Bartlett,  Texas, a community in Williamson and Bell Counties, is one of those places I enjoy visiting from time to time.   The photos offered tonight were taken on two recent trips.   “Trip” might be a stretch since it’s only a 20-minute drive from my home in Taylor.   The last time I heard, Bartlett’s population hovers around 1600, but it’s probably more now.  It still retains small-town Texas charm.   The young lady is riding her bike past  a prop for the NBC series “Revolution,” partially filmed here from 2012-2014.    The show is long gone, but the sign remains.  

While  East Williamson County, Texas will always be my favorite subject matter, the town square in Georgetown, Texas is about the most beautiful one I’ve seen.  These are photos made last week on two different occasions while covering something else.   The first three are evening images, the last one taken Saturday morning.   Nothing spectacular here, folks, just watching light and reflections.

The area east of Granger, Texas keeps calling me back.   I probably spend too much time wandering around the area, but there it is.   These were taken on a drive through there last evening.  

Another one of those therapy posts tonight, friends.  A few photos taken a couple nights ago at the rookery in Taylor’s  Murphy Park.  The opening image provides needed context.   Egrets are the dominant birds here for a few months.  Perhaps these  silhouettes enhance their aerial ballet.   I just know they’re inspiring to see.

A group of about 50 protesters gathered in Georgetown, Texas today, seeking answers regarding the March 28, 2019 death of Javier Ambler.   Attending was Ambler’s sister, Kim Ambler-Jones of Killeen, wearing a shirt with a photo of her and her brother.   In March 2019, Javier Ambler eluded pursuit for 22 minutes because of a traffic violation.  That pursuit  ended in Austin.  Two Williamson County Sheriff’s Office deputies were involved in the chase and apprehension.    While deputies restrained Ambler, he had breathing issues, plus  repeatedly mentioned a heart condition.   The deputies tasered him several times, resulting in his death.   The Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV have worked together on the story.   A Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs review of the deputies involved is still open.  

The first photograph is an expanse of cornfields that spreads out wonderfully across this place on the prairie.   With development gobbling up so much of our farmland, it’s good to see this each Spring.   I hope it remains, but time will tell.   The other is a cornfield with one of the windmills I like to photograph from time to time.   So far, the road where this windmill resides is one I can stop the car and make photos without interruption.   Cornfields are abundant where we live, but cotton crops are starting to thrive, too.  

Tonight I attended another Black Lives Matter demonstration on the square in Georgetown, Texas, organized by former Georgetown mayor Mary Ellen Kersch, mayor from 1999-2003.  She’s the lady in the yellow hat.  The  peaceful event attracted about a hundred people.  Among the issues on their plate was getting the 1916 monument to Confederate soldiers, on the south side of the courthouse.  As with the other recent protests, a police presence was nearby.   At the conclusion, Kersch asked Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Janell Roy about the need for state troopers.  That was briefly tense, but was over quickly.  As mentioned a few times, I’m still concerned about spreading  COVID-19 at these events, but except for a march around the square, attendees remained far enough apart, most wearing masks.

This was made during a Spring 1986 while covering an ongoing story about the Hopi-Navajo land dispute in Northern Arizona.  The elderly Navajo woman is standing in front of an American flag flying upside down, often displayed to indicate an emergency, or state of war.   On Throwback Thursday, I felt this 34-year-old image speaks well to the state of things in 2020.

Nothing too complicated tonight, friends, just a few images while observing  a blazing sun go down beyond a cornfield near Taylor, Texas.    As some of you know, I like to explore my subject matter.   It’s not always about one photograph.   Scenes evolve.

My community of Taylor held a candlelight vigil for George Floyd tonight at Heritage Square Park.  Complete silence was observed for the 8 minutes and 46 seconds was held under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Day.   Floyd was buried today in Houston, the town where he was raised. The vigil concluded with the singing of “Amazing Grace.”