Wednesday evening I attended a memorial ceremony in Georgetown, Texas for Rachel Cooke, who at 19 went missing on January 10, 2002 while on a run from her family home.   On this, the 16th anniversary of that tragic occurrence, about fifty friends and family gathered in front of a live oak tree planted in her memory several years ago on the Georgetown High School campus, where Rachel graduated in 2000.  Included were her mother, Janet Cooke, who still holds out hope that some resolution will finally come.   The investigation continues.  On hand were three members of the famed Texas Rangers, wearing their iconic hats.  The Rangers are actively involved in finding answers, as are other law enforcement officials, including the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Robert Chody, shown with Janet Cooke in the opening image.   A $100,000 reward is offered for anyone with information about Rachel.   These photos accompany a story in the Austin American-Statesman. 

Among the San Gabriel River places I like to visit from time-to-time is Dickerson’s River Bottom, close to Circleville and not far from feeding into Granger Lake.   It is one of those go-to places for those looking for white bass.  Fly fishermen, like the two friends posted tonight, love its peacefulness and beauty.   Although not a fly fisherman, I love it, too.   The only problem is the difficulty involved in getting to the river.   More than one time, I’ve had falls making my way along the rocky, root-laden trails.   Sometimes, however, at least once or twice a year, it’s worth it.   After all, it’s the San Gabriel River.  What could be nicer?   I see fly fishing, heck, maybe any fishing, to be like photography … a meditation, a therapy.

How about just one photo tonight?   I’m working on something a little labor-intensive right now, but thought it good to offer up something, right?   I can’t hear you.  Right?    In my part of East Williamson County, Texas this might be what passes for an evening traffic jam.   We don’t do much jamming here.   And that’s nice.  

Regarding my often-photogrpraphed windmills (there are many of them here), let’s go in close tonight.   I found this one, covered in rust, but still growing strong, to be be enthralling.  Elgin, Illinois, one must guess, is also farm country.   The others are of that wonderful river, the San Gabriel, that courses through this part of Central Texas, particularly East Williamson County.   I’m presenting it three ways, all from the same vantage point.   That last one, the detail?   It’s in color, but it sure comes close to black and white, does it not?  

These are from the eastern-most part of East Williamson County, Texas, taken Sunday morning as I rambled into new areas.   It was a cloudy morning, adding, of course, to the landscape.    Some are presented in both black and white and color, others, one way or another.   You decide what you like. … if any.

With little on my plate these days, the wandering, as gas money allows, is becoming more regular.  But that’s just fine, friends.   I love rambling into the countryside, and visiting some of the neat Texas towns close to home.   One of those is Thorndale, Texas, a community of between 1300 and 1400 in Milam County, a stone’s throw from East Williamson County.    It’s about 15 minutes from our Taylor home.   These were taken this evening, all around the quaint downtown area.   Thorndale was founded in 1878.   It’s surrounded by farmland, as is to be expected in the middle of the Blackland Prairie.  The brick on the old buildings has wonderful character.   The vintage Cadillac in the last photo is a nod to Frank Armstrong, one of my professors at UT-Austin many years ago.  Frank has photographed this beat-up old ride a time or two himself.  

After a meeting this evening in Georgetown, I found myself near Blue Hole Lagoon.   It was a given that I’d take a stroll there … with camera and tripod.   The lagoon itself is beautiful, but so are the trees.   

These photos, from July 6, 1977, were taken during a regularly-scheduled cattle auction held every week of the year in Shreveport, Louisiana.   They were generally serious, but quiet affairs.   This speaks to what I preach today to young photographers about looking beyond big events.   All around us, in every community in the world, things are happening that tell residents about the goings-on their area.   Look beyond the expected.   These were taken back in my days at the Shreveport Journal, the best newspaper on the planet.

We warmed into the 50s today in Central Texas.  It seemed almost balmy after the last couple of days!  Still, we’re dipping into the mid-20s tonight, with a high in the upper 40s Thursday.    Oh, I know my friends from cooler climates are laughing, but really, when it’s cold, it’s cold, wherever you are.   Thankfully, we don’t have to use snow shovels too much.   Actually, never.   These are the result of wandering around the prairie on this pretty Wednesday evening.   It never grows old.

Monday evening I posted a little of the full moon at the Circleville, Texas home of Carol Fox, a friend, rancher, teacher and novelist.   Carol has been so very generous to allow my wanderings  on the land that has been in her family for a very long time.   The San Gabriel River makes a path through there.  That’s not the river in the opening photo, just a nice. bit of collected water in a valley.  The trees?  What can I say?  They are. resplendent, particularly the old Bur Oak that dominates much of this post.  If truth be known, it’s the tree I went there to document, the moon a sweet aside.  The Bur Oak photos start where it’s reflected in the truck, continuing to the end.    So here’s a few photos from last evening.  The dog riding in the truck across the land is Sadie, who shares her life with Carol’s brother.   One thing I know, friends.   On a piece of land like this, a truck makes perfect sense.  I was thankful to access to one for this outing.  My Honda would not have fared well!