From tonight, a photograph taken as sunset nears in Taylor, Texas.   A prairie grass sunset.

Photographs taken during the annual backpack distribution of more than 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies during the Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial  Association’s event held this morning at Georgetown’s Carver Center for Families.   Families could get the packs via a drive-through, or go inside.  Helping out were football teams from East View and Georgetown High Schools.  The lady in the first photo was there three hours before the 10am start.  The lady in yellow is the President of the Georgetown Cultural Citizen  Memorial Association.  Schools are open soon in Central Texas.

Most know this by now, but many miles are driven just looking for quiet spaces, paths not encumbered by traffic headaches.   We have many of those in recent years.   This road is among them.  During this week’s wandering, a drive here led to cotton beginning to thrive.   Finding cotton crops is a bit more difficult to find.  Fewer farmers take a pass, but it’s out there.   The neat thing about this road was being able to stop, get out of the car and take photographs for several minutes, with not one vehicle coming along.   That is a priceless gift, not ignored.

The blistering hot sun bears down on a field of corn before its harvest.

The cameras find their way to Berry Springs Park & Preserve quite a lot.   The park’s resident donkeys, Lil Bob and Pedro, are favorite subjects, but not posted a lot for fear you get tired of seeing them.  Rest assured, they’re a big hit at this beautiful space just east of Georgetown.   This post is offered at the request of a friend, Susan Blackledge, the longtime park manager, now retired, who continues to be involved.   Susan reached out this week to request coverage of  the donkeys.  Lil Bob (the darker donkey) has an arthritic condition that costs a bit to treat.   Friends of Berry Springs, a nonprofit devoted to this park, is seeking donations to help.  Hopefully, the Williamson County Sun will help with this effort.

There aren’t too many places where one can watch a sunset  without interference.   These photographs are from Tuesday evening at Bartlett City Cemetery, just  south of downtown Bartlett, Texas.   The county road is lightly-traveled.   The first photo was made while stopping the car for  a quick grab shot.  It was apparent that the sun’s descent into the western sky would fall nicely around the gravesites and a wonderful tree.   The last two were made after the car was parked, allowing a nice visual end to this Blackland Prairie day.

Just a few cows tonight, friends.   Subjects pop up during these ramblings in the countryside.   Sometimes a theme emerges.   A bovine interlude.

A few grab shots from a milo (grain sorghum) harvest near sunset tonight in Coupland.  Not the best work, but worth a post on this hot summer night in Texas.

It took a while to remember, but water goes along on these daily walks.   If it weren’t so painful, the walks would begin at sunrise.   We do what we can.   This group were all taken in Taylor, Texas.  The little Green Herons were everywhere this week.   Two of them are posted here.   Along with a squirrel, of course.  One little white bird, perhaps a Snowy Egret, wasn’t moving a lot when the camera came close.   Hopefully, she’s okay.  This heat isn’t good for anyone.

Quite a few families gathered at the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office headquarters in Georgetown for Saturday’s 2nd Annual “Wilco Gives Back to School” event.  Students from 4 through high school age were given free backpacks, plus other school supplies to fill them up.   Every kid got a gift certificate for a free haircut.  The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association hosted the gathering.   Other contributors included Target, Sport Clips, Toyota of Cedar Park, Dale’s Essenhaus and CK & R Cabinets.  One mom was joined by Marshmallow, a very gentle Ball Python.   Sheriff Lindemann couldn’t resist a photo with them!   School begins August 19th in Georgetown.   In Georgia, where we lived for almost three decades, some schools are already in session.   Some of us remember when we started right after Labor Day.