Evening temperatures here are in the mid-20s, frigid weather for this area of Central Texas.    Most of us find refuge in our homes, but not everyone is able to do so.   Consider the homeless (unhoused) population in your area.   A warming shelter was made available last night at Georgetown’s San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.   The space was made possible by the church, with assistance from First Methodist Church, Helping Hands of Georgetown and Navigation Services, a group that helps people find the services they need.  The lady in red, Michelle Augustine, is Navigation Services founder, also a member of this Fellowship.   Presented are photographs taken last evening.   Conditions are not expected to improve for a while.   For now, the shelter will be open and available through at least Thursday morning, but perhaps longer if needed.   When documenting people in this environment I ask if it’s okay to take a photograph before proceeding.   If they’re not good with that, I move on.   On my daily walks in Taylor, miles east of here, I’ve seen a lady at a city park, huddled under the roof of a bandstand area, accompanied by her black dog.   It’s easy to see they’re bonded, but finding refuge is hard for them.   Circumstances are challenging for many.  

While in Georgetown late Sunday afternoon I decided to take a walk along the San Gabriel River Trail.   It wasn’t one of the usual exercise walks, just a casual stroll, from San Gabriel Park, past Rivery Park,  before returning a little after sunset.   The chilly weather hadn’t arrived yet, but it was quite windy.   The light was spun gold.

Things are still out there to see on my daily walks.   This group is from the end of 2024, followed by the first three days of 2025.   All were in Taylor.    I’d probably get more exercise if I’d quit stopping to take photographs, but it’s what I do.

Temperatures were in the mid-70s Friday afternoon, skies filled with clouds around Taylor.   Conditions were obviously just right for several paramotor enthusiasts taking their bird-like crafts out for a flight.  Watching them is enriching entertainment.    After a while at Taylor Regional Park, they disappeared from sight.  In past outings they’ve often flown northeast,  to Granger Lake.   With nothing pending, I drove to the lake, where they were once again enjoying the scenery before moseying back to Taylor.   It’s a good thing they had this outing on Friday.   Temperatures here are dropping throughout the day, dipping in the upper 20s tonight, with Monday’s high only into the 40s.  For friends in cooler climates that doesn’t seem like much, but we notice the changes here!

Since his 100th birthday in 2017, Al Blaschke has been skydiving three times, most recently in 2023, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott.  This afternoon I attended his 108th birthday party at The Wesleyan Assisted Living in Georgetown.

Our skies were pristine tonight, a rich blue,  before continuing  to full darkness.  I’ve photographed this a few times, but couldn’t pass it up this evening.   Mentioned numerous times, but I don’t see other states displaying their flag with such pride.   Texas.

All three of these sites are a ten minute drive from our home in Taylor.  It’s nice to have such elegant beings nearby.   The first two are from recent outings.   The last one is from tonight, horses grazing at the farm of friends who’ve lived here for decades.  Looming in the near distance is the site of the Samsung Semiconductor plant, still a work in progress.  When we moved to Taylor in 2009, a friend told me we didn’t want to move to Taylor because “there’s nothing there.”   After almost thirty years in metro-Atlanta, nothing sounded nice.  Time marches on.

This afternoon I covered induction ceremonies for elected officials in Williamson County,  held in the 26th District Courtroom of the Williamson County Courthouse in Georgetown.  Fifteen officeholders were sworn in, but this post focuses mostly on Matthew Lindemann, Williamson County’s new sheriff.   Matt holds grandson Tex Lindemann in the opening photograph.   This toddler’s name is Tex, not a nickname!  How great is that?   Tex’s sister Lucy, 3, is included in two photos.   After a while, Tex figured it was time for an afternoon nap.   The final photo shows Precinct 4 Constable Paul Leal as he makes a Facebook Live post before being sworn in.   I like that moment.  For anyone interested, I made other photos, which might be published in the Williamson County Sun, but this post is pretty specific.

Photographs from this evening along Main Street  in downtown Taylor, Texas.   Any photographs I take on New Years Eve are done early, before the night becomes untamed.   These were taken between 6 and 6:45 tonight, a safer time to be out.  That’s a bench in two of the four offerings.  Some of you like to know more.    Embrace positivity in 2025, my friends.

One taken a few evenings ago near Coupland, Texas.   This collection of grain elevators has inspired me for years.