Recent stories have focused on the impact of the coronavirus on remote areas where water is a precious resource, specifically Native American lands.   It made me think back to these photos from 1986, when Atlanta Journal & Constitution writer Ron Martz and I traveled to the Navajo and Hopi  reservations in Northern Arizona.  Although the story focused on the ongoing Navajo-Hopi land dispute, one couldn’t help but notice the remoteness of this vast area.   Most families were without running water, toting it in via 55-gallon drums.   The Navajo man in the opening photo was comfortable in his traditional hogan dwelling, but getting water there was a trial.   The same was true for other families shown here.  Today’s stories tell us water continues to be a vital issue here. With the increasing need for hand-washing and  other hygiene, I hope indigenous people aren’t swept out of sight again.    1986, when Atlanta Journal & Constitution  writer Ron Martz and I traveled to the Navajo reservation in Northern Arizona.   That story dealt with the ongoing Hopi/Navajo land dispute which had been going on for many decades.   What I noticed, however, was just how remote this area was.    Navajos were living in places where water had to be brought in via truck in 55-gallon barrels.   Some, like the man in the opening photo, lived far from anything, mostly comfortable in a traditional hogan, a structure made of wood and soil.   Current stories tell us water is still hard to come by when we’re in a time when  hand-washing is even more important.   I sincerely hope America’s indigenous population isn’t forgotten as we face the current pandemic.

Just a simple scene from the far reaches of East Williamson County, Texas tonight, friends.  I’ve passed this pond quite a few times over the years, but this time  it was worth a second look.    If you’re looking at this on a larger screen, you may notice the church in the far distance at upper left, Zion Lutheran Church, in the Sandoval community, very close to the Milam County line.

The wandering this evening wasn’t working out so well, but as I got ready to head on home to Taylor, I saw this peaceful scene, a rider and his horse called La Mora, riding into the sunset on a cool Georgetown, Texas night.

Each year that passes, I wait for the return of the egrets at the rookery in Taylor’s Murphy Park.   At times, the fear is they won’t come back.   And then they do.   A pandemic won’t impede the nesting cycle of these graceful birds.   They find a welcoming home here.   Among the egrets:  Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and the smaller cattle egrets.   I’m glad to see them all.   These photos were taken over a two-night period this past weekend.   Due to coronavirus concerns, city parks were closed, but I managed to find a nice sidewalk, not on park land, to observe their antics.  I hope to return a few more times this year. 

These three photos were on a recent evening after some pretty severe storms moved on through Central Texas.   They don’t need much explanation.   At least I hope not.   Just after the weather settled, I happened on a group of longhorns, huddled together near their fence line.   They remained like that for quite a while.  Do cows feel angst?   These did.   The other two photos are a nod to good light after the storms had passed.

This is just something I saw while running a quick errand this morning.   The scene is at Taylors First United Methodist Church.   Although we’ve not met, I believe this is their pastor,  taken a few minutes before an online Easter  sermon.   I thought it worth sharing. 

While on assignment in Georgetown a few days ago, I met Hoppy.   Actually, as Hoppy reminded me, we’d met during a community Thanksgiving in 2019.   When these photos were taken, he mentioned he was homeless.  He’d been so since moving to Texas from Memphis 14 years ago.   From our chat, he seemed okay with that. Hoppy was happy.   We talked about the various shelters in the Austin area.  Hoppy was not enamored with them.  Instead, he has a tent he calls home in Georgetown.  A few other homeless folks  live there,  too.  He says the Georgetown Police Department knows of the encampment and, for the most part, leaves them be.    Hoppy and I chatted for quite a while.   He’s quite literate, in tune with what’s going on in our world.   With the exception of one photo, these are offered in black-and-white.   The color version tells you about his wonderful blue eyes, soulful and sincere. Not unlike Paul Newman’s.    Don’t make the mistake of placing all homeless people into a category.  

The pandemic is affecting all aspects of life around the planet.    Most houses of worship are offering services online as we get attuned to the concept of social distancing.    At Easter, however, many would choose to be with others who believe as they do.   These are photos taken in Williamson County, Texas, including Walburg’s St. Peter Lutheran Church, Georgetown’s Wesley Chapel AME Church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, in New Corn Hill, Lawler Baptist Church, in Florence, Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, in Granger, Christ Lutheran Church,  in Noack,  and  First United Methodist Church,  in Georgetown.  The last photo was taken a few years ago in the Lois Perkins Chapel at Southwestern University.   I wasn’t able to visit the sanctuary this Easter season, but it’s breathtaking enough to repost again here.

We had a stormy day on the Blackland Prairie this afternoon.   A few neighbors, and even our HEB grocery, lost power for a while.  After it was all done, I decided to wander around to see the results.  While I had some other nice images, just before heading for home a very nice rainbow was given to us.   As is always the case, they don’t stay around long.   And when they do, I’m usually in the wrong place to take photos.   This time, however, things worked out.  These are along one county road a little southeast of Granger.   By the time I got to the barn, the the color had faded a bit, but it was still there.   Rainbows are a gift. 

Seen on my morning walk in Taylor, Texas, taken with my handy Samsung mobile phone.    Good messaging here, folks.