The trees around Taylor’s Murphy Park took quite a beating during our recent ice storm.   I wondered if our flock of migratory birds would have a place to bring new life to their families this year.   These birds, however, are resilient.   These are some photos taken this week as egrets stay busy collecting limbs and twigs to build their nests.  Humans would do well to embrace their work ethic.   I’ve photographed these birds since moving here in 2009.   They are graceful and beautiful, also a federally-protected species.

From the Texas Parks & Wildlife site: “Great egrets, great blue herons and other migratory birds are protected under federal law.  It’s illegal to shoot, tap, or harm them in any way.”

The dark photos are cormorants, year-round residents here.   There’s always a little dissonance when the egrets come to town, but they work things out.

The cormorant enjoyed gliding through the water on a recent morning at Taylor’s Murphy Park.   If you see a “daily walk” photo, assume it’s made with my nice little Olympus camera.

As some may know, I have a special appreciation for cemeteries. Recently, I visited St. Peter’s Church Cemetery in Coupland.  It’s always a family’s history, even a photo,  inscribed on a gravestone.   On this outing, I made my way through most of the site, also recording blooming wildflowers.   As I prepared to leave, a car pulled in.   An older lady got out, accompanied by two young folks, who looked to be in their mid-20s.   The lady set about straightening things.   Never one to barge in and snap photos in a private moment, I did stop by to say hello.   The lady and her grandson were delightful.  After a while I asked if it would be okay to take a few photos.    They graciously agreed.  The lady’s husband was buried here in the late-1990s.  With the help of her grandson, she keeps the family plot looking nice.  “I’ll be buried here,” she told me.   Meeting the lady and her devoted grandson was a good end to a day.  Every grandma deserves a grandson like this one.  Such a quiet few moments.    The post begins at the end of my cemetery visit.

This small collection is from a few nights back, taken at Taylor’s Bull Branch Park.   Just some water, plus some trees seen in the waves.   Simple stuff.

Anyone out there old enough to remember “Mary Poppins,” the 1964 movie starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke?    Among the most memorable songs was “Let’s Go Fly a Kite.”    That’s exactly what this Taylor family decided to do last evening.   Some traditions  are still with us.   

As soon as wildflower season arrives it’s a given I’ll stop by Georgetown’s Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery & Prayer Gardens.   These six photos were taken there Sunday evening.  The bluebonnets appear to be growing in number.   Other weeds will eventually overwhelm our state flower.   There’s no time like the present to enjoy them.   A friendly canine happened to stroll by for a look, too.   Since she was wearing a collar, I hope she made it safely home.

After a long day on the square in Georgetown I returned Saturday morning for the city’s Market Days.    Although a variety of things were photographed, this post focuses entirely on some of the animals I got to see.  One of the exhibitors, All Things Wild Rehabilitation, brought along several of the animals in their care.  This Georgetown-based group takes in animals with health issues with a goal of returning them to the wild.   If their problems are too severe, the good folks at All Things Wild take care of them for life.  There’s a raccoon named River, who has severe vision issues, but he loves a lady named Kim.  They’re well-bonded.  An opossum called Beetlejuice is completely blind.  He also has a friend in Kim.   There’s Daffy, an affectionate skunk feeling safe in the arms of James.    A newborn squirrel is fed milk via a syringe by Becky.   Sam is a screech owl who seems content to just stare at his surroundings.   The last photo is of a 5-year-old Ball Python called Nemo.   Nemo and his human weren’t part of the All Things Wild group, just here to enjoy the day.   Nemo, a gentle reptile, seemed to love the attention.

A followup to Friday night’s post from Williamson County’s 175th Birthday celebration held in Georgetown, Texas.   A little of this and that, but do take note of Round Rock Ballet Folkorico, an amazing dance troupe.

Although I spent most of the day photographing activities associated with the 175th Anniversary of Williamson County, Texas, tonight I’ll just  offer photos taken during the grand finale, held on the Georgetown square.  A laser light show adorned the east side of the Williamson County Courthouse, built in 1910, opened the next year.   The last photo is my friend David Valdez, a fellow photographer who was watching the light show from a nearby window.   He contributes much to this county, and to photography.

For years I’ve admired this baseball field in the community of Granger, a town of a little over 1500 nestled in the heart of the Blackland Prairie.   It’s been especially nice to see under the lights.   Tonight, while moseying through the area, those lights got my attention. Arriving, I found a Boys’ 12U baseball team conducting a practice under the stars.    This weekend we return to Daylight Savings Time in most of the country.  These photos, taken a little before 7p.m. tonight, won’t be possible next week.   Some embrace the  time change. Remember, however, it will be pretty dark early in the morning.   I wish our country would stick with one time or the other, all year long.   This back and forth stuff can’t be good for us.  Many know this, but I’m partial to the serenity of night light.