While I found a few other things to photograph this evening, the community of Granger, Texas was where I stopped for a while, watching the sun dip into the horizon above the spire of Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church.   A few studies in light, with a heavenly focal point.  I’m not sure of the current population, but I think it’s around 1500 now.   The next census may tell us more, but it’s still a tiny community in the heart of Central Texas.

We had storms roll through our town tonight.   It’s very late.  I’m tired.  Here are some photos.

As many of you know, for years I disparaged the use of cell phones for photography, but sometimes they’re handy.   It was maybe two years ago, when I’d see things on those daily long walks, but had no camera available.  Not wanting to tote a large piece of equipment, I took my inexpensive mobile device.   They were still limited, but better than nothing.   These days, the phone is nearby on those strolls, but seldom used for photography.   On Monday afternoon, however, a fine set of dark clouds hovered over the area.   There was this flower-adorned path in Georgetown, near Southwestern University that I’d admired after recently finding it.   The addition of billowy dark clouds, aided by soft light, made me grab that phone.   Would they have been better with the “real” camera?  Probably.   But the phone didn’t do a bad job this time. Note that there’s minimal tweaking here.  When the light’s good, the stars align.

Knowing that the ongoing crisis might put a damper on Memorial Day, I mentioned to the editor of the Williamson County Sun last week that I’d stop by Sun City’s Georgetown/Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza, just in case.   When arriving this morning, I found a small group gathered there for a low-key commemoration.   The gathering was held to ten people, social distancing intact.   They didn’t announce the meeting, concerned that a crowd would gather.   I’ve photographed this event for ten years.  When we’re not dealing with a pandemic, this space would have hundreds of attendees.   This collection includes the event, plus people stopping by after it was over.  The Vietnam veteran in the opening photo was among those who came afterwards.   The last photo is of my photographer friend, David Valdez, much more photogenic than yours truly.  

Throughout the weekend, flags in the United States were at half mast to honor the almost 100,000 who have died of COVID-19 during this ongoing pandemic.   On this rainy and stormy Texas night in Taylor, I stopped by our Heritage Square Park for a few photos.   In addition to the flag at half mast, smaller ones surrounded the park.  The flags were to come down at sunset Sunday, but the storms may have delayed that.   On Memorial Day at dawn, they were once again to be lowered.  

A few years ago, my daughter-in-law asked if I could take a photo of a magnolia bloom for her.  I thought, sure, why not?   This was something I’d never photographed before, new territory.    Just down the street from us, I found a tree that looked great.   I asked if I could take a few photos.  Rita and Joe, the tree’s owners, welcomed me.  Since then, I try to stop by there each Spring for updated photos.  It took a while this year because the blooms were out of reach.  This week, however, the lower limbs came through.    The thing I love about magnolia blooms is the way they react to light and shadow variations.   Here are a few of this season’s efforts.  Thanks to my neighbors for allowing an ornery old fellow access to  their property. And thanks to Lisa for the idea. 

While at Murphy Park’s rookery recently, I was observing the egrets that make Taylor their home during nesting season.   Almost close enough to touch, however, were ducklings, making their presence known only a few feet away.   For a while, I continued to concentrate on the egrets, but those little ducks demanded attention.   So that’s what you see here tonight, friends.   We like our ducks in Taylor, Texas.   Our high school mascot is a duck.  Ducks fill our town’s parks.  Not only that, they make their way into neighborhoods.  I see them relaxing in yards on my daily walks.  One home even made them a little pool in their front yard.   So tonight,  the focus is ducks.  Baby ducks.

On my social media accounts I’m only posting the adorable brothers as they enjoy homemade sopapillas made by a vendor at the first annual Walburg Farmers Market, but thought you might find the others interesting, too.  Formerly held in Walburg-proper, the market, held on Wednesdays from 5-7pm, is now just up the road a piece on the grounds of Moravian Hall, in New Corn Hill.   It’s a beautiful setting.   Some day soon, I’d love to see the inside of Moravian Hall, here since 1913.  

It’s a good night for posting windmills.   Maybe I spend too much time focusing a camera on them, but there it is.   And here they are.   The first photo was made last evening, the second over the weekend. Note the little hint of light emanating from the outbuilding in the last image. 

These were taken a few nights ago around Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, in Wuthrich Hill.   It’s easy to see how “hill” became part of this community’s name.  And the church sits right up there on top.   Since returning to Texas in summer 2009, there’s no telling how many times I’ve photographed this place.   For those growing weary of these observations, my apologies.   Honestly, there are many returning subjects on this site.   Keep in mind, friends,  this photographer doesn’t wander too far from home.  When these were taken, the remnants of a rain shower had moved on, leaving us with some wonderful light and Texas skies. And a nearby longhorn.   In the tighter church photos, it’s instructive to observe how the sun’s rays react near day’s end.  The two vertical images  were made perhaps only ten minutes apart.   Note that I can’t paint, or draw worth a lick, but light impressions are just dandy.