Maybe I need to apologize for this windmill affection, but let’s not, shall we?   After living 29 years in metro-Atlanta, we returned to Texas in 2009.   After the crowding and bad air there, the open spaces of the Blackland Prairie were a welcome sight.    Windmills, whether they’re still in use or not, help define this agricultural landscape.   They are our country skyscrapers.   Maybe mentioned before, but a couple years ago, a curator asked me to enter some of my work in a show.   When reading information on their site, one of the jurists, a well-known photographer, had little good to say about windmill photography.   I decided their show wasn’t for me.    So there.  These are from the last few days, including one taken tonight.

A story on the radio this morning said it was National Cow Day.   The radio host thought it might be a creation of a particular chicken restaurant chain.   Whatever the case, I figured we have quite a few bovine friends in our area.   Hats off to cows.

Some photos taken this evening along a county road I like east of Thrall, Texas.   No more needs to be said.

Before happening on the dad and his daughters fishing at Georgetown’s Berry Springs Park & Preserve this weekend, I embraced other things, like these dragonflies hovering around the park’s pond.  When in flight, they are a photographer’s challenge.

Occasionally I visit Georgetown’s Berry Springs Park & Preserve to enjoy nature.   Sometimes, however, I find something more fun, like today when meeting a dad enjoying a fishing outing with his daughters, ages three and four.  It turns out today is actually the 3-year-old’s birthday!   She’s the young lady wearing the blue dress.  Dad was teaching the girls how to catch and release, too.  Later, a birthday celebration was planned back home.   This was indeed a good day.

After a busy Thursday night, followed by an intense post-production Friday, I needed something peaceful.   South of Beyersville, Texas seemed just about right tonight.  Dirt roads can be calming.

If you drive around Williamson County, it won’t be long before you see the small sunflowers growing  wild on the roadsides, adding a splash of summer color to the landscape.   What you don’t see as much are the large ones.   Those are usually planted by individuals.   Last year, I found a  field of those east of Granger, but they didn’t return in 2021.    While on a walk in Taylor last week, however, I noticed some of the big ones in a front yard.   With permission, I made a few photos of those, including ones thriving, plus those beginning to wilt.  I think they look neat  in that stage of their lives.   The first four  photos here are the large ones, followed by some of the small ones growing wild in the countryside.   They’re all  cool.  

A few photos taken last night.   We’ve had some intense skies on the Blackland Prairie in recent weeks.    Although some appear to be menacing, I can assure you they were not.   A rainbow even peeked out, but mostly where I couldn’t pull over to photograph it.    When  not hurting folks, or their property, I love storms.

I could’ve rushed in  and worked at a hot and heated pace to offer up more  of our stormy skies, but you know what?  That’ll have to wait.  I’ve been holding onto these photos from Taylor’s rookery for about two weeks.  Time to toss them out into cyberspace.   Stormy skies can wait.  Don’t mistake this for a news site.

Another straightforward post tonight, friends, storm clouds forming over Blackland Prairie farm country tonight.   The photos are in color, but almost come off as black-and-white images.   That’s just fine.