Our area of the Blackland Prairie, East Williamson County, Texas, experienced some severe weather tonight.  In fact, it might not be finished, but with these photos, yours truly is.  As I got in the car to troll around for images, word of a tornado warning flashed onto the radio station and on my phone.   It did get intense for a while.  One image had the appearance of a tornado, but if it was, it gathered no strength.  These images take you through the intensity, ending with a little bit of lightning, concluding with a rainbow. Yours truly is no storm chaser, but they are fascinating. 

The day was spent taking photos of folks beating the heat in Georgetown, Texas, first at Blue Hole, including anglers.   The opening image, taken early-morning, is a fisherman enjoying the day in pristine surroundings.  He got here about 7a.m.  When checking back at 11 he was still at it.  Another angler, almost 6, was on her first-ever fishing expedition.   Blue Hole Lagoon is closely aligned with the South Fork of the San Gabriel River.  It’s really a pretty spot.   The waterfall there is divine.   One photo is presented in color and black-and-white.   I’m partial to the monotone version.  It simplifies and clarifies what I want to impart.  The last couple of photos were made this afternoon at San Jose Park in Georgetown, where there’s a very popular splash pad.  It’s the same child in both images.  I can’t decide which is preferable.   That’s it for now, friends.

Just a few images from Thursday night’s dress rehearsal of “Evita,” playing through July 7th at the Georgetown Palace in Georgetown, Texas.   My camera’s shutter was constantly clicking last night.  It was that good, friends.  The last photo was taken outside the theater, where a Waxing Crescent moon made an appropriate appearance. 

There’s those huge sunflowers you see occasionally, the ones planted by folks in their yards or fields.  While they are exceptional, I’m also partial to the smaller wildflowers that adorn many parts of our Blackland Prairie.   Some farmers I’ve talked to aren’t really fans of the wild ones, feeling they encroach on their planting areas.   The ones I’ve seen through the years, however, appear to nicely reside in areas near fields, but not in them.   As was the case with these photographed this week near Bartlett, Texas.   These smaller ones, like our bluebonnets, are weeds, but they add a nice dash of color to our rural landscape.

Even before  the rainbow made its grand appearance last evening in the Taylor area, the light, close to sunset, and after the rain, was especially sweet.   Perhaps there’s a tendency to post too many horses (and cows), but they’re part of our Blackland Prairie landscape, just like the earth and the sky.   For several months I’ve been trying to get a decent photo of these horses a little south of Taylor, but whenever passing this field they were obviously visiting friends.  Last night, however, they came home.  I didn’t get off too many frames because the road was fairly busy (imagine that, right?).  The first image is preferred, but the second is out there for a slightly different look.   We live in good light land here, friends.

The first part of tonight’s wandering was filled with a heavy dose of rain.   A few things were found to photograph.  When heading toward home, however, looking into my rearview mirror to enter Carlos B. Parker Boulevard in Taylor, a rainbow had formed.  Pulling onto the shoulder, I made a few frames.  The rainbow quickly began to fade.  On the off chance it might return, I drove by Immanuel Lutheran Church.  There was the rainbow, diminished, but there for scant minutes.   Before getting in the car the rainbow had been replaced by sweet warm evening skies.  That church is beautiful regardless of how it’s seen.

Every year it seems like the fields of corn grow more prominent.  There are other things growing, too, but the landscape here on the Blackland Prairie is dominated by corn.   Most of it, alas, isn’t geared for human consumption, but rather feed for livestock.   That’s important, too.  Our rich black soil is good for growing just about anything.

The Blackland Prairie is adorned with fields of corn and wheat.  While all of it is beautiful, I never grow tired of seeing prairie grass at the end of a day, when light filters through it.  Something uncomplicated for you tonight, friends, photographed just a couple of hours ago in East Williamson County, Texas.

It’s another post without a specific theme, friends.   Tonight’s offering includes horses (yes, there are two in the photo) sharing their shelter not far from the Milam County line.    And a fisherman at Granger Lake, enjoying the serenity of his surroundings.   Did he catch a fish?  Who knows?  It’s not really about the fishing, is it?

After 40-something years of documenting high school commencements in three states, they run the risk of becoming dry and mundane.   Richarte High School in Georgetown, Texas rises to the top every time I have the opportunity to document their graduations.   Richarte is the Georgetown school district’s alternative school, designed for students who might need a little extra help in wading through that difficult time for any kid.  Maybe they have credit deficiencies, or health issues, or they’re teen moms.   Richarte welcomes students who might otherwise not make it to the finish line that is graduation.   I was honored to spend  my Thursday evening at  Richarte’s 2019 commencement.   This year 64 students completed their course work.   Included  with. this post are a teen mom, getting ready for a school class photo, but taking special notice of her 2-year-old daughter.   That mom’s also pictured near the conclusion of this post, being congratulated by her boyfriend and their sleeping daughter.   I was particularly impressed with Kaitlyn, one of the graduates.   Born with Cerebal Palsy, she’s not let that hold her back.  On hand for her grand finale were members of her family, including older sister Raven, cheering her own from the audience.   2-year-old Faith was in the audience, too, there for her big sister’s graduation.  Faith, however, was enthralled by a video game on a family member’s phone.   After it was all over, Christopher, one of the graduates, celebrated outside with a bouquet of flowers presented to him by a friend.   These kids, or shall I say young adults, deserve a big kudos.   As does the Georgetown ISD school district for making Richarte available.