Probably the most different rodeo I cover each year is the Clayman Rodeo, held at Windsong Farm in Georgetown, home to Jim Bob Clayman and his wife, Kelly.  Both Claymans are former rodeo stars, but for years, the couple has trained youngsters to excel in the sport, yes, but also to learn good equestrian skills whether or not they ever compete in the sport when they’re grown.    The culmination of Kelly and Jim Bob’s work each year is this rodeo, now in its 23rd year.   Most of this post is devoted to kids, not just in the arena, but outside the arena, too.   Two rodeo fans, shown in the opening photo, are 6-year-old Connor Savino and his brother Luke, 4, who travel with their family each year from El Campo, Texas just to take it all in.  Both boys have been riding horses back home for a while.   And there’s cousins, sitting atop a pickup truck to take it all in.   The cousin on the left, a soccer star, lives in Maryland, while her relative on the right is an Austinite,  one of Kelly’s students, but not on this night.  Tonight was devoted to truck top sitting and visiting. Then there’s the tight photo of a 9-year-old taking it all in as evening light takes over.  She and her family now live in Texas, but their home is in Idaho.  As to the “action,” most of  what you’ll see is barrel racing (both boys and girls), pole bending,  team roping and, just for fun, calf scrambles, where the kids try to grab ribbons off the tails of disagreeable calves.  As with any rodeo, what I try to capture  is the culture of the community, which is fascinating.

On this very busy weekend, I found time to make to San Gabriel Park in Georgetown for the blessing of the animals, conducted by Reverend Albert C. “Bertie” Pearson, the new rector at Grace Episcopal Church.  The blessing honors Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals.   I found Bertie to be delightful.   The animals, including a bearded dragon called Rex, seemed to think so as well.    Reverend Pearson splashed holy water on the largest contingent, but when a gent strode up with his cat, Max, he explained “We don’t use water with cats.”   I get that!    At any rate, here are a few photos from a wonderful tradition.   Even when I’m dog tired (intended pun), I wouldn’t miss this.

On a wandering this week, I found myself about 20 miles north of our Taylor home, in Bartlett, Texas, a little town of just about 2,700 people.   A recent assignment there reminded me of the brick cobblestone street gracing the city’s main thoroughfare, East Clark Street.   It seemed like a good candidate for one of my little evening town portraits.   Bartlett rests in two counties, Bell and Williamson.   The locals explained that the north side of the street pictured here is Bell County, but the south side is rooted in Williamson County.   At any rate, it’s an old town, dating to a time in the late 1800s, one I find intriguing for its old-fashioned countenance.  An interesting note on the photo:  I sat the camera on a tripod for a long exposure.  Since I was in the middle of the street, a very friendly young policeman drove by, suggesting I be careful.  He was a nice fellow.

Something I shot this evening, just west of Granger,  but didn’t feel the passion.  Now that I view it again, it feels better. 

Last weekend, my cameras and I visited Grace Heritage Center, just south of the Georgetown square, at the corner of 9th and Main Street.   A children’s event scheduled turned up no kids, but I like this old structure a lot so I stayed and visited for a while.  The Grace Heritage Center is also home base for  the Georgetown Heritage Society, whose mission is to preserve and protect historic Georgetown.  Grace Heritage Center began its life in 1881 as Grace Episcopal Church.  The original location was just a block south, at the corner of 10th and Main.   It was built for the whopping sum of $2,186, a lot of money in those days.  In 1955, the church was moved a few blocks east, to University Avenue, just across from Southwestern University.  It remained there until 1991, when replaced by a newer, larger church for its congregants.  Rather than let the venerable structure fall victim to demolition, however, the City of Georgetown assumed ownership, moving it to its present site.   Back to last weekend:  as I prepared to leave, a dapper gentleman, Norman Griffith, who turns 90 in November, stopped in to inquire about renting the sanctuary for an event.   Griffith is a retired Episcopal priest who attended Grace when it was still a church, back in the 80s.   He has fond memories here.  Much of the interior is original, including the pews, and the hardwood floors.  It is meticulously maintained.   In early-November, Grace with get an exterior makeover, expected to take about a month.   I’m happy to see it cared for, with grace, of course.

As night came to Williamson County, Texas this evening, the San Gabriel River was a peaceful place to learn some kayaking skills while a young girl’s dad did some late-day fishing.   This was about 20 minutes past sundown, when the light was a soothing blue.

I have an affection for Texas Longhorns.  By that, I mean the cows.  They are just grand boys and girls.     Elegant would not be too strong a word to describe these beauties.    Last night, I wandered out the door, doing one of my drive-about adventures, just seeing what there is to see on the Blackland Prairie.  Just over a mile from home, however, I saw some friends….Tulip, Crybaby and a big boy named Sancho, always a shy fellow.   He’s the fourth photo down.   The group was  joined by an unnamed calf, just growing into its horns.   Without a second thought, I backed up and pulled into the driveway of Taylor friends Deby and Mike Lannen.   Deby loves her longhorns, thus the names.   Apparently, our bovine friends preferred the back pasture.   I followed them to Deby and Mike’s house.  Deby greeted me and gave her blessing for photos, commenting on the nice skies in her “back yard.”   This will be a photo-heavy post, friends.   I adore these critters.  And Texas skies, too.

Here’s a few photos I took at last weekend’s 9th Annual Wine and Music Fest, sponsored by the Downtown Georgetown Association.   Some of the music was  provided by saxophonist Mike Hamilton.  Let me tell you, friends, if you haven’t heard this guy, you need to.   It was a good afternoon on the square, not diminished in the least by a strong, but quickly-moving band of rain showers.   It’s all good.

Sometimes, a face just gets your attention.   Bryan, who I met at the 67th Annual Taylor Rodeo last weekend, has one of those faces.    He may have had a beer or two, I’m not certain, but even without the aid of strong drink, he’d still have that visage.  Bryan was working in the livestock support area.  He was not competing, but he won my attention.   And his images cry out for black and white.  The last one of these three is reminiscent of a photo I took in 1973, on East 6th Street in Austin, Texas.  At some point, I’ll find that negative and post it.

This was something I’d planned to post earlier today, but hearing of the death of golf legend Arnold Palmer, at 87, caught me off guard.   Anyway, these are a few images taken at this year’s 67th Annual Taylor Rodeo, sponsored by the Taylor Rodeo Association.   Normally, this fine event is held in July, but a renovation of the Williamson County Expo Center, where the rodeo is held, put things off.   I’m happy to see they were able to carry on this year.   As with most times when I document rodeo, I concentrate on the culture of the sport, as opposed to the action that takes place in arenas.  Rodeo action, it must be said, is pretty neat though.   And so is mutton bustin, for the little folks and their sheep.   These photos include a little bit of the audience, some support personnel, the Lone Star Cow Girls drill team, from Magnolia, Texas.   And  a very friendly dog on the back lot.