Last Monday 19-year-old Georgetown cyclist Tommy Ketterhagen was struck and killed while on a ride not far from East View High School, where he graduated in 2015.  This morning at East View, a 25-mile Memorial Bike Ride was held in Tommy’s honor.   I’d thought there might be a few cyclists on hand, but what I forgot was just how supportive this Central Texas area can be.   550-600 cyclists showed up to pay tribute to Tommy, among them family and friends, but probably a lot of folks who never met him.   About a mile into the leisurely ride, the group stopped at the site where Tommy died.  One of Tommy’s teachers from East View High knelt at the site, joined by her children and other friends.    Back at the school, participants signed a ghost bike for Tommy.  The bike will soon be placed at the crash site.   Among those photos:  Tommy’s mom signing the bike, as well as his sister, and Tommy’s father getting a hug from a good friend.

Tonight I covered the grand opening of the 90,000 square-foot sanctuary at Celebration Church in Georgetown, Texas.  The service was followed by a fireworks show on this chilly Central Texas evening.   It’s unusual to photograph a fireworks show in January, but of course, we’re in Texas.   And what better way, if you’re a kid, to take in the show from the bed of a truck?

Breaking up the routine, I aimed myself to northern Williamson County, Texas this evening,, coming to a stop in Schwertner, a little community that dates back to the late 1870s.  The latest census figures show Schwertner with 175 residents.   At one point, it had as much as 500 folks.  Still, it retains its own post office.  One old structure, on F.M. 487, looked like an old grocery store, but a lady walking her dog said it was a bar.  I like it though.  Then there’s downtown Schwertner, on County Road 392.   The same lady, one of the Schwertner family, said the Schwertner State Bank building goes back to 1910.  Leatherman Drugs, next door, is long gone, too.   I’m happy to see the buildings are intact.  They have great character.   Angling south toward Taylor, I snapped a few photos of F.M. 1105, coming to a stop in downtown Walburg, where I photographed the always-busy Walburg Restaurant, which also includes a bier garten in back.   To say there’s a strong German culture in Central Texas might be an understatement.

Coupland, Texas  is a very tiny community just a few miles south of Taylor.   It may be small, but it’s got maximum charm, including the Coupland Inn and Dance Hall, Jim Huntington’s wonderfully-large sculptures and a vintage caboose and railroad depot.   But there’s also There’s also a beautiful, historic church,  St. Peter’s United Church of Christ.  These photos were taken earlier this week.  St. Peter’s had its origins in the early 1890s, when German and Swiss immigrants began to hold meetings in a school house.   In 1905 and early 1906 the current sanctuary was here.  The fellowship hall was added in 1925.   For many years, services were conducted in German.   It’s still an active church to this day.  A few months ago I posted some photos inside the church, but always enjoy making images here.

This is one I saw the other night between Taylor and Coupland.   Although I’ve seen these grain elevators before, seeing them from this angle, so well-stacked up, made it worth a stop.   One supposes the two at left are mom and pop.   It didn’t hurt that the skies were looking kind of nice, too.

Earlier this week, I pointed the car north, landing on the southern outskirts of Granger, Texas.  A rain-soaked field between plantings looked image-worthy.   A couple of clicks and I motored toward a railroad crossing.  My favorite scene from the night was a new (to me) barn.  When I first stopped, it looked nice, but then the light came on….it looked nicer.  Two photos included, one a bit looser, adding the “context” one of my college professors liked to talk about in the early-70s.   He’s still teaching, still mentioning context.   That’s a good thing.

One of the places I find soothing and redemptive in Georgetown  is a sweet little pond at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Garden.   Yes it’s a cemetery, a beautiful one, but it’s much more.   In the woods in and around the pond are all variety of plant life, maintained by members of the Williamson County Master Naturalists and Gardeners.  When a day’s been stressful, I visit the pond.   The colors shift in the photos comes from photos taken at different stages of a lovely evening.    Nearby you can hear occasional traffic from the toll road, but once you’re here, it’s all good. 

Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts of America in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia, would love today’s Girl Scouts.   And I believe she’s be proud of the spirit the girls and their families show each year as Girl Scout cookie time rolls around, too.   Last weekend was the first weekend of cookie sales.   On Saturday, I tagged along with two young ladies, a 14-year-old Girl Scout, and an 8-year-old Brownie, as they made their rounds in Georgetown, Texas.   Both girls were accompanied by their moms.   After the initial sales weekend, many troops will set up shop outside Walgreens and Wal Mart stores, even truck stops.   A few will still continue to canvass neighborhoods, too.   If you buy Thin Mints, remember to put them in the freezer!

Recently I posted foggy weather  photos, both  here and on Facebook.   Along with the images, I mentioned that if ever there was a subject that called for black and white treatment, fog was it.   Jim Lindsey, a gifted photographer and writer friend in Nova Scotia, questioned that assumption.   And you know, he may have a point.   These are some photos I took last weekend, early on a Saturday on a country road just outside Taylor, Texas.   Just for fun, I’m posted each image in both color and black and white.   The odd-looking photo where jeans are hanging on a barbed wire fence?   Maybe that needs to be color.   What do you think, folks?   The other two, I’m just not sure.  Either way may work.  

Southwestern University, the oldest university in Texas, had a football program until 1951.   In 2013, the Southwestern Pirates once again added football, as part of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.    Under the direction of head coach Joe Austin, they were undefeated in 2016.   On Saturday, the team, alums, football players, students and coaches celebrated their honor with the Pirate Bowl, held at Mel’s Lone Star Lanes in Georgetown.   For two hours, folks had fun.   For a $20 entry fee, you could bowl all you wanted.  Mel’s donated half of that to Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of Williamson County.   That group is overseen by Coach Austin’s wife, Marissa Holcomb Austin, who joined in Saturday’s fun with her husband and their 20-month-old daughter, Reagan.   Also in attendance was Cory Tchida, the City of Georgetown’s Assistant Police Chief, a board member for CASA.    The most fun I had here was watching Coach Austin and his daughter.   As I was about to leave, Reagan decided she wanted to latch onto a balling ball.  Mom picked out a 7-pounder.  Reagan picked that baby up without too much trouble, but when she went to place it back in the rack, it slipped to the floor.  Thankfully, no toes were bruised!