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.

Tonight’s full moon, known as the Sturgeon Moon (a fish), is seen as it rises near grain elevators in Coupland, Texas.  This was around 8:30p.m. Central Daylight Time.   An offering for (wait for it) World Photography Day.   As if we need a reason to take photos.

A small, but regal pond reflects the last of a day’s light in North Williamson County, Texas.   Many of our water sources are covered with algae during another sweltering summer season, but this one looks pristine.  I suppose it’s worth mentioning this is World Photography Day, but I try to practice this craft every day.   Photography, as mentioned many times before, is my therapy.   It’s helped pay a lot of bills for over five decades, but I’d do it anyway.  Nothing is more healing.

The moon tonight, as seen from a farm near Walburg, Texas.    The moon is still in its Waxing Gibbous phase, nearly full at 99.1% visibility.   At 1:25p.m. Monday it becomes “full,” dubbed a Sturgeon Moon.   It might appear larger on Monday, but this celestial body has been the same since the beginning of time.  This was taken with a lens owned for 46 years, perhaps longer.   It still works.

For the past two days I’ve been taking photos at Taylor’s 45th Annual Barbecue Cook-Off, held at Murphy Park.   It’s become a popular destination for those folks who want to demonstrate their culinary barbecue skills, attracting entrants from throughout Texas.   This post begins with a photograph that makes me smile, a 3-year-old enthralled as she munches on a rib.   The young lady was sitting next to her grandfather, one of the official judges.  Granddad sampled an entry, but shared a bit with the little lady.   She was in heaven!   Other photos are just moments I like, like the youngster cooling off by a huge fan.  It does get warm here.  Or a girl finding relief via a bright red snow cone.   A few good faces here, friends.

Some places yearn to be photographed.   Granger, Texas is always on my visual radar.   Just minutes north of our Taylor home, this picturesque community of around 1500 residents is adorned with character.   The surface of West Davilla Street is cobblestone brick, so very nice.    I try to hold off posting too many photos of this town, but the early-evening light was just too good to pass up this week.  No real explanations are needed, but the lion is the mascot for Granger High School.  

Seen during this morning’s stroll in Taylor.    It’s really little more than a grab shot, but was glad the cheap little Olympus working this time.   There have been numerous misfires lately.    A reminder, Monday is dubbed World Photography Day.   Every single day is photography day, but we do like to promote things, do we not?

Just as the sun began to come up this morning I was at Georgetown’s Cooper Elementary School to document the beginning of the school district’s year.   Sometimes it’s hard to keep up, but I think this was the 50th year to photograph the start of school, beginning in 1974.   The photos posted are mostly self-explanatory.   The opening photo (with those red doors) is a dad waiting to drop his fourth grader off at Cooper.  Also with them was big sister, 14, off for her freshman year at Georgetown High School.  In the last photo, a young fellow salutes during the Pledge of Allegiance.  The art on the wall behind him is a cougar, the school mascot.   I still don’t understand why districts start so early now.   We always started right after Labor Day.    My grandsons in Georgia started two weeks ago.   The faces and emotions make opening days a pleasure!