We’re still living with the effects of the pandemic.  Public gatherings are handled as we go.  This year’s Memorial Day observance at the Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza  in Sun City wasn’t publicized, but a low-key gathering was held.  Normally, this event would draw a thousand people.  I was surprised to see about 200 here this morning.    These are a few images taken there.    The little girl’s eyes bore right into the camera.   The post begins with her.   The final photo was taken after the observance concluded.  Both subjects met for the first time  this morning.  Both were born in 1929.  He’s a retired Air Force Master Sgt. whose 92nd birthday is Wednesday.  She’s the widow of a World War II Army veteran, recently moving  here from California.  Memorial Day is a somber occasion, but the uplifting feel of the that last one just seems to fit.  

While I could post some more storm photos from Central Texas tonight, let’s go with butterflies.  And one little bee to begin this offering.   Butterflies don’t stay with us long.  Depending on their size, and where they live, their average life span is about one month.  Some live only a week.  Monarchs apparently can live nine months.    So tonight, let’s look at some butterflies photographed at Taylor’s butterfly garden, in Murphy Park.   I included the last photo just because I like it.  No butterflies, no bees, just flowers.

I’m not sure about other areas, but Memorial Day weekend around here is the unofficial start of summer.   These photos were taken today in Georgetown, including the splash pad at San Jose Park, also at Blue Hole Lagoon.   Friday night’s storms were a distant memory.  The young father with the reflective sunglasses is an active duty soldier based at Fort Hood.  The last photos are a grandfather enjoying Blue Hole with his 5-year-old granddaughter.

It’s still stormy outside tonight.  These were made along one of my favorite roads east of Weir, Texas.  An electrical storm par excellence, but a bit of peacefulness, too.

Last evening I was in Georgetown to cover the 2021 commencement ceremonies for Richarte High School.  The city’s public school system has three high schools, Georgetown High, East View High and Richarte.   Richarte is the district’s alternative school choice, by far the smallest. Its size gives  students a lot of often-needed individual attention.  Students sometimes attend Richarte for graduating ahead of schedule, but it’s also for students who might have special challenges.   A couple of the graduates had special stories.  Jasmine, the young lady with long curly blond hair pictured in two photos, gave a speech for Senior Reflections.   Jasmine has been in recovery for drug-related addiction, but is moving forward with life.  She shared with fellow graduates about losing her mother earlier this month to a drug overdose.   I wish her the best.   Note that I asked Jasmine if it was alright to share her story.  She welcomed it.   Many journalists wouldn’t even ask, but this one did.   Another inspiring graduate is 18-year-old Abrianna, the mom of 10-month-old Isaac.   She received her diploma, then spent time with her family, including her brother Matthew, 17, pictured at right with her and Isaac. Isaac is seriously teething.  Mom’s diploma was handy for that!   And there were fireworks to top things off.   The other two school commencements are tonight and Saturday at Birkelbach Field.   I hope they stay dry.  It looks stormy right now.

Some leftover avian scenes from two city parks here in Taylor, mostly herons, but one Great Egret, too.  Note that this isn’t a rookery post though.   It seems I watch these birds forage for fish, but seldom see them get one.   I like the light on these birds.   A good enough reason to drop them onto my site!

When I got rolling well before dawn this morning, the western sky was filled with clouds.  The roads were wet.  Any thoughts about getting a photo of the Super Moon/Flower Moon/Eclipse Moon were tossed out the door.  To the east, however, the skies were clearing, filled with rich color.   Why waste the morning just going home, right?   Truth be known, I’d rather have the clouds and rain here in farm country.   It’ll be dry enough very soon.  I’m not chasing the moon again tonight, friends. 

40 minutes after the projected moonrise tonight at New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church, I was ready to give up and go home.   At 8:30 it peeked through the clouds.   The abundance of rain the past week has mostly been a blessing, but when you’re waiting to see a full moon, it can be problematic.   The first two photos are from tonight, even a group of horseback riders I saw near here about 2 years ago.   The last photo was taken there last night.  Lots and lots of clouds.  

When July comes to our area, we’ll be wishing for rain, but we currently have gobs of the stuff.   This subtle image is from last evening as I passed through Rice’s Crossing, an unincorporated community six miles southwest of Taylor.  The area was settled in 1845, first called Blue Hill, but was renamed Rice’s Crossing in 1872 to honor James O. Rice, an early settler and Texas Ranger.   If your viewing screen is large enough, you might find the point of focus here.

Photographing wheat is always inspiring. It’s such a delicate and graceful plant.   These are photos taken on three different evenings in Taylor and Granger.   About three years ago, I joined a farmer in his combine as he was harvesting his wheat near Bartlett.   After a time, I suggested that better photos might be taken if I watched  harvest from the field.   “You sure you want to do that?  It gets pretty dusty out there.”   I assured him it would be fine.   Whoa Nellie!  “Dusty” doesn’t begin to describe it.   My sinuses and eyes were covered in wheat dust.  It took a week to get over that experience.  Since then, I’m very cautious, preferring to just watch it grow.  Anyway, some wheat field variations, friends.