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.
Fishing with Grandpa tonight at Taylor’s Murphy Park. They didn’t catch a thing, but saw a few turtles before calling it a night. 
As most know, I don’t travel very far to find things. I was looking for a nearby field of large sunflowers, but that didn’t happen, at least not yet. So I chose to find some smaller ones instead. And study them a bit. These five photos were all taken last evening, just blocks from home. I set up my tripod, snapped on a 300mm lens, then went to work. Of the five images, the first two are the same flower, as are the second pair. The only thing changed was how they were lighted. No layering, no stacking, just basic dodging and burning, except via Photoshop. The last are a pair I liked before day turned over to night. Small explorations. 
Bartlett is one of the charming communities I occasionally enjoy photographing. Situated in both Bell and Williamson Counties, it’s about 20 miles north of where we live and 50 miles northeast of Austin. The latest population figures say it’s a little over 1700, but that might change when the latest census figures come out. Although settlers began moving into the area in the early-1850s, it was officially a town in 1881, when the Katy Railroad began surveying there. It’s named for John T. Bartlett, a resident who donated much of the land. If cars and trucks weren’t passing through, you’d think you were living in the late-1800s. These are a few scenes in and around the town taken a few evenings back. 
I’ve honestly lost count of how many times one of my cameras has been pointed at these barns, nestled on a hill in very far Northeast Travis County, Texas. One of those photos hangs on our living room wall. 
Travis County is home to the City of Austin, but it extends almost to Taylor. This scene is about 12 miles from our Taylor home, very much a part of the Blackland Prairie. I was just passing through tonight, but the clouds merited a quick stop.