light.

Anywhere you go in the world there are landmarks, things or places that let you know where you are.  In Marietta, Georgia, for instance, most considered the Big Chicken a landmark.   Look that up if you’re interested.  This row of grain elevators I always associate with Coupland. Driving into or out of the community south of Taylor a long row of grain elevators is hard to miss.  Just recently, however, I got a closer look at them.  They’re actually in Travis County, but so very close to the Williamson County line. I like knowing they’re here to guide the way.   Just stuff, friends. 

Berry Springs Parks & Preserve hosted a stargazing event Thursday night, hosted by Friends of Berry Springs.   I almost passed on this one, thinking it would be too dang dark to focus the camera.   Thankfully, these very experienced amateur astronomers understood the need for enough light to navigate the controls on their telescopes.   Their little red lights were just the ticket!  I did, however, get on the bad side of a fellow when I turned on my phone’s flashlight to scribble down the name of a subject.   Lessoned learned: don’t bring bright white light to a stargazing event.   Friends of Berry Springs will hold another stargazing event at this Georgetown park on February 16th.

These little folks were spotted near the end of today’s walk.   They were tagging along with their mama when she slipped into the pond at Bull Branch Park.   When arriving at the ledge, however, they weren’t so sure.   Everyone finally made the jump.  Even the last little guy.

Cats. A few feline images from recent daily walks in Taylor.  No need to say more.

Sometimes a post is a place, but the light is what draws me to a subject.   I don’t need to discuss these photos too much.   They are what they are.   Included: a view of the San Gabriel River this evening, prairie grass highlighted by my car’s headlights (not planned) and a pond I photograph from time to time, channeling a little from Andrew Wyeth, one of my favorite artists.   Light observations.   Just that.

A few photos taken at Georgetown’s  commemoration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday this afternoon.  It began with a march from the town square, culminating in a service at Macedonia Baptist Church.   But note Cliff, one of the marchers.  During his walk, Cliff had a rather nasty fall.   Fellow walkers were there to help him along.   He made it to the church, where concerned participants made sure he was okay.   Among them was Georgetown’s police chief.   I’m reminded of a Beatles song, “With a Little Help from My Friends.”   It resonates.

The City of Round Rock held their 36th Annual Commemorative Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration on Saturday.    These are some scenes from the day.   More MLK-related photos coming later.

It’s been several years since I last posted something from the Milam County community of Sharp, Texas.   A while after returning to Texas I was looking over the Texas page in my road atlas when the name of the town got my attention.   Even better, it was only about 45 minutes from our home in Taylor.   With the exception of the tractor photo (taken in late-October) these were taken this week.   Founded in the early-1870s, it was named after Dr. William Franklin Sharp, an area physician. Its population has never been large.  I think it’s under a 100 today.  It included a post office from 1900 to 1906.   The first burial in Sharp Cemetery was in 1880.  By the start of the 21st Century over 400 people were interred there.  Sharp General Store was built in 1895 and 1896 by Civil War Veteran Daniel G. Davis, Sr.   It was a center of commerce until closing in 1985.  People would gather on the front porch to visit and enjoy water from a huge barrel.  Sharp School, closed for decades, was built in 1939.  It had 12 classrooms, an auditorium and offices.  It looks pretty spooky today.  The Sharp Presbyterian Church building was completed in 1902, but the congregation dates to the early-1870s.   Members still gather for services, but not in this historic structure.  I like the light shining through one of the church windows at sunset. As far as I can surmise, my branch of the Sharp family has no connection to the town, but I find it interesting.   Probably more than you want to know about Sharp, but there it is!