Another batch of photographs taken during my daily walks this week in Taylor, another squirrel included.   The camera is small, an Olympus OM-D E-M10, equipped with a Panasonic Lumix 45-150 mm lens.   Your phone probably weighs more.

It’s a place in Milam County I’ve photographed a few times in recent years.   For every visit it’s a quiet and peaceful place, a cemetery here since 1840.   The post begins near sunset, birds gathered on a tree, a grain bin nearby.   Birds are pictured as they continue west, likely headed to the rookery at Murphy Park in Taylor, more than 25 miles away.    Quiet scenes.

Tonight, at the spur of the moment, I stopped by Granger High School for their first football game of the season, against a team from Johnson City.   Only a few minutes north of our home in Taylor, Granger is a community of about 1500.  The team opens its season here this year, but when the new high school opens next year, a new venue will be used.   But I do like the scene here, with grain elevators standing tall just west of this  stadium.   Friday nights in Texas are a cultural phenomenon.   As are Frito Pies.

These photographs were taken on three visits to the area near Granger Lake’s Friendship Park.   Signs posted  advise visitors that hunting isn’t allowed here.  Deer appear to feel safe within its borders.   On the last visit there this week, I observed a park host carefully setting out feed for the deer.  Slowly, the deer got within inches of the host.  There’s trust there.   It calls to mind, back in the Georgia days, when a music writer and I visited the ranch of singer Travis Tritt.   Nearing the end of interview, Tritt motioned us outside, where, food in hand, he called a deer to his side.  The deer gently accepted the food.  Tritt had rescued the deer from a traumatic event.   They were now friends.   While his music was good, his heart was great.   Deer stuff, friends.

From last night on the prairie, a Waxing Crescent moon, at 21.6% percent visibility, glows through one of the area’s windmills.

Cotton harvest is well underway in our area.   It caught me by surprise since area farmers are still harvesting corn.   At any rate, it’s nice to see our “Texas Snow” thriving on the Blackland Prairie.  These few photographs are from areas around Thrall, Noack and Beyersville.   I hope it’s a good year for our hard-working farmers.

If and when my car is already dirty, this is a road I love to take.   A little east of Granger last evening.  Dirt road sunset.

Raptors of any sort are among the hardest subjects to photograph.    Usually, when I see them, they skedaddle before a shot is ever taken, floating away into the distance.   This afternoon, however, some cooperative hawks stayed around for a short while, presenting an opportunity  to make a few frames.   What I’ve been seeking for several years is a photo of a bald eagle.   They’re obviously hiding in plain sight.   But hats off to these birds seen today.   Progress.

It’s a Waxing Crescent moon tonight, at 8% percent visibility.    Presented is something seen near Thrall, Texas tonight.    Look closely, friends.  The moon is tiny, but there.

Sometimes I just stumble onto interesting subjects.   A few years ago, driving past the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor, I noticed quite a few horse trailers parked there, accompanied by men and women who are contemporaries.   Naturally curious, I stopped by to learn about the Texas Senior Pro Rodeo Association, a group that’s promoted the sport since 1978.   This group really doesn’t promote themselves, but they need to.   It’s comprised of rodeo athletes no younger than 40, but with many members well beyond that.   Thankfully, they  keep returning to Taylor every August for two days at the Expo Center.   The most senior member of the group participating this year was 89-years-young.   He’s pictured in the first two photographs.  As a friend mentioned this weekend, this is a quiet rodeo.   So true.  You won’t find bull riding, bareback riding, or any of the more intense events.   They focus on barrel racing, and roping events.   I love this group of folks, who hold onto pieces of their youth by continuing to participate in something that they love.