The Bark Park in Georgetown, Texas is a really neat place.   I only stop by occasionally, but when I do, it’s a place of joy for our area doggies.    These are from this week.   Four photos are of Hermione, a 6-month-old English Bulldog, negotiating a drink of water.   The last image is a herd of happy canines as they get ready for home after an afternoon of romping.   Left to right are Ruekah, Murphy, Little Debbie and Dice.   Murphy is  Papillon/Chihuahua mix, weighing maybe a pound.  Dice, on the other hand, weighs in at 80 pounds.   They’re a well-adjusted and blended family.

In February 1988, the Madhousers were a group of Atlantans who took it upon themselves to find shelter for the area’s homeless.    The group, as I recall, were quite unofficial.   They would gather building materials and find out-of-the way wooded areas and quickly build little structures for those in need.  While they could only help a small percentage, it was a noble effort.   I don’t recall how or when their work ended, but am sure the effort was welcomed.   These photos were taken in February 1988 as the group went about their task.  The post begins and concludes with a man happy to have a place to stay.  

These four photos were taken east and just south of Granger, Texas.    This area, though close to encroaching development, still maintains its agricultural character.   I hope it stays that way for a while.   This Backland Prairie area  is wonderful as is.

A few photos taken this evening at Granger Lake, a few miles east of Granger, Texas.  Watching until the light faded away.   Rather than go on and on, I’ll leave the words here.

While it’s true that I ramble quite a bit around the Backland Prairie, my adopted town of Taylor, Texas occasionally deserves a nod.   When we left Atlanta,  Georgia in 2009, we wanted a place that didn’t look like a cookie cutter suburb.   Taylor was, and is, a good fit.  These are photos taken last night and tonight in this community of about 17,000 folks, 30 or so miles northeast of Austin.   Although suburban spread comes ever closer, it retains a small-town charm.   The post begins with native son Bill Pickett, the inventor of the rodeo sport called bulldogging, now known as steer wrestling.   Bill’s statue, as seen tonight, dons a mask.  Many of us are.   The other images are scenes around town, but conclude with our town’s beautiful sign welcoming folks here.  It was placed west of town a few months ago.   Passing it during daylight hours was okay, but after dark, it takes on a life of its own.   The circle in the center makes a good frame for a tiny sliver of moon, too.

This site is called Andy’s Ramblings.  And often that is precisely what I do.   Sometimes there is a plan, but just wandering around the area provides the much-needed visual therapy.  That’s how it works for me, anyway.   These photos are from last evening, from a few minutes before sunset until a few minutes after.  You might note a mix of old-style and new-style power lines.   The new style is overpowering, but that’s what happens when your little area grows too fast.  

The Boehm family farm in Norman’s Crossing, Texas is a place I thoroughly enjoy documenting, but it’s been a while.   Last night, I stopped by for a few minutes.   One of the challenging things for me is negotiating the spiral staircase up the the tallest of their grain elevators.  Note that I am extremely afraid of high places, but once up there, it’s a great place to look out over the Blackland Prairie.  The only time I ever post a photo of myself is when sitting up there, if for no other reason than to prove the feat!   One image is a closeup where the soil is prominent.  An Instagram friend wondered what was meant by “Blackland Prairie.”   Well, friends, the soil is very dark indeed.  And quite rich.   Development is making a rapid gallop across this land.   The need to document before it’s gone is important to me.   Thanks to Dr. Dana Boehm and her brother, Troy for allowing this access to their wonderful land.

While Georgetown’s  Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Gardens is a balm throughout the year, when Spring comes, it’s more soothing.  Lady Bird Johnson would’ve loved it.

For about two years I photographed this barn often.  It’s been several years since taking its photo, but one evening this week, it drew me in once more.  The light couldn’t have been better.   And Texas skies?  Impeccable.    Anyway, a revisit to a favorite barn in Jonah, Texas.

Whenever the opportunity comes up, I spend time admiring the San Gabriel River that courses through Central Texas.   Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.   I could think of no better tribute to the planet than here.    It was fun watching brothers enjoying a fishing trip with their family.   And observing a cormorant in its element was particularly nice.   Be kind to the planet, friends.