Jared Friemel is an amazing young man. So is his mom, Charlotte. On Saturday, I covered the statewide Special Olympic Games, where Jared was competing in powerlifting. But the Friemel family wasn’t finished with the weekend. When Sunday rolled around Jared and Charlotte, and Jack McDonnell, Jared’s caregiver, were at the Georgetown Sheraton where Jared and Jack were runway models for the 10th annual Georgetown Bridal Show. Tonight’s images are from Jared’s day of fashion modeling. Included at the end of this post is a photo I made of Jared in late-May 2011, when Jared received his diploma from Georgetown High School. During the 2010 football season he was named Homecoming King. I wish I’d been there for that. Jared is a rock star. So is his mom.

How about I keep the words shorter tonight, okay? These are photos from the statewide Special Olympics games, taken Saturday in Georgetown, Texas. The focus was on powerlifting, with a little bit of bowling tossed into the mix, but really, it was about the compassion these athletes show for each other, and their families and friends. One young man I’ve photographed almost every year since returning to Texas in 2009 is Georgetown’s Jared Friemel, pictured in a few of these photos. Every one of these competitors, however, are inspiring and exceptional. These were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.

After a very busy Thursday evening, continuing into early Friday morning, on Friday evening I didn’t travel too far for photos. Taylor’s Murphy Park, only a mile from home, fit the bill nicely. Included: A man I’ve seen often since moving to Taylor in 2009, a bike his only mode of transport, or so it seems. A dad with his kids as they enjoy a ride on a pleasant night. And having fun on the swing set. Add to these images a few birds around and above the rookery. At this time of year, activity there is minimal, but you can always count on a few cormorants and egrets. Come Spring things will pick up. It’s still a nice park, whatever the season.

On a cool and drizzly night (note the last two photos) I made it over to Georgetown Thursday for the dress rehearsal of “Pump Boys and Dinettes,” the newest mainstage production at the Georgetown Palace. While all Springer Memorial Stage productions are musicals, this one’s particularly lively, a country music review directed by Lannie Hilboldt. Like all Palace offerings, these musicals book up fast. It plays weekends through February 24th. These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.

Although I didn’t grow up on a farm, many aspects of an agricultural life continue to intrigue my interest. Tangible examples of our country’s history can be found via the equipment used to till those fields. I’m thinking about tractors. Included here are some examples. The first eight photos are all John Deere Model B tractors, popular in the 1930s and early 40s for this Moline, Illinois-based company. Those eight are owned by a Bell County friend who plans to restore them once he retires. He’s a mechanic by trade so the task, while daunting, will come naturally for him. His are all John Deere models. The company was founded by John Deere in 1836, when he invented a plow that could till the hard midwest prairie soil with ease. The three images after those first eight were taken in Georgetown, at Miller’s Mechanical Mart, which recently closed after many years. Those accompanied a story in the Williamson County Sun. Among those three are two examples of Oliver tractors, a brand dating to 1853 as the Oliver Chilled Plow Works, founded by James Oliver. The Minnesota was part of a popular 20th Century company, Minnesota-Moline, based in Minneapolis. The last photo, a Farmall tractor engulfed in weedy growth, was made yesterday at the site of one of Bartlett’s now-closed cotton gins. Farmall was part of the International Harvester company. All this is probably too much information, but it’s an interesting subject to yours truly!

Only one image tonight, friends. I’m trying to slow the pace a little. But I did enjoy seeing this scene last evening on a county road east of Taylor, but not quite in Thrall. The evening sky was darkening, yet a bit of gold made its way into the picture. I thought it complemented the somewhat cool appearance of the barn and house. And the weather-worn windmill was okay, too.

I know what you’re thinking. You’ve seen this tree before, right? And not too long ago. But what the heck, it’s exceptional. Last evening, an errand took me to Bell County, Texas. There’s no way I was going to pass up an opportunity. Have a good evening, friends.

While I take quite a few photos considered to be pretty (thank you), one of my goals the past few years has been documenting bits of the Blackland Prairie’s history as it relates to East and North Williamson County, Texas, plus a smidgen of Travis County, Bell County and Milam County. Recently, friend Joyce White, a wonderful person in her mid-80s raised in the area, showed me something she found interesting. Surrounded by brush and trees in an area east of Walburg, Texas is what remains of a water cistern. At first glance it looked like a miniature grain elevator. Joyce explained what I was seeing. This raised water cistern resided next to a well. Also there, but no longer visible, was a windmill used to pump water from the well into the cistern. Collected water was then piped into a farmhouse in the field. The house is gone. As growth continues to take over our area these things are disappearing. In fact, the farm-to-market road where these photos were taken is being developed at a lightning pace. The evolution of an area continues. While I understand why, I don’t like it.

The Circleville ranch of Carol Fox and her brother, John is a place to relish. Every few months I ask Carol if it’s okay to pay another visit. Recently, she mentioned “seepage” in those beautiful fields. Recent wet weather has left some areas a bit difficult to navigate. With an extended forecast for rain, Friday looked like a good time to visit. I’m glad I did because we were thoroughly drenched on Saturday evening. Among the images you’ll find here are photos of the Burr Oak standing tall and strong, a little pond in a lower part of the ranch, and the San Gabriel River, which delicately courses its way through this Blackland Prairie paradise. Oh, and there are cattle, too. Of course there are.

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, every post doesn’t have to have a theme. The photos presented this evening are simply ones I like. The opening image, taken Thursday evening, was the result of one shutter click, one frame. Some of our country roads don’t lend themselves to long interludes. With this one, however, one worked okay. The light, sliding across the facade of that metal barn was just about as good as I could ask for. The second and third photos were both made today. While at an event, a musician was accompanied by his two canine helpers, one specific to PTSD (Post-traumatic stress syndrome), the other simply a therapy dog. They’re both males. On the left is Beau. At right is Nugget. While dad sang and played his guitar, Beau and Nugget got very comfortable on his guitar case. There are few dogs (or cats) I don’t like. We have a rescued pit bull, Star. She’s wonderful. It’s easy to see why they’d be good helpers. The final image was made this afternoon, as the storm clouds gathered. As this is written, the clouds let loose. It’s raining now. Things I like tonight, nothing more.