Here in Texas, we’ll be yearning for these fast-moving showers pretty soon.  Our summers, generally speaking, are not known for an abundance of rain.   This one’s from our back porch just a few minutes ago.  It’s already moseyed on. 

A planned assignment in Georgetown this morning didn’t work out as planned, but since I made the half-hour drive from Taylor, I felt compelled to make the trip worthwhile.   As I was driving out of San Gabriel Park, what you see here caught my eye.   Meet a young lady with a wonderful name.   Beautiful.   Yes, that’s this 3-year-old’s name.   Beautiful was spending the day with her grandpa.   She patiently observed grandpa as he traversed the hills and valleys of his smartphone.  Occasionally, Beautiful decided to just be a kid.   As they were leaving, she gave me the most incredible happy smile, pairing nicely with her shirt, “Born to Sparkle.”  Normally, images where subjects are looking into the camera are a bother, but not this time.  Beautiful was particularly happy because she and grandpa were off to buy a new toy.   It was a productive morning after all.

These ten photos are from my daily long walks, taking photos along the way with my inexpensive Motorola Moto smartphone.  Most who follow my nonsense are aware of this ongoing experiment.   When funds come my way, there’s a chance I might “upgrade” to good point-and-shoot camera.   The so-called telephoto function on phones, even the expensive ones, is lacking.  These were all taken in Taylor, a bit of this and that, including another of our free-range chickens, carefully strolling across a road.   That shiny/glassy object is a chunk of mirror in the dirt.  People might wonder, right?

One of my several recurring subjects for photos is St. James Episcopal Church, in the heart of old Taylor, at the corner of 7th and Davis Streets.    These photos were taken on different evenings.  The first three were shot last week.   The north facade of the church, when night comes virtually glows.   It’s a scene I’ve visited before, but a new picket fence adds new shadow possibilities.   The last two photos, however, were taken this week.  For reasons I can’t answer here, interior, and some exterior lights, were shining.   Naturally, I had to stop for a look.  At some point, I’ll post something from the sanctuary.   That statue in the courtyard is St. Francis of Assisi, but you probably knew that.   The church has been here since 1893.   

There’s a lady living between Granger and Bartlett, Mrs. Joyce White.   Lord, I don’t know where to start.   Joyce recently celebrated her 85th birthday.   We met in late-January, when I was covering a BBQ cook-off in Walburg.   The barbecue photos done, it was time to head home.  One of the organizers, however, said I might want to stay around and meet Mrs. White.   So I did.  Here’s the thing.   This sweet lady and her group, which I can’t mention, is a wonderful, positive story.   Although we’ve visited several times, she still balks at the publicity.  Her great-aunt, who helped raise 5-year-old Joyce after her mother died, made one thing clear:  you were not put on this Earth to serve yourself.   Joyce listened.    So I’m not mentioning any of that here.   But Mrs. White did study journalism at University of Texas in Austin, earning both bachelors and masters degrees. She taught high school for many years, in Houston for nine years, but mainly in Granger.  A lady at her church, First United Methodist in Bartlett, calls her Saint Joyce.    Last week, during a visit, I asked her if it would be okay to just take some portraits of her … no mention of a story.   She agreed.  These photos are the result of her kindness.  On the personal side, Mrs. White reminds me of my Great-aunt, Addine Bradley, who, for reasons I never knew, was called “Bip.”   She was my mom’s aunt.  Aunt Bip, a farm girl from northeast Texas, was special to me.  Growing up in Texarkana, I spent copious amounts of time in the “country,” the family farm 16 miles south, near Queen City.   She lived there with her two siblings, my great-aunt Sal, and their brother, Harry, my great-uncle.  None ever married.  Bip lived to 94, Uncle Harry passed at 97.   Bip and Harry were more like grandparents than aunt and uncle.   Bip’s countenance comes to mind when I’m around Mrs. White.   Even if she doesn’t allow a story, she needs to know a lot of us see her as special.   We need more like my Aunt Bip and Mrs. White.  I’m posting these in color, but on Facebook, I’m offering them in glorious black-and-white.  Joyce and I are both fans of that method of presentation.

Here’s some photos taken recently around the rookery at Taylor’s Murphy Park.   The level of springtime egret activity there is something to see.   The busiest times are early mornings and late-afternoon into early-evening.   The little egrets just beginning their life journeys are fuzzy and downright cute.   I don’t like “cute,” but in this instance, I guess it fits.

By the time my Saturday assignments were done, I was one tired fellow, but Granger’s Lakefest celebration was most definitely worth the effort.   Granger, a community of a little over 1400 in East Williamson County, Texas, has charm to spare.  The highlight of the day was their parade, along West Davilla Street, the town’s Main thoroughfare.   For your edification, here are a few photos from a busy, but productive day. That adorable dog, by the way?  His name is Granger.  These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.

Taylor, Texas is known for its ducks.   On this Mother’s Day, I visited Murphy Park tonight with the intention of watching the rookery, but babies and their mama took precedence.  

This horse is one I’ve grown to know a little better in recent weeks, a creature with elegance, but the swiftness of youth.   She (he) lives a little north of Granger, sharing a pasture with a darker beauty.   They live on a stretch of road where traffic takes a back door to serenity.   I do hope it remains so, for I do love the peaceful roads here on the prairie. 

Once again this week, I snapped a few photos with my inexpensive phone during those daily walks.   The biggest issue I have with them is their inability to zoom in on the activity.   That, if anything, may necessitate the move to a good point-and-shoot camera.   We’ll have to see.   These were all taken in Taylor.