The clouds have rolled in tonight, but last night the Blackland Prairie skies were vibrant and beautiful.   We have, of course, many beautiful bits of sky magic around here, but once again, let me say this:  I never get tired of seeing it. 

On a warm spring afternoon I wandered to downtown Taylor for their annual festival, Blackland Prairie Days.   There was music, food, beer and families having a grand time, even if it was a tad warm.  The Blackland Quilt Guild had their beautiful work on display, too.    A grandfather from Waco, about 60 miles north, rested on a bench with his two young charges.   I enjoyed listening to the music of Mel Peters, fiddler with the Celtaire String Band, from Hockley, Texas.   The SETTLERS, a living history group of reenactors from Montgomery, Texas, were there, too, doing a dance around their maypole.   The youngest settler, the tiny feet you see here, is only 3-weeks-old!  For whatever reason, I like seeing the fiddler, and the baby, in black and white.  Both are presented here.

This morning I visited the campus of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas to document their 2017 Spring Commencement.    The petite and beautiful university awarded diplomas to 357 graduates today.   Southwestern University’s roots date back to 1840, making it almost as old as the state of Texas.   The entire student body is small, but it’s a powerful force in Central Texas.   These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.

A few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing novelist/rancher Carol Fox at the family ranch in Circleville, Texas  that’s been in her family for many years.  The San Gabriel River flows through there.   Carol shares the land with her brother, John.  She lives in the home where she grew up.    These photos are not of Carol, or any of her cattle.  They are just the land … wonderful Blackland Prairie land.   These images don’t do justice to this slice of Texas, but I do what I can.

Last night’s post was wheat … tonight, let’s look at a bit of corn, shall we?  Corn is everywhere along the Blackland Prairie right now.  There’s an old farmhouse, abandoned since we moved to Taylor in 2009.   It’s still vacant, and still interesting, with lovely windows catching late-day light.  More therapy.

For reasons I won’t go into here, my mantra — photography is therapy — means more this week.   The spring wheat crop is coming to a  crescendo on the Blackland Prairie.   Tonight, just outside Taylor, evening light fell sweetly on a field.   That’s it.  Nothing more.

Things have been pretty stressful around my house the past few days.   Even thought photography is therapy, it’s been hard to get moving.  Tonight, however, I wandered up the road a little and came upon this barn, surrounded by a nice corn field.   Hopefully, I will get on track soon.

Even though my Saturday was sixteen straight hours of work, I traveled a few miles north on Sunday morning, where Granger’s SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church was celebrating its 125th anniversary.   With the blessings of Father Hilario Guajardo, I attended their Sunday morning celebration mass.  The Knights of Columbus took part as well.   Several hundred people filled the beautiful sanctuary.   Since Granger is only a bit over 1400 people, this is exceptional.   Presented here are a few images from a beautiful occasion, including a 15 -month-old peering through a window leading to the church’s choir loft. 

There are grain elevators all through the countryside here on the Blackland Prairie, but right here in Taylor, Texas we have Williamson County Grain, in the heart of of little town of a little over 15,000 folks.   I like watching the light fall on these architectural gems, as I did a couple of weeks back when these photos were taken on a warm spring evening.   These are nothing more than just watching light as it falls.

While spring is with us, bear with me while I continue to post a few seasonal blooms.   One of my go-to places for Central Texas beauty is Georgetown’s Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Gardens.   Cactus blooms are pretty special.   And while the agave plant can stand on its own, it compliments other flowers quite well.   Enjoy the flowers, friends.