Most of my driving in recent days was focused on spending time with my son,  Austin, daughter-in-law,  Lisa  and two grandsons, Cameron, 9, and Hudson, 5.   They live north of Atlanta, over 900 miles from us.   Instead of flying, I decided to make the drive, renting a low-mileage rental car for the trip.   My wife stayed home to take care of things here.   This was the week before school for Cam and Huddy.   As most know, my  style is photojournalistic, as it has always been.   That’s what you see here, just slices of life:  Cam’s football practice, getting haircuts, the boys taking photos with my cameras (something I seldom allow), playing in a splash pad, going to parks,  visiting their school’s open house, plus a quick drive to the North Georgia mountains.   I purposely didn’t mention this trip to Georgia friends, wanting my time focused totally on family.   Austin was able to work from home, plus took some time off.   Lisa is settling into a new job.   We didn’t get to see her as much as we’d have liked, but the visit was good.   Way too short.     I’ve got to figure out a way to get over there more often.    With kids and jobs, it’s virtually impossible for them to come our way for a while.    We’ll make it happen though.  

Some photos taken during the conclusion of my long drive back home tonight.  These are along U.S. Highway 79, Robertson County, Texas.   As I drove east last week, rain fell  from time to time.  Not here.  

Since I’m still in traveling mode, I’m taking the time to offer recent photos not posted.   These three are from a peaceful county road near Beyersville, Texas.  

A barn image I happen to like, one taken a few evenings ago near Jonah, Texas.

My week of wandering continues.   These were taken at Taylor’s rookery the evening before I left.   The four photos were taken with two different cameras, a few minutes apart.   They look different for a reason.  

Did I mention this is a travel week?   I’m on the road, traversing several states to visit family, but try to post something when time allows.    This one’s from a recent drive through Beyersville, Texas.   More as time allows.

Although on a long road trip,  I’ll post when time allows.   This morning light landscape was observed in the far reaches of East Milam County, Texas shortly after my drive began.   Going through a few states now, revisiting familiar places.

Ibis at Taylor’s rookery on Sunday evening, along with a Waxing Crescent moon.    I’m keeping it short and simple all week, on a long road trip.

These photos aren’t tied to news or weather, just some things I like.   All were taken last week in Georgetown, at the Sunken Garden in San Gabriel Park, also by the pond at Rivery Park.   Sometimes, I just like to focus on the details.   The hummingbird at the Sunken Garden  was an unexpected bonus.   As was the dragonfly at Rivery Park.   Honestly, I’d love some butterfly photos, but am seeing very few in our area.

Two things gobsmacked me when returning to Texas in 2009.  One was the impressive spire at New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church.   The other, just down the road in Couplan,  was the Huntington Sculpture Garden, a collection  of massive granite and steel sculptures dominating a small piece of land in this community of less than 300 people.   The sculptures are the work of Jim Huntington, who for years has overseen the Huntington Sculpture Foundation.  He was born in 1941 in Elkhart, Indiana.  Through the years, he lived in Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco and New York City.   Growing tired of crowds, he found Coupland on the map, moving here in 1994.    A few years ago, I did a story on Jim and his masterful pieces, many weighing several tons.    These days, I often drive through Coupland, usually on the way to somewhere else.   This week, however, I stopped by a couple of times  for some fresh photos.   The way light falls on the work can  be astonishing.    On the second visit, I stopped to visit with Jim for a while.   He’s slowing down a little, as happens to us all as we age.   Working with the massive stone has put him into a lower working gear, but he still paints and draws, sometimes working on smaller pieces.   During our visit, I made some portraits of Jim.   His face is as expressive as his sculptures.    And he’s a reader.   In the last photo, he settles in for the evening, surrounded  by books, one a work by Rick Bass, a native Texan now living in Montana. At least I think he’s still there.   If you’re in the area, visit Coupland.  See the sculptures.   You won’t be disappointed.