It’s been a very busy day, burning the candle at both ends, but I did manage to find a few rural scenes on the Blackland Prairie tonight.  

A few years ago, my daughter-in-law asked if I would take a magnolia bloom photo for her.   Just down the street from us, a neighbor had three magnolia trees in her front yard.    After my daughter-in-law’s request, I asked the neighbor if it was okay to snap some photos.   She was happy to oblige!  Since then, I try to get over there each Spring for a new set of  photos.   Magnolia blooms are good subjects for visual exploration.   I could just snap a couple photos, but it’s intriguing to vary the work.   For someone just beginning to learn photography, a useful exercise is to take one subject, anything you like, and dig into it with your camera.   It’s a good way to expand your visual chops.    Anyway, some magnolia imagery for this year.

Clouds and Texas skies go well together.   Storm clouds hovered over East Williamson County this afternoon, creating an interesting pattern above some friends’ grain elevators.   And then there was a time near sunset over Granger Lake, a couple nights ago.     There’s really nothing more to add.

Corn imagery taken Sunday evening in around the area of Texas farm country we call the Blackland Prairie.  It’s starting to look pretty nice.   A few weeks ago, I asked a farmer if the February ice storm would negatively affect his corn crop.   On the contrary, it seemed to strengthen the soil, he replied.    The last photo shows two crops, corn and wheat, growing side-by-side on a gentle hill.   We had some interesting skies last night.  Then again, we always do. 

I’d actually stopped here to take a look at a field of wheat.   The wheat was thriving, but not very inspiring.   Near the field, however, were strands of prairie grass.   The evening light seemed to make them shine.    So just some grass imagery tonight, friends.  Tiny landscapes.

After a rocky 2020, Granger’s Lakefest returned this year.   A two-day event, it began with a street dance on Friday night, concluding Saturday with a parade and other other fun things in this Central Texas town of 1500.   That number could change, depending on the latest census figures, but it remains an iconic Texas town.   These are some scenes from Friday night and this morning.    The girls on the school bus were the final entry in today’s parade.  Members of Granger High’s varsity softball team, they were headed directly to a regional playoff game in Caldwell, Texas.   If any images need explanation, it might be the last one, a camera-shy two-year-old peering through her daddy’s taxidermy work.   I told her daddy we’d get a photo before the day was up.  We did.

Since ducks are revered in my town, I would be remiss if not posting the arrival of new babies every year.   It seems they’re late this time around.  Maybe that’s due in part to our horrendous winter storm in February?   It’s hard to say.   These photos were taken on two different evenings this week at Taylor’s Bull Branch Park.   The post begins with a very protective mama, giving me the stink eye!

At  Taylor’s Bull Branch Park last evening, I was on a mission to find something else, but the mission changed when I saw an adorable 4-year-old having a grand time at the creek, navigating the cypress trees in search of tiny treasures.   Joey was joined by his dad, plus his two-year-old sister.   Daddy made sure little sister didn’t venture too close to the water.   The 4-year-old, however, enjoyed the adventure, only getting a little muddy in the process.  It’s nice to see such a good daddy, giving his kids memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.    I’ll bet Joey slept well last night!    These slices of life define community photojournalism for me.  They’re important, too.  

If you’ve followed my posts for a few years, you might recall a Fathers Day story I did 3 years ago this month about Dennis Levitin’s relationship with his then 4-year-old son, Mikail.   Dennis, an artist and musician  from Denmark who lives in Taylor, was raising Mikail mostly on his own.  Since then, I occasionally see them at the park or around town.   A recent post Dennis mentioned that dad and son, now 38 and 7,  were getting into skateboarding.   Taylor’s new skatepark, Pierce Park, recently reopened after COVID restrictions were eased.   I joined them for a recent outing.  Mikail, who will be 8 in July, is really the expert.   Dad was a rollerblader in Copenhaven, but skateboarding’s new to him.   The last couple of photos are from the original story.  FYI, dad needs to get a helmet, too! 

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Evening descends along a farm to market road in Northeast Williamson County, Texas.   These photos were taken from the driveway of a friend who has lived along this road for decades.   During a recent visit, I learned about the coming expansion of this road, eventually an extension of Ronald Reagan Parkway, a wide and very busy highway that begins on the western side of Williamson County.    While my friend’s home appears to be safe, a good slice of her frontage will be taken.   Looming development continues to rear its head in farm and ranch country.