Late Thursday afternoon I drove to Georgetown in search of people photos, but found time with the avian world quite pleasant.   These are along the San Gabriel River, as viewed at Georgetown’s San Gabriel Park.  There I found ducks, geese and a few Great Egrets as they settled in for the evening.   Geese are reputed to have bad manners, but I like their attitude.   While at San Gabriel Park a few years ago, I remember a young man who befriended a goose.  The two were well-bonded.  The goose allowed him to pick her up for some cuddling time.   She knew when he came to the park and sought him out.  But I digress.   This is just about the gentle scenes observed last night at the river.  Quiet stuff. 

Recently a friend on Facebook reached out about using some of my photos to build a page about her church, Zion Lutheran Church in Sandoval, Texas.   In recent months, the beautiful structure resting in East Williamson County, but close to Milam County, has had some hard times. Recent storms have stripped part of the roof away.   Paint is peeling in several places.  They’ve been without a pastor since October.  She’s welcome to any of my past photos, but I drove out there this week to take a look for myself.  For the first time the unsightly water tower is included.   The water facility belongs to Milam County.   I wonder why it’s not there.  And why it’s so close to a church.   At any rate, a few photos, including one at sunset , taken from a distance.

Although I’m up quite early most days, getting outside for photos is difficult. This morning was different, a chance to absorb some of those early rays of light.  The subject matter doesn’t change, only how it’s presented.  The old hand shack is still standing.  Two versions are presented, one with a bird passing over.   The second one is a hundred yards north, where you can see the early crops starting to sprout.  The peeling barn is nearby.   The post concludes a few minutes later, a windmill and cistern.   Good light is a gift.

It was a cold and wet day on the Blackland Prairie.  Late in the afternoon the rain moved on, leaving behind a nice tapestry tonight near Thrall, Texas.

Two regal churches in Taylor have been neighbors for over a century.   Both are at 6th and Talbot Streets.  The sanctuary at First Presbyterian was built in 1912-13.   A few years ago, an apparent decline in membership closed its doors.  Rather than letting the beautiful structure waste away, it’s being recast as Talbot Commons.  A sign there says “Eat Stay Live.”   It’s a work in progress.  Across the street is United Christian Church, which began life as First Christian Church in 1891.   It’s still an active church.   In its early years there was a bell tower, now relegated to history, but the building still gets noticed.  One of these days I’ll figure out a way to include both structures in one photo, but only if it’s good!  These are from an evening’s wandering last night.  

During our weekend drive Saturday, we visited St. Olafs Kirke, near Cranfills Gap, Texas.  Known as The Rock Church, it was built by Norwegian immigrants in 1886.   It sits on a hill about three miles east of the Bosque County  town of Cranfills Gap.  I learned about the church via photographers followed on social media, who’ve posted beautiful night photos of the church.   Do a search to see some nice imagery.   Since this was a day trip, my photos give you different look, both outside and inside the church.   As the area grew, the congregation built a larger church in 1917 in the little town mentioned.  St. Olafs Kirke (Kirke means “church”)  is today used for special services, including ones at Easter and Christmas.  It has no electricity or running water, but has a huge woodburning stove and kerosene lamps.   The original church stays close to its roots.

Thanks to friend Ann States for suggesting this photo of The Last Drive In Picture Show marquis  might be more appropriate as a monotone.     She’s right.

While taking a leisurely drive through Texas today,  two places we stopped to admire were The Last Drive In Picture Show (Gatesville) and the Clifftex Theatre (Clifton).  The photos are basically snapshots since I don’t like shooting in the middle of the day, but since we couldn’t stay, I did what I could. Drive-Ins and theaters are close to my heart.  Until his disabilities from World War II made the work too hard, my father was a theater projectionist, mostly at drive-in theaters in Texarkana.   When I was  very young (3-5) daddy would take me to work with him some nights at the Joy Drive-In Theatre, on Highway 67 West.   The projection room was fascinating!   In my teens, I worked at Texarkana’s two-drive in theaters, the one mentioned, plus another on the Arkansas side of town.  Both were owned by the same person.    I did a bit of everything, taking tickets, working the concession, cleaning up the lot after shows, etc.    For entertainment, a few of us would take in a movie at Texarkana’s Paramount Theatre, a grand structure dating back to the 1920s.   Years ago, when it closed, Texarkana’s H. Ross Perot funded its restoration. Renamed the Perot Theatre, it  offers live theater and music in its new life.  I’m not sure if they still show movies.   Clifton’s Cliftex Theatre, which opened in 1916, is the state’s oldest movie theater. The Last Drive In Picture Show and Cliftex both show first-run movies.  Texarkana’s two drive-ins are long gone.  In Georgia, I think Atlanta’s Starlight Drive-In is still in business.  In Texas, there’s one in Ennis.   I wish there were more of them.   A few movie memories, friends.  Apologies for the lousy light.

Anywhere you go in the world there are landmarks, things or places that let you know where you are.  In Marietta, Georgia, for instance, most considered the Big Chicken a landmark.   Look that up if you’re interested.  This row of grain elevators I always associate with Coupland. Driving into or out of the community south of Taylor a long row of grain elevators is hard to miss.  Just recently, however, I got a closer look at them.  They’re actually in Travis County, but so very close to the Williamson County line. I like knowing they’re here to guide the way.   Just stuff, friends. 

Berry Springs Parks & Preserve hosted a stargazing event Thursday night, hosted by Friends of Berry Springs.   I almost passed on this one, thinking it would be too dang dark to focus the camera.   Thankfully, these very experienced amateur astronomers understood the need for enough light to navigate the controls on their telescopes.   Their little red lights were just the ticket!  I did, however, get on the bad side of a fellow when I turned on my phone’s flashlight to scribble down the name of a subject.   Lessoned learned: don’t bring bright white light to a stargazing event.   Friends of Berry Springs will hold another stargazing event at this Georgetown park on February 16th.