It’s a shame we’ve not found a way to document aromas, but every time I attend the Taylor International Barbecue CookOff I think about that.  This year’s event, its 44th, was held on Friday and Saturday in Murphy Park, drawing competitors from all over Central Texas.   These photos are from Friday evening and Saturday.  The heat was at times intense, but almost everyone found  ways to cool off and hydrate.  Judges seriously considered every entry.   The post concludes with kids, including friends sharing an umbrella, a young fellow giving his dog a ride through the park, plus a teething one-year-old was was just as happy chewing on some nice chunks of icy watermelon!

Imagine an International World Photography Day.    I’m seeing evidence of that all over social media.   Sure enough, a Google search pulled up a story about it.   In a sentence the piece says it’s “dedicated to the art of clicking pictures.”   There’s the “a” word again, always a presence.   I decided to go along with this year’s observance to post some plant photos taken in some nice morning light today.   Every single day is photography day.

The Georgetown Palace Theatre begins its 23-24  season tonight with “The Sound of Music,” playing through September 17th on the Springer Stage.   Most of the photos from last night’s dress rehearsal are on Facebook or Instagram, but let’s start with this one.  

Times change.   When growing up in the 50s and 60s, our first day of school was always just after Labor Day.   Somewhere along the way, districts veered from that course.   In 2023, first day of classes can be wide-ranging.   These photos were taken this morning  at Georgetown’s Mitchell Elementary School on that district’s opening day.   In Granger, classes began Wednesday.   Students began studies on Monday in the City of Austin.   They began a week ago in Taylor and Hutto.  I’ve no clue about private schools.   If memory serves, this was the 49th year I’ve snapped photos on these milestone days.  

Warm early-evening light adds texture to these scenes along a farm-to-market road near Walburg, Texas.  

After summer corn harvests are done, leftover stalks tend to travel.   In Taylor neighborhoods  we see them everywhere.   They float and fly, toted along by the Texas wind, mingling with decrepit leaves before moving on.   Remnants.  From a daily walk.

Photos taken this week around the rookery at Taylor’s Murphy Park.  The heat and absence of rain have taken a toll on the lake.   The water is shallow.  Our resident birds are able to walk across the water.  One little duckling, shown in the last photo, is still tiny enough to swim across.   Summers here can be a trial, not just on humans.

While another post was planned, I saw this near Granger this evening, a mostly dry and cracked creek bed, a water source for these cattle.   Today marked the 38th straight day with temperatures over 100 degrees, plus no significant rain.   It’s taking a toll on not only humans, but livestock and crops.    We need relief from this pain.  Friends who say they prefer summer, do you still feel that way? 

On a recent drive near Circleville, I noticed two grackles engaged in what looked to be a serious discussion.   When reaching for a camera, I assumed they’d be spooked and mosey on off.  But they kept right on doing their thing.   As far as they were concerned I wasn’t there.  The prairie grass was nice, too.   This continued for at least a couple minutes before one finally flew off.  Discussion over.    Grackles are birds disliked by many, but I love them.   If it were up to me they’d be the Texas state bird.    They’ve got spunk and aren’t afraid to show it.  

Although I’m up and around very early most days, getting outdoors to take photos is difficult, but sometimes it happens.   A call of nature at 4:30a.m. resulted in not being able to go back to sleep.   By 5:30 I just got up and read for a while.  After a while, grabbing my cameras, I left the house as quietly as possible.  The opening photo, a cornfield, was about 25 minutes ahead of sunrise.   Others present the sun in some fashion, including the Frameswitch Ski Club site.     With the awful heat we’re experiencing in Texas this summer, it was nice to meander around on some quiet country roads before, during and after sunrise.  Most of my work will continue to be late-day wanderings, but the morning’s quietude was pleasant. Gosh, I hope we get some relief soon.