Pet adoptions aren’t something I generally post, but will do so tonight.   A bit of background.   The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter merged with the Georgetown Animal Shelter this week.  The Georgetown shelter is now called the Red Poppy Adoptique, where only dogs are available for adoption.  The larger county shelter will house our feline friends.  This weekend, to commemorate the merger, a free adoption event was held.  My time was devoted to the Red Poppy Adoptique.  The theme was “meet your superheroes”   The shelter brought in actors dressed as Superman and Superwoman.   Initially I did not photograph the actors, thinking it would take away from the dogs looking for new homes.   Then Superman entered an enclosure and commenced to cuddle with a 2-month-old dog named Dottie.   Superman went off script, staying with Dottie for quite a while.  I suggested they made a good team.   Note the chihuahua.   They call her Holly, about 10-years-old.   Holly was rescued from recent Central Texas flooding in the Leander area.   She’s safe now, but misses her humans.   I’m glad Holly was found.  Maybe she’ll reunite with her humans.

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It’s been a hard few weeks in Central Texas.

Covering a rodeo can be taxing if you’re doing it in a photojournalistic sense.  Simply put, working journalists gather information on what they’re photographing.   At times I think it would be fun to just snap away without regard to who’s in the photos.  We gather information, not just snaps.   Thursday night the cameras were at the Williamson County Expo Center for the first evening of the 75th Annual Taylor Rodeo, coordinated by the Taylor Rodeo Association.   Most of these are self-explanatory, the evening concluding with a beautiful herd of horses galloping around the arena.   If you don’t live in our area, know that last one is of Irene Michna, a rodeo fan who would’ve been sitting at that bleacher seat last night if she hadn’t left us this week.   Hopefully, that photo will remain right there for the next two nights of rodeo.  Irene was a fine lady.

A simple sunset taken near Coupland, Texas last evening.    A very busy night is about to begin.   This will have to suffice, friends.

After a lot of driving last week, a visit to Taylor’s rookery in Murphy Park was just the right thing.     The rookery is just a mile from our house.   I take my cameras, a fold-out chair and just watch the aerial dances.   It never grows old.  These are from Tuesday evening.

From a Monday evening drive near Taylor.  A bunch of clouds, but no rain this time.  The corn crops look ready for harvest.   And a few curious longhorns.    Slowing down a little after the long drive.

In recent years, after a visit with family near Atlanta, Georgia, I veer north to the Atlanta I knew growing up in the 50s and 60s.   This one is Atlanta, Texas, where my father grew up.   For many decades its population hasn’t changed much, still a little over 5,000 residents, tucked away in the Piney Woods of Northeast Texas.  The school mascot is a rabbit, thus the window display shot.   The community was established in 1872, settlers arriving from the eastern U.S., notably from Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas.    Although we lived in Texarkana,  25 miles north, daddy always bought Oldsmobiles from Ed Hammock Motors in Atlanta.  Oldsmobiles are gone, and so is the dealership.   These are from a rainy Saturday evening just after my long drive from Georgia.    And a few daytime photos from Sunday morning, including a vintage house, where I think my father grew up. Someone is apparently restoring it now.     Beginning at age 11, daddy was a theater projectionist.  I wonder if he ever ran the machinery at the State Theatre?  It’s been closed for years.   It’s often tempting to move back to the Piney Woods.   Atlanta would be a top choice.

Early this morning I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Duncan as he offered his produce for sale in Atlanta, Texas.   In his mid-70s,  he continues to produce wonderful offerings.   A few hours later, as I embarked on final drive home, he was still there.   Going home with me this evening were squash, jalapeño peppers and banana peppers.  

Just after crossing the state line into Texas Saturday evening, this scene caught my  eye.   A  rainy evening and a pristine horse in Cass County, Texas.    Another post before continuing the drive.

A final batch of photographs taken during the visit to Georgia this week, all from Milton, Georgia.    As this is written, I’m winding down in Atlanta, Texas after a long day’s drive from the other Atlanta.  The duck photograph was made possible by my son.   “Dad,” he said, “come look at these ducks.”   Growing up around me, he has a keen sense of light.   He’s also quite a talented artist, but unlike dad, he can actually draw.    I just  observe light.

As most know I’m on the road this week, winding down on Friday night before leaving on another long road to west beginning Saturday morning.   Family photographs aren’t often posted, but you’ll see some tonight.   These are of my son, Austin, and grandsons Cameron, 12, and Hudson, 8.   One day this week we spent over two hours at Dave and Buster’s, one of the noisiest places anywhere, but the kids had fun.   Others are from the neighborhood pool, a good place to be in humid metro Atlanta.   And a final one from today, when we stopped off at a  city park in Milton.    Lisa, my daughter-in-law, was here, too, but managed to avoid. the camera’s gaze.   These road trips are hard, but needed.   Flying would be quicker if it weren’t so tedious.