A friend and her brother  live on a beautiful ranch a few miles north of us.    It’s a picturesque bit of the prairie.  Recently she asked if it would be possible to take photographs in the pecan bottom, close to the San Gabriel River.   The space is adorned with old-growth pecan trees that have thrived for many years.  Rather than drive through the property, this old fellow decided to walk the land with two camera bodies and an extra lens.  Just a walk in the woods.  These photos are from last evening, when late-day light was at its best.  Leaving, the rosinweed wildflowers merited a couple of snaps.  A little more than the daily walks, but worth it.

Better editing might be needed, but a bunch of photographs are taken during these daily walks, mostly here in Taylor.   During each stroll (5-8 miles) 150-300 photos are taken for each of the five days.  Sixteen are what you have tonight.  They are what they are.

Late-day and evening photography is a passion.   Downtown Taylor, Texas lends itself nicely to that pursuit.   These are from two recent outings.  The opening and closing photos are of the same structure, built in 1883, continually vacant, but interesting.     Decades ago Taylor was said to the largest town in Williamson County.   Current population figures range from 15,000 to 19,000 residents.  With Samsung’s presence, who knows?

These massive stone and metal sculptures are the work of sculptor/artist Jim Huntington, a Coupland resident since the early-1990s.   It’s among the incredible sites to see since returning to Texas in 2009.   Short drives his Huntington Sculpture Foundation Garden are done with regularity.   Sometimes, if Jim is  up to it, we visit for a while. Now in his mid-80s,  the huge works of art are a part of Jim’s visual history, but he still draws.   He’s a remarkable man.

Oxblood Lilies, also called Schoolhouse Lilies, Hurricane Lilies and Chili Lilies, have been abundant this week in Taylor. A Texas Master Gardener website mentions these perennials have roots in Texas. Finding them the last couple of years has been challenging, but Monday evening a bunch of them were thriving.   It seems they do well in early-autumn, particularly after a period of rain,.  The rain brought these to us this week.   The little white bloom is a rain lily, spending time with colorful cousins.

After a 13-hour drive from Farmington, New Mexico 3000 pumpkins arrived at 7pm tonight at Georgetown’s First United Methodist Church.  Volunteers were there to help unload and place the pumpkins well beyond sunset.   Another 1500 pumpkins will be delivered here on October 18th, available through October 31st.  

From a little before 7am this morning, a Waning Crescent moon, at 10.9% visibility.  The tree is meant to be in focus.  The lunar item is well-suited this way.

A few photographs from one of the National Night Out Block Parties from this evening at the Stonehaven unit of the Georgetown Housing Authority.  National Night Out events are mostly held in August, but the heat in Texas made October a better fit.  Free haircuts, lots of grilled burgers and hot dogs and visits from Georgetown first responders.  And pedicures, too!

The weekend’s photo assignments concluded on Sunday afternoon with the annual Blessing of the Animals at Georgetown’s Grace Episcopal Church.   It was a bit of work to cover this year.   A Williamson County Sun calendar listing showed the service scheduled for Sunday morning in San Gabriel Park, where no gathering was found.   Rather than just go home to Taylor, a stop by the church was in order where we learned that due to the muddy conditions after a weekend of rain, the church instead moved a small service to a parking lot at the church.   The camera meandered back to Georgetown Sunday afternoon.   Who can pass up sweet animals and their loving humans?

This old windmill isn’t photographed quite as much lately, primarily because the area in the distance has become increasingly busy, thanks to development in our area.  Sunday’s misty day, however, cleaned it up nicely.  You don’t need artificial manipulation when nature does the heavy lifting  for you.