While covering Chisholm Trail Days at the Williamson Museum on the Chisholm Trail on Saturday, I had the honor of spending time with Mr. Horace Williams, one of the Buffalo Soldiers from Company A 9th Cavalry, based at Camp Mabry in Austin.    Since returning to Texas. a few years ago, I’ve had occasion to meet and photograph Mr. Williams, but wanted to do a little more here.   While I could offer up photos of him teaching kids about life on the 1800s  frontier, these will work tonight.   Williams is a Vietnam veteran and recipient of the Purple Heart, something he always proudly wears on that scratchy wool uniform.   His face and eyes are magic.  Those hands have accomplished much through the years.   He’s a genuine treasure.

Before the rains descended on Central Texas Saturday, I had fun photographing the happenings during Chisholm Trail Days, held at the Williamson Museum on the Chisholm Trail in Round Rock.   It was a blast watching the youngsters learn about the art of roping.  The young fellow wielding the rope here is only 3, but he was doing a good job!   Waiting in the wings are siblings, ages 8 and 6.    Normally, I don’t post strictly-local events here, but this was a good moment that needs sharing.   The kerchiefs?  All cowboys know about keeping dust at bay.

Driving home to Taylor this afternoon after a couple of assignments, I found myself driving into some pretty serious rain.   When I got home, the precipitation was abundant enough to actually come into our house.   A few well-placed towels made things okay.  No worries.  En route home, here are some things I saw.   How do horses deal with the elements?   Sure, they’re livestock per se, but a part of me wants to herd them into the nearest shelter.   The others are just things I saw on this very moist afternoon.   All is well tonight in Taylor, Texas.

The area where we live is home to many Lutheran churches.    A few are regular subjects for my camera.   Among them are  Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Wuthrich Hill (East Williamson County) and New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church (Northeast Travis County).   The first photo, taken tonight, is from Prince of Peace.   The second image, made last evening, is at New Sweden.   While I don’t think that tree was planned with shadows in mind, but it’s nice to see.

Sometimes, when a theme seems to be in the works, I’ll hold onto a few images.   These photos are some recent examples, taken on two (or was it three?) nights.   Cows can be a bit nervous around us humans, but sometimes their curiosity outweighs any fear they might have.    Who can blame them?  Humans are kind of scary!   Anyway, here are a few images for your evening viewing.   The little critter in the opening photo was quite a hoot.  He/she was really giving the photographer what for!   Life on the prairie can be quite entertaining, friends.

Spring planting is progressing nicely here on the Blackland Prairie.  This vista includes two thriving fields and a fine old farmhouse I’ve photographed before, but never from this point of view.  It’s good to see these thriving fields.   And that old house, too.  

It’s a fact you don’t want to be on one of our picturesque country roads after a heavy dose of rain, but on dry evenings in Central Texas these paths are genuinely wonderful.   Last evening, while looking for something else along this road, I looked in the rearview mirror, where road dust had kicked up its heels and found its way into nearby fields.    There are reasons not to like dirt roads, but there are reasons to embrace them, too.  As our area continues to grow, I don’t see these surviving many more years.   As an aside, note some of our state flowers at lower right!

Even though I grew up in Texas, these little bodies of water, most meant for hydration of cattle, have been ponds, not tanks.   Calling them tanks just doesn’t feel right.   It’s too mechanical.  The offerings tonight are just simple little bodies of water on the prairie  …. little golden ponds.

I’m juggling a few things this evening, friends so will limit photos to this one that keeps growing on me.   As you may know, anything with evening’s blue light is an attraction.   Although the need to go further into the countryside to find things I like, this scene is a stone’s throw from our home in Taylor, Texas.  

There’s been much hoopla this week about Special Olympics.   I think it’s important.   Thankfully, the current administration backtracked by week’s end.   If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Google it.   This morning I was at Georgetown’s Wagner Middle School for the Georgetown Track Meet, a Special Olympics Texas event sponsored by the Georgetown Sertoma Club.   Included here are a few photos made for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.  Let’s let the images do the talking.  I’ll be quiet.   For now.