There aren’t too many places where one can watch a sunset  without interference.   These photographs are from Tuesday evening at Bartlett City Cemetery, just  south of downtown Bartlett, Texas.   The county road is lightly-traveled.   The first photo was made while stopping the car for  a quick grab shot.  It was apparent that the sun’s descent into the western sky would fall nicely around the gravesites and a wonderful tree.   The last two were made after the car was parked, allowing a nice visual end to this Blackland Prairie day.

Just a few cows tonight, friends.   Subjects pop up during these ramblings in the countryside.   Sometimes a theme emerges.   A bovine interlude.

A few grab shots from a milo (grain sorghum) harvest near sunset tonight in Coupland.  Not the best work, but worth a post on this hot summer night in Texas.

It took a while to remember, but water goes along on these daily walks.   If it weren’t so painful, the walks would begin at sunrise.   We do what we can.   This group were all taken in Taylor, Texas.  The little Green Herons were everywhere this week.   Two of them are posted here.   Along with a squirrel, of course.  One little white bird, perhaps a Snowy Egret, wasn’t moving a lot when the camera came close.   Hopefully, she’s okay.  This heat isn’t good for anyone.

Quite a few families gathered at the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office headquarters in Georgetown for Saturday’s 2nd Annual “Wilco Gives Back to School” event.  Students from 4 through high school age were given free backpacks, plus other school supplies to fill them up.   Every kid got a gift certificate for a free haircut.  The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association hosted the gathering.   Other contributors included Target, Sport Clips, Toyota of Cedar Park, Dale’s Essenhaus and CK & R Cabinets.  One mom was joined by Marshmallow, a very gentle Ball Python.   Sheriff Lindemann couldn’t resist a photo with them!   School begins August 19th in Georgetown.   In Georgia, where we lived for almost three decades, some schools are already in session.   Some of us remember when we started right after Labor Day.  

Sunflowers have been photographed  since May, but not posted.    We’re talking about the ones that grow wild in fields, not the larger ornamental ones.   None have been posted since farmers find their presence invasive.  While  the farmers are right, it doesn’t mean that sunflowers aren’t elegant.   Since it’s National Sunflower Day. a batch of ones taken over the last few months.

Purple Martins, thousands of them, have found a temporary home in Round Rock before moseying onto the South America, where they will spend the winter.   Each night, these hardy little birds fly above the Greenlawn Crossing Shopping Center before settiling in for the night.   Travis Audubon members are hosting free watch parties here tonight, followed by two more gatherings on August 7th and 8th, beginning at 8pm.  These birds are nifty, but the migratory birds at Taylor’s rookery are still the best for this photographer.  It’s still neat to watch these Purple Martins.

Another post from a recent weekend drive.   Offered here are photographs from the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin St. Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill, Texas, one of the Painted Churches  in Texas.   The church, opened in 1906, is  in Fayette County, just a few miles north of Schulenburg.   It’s one of the Painted Churches documented for Texas Highways magazine about a dozen years ago.  The sanctuary is remarkable.  

These were taken at Berry Springs Park & Preserve just before last week’s cowboy wedding there.   Each critter and flowering plant is identified with the Google search feature on most everyone’s phone, but a friend, a Master Naturalist, can identify almost every plant and small animal out there without having to do that.  Things aren’t identified here.  You’re welcome to guess.  This was mostly an excuse to use a 105mm Nikon Z lens that’s remarkably sharp.

Late-July sunsets, friends. Two are from Wednesday evening, the windmill from tonight.   All from East Williamson County, close to Granger.   Let’s leave it at that.