Just a few photos from a recent visit to Bartlett, Texas,  20-minutes  north of  our Taylor home.   I don’t know the town’s population now, but the last census had it around 1600.   It resides in both Williamson and Bell Counties, a little over 50 miles northeast of Austin.  It was another opportunity to try out my new tripod.  Slow shutter speeds, low ISO. 

090820 BARTLETT,

These are some leftover photos from a recent cloudy  evening when I was rambling a little east of Granger, Texas.  Clouds and stormy skies can sometimes give us  warm imagery.   I didn’t want to file this without sharing a little more from that outing.

As mentioned a few times, I don’t normally post specifically-local things here, or on social media, but some subjects, like children, are universal.   This morning, I spent a few hours at Market Days, held on the square in Georgetown, Texas.   Socially-distanced vendors encompassed the town center, doing their best to keep a positive focus in these hard times.   As I was  getting ready to leave, this delightful  2-year-old, enjoying a frozen treat on a warm late-summer day  got my attention.   While photos of kids might be considered “cute”, I like to see beyond that word.   Struggling publications, looking for important topics, would do well to listen to their readers.

This year’s Memorial Stair Climb, held at Georgetown’s Birkelbach Field, was scaled down because of the ongoing pandemic.  But September 11, 2001 was remembered by a few first responders in this Central Texas city.   The stadium opened before dawn.  There was no formal ceremony this time.   Unlike past climbs, participants were spaced well apart.   Each year the climb remembers the sacrifice made by New York firefighters and police officers as they climbed the stairs in the twin towers.  A number  didn’t make it out.   I thought about how the kids at an elementary school photographed yesterday probably don’t know about 9/11.   One who does, however, is 3-year-old Micah, who joined his firefighter dad during the walk.  When he grows up, says dad, Micah wants to be a firefighter, too.  

Online study began August 20th for students in the Georgetown (TX) Independent School District.   This morning,  staff, teachers and students entered the next phase with in-person classes.  I visited Williams Elementary School for their first day.   Williams, along with Wolf Ranch Elementary, is a brand-new school.   A number of families will continue with remote learning for a while.   It was nice to see children and families taking part.  The principal, adding to her many duties, was in front before sunrise, placing traffic cones.   The pandemic has changed how we do things.   I’ve been documenting the start of school since the early-1970s, but circumstances bring caution.   At Williams, everyone is required to wear a mask.  There are hand sanitizing stations everywhere.   In classrooms, children are more widely-spaced.    A dad dropping off his third grader lowered his mask just long enough to plant a kiss before his young lady headed for her class, the mask quickly put back in place.

 Parents aren’t allowed to come into the school for goodbyes.  One of the teachers acted as a greeter, opening her arms for “air hugs” as kids came inside.    I hope we get to return to normalcy someday, but completely understand the need for stepping lightly.

On the way into Austin at mid-afternoon today, the clouds forming around New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church were inspiring enough to merit a stop for a few minutes.  Then tonight, the skies continued to catch my attention, this time a little outside Granger.   Stormy skies in Texas are magical.

Granger Lake is beautiful.   I’d rather not like it since it was created by damming up the San Gabriel River.  When the lake was formed, a good  bit of prairie farmland was forever covered in water.  But anglers and boaters love it here.   It’s a very peaceful place to spend some time.

The sunset photo is near Granger, Texas.  That truck isn’t traveling on a road, but across a field.   The other is a red-tailed hawk, pictured tonight a little west of Bartlett.  This and that.

The six photos included here were taken Saturday evening after sunset (the first two) and ahead of dawn this morning at Taylor’s rookery, in Murphy Park.  Ten minutes after sunrise, I was gone.    A gift certificate made it possible for a new tripod, a much-needed thing.   These photos were a good opportunity to try it out.   I’m happy to say it is wonderful.   Although the rookery is here all year long, the nesting egrets that arrived last Spring will soon move on.  I am compelled to document it while I can.   It’s a restful place.

Just a few photos taken in the past couple of days in the area known as Wuthrich Hill.   The church, often photographed, is Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.