A friend posted that it was World Turtle Day.   I’d hoped for a turtle image, but the critters were nowhere to be found in Taylor.   I cast a wider net, looking west, to a park I like in Round Rock.   No turtles there, either, but I did happen onto a very focused Great Blue Heron, intent on finding a fish in a waterfall.   I watched her for about 45 minutes.   She never wavered, but didn’t find her fish.  I did, however, find a bed of angry red ants, not happy that I sat on their home.     The heron?  She might still be there right now.  This is just a little visual exploration.    The movement you see  is intended. 

In 2020, the Georgetown (TX) Independent School District held a parade for graduating seniors from their three area high schools, Georgetown High, Richarte High and East View High.  It was something new to try during a pandemic year, so popular that it returned again this year.   Rain was a potential threat, but it held off until right after the parade ended.  In the opening photo, the 5-year-old sister of a GHS senior didn’t care much for the loud fire engine taking part in the parade.  That’s her sister holding a photo of their brother.  Mom’s in back.  In the last photo, this senior brought along her dog to celebrate.   Each of the three schools will have traditional ceremonies next week, but I think this parade will become a tradition.   It’s a nice way to the students’ hard work.

Storm clouds formed over portions of East Williamson County this morning.   These fast-moving systems often come and go in record time.   This one did, but did usher in a little rain.   We’re expecting more as the day progresses.  These photos were taken about five minutes apart.   After the second image, the clouds became less menacing.  

It’s been about a year since I last visited with Benny and Martini at the ranch of my friend, Carol Fox.  Benny is the white horse.   They share some beautiful Blackland Prairie pastureland in the community of Circleville.  The light was good, but as Carol mentioned, I was also inspired by some very nice grape pie baked by our mutual friend, Liz Hobbs.   Good food can charge one’s batteries!

In the years since I started photographing the rookery at Taylor’s Murphy Park, there’s little doubt I’ve repeated myself a few hundred times, but it continues to hold my fascination.   These are a few images taken this month.    One lone bird, multi-colored, with a blue bill?  Who knows what she is?    She’s regal.

A photo made in spring 1983, 4-year-olds during afternoon nap time at a nursery school in Powder Springs, Georgia.   A slice of life feature for my newspaper, the Atlanta Journal & Constitution.

Two variations from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, in Wuthrich Hill.   The clouds have been impressive this week.   The first photo was taken Monday evening, the second one is from this evening.    Finally, I conclude this post with a ray of sunlight!   We haven’t seen an actual sunset here in a few days.  It was a nice surprise.

Posting too many photos at one time can be problematic.   With that in mind, a couple of leftovers from Tuesday night storms in our area.   There’s a little lesson here: take the obvious photo, but explore a little.  Turn around and see what’s behind you.   At Taylor Middle School right before heading home last evening.

We’re expecting stormy skies, maybe some flooding, throughout this week in Central Texas.   These are photos taken this evening as I rambled through areas around Granger and Taylor.  Fuzzie is a pet groomer south of Granger.  We like Fuzzie. The rainbow in Taylor was a gift.  

A farmer friend introduced me to this stretch of road about two years ago.   Since then, I enjoy a relaxing drive there.   It’s in far southeastern Williamson County, thus far left alone by mass development.   Being fairly close to Austin, I understand the concept of growth.   Please let it be smart growth.   Much of it is not.