Most of us in the United States will revert to Daylight Saving Time at 2a.m. Sunday. I’m sure you’re getting tired of my thoughts, but the change does nothing to promote good light, the basis of photography. I do enjoy evening light. These few images were made this week around the square in Georgetown, Texas. 
The area in and around Granger, Texas is filled with some wonderful bits and land and sky. When planting time comes each Spring, it’s even nicer. While wandering around the prairie this week, I happened on a Granger-area farmer and his son as they commenced planting 1000 acres of corn. They mentioned the recent ice storm may have actually made the land even better for planting. I like hearing that. As mentioned numerous times, it saddens me to see so much of this land being taken over by development. As long as possible, I’ll continue to document the vanishing Blackland Prairie. Thanks to father and son for allowing me to observe their hard work. 
Thorndale, Texas, in southwestern Milam County, is one of the little Texas towns I like to visit from time to time. It’s just a 20-minute drive from our home in Taylor, 40 miles from Austin. 1407 people called it home as recently as 2019. The town was founded in 1878, but moved three miles east in 1880. It’s a comfortable, slow-paced community. Portions of “The Rookie,” the 2002 movie starring Dennis Quaid, was filmed here, including scenes at the high school baseball stadium and the downtown area. These photos, like most, are just impressions. In the evening, after finishing a downtown scene, I noticed one small shop with lights glowing beyond a set of wrinkled pink curtains. Since the door was cracked, I stepped in and introduced myself to Mike, who operates a woodworking shop here. Mike was finishing his night’s work, crafting a beautiful urn made of mahogany. After Mike closed shop, he headed for home. And so did I. 
Evidence that Spring is near was at Granger City Cemetery tonight. Little bluebonnets are making their way into the world. Just three weeks ago, Texas was in the throes of some really bad winter weather. It’s nice to see the Texas state flower again. The little white flowers were pretty, too. I’m not sure what they are, but they add their own joy to the landscape. Enjoy them while they’re with us. 
I have this terrible habit of letting photo files pile up on my desktop. These are RAW files, mostly from a 45-megapixel camera. The fellow that keeps my computer running has stressed the need to get that stuff filed in order to keep things running smoothly. So tonight I’m dropping in a few photos taken during some of my wanderings around Central Texas in November and December. All were taken during Sunday drives my wife and took. Included are photos from Lampasas County,
Lampasas, Texas .. November 2020
Smithville, Texas: November 2020.
Milam County, Bell County, Bastrop County,
Bell County, Texas: mid-December 2020
Rosebud, Texas: Falls County. Mid-Dec.
Rosebud, Texas: self-portrait.
Westphalia, Texas: Falls County. Mid-December.
Near Apache Pass, Milam County, Texas. December.
Cameron, Texas: Milam County. December.
Ben Arnold, Texas, in MIlam County. December.
Marble Falls, Burnet County. December.
Falls County and Burnet County. A little caption information will be below each photo.
Just some photos from my evening around Granger, Texas tonight. Walking the dog. A windmill. Granger City Hall (at lower left) in silhouette. And a driver heading home at day’s end. Nothing special. Just stuff. 
When Daylight Saving Time approaches each year, I get a bit melancholy. Granted, I realize this feeling isn’t shared by many friends. When DST begins, the sun goes down later and later until we reach the Summer Equinox, when daylight just seems to hang around. For me, that means light that I consider inferior stays around. As far as night photography goes, forget about it. My whining aside, here’s some evening photography taken over the weekend. I saw a nifty ban, fronted by a vintage Ford tractor. Naturally, I pulled into the driveway, knocked on the door of the nearest house and asked the barn’s owner if taking photos was okay. He said yes, but said “It’s getting a little too dark isn’t it?” To which I replied, “no sir. It’s just fine.” Note that all three photos were taken with a 50mm lens. It’s been nice getting to know one of those again. 
Something found while wandering around Georgetown Saturday afternoon. Dad and son enjoyed a nice day practicing their inline skating technique while at Blue Hole Park. I like the moment, perhaps subtle, of the young fellow getting a thumbs up. There are numerous slices of life happening all around us. I miss being able to do more people photography. 
Cemeteries, large or small, continue to hold my fascination. The Saul Family Cemetery, in what I call Norman’s Crossing, is one I admire. It rests on a now-busy road outside Hutto. That road continues to get packed with motor vehicles, but thankfully this cemetery hasn’t been impacted. Members of the Saul family settled along Brushy Creek in Williamson County around 1850. Charles Saul purchased 640 acres in 1862, including what would become this burial site. Mr. Saul died in 1870, becoming the first person interred here. The last burial, 23 in all, was in 1918. The cemetery is still part of the Saul family. Someone does a good job of keeping it looking nice. Included at the end of this post is an expansive farmer’s field behind the cemetery. I hope that family holds onto that field. It would be a shame if it becomes a subdivision. 
The other evening, standing on a bridge overlooking the San Gabriel River, my hope was to spot a fly fisherman. Instead, these beautiful bits of flowing color caught my eye. I had to get closer! These were two friends practicing the dance art called Silk Fans, or Silk Fans Flow, accompanied by relaxing music they brought. 
With the setting sun adding warm hues to the river, I snapped away. This is something new to add to things photographed.