Today was the Breeding Swine competiition at the Williamson County Livestock  Show continuing this week at Taylor’s Williamson County Expo Center.  Scenes from the day include an entrant spending time with her pig named Piggie Small, an entrant getting her hair done by her mom, a young man taking a nap, saving his energy before competition,  a young lady spending time in the stands, watching the action before entering the arena  on Wednesday, two friends, both 10, members of a 4-H Club, watching today’s action.   The show continues through Thursday.

Autumn has been more resonant  this year in Taylor.   The little Olympus camera does its best to record it while not weighing down its owner.   So you have seasonal offerings, some detail photos, various birds.   And another squirrel.  The little pine tree resonates.  We don’t see them very much in Central Texas, but those among us who grew up in Northeast Texas appreciate them a lot.  More work to finish tonight, friends.

Photographs  from Georgetown’s 2025 Christmas Stroll.  Holiday festivals like this are happening across the country this month.   Parade photos dominate this post, but there are a few others, too.  Enzo, a French Bulldog, is among them.   As is the gent playing holiday music  on his accordion.

This little calf was spunky, taking note of the camera, but staying close to mama.    Smart baby!

Georgetown’s Southwestern University  held its Candlelight Service, the Service of Lessons and Carols in Lois Perkins Chapel.  Originally called the Christmas Carol Service, it began in 1915.   Photo coverage doesn’t change much from year to year, but it’s always inspiring.  

A misty rain was falling when these photographs were taken Wednesday evening.   Just watching holiday lights, friends.   The opening photo is out in the countryside, a bit west of Granger.   Others are  shots taken in Taylor.   You’ll probably see more holiday-themed posts for a few weeks.

Photographs taken last night in downtown Granger, Texas, a really neat community a few miles north of Taylor.   The Cotton Christmas Tree appears to be a holiday tradition now.  The tree is comprised of cotton harvested by area farmers.   Let’s hope this tradition continues.  The structure in the second photo is decorated throughout the year, but it shines even more this month.   Knowing that rain was expected (and needed), a shot of the almost-full moon (95% visibility) seemed proper.   You won’t see the moon around here for a couple of days.   Expect to see a lot of holiday-themed posts.

It’s the time of year when posting holiday lights is a given.   Coupland, Texas, just minutes south of Taylor, is a small community adorned with inspiration.   These are from  a Monday drive.  Included are St. Peter’s Church of Coupland, the depot, which also serves as their city hall.   And that wonderful caboose.  The post concludes with the Coupland Dance Hall.   Small town Texas is enchanting.

Horses are  elegant beings.   They occasionally pop into view on these wanderings, but not immediately posted.  These are four photographs taken since last week, beginning  with one on a very blue and cloudy night.  The photograph  would only work with a light-colored subject.   Thankfully, one was available.  The second is a silhouette, seen near Coupland.   That dog running  through the field sort of overshadows the horse, but that dog was something else, actually jumping the pasture fence and giving chase for a minute.  And the final one was made today, during our misty and cool  afternoon, the horses huddled around their hay bales.   Again, just horses.

Cloud-filled skies dominated the day.   In Bell County, Texas, a little east of Bartlett,  a beautiful Live Oak  tree  commands attention.   A friend mentioned the tree several years ago.   Driving east from Bartlett,  you can’t help but notice its regal presence on top of a hill.  It’s been seen numerous times, but resting under those clouds this afternoon,  a stop for another photograph  just seemed right.   In black-and-white, no less.