This is the farm near Walburg where I photographed Wednesday night’s Blue Moon.   It’s 189 acres of beautiful Blackland Prairie land owned by a  friend who allows me to roam there  whenever possible.   Before the moonrise I spent some quiet minutes documenting what caught my eye.   A recent corn harvest allowed a fine view of the rich Blackland Prairie soil.  There are several tanks (ponds) onsite, hurting a bit because of the heat and drought, but they’re holding on.   Sunsets are special here.   As is that wonderful windmill.  Progress is rampant here, but my friend is determined to keep this good land pristine for future generations.

Photography has been a way to earn a living for over five decades, but as I like to remind folks, it’s also a therapy.   One from a daily walk.

A sunset tonight over Taylor, Texas.   This is quite close to where we live, also close to a huge semiconductor plant being built.   Land all around here is for sale.   Things change, but what do we lose in the process?

The full moon, as seen east of Walburg, Texas this evening.   Why they call it a Super Blue Moon is a mystery.   It’s certainly not blue, rather a warm embrace of color before becoming a hot white ball above us.   But it’s always nice to see.

The heat and drought have been hard on cotton crops this year, but one south of Taylor looked mighty nice at sunset tonight.   As did a moonrise over Coupland.  The moon is at 98.2% visibility.  

Tonight’s Waxing Gibbous moon, at 94.1% visibility, glistened over Granger City Hall tonight.   I love this historic structure.   It opened in 1909 as Farmers State Bank, later becoming home to Granger City Hall in the 1920s.   The building is undergoing restoration.   I’ve no doubt it will be here for years to come.

The state has identified our area as one experiencing exceptional drought.   We’re well aware of that.   Late this afternoon, clouds materialized and the wind brought forth with abandon.   Finally, I thought, we’d get the relief we need.  The first photo was taken near a  friend’s farm west of Taylor.  Surely the rain would come.   When I ventured out early this evening, rain was minimal.   A recently-harvested cornfield rested under a canopy of color.    At sunset, a windmill I’ve not photographed before made itself known.   I love sunsets, but rain would be healing.  On the positive side, the temperature dropped from 106 to the mid-70s in no time at all.  We’re thankful for that.

It was a pleasant surprise to find out the Texas Senior Pro Rodeo Association was once again returning to Taylor.   I spent a few good hours today at the Williamson County Expo Center to observe the action.   Founded in 1978, the group welcomes participants 40 and up.  Most of the competitors I saw today were in their 50s, 60s, 70s and. 80s.  Note the gentleman in the green shirt.  That’s 86-year-old Dayton Harper of San Angelo, the oldest participant this weekend.  He’ll be 87 in January.   As someone in his 70s, I appreciate what they do.

Some photographs from Thrall and Noack, communities east of Taylor.   I begin with Noack’s Christ Lutheran Church, resting under a Waxing Gibbous moon, 68.1% visibility.   The other two photos are from Thrall.   Hopefully peaceful scenes for you.  

These recent photographs were taken at the Granger City Cemetery, just east of downtown Granger, Texas.   The land can’t hide the fact that extreme heat has beaten cracks into its surface.   This historic burial site needs rain.