After once again driving far too much Sunday evening,  a drive under the viaduct in downtown Taylor  led past Taylor Cafe, a barbecue establishment opened in 1948 by Vencil Mares.  A few years after returning home from World War II, where he served as an Army medic, Mares opened his restaurant.   You might have even thought of it as a honky tonk, with a juke box, pool tables and overhead televisions.   The first three photos are from last evening.  Others were taken of Vencil on  Veterans Day, November 11th, 2019, as the city celebrated his96th  birthday.  He was  born on  November 10, 1923.  Mr. Mares died less than two weeks after these photos of him were made, , November 24th, 2019.  Since that time, the restaurant has remained vacant, but intact.   Local folks remember Louie Mueller BBQ, but there was Vencil, too..   It would be nice if the new owners would keep this space for its original purpose, but progress is what it is.   Vencil was always pleasant company.

More from the week’s walks in Taylor, equipped with a light Olympus OMD-E-M10 equipped with a Panasonic Lumix 45-150mm lens.  Nothing special here, but a couple of days of needed rain are included.  Plus a squirrel.

Some things photographed after the drive-through Easter  Egg event on Saturday.   A misty day, very pleasant and cool.

The area’s much-needed rain led to a number of Easter Egg hunts cancelled, but the folks at Taylor Parks & Recreation came up with a better idea, a drive-through Easter Egg distribution.   Families lined up in large numbers outside Memorial Stadium this morning to receive some of the 8,000 Easter Eggs handed out.  The kids were very excited!   And the Easter  Bunny wisely utilized his umbrella.   One mom, who lived very close, decided to walk to the pickup site with her kids.    Kudos to the folks in Taylor, Texas  for making the day a little brighter.  And thanks for the rain!

The first of this year’s free  First Friday Concerts  in Georgetown was this evening, featuring the music of Supernatural ATX, a Santana tribute band that does the music justice.   As usual, the focus is on the attendees.   The concert was hosted by the Georgetown Beard Club.

On Thursday evening, just north Bartlett, barely into Bell County, an abundant field of wheat was growing in a field near St. John Lutheran Church.  It merited a few minutes of time.   The wheat was mostly green, except when late-day light, and the right angle, gave it a warm appearance.   According to the church’s website, the its congregation, with beginnings in Germany,   goes   back to the 1870s.   The current church was dedicated in 1932.   Unfortunately, power lines mar the building’s front facade, but viewing it from the side has its positive points, too.  As most know, this photographer doesn’t remove unsightly power lines, just looks for a different angle.    When it takes hold, wheat might be the most beautiful crop out there.  A barn cat, meowing with gusto, was company during this session.   He was one chunky fellow, but isn’t offered in this post.   Seeing the wheat, and the church, was enough for this evening.

From a couple of  late-March evening visits to Taylor’s Murphy Park.   By now we’re usually seeing  a large number of egrets coming here to nest.  While they’re showing up, the numbers seem fewer so far.  But we have plenty of other birds to watch here, including cormorants, ducks, geese and various herons.   A Yellow-Crowned Night Heron is included here.   This park is close, a good place to just sit and watch.

If you follow these posts, you might know that for the past sixteen years, photographs from  Georgetown Palace Theatre  shows are posted on this site, plus Facebook and Instagram.   You haven’t seen photos for a while  because the 100-year-old theater in downtown Georgetown was  severely damaged  during a winter storm on January 25th.  A sump pump that runs underneath the structure gave way, flooding the seating area and other important things.    For now, the 291-seat space is a work site as contractors begin to put the grand space back on track.  The seats have been removed, the ones not  damaged remain covered onstage.  The gentleman in the opening photo is Ron Watson, the Palace’s Executive Artistic Director, a member of the Palace staff since the late-90s.  Restoration work is costly.  Insurance only covers a small portion of the $500,000 needed to make it whole again.  Work continues, with a goal of brining “Jesus Christ Superstar” to the Palace stage in late-May.   Fingers crossed this old photographer will be sitting in that space again soon.

A sunset scene tonight in Taylor.   A cloud cover didn’t make the full moon worthwhile, but this one’s okay.

While photographing Tuesday night’s moon, a look over the shoulder offered something more.   Just another sunset, friends.