There’s this road I discovered  a couple years ago during one of my wanderings.  It hadn’t been on my radar because it was in Travis County, but I’m finding out it also stretches into East Williamson County.  The few residences there actually  have a Coupland address.    It’s a pleasant road any time of year, but this winter light we’ve been experiencing recently has really made it stand out more.   Look closely at the opening photo.  In the far distance at left you’ll see a number of construction cranes.   That’s where the Samsung Semiconductor plant is being built.   I’d have preferred if Samsung had chosen another site, but it’s there to stay, expected to open in 2024.   The agricultural nomenclature of the Blackland Prairie is transforming.   We’ll see what transpires, but I’m already missing the landscape.

Something tossed together tonight.   A few more birds.   I enjoy seeing them.  The opening photo, a hawk, was seen today on my walk.   And a flock over Thrall.   Plus a Great Blue Heron enjoying a tree out in the boonies.  I really don’t like the power lines in that one, but to remove them is cheating.   

The quality of the early-morning and early-evening light  at this time of year is remarkable.   It was satisfying tonight as I wandered around the countryside  photographing windmills.   Yes, I take quite a few windmill photos.   While 99 percent of them aren’t really working anymore, they’re here, adorning  the Blackland Prairie landscape.   Three are presented here.   If I were to pick one to print it would be the opening image.  A quiet photo, it  gives one a sense of this land.  At least I think so.

Watching  tracks and trains is an occasional relaxing pastime.   I was glad to see Amtrak’s Texas Eagle arrive and department Taylor on time this week.   The departure time coincides nicely with a golden few minutes.   It’s not really “golden hour” because good light doesn’t usually stay around that long.  It was enough this time. 

Just some fun stuff tonight, friends.   On my daily walks around Taylor I see a lot of bird activity, mostly at area parks on my route.   A few are presented here.   The fellow at the end of this post wasn’t in a park, just a Foghorn Leghorn type strutting around our neighborhood.  All are taken with my very light Olympus camera. 

While folks have their thoughts, I’m usually happy when daylight makes a hasty exit at this time of year.    These are from this evening at Taylor’s Murphy Park.  It’s where I go for rookery photos in spring and summer, but at other times of the year, too.  Just some night light, friends.  Tripods are handy.

A few times each year I make the short drive to Beyersville, Texas.   A few years back I visited the area to photograph a well-kept cemetery.   The cemetery remains beautiful, but so does the view beyond.   Development (so far) hasn’t affected the landscape.   As we progress, we would do well to hold onto some things.

Bartlett is a community of a little under 1700 that resides in both Williamson and Bell Counties.   It’s about a 20-minute drive north of our home in Taylor.   It’s about 50 miles northeast of Austin.   I like stopping by here when time allows.   These are from three separate visits, beginning with one taken tonight.   Like Granger, its neighbor a few minutes south, it’s adorned with exquisite brick streets.   Another photo shows some of the nice ornamental iron work on a stairwell, plus workers putting in evening hours doing downtown renovation.   That last photo is from tonight, too.  That was a quick grab shot, thus a little movement in the photo. I hope that pooch finds his/her way home.

It’s the first full moon of the year.   They call it a Wolf Moon.    I just call it pretty.   A couple are from out and about in the county, the last ones are from downtown Granger, Texas.  I’m happy to see this small Central Texas community holding onto the holiday spirit a bit longer.   It’s a beautiful town all year long.

After taking some moon photos Thursday night I meandered over the Granger Lake for a few minutes.    The light on the water was briefly exceptional.   After taking a few shots of the water, I stopped by an observation area.  A  couple there was  enjoying a cool and gentle evening as the day’s last light said good night.    The post begins with them.