We had a good dousing of much-needed rain this afternoon in Williamson County, Texas.   While a few photos were taken during that event, I’m just sharing what I saw this evening, after the rain moved through.   The church is Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, in Wuthrich Hill.   It’s been a subject since moving here in 2009.   It opens this post with a rainbow.   A couple more rainbow photographs are offered.  And cotton.   The last photo, taken before the rainbow appeared, shows Prince of Peace as seen from a distance.   I wanted to give you a sense of where we live.  That final photo tries to do that.

Much of my Saturday was spent photographing the action and features at the Texas Senior Pro Rodeo Association’s stop at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.   The group, founded in 1978,  visits several cities in Texas throughout the year.   You’re allowed to compete if you’re at least 40 years old, but quite a few participants are well beyond that.   You won’t find saddle bronc riding, bareback riding or bull riding here, but what these participants do is pretty doggone amazing.   For years I’ve reminded folks that rodeo is an athletic endeavor.  This group is proof of that.   Quite a few photographs are shared with this post.   These participants deserve to be recognized.   Age doesn’t have to be an impediment. Their next stop is in Gonzales on September 7th and 8th. 

Tonight’s sunset in Taylor, Texas.   This photograph is connected with something I’ve been photographing today.    Consider this  a tease.   A followup (hopefully)  near day’s end on Sunday.   Sunsets are nice.

Stormy weather usually presents a few added visual benefits.   That was surely so Friday night after stormy weather moved through East Williamson County.   Presented here are three outtakes from Friday’s post.   Included are cattle grazing under some turbulent skies, a view of the San Gabriel River from a favorite truss bridge, plus a cleared field of corn on a gentle hill close to home.   Good light is a gift. 

We had some intense skies tonight on the Blackland Prairie in East Williamson County, Texas.   We didn’t, however, get any rain.  Our neighbors to our west got a smattering.   The front did bring us slightly cooler weather.  We are grateful for that.

Taylor is home to many ducks.   Ducks have been our high school mascot for a long time.   I see them on every walk I take, but don’t always post them.   Let’s offer a few this time.   My camera of choice continues to be a small Olympus camera.   Recently, however, it freezes up when pressing the shutter.   I’ve engaged with a lot of friends about this on Facebook.   It could need a  new rechargeable battery (one is ordered), or it might have shutter issues.   If  it’s a shutter problem,  the Olympus will probably be retired until I find another small camera to carry on walks.   But I digress.   Welcome to duck town, friends.

Another photo from Wednesday evening.   This was a view east of the village of Coupland.   Normally, I’d zoom in a little closer to get a clearer view of the spire at St. Peter’s Church of Coupland.   This time, however, I was compelled to display those skies.  

Our summer haze in Central Texas creates challenging landscapes.   This is what I observed tonight as the sun began to go down over Noack’s Christ Lutheran Church.    Autumn might begin in September, but we’ll deal with summer heat through October.

In the past few days I’ve been fortunate to see ponds not covered in algae, that nasty sludge sitting atop many surfaces.   These cows in rural Travis County (but very close to Williamson County) had a grand source for their needs.   There’s a haziness to this photograph, but I think it’s just what we get during these intense summers in Central Texas.   Farmers will likely call this a tank, but regardless of its purpose, it’s a pond.

Last weekend I spent some hectic time watching Southwestern University freshmen move into their dorm rooms.   Crossing the beautiful campus to visit another dormitory, I passed Lois Perkins Chapel.  After the last dorm visit, I spent some quiet minutes inside the chapel.  Normally, I’m only there during Southwestern’s candlelight service in early-December.   While beautiful at night, you don’t get a feel for the vibrant windows, with daylight streaming in.  These were taken Saturday morning.   Opened in 1950, the chapel was named for alumnus Lois Perkins, who attended Southwestern from 1908-1911.  The doors are  open from 8a.m. – midnight every day during semesters.   I like that.   The pews get filled quite often, but walking in when it’s empty is magical.    Many of us crave quiet time.