Yogi tea is a favorite drink, but sometimes I grow weary of the quotes on the strings holding the tea bags.  The quote this morning, however, was a good one.   “Without the storms and rain, life would cease to be.”   We’ve got cloudy skies tonight on the Blackland Prairie.  Rain may soon come.  These photos are from the Wuthrich Hill area, including Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

Clouds gathered over the Saul family cemetery this evening.  I make occasional stops here, as I have done since 2010.  The road it’s on is transforming into what might someday soon be a suburban corridor.   I’ve worried it might become relegated to history.   Shortly after stopping, a lady stopped by.   At first, I thought she was a photographer, but no, she’s a member of this family.   She lives in another area of the state now, but stops by to check on the cemetery when she can.   She was concerned that the grass had grown a little high, but is confident the cemetery will remain intact.    It needs to be here.  

After a long night of rodeo  in Jarrell on Friday, with an early-morning turnaround to cover a Georgetown city cleanup event near San Gabriel Park, there was enough on my plate already.  I had taken some photos for the Austin American Statesman for a story advancing the Taylor Pride Festival being held Saturday in my little East Williamson County  town of about 20,000 folks.   Nearing seven decades on the planet, pacing myself is important.  Then I started to see social media posts from area churches, planning  to come for a peaceful demonstration at the festival site, only a couple miles from home.   So I put the rodeo photos on hold for a while.   The addition of a group opposing the Pride Festival was a good reason to attend.   If I were an activist, not a journalist, I might’ve attended anyway.   This was an opportunity to represent different points of view, with a camera.  For the two hours I was there, everyone was cordial and respectful, including drag queens cooling off together at Texas Beer Company, and a grandma spraying the feet of her her 3-month-old granddaughter while mom holds her sign.   Regardless of belief systems, Taylor mostly a welcoming and caring community.  

On a very warm and windy Texas evening, I once again had the opportunity to document a rodeo, traveling to Jarrell for the 77th Williamson County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo.   This was the event held for many years in Georgetown’s San Gabriel Park until that venerable arena was put  out to pasture by that city.   Rodeo is definitely a sport, but one where the culture means as much as the action in the arena.    So there’s some action here, but hopefully a bit of the mood.  I’m glad it’s back.

With a busy night ahead, I’m posting these few photos taken recently at Taylor’s Bull Branch Park.  The reeds encompassing  much of the park’s pond continue to hold my interest and fascination.    Light dances  across them at times.    Just something simple before wandering off for a busy night of work.

While on the way to continue a search for an elusive Bald Eagle outside Granger this week, a hand-written sign, Drive Thru Prayer, instead got my full attention.   Parking around the corner, I grabbed my cameras and set off to meet the folks waving.  There I met Jim Henry and his wife Evelyn, co-pastors of Granger Apostolic Worship Center.   While they hold regular services each Sunday morning, on Tuesday evenings they set up shop outside, offering friendly greetings to travelers along Texas 95.  Jim and Evelyn were low-key and friendly.  The scorching Texas heat didn’t seem to faze them a bit.  Nearing the end of their hour-long session, a lady named Wendy pulled in.   Jim and Evelyn visited with Wendy for a few minutes before offering a prayer.  Wendy and her family are moving to New Mexico to open a restaurant soon.  The prayer was welcoming.    This is one of the things about small-town culture that I find charming.    While I still haven’t spotted that eagle,  I did come away refreshed from my meeting with Evelyn and Jim.  They’ll be out of town next week, but will return the following Tuesday at 7p.m.    Even if you don’t stop, remember to wave.   Be Texas-friendly.

Only a couple of scenes taken this evening a little bit south of Granger, Texas.   The warm light gracing that cornfield was enough to prompt a brief stop.   The other photo, along the same road, shows a Waxing Gibbous moon, 95.7% visibility, glowing in the evening sky.  The photo was taken under a railroad bridge crossing over the highway.  I didn’t stay there long.  

Our weather forecasters were right.  Storms moved into Central Texas around 8p.m. tonight.   This post begins and ends with a field of horses.   The opening photo is a few minutes before the turbulence  came in.   And for a while it was intense.   In the end, the horses didn’t appear to be daunted by the dissonance.   For now, there’s a bit of rumble in the skies, but mostly quiet.   Tuesday’s temperatures aren’t supposed to get beyond the mid-80s.   Good.

Through the years, I’ve seen this day written two ways, with, and without, an apostrophe for the first word.   The Associated Press Stylebook says go with the apostrophe.   So there.   These are some photos made today for the Austin American-Statesman.   All were taken in Georgetown locations, including San Gabriel Park, Blue Hole Park and the Georgetown square. No, I don’t capitalize the “s” in square, but could be convinced otherwise.  Maybe.    Mostly fathers and sons, fathers and daughters, but the post ends with an older father and his grown-up son, taking a rest on the square.   It’s nice to see that, too.

The pandemic that’s affected all of us put a stop to the annual Juneteenth celebration last year, but not this year as the Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial Association held its 69th celebration this afternoon, Juneteenth now a national holiday.   Even though many are fully vaccinated, the group wisely chose to hold this year’s observance outdoors, adjacent to the Shotgun House Museum, managed by the City of Georgetown and the G.C.C.M.A.    Granted, it was mighty warm outside, but better to practice caution.   A few folks wisely brought umbrellas to stave off the heat.  And the grounds do have some nice shade trees.   Local gospel singer Chad Jackson gets passionate when he sings.   Chad was prepared, making good use of a towel while performing.   The pastor of Georgetown’s First Presbyterian Church was comfortable as he and his 5-year-old nestled together under a tree.  One attendee, near a beautiful mural of educator Mary Smith Bailey, brought along his 3-month-old puppy, Kaiju.  Near the program’s conclusion, City Council member Rachael Jonrowe, who recently announced she’s stepping down after ten years, was honored with a plaque for her service, bringing a few tears.   Ms.  Jonrowe has been a wonderful public servant.