After a lot of driving last week, a visit to Taylor’s rookery in Murphy Park was just the right thing.     The rookery is just a mile from our house.   I take my cameras, a fold-out chair and just watch the aerial dances.   It never grows old.  These are from Tuesday evening.

From a Monday evening drive near Taylor.  A bunch of clouds, but no rain this time.  The corn crops look ready for harvest.   And a few curious longhorns.    Slowing down a little after the long drive.

In recent years, after a visit with family near Atlanta, Georgia, I veer north to the Atlanta I knew growing up in the 50s and 60s.   This one is Atlanta, Texas, where my father grew up.   For many decades its population hasn’t changed much, still a little over 5,000 residents, tucked away in the Piney Woods of Northeast Texas.  The school mascot is a rabbit, thus the window display shot.   The community was established in 1872, settlers arriving from the eastern U.S., notably from Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas.    Although we lived in Texarkana,  25 miles north, daddy always bought Oldsmobiles from Ed Hammock Motors in Atlanta.  Oldsmobiles are gone, and so is the dealership.   These are from a rainy Saturday evening just after my long drive from Georgia.    And a few daytime photos from Sunday morning, including a vintage house, where I think my father grew up. Someone is apparently restoring it now.     Beginning at age 11, daddy was a theater projectionist.  I wonder if he ever ran the machinery at the State Theatre?  It’s been closed for years.   It’s often tempting to move back to the Piney Woods.   Atlanta would be a top choice.

Early this morning I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Duncan as he offered his produce for sale in Atlanta, Texas.   In his mid-70s,  he continues to produce wonderful offerings.   A few hours later, as I embarked on final drive home, he was still there.   Going home with me this evening were squash, jalapeño peppers and banana peppers.  

Just after crossing the state line into Texas Saturday evening, this scene caught my  eye.   A  rainy evening and a pristine horse in Cass County, Texas.    Another post before continuing the drive.

A final batch of photographs taken during the visit to Georgia this week, all from Milton, Georgia.    As this is written, I’m winding down in Atlanta, Texas after a long day’s drive from the other Atlanta.  The duck photograph was made possible by my son.   “Dad,” he said, “come look at these ducks.”   Growing up around me, he has a keen sense of light.   He’s also quite a talented artist, but unlike dad, he can actually draw.    I just  observe light.

As most know I’m on the road this week, winding down on Friday night before leaving on another long road to west beginning Saturday morning.   Family photographs aren’t often posted, but you’ll see some tonight.   These are of my son, Austin, and grandsons Cameron, 12, and Hudson, 8.   One day this week we spent over two hours at Dave and Buster’s, one of the noisiest places anywhere, but the kids had fun.   Others are from the neighborhood pool, a good place to be in humid metro Atlanta.   And a final one from today, when we stopped off at a  city park in Milton.    Lisa, my daughter-in-law, was here, too, but managed to avoid. the camera’s gaze.   These road trips are hard, but needed.   Flying would be quicker if it weren’t so tedious.  

Vacation photos from Marietta, Georgia today.   For 29 years most of my time was spent in this area.   It was good to visit there this afternoon.   Five photographs are from the town square area, the last three, very close to the square, were taken at Marietta National Cemetery.   That cemetery is immaculate.  During a brief rain shower, my son and I sat in a dry area near a brightly-painted old piano.   A young man who joined us for a few minutes mentioned name of the piano’s owner, who recently passed on.   I was caught off guard to find out the piano belonged  a friend in my running group when we lived here.    His family donated the piano to the city.    It was sad to hear of his passing, but good to know some bit of him lives on in that piano.   Just vacation snippets.

My daughter-in-law  is growing a nice crop of home-grown tomatoes in her back yard.   The morning light merited a few photographs.   These are Big Beef Tomatoes.

Hattie, one of our granddogs, enjoys her chair by a window when the morning light shines.   Hattie is a GoldenDoodle, very sweet.