Rather than wait for the massive crowds of egrets to return to the rookery at Taylor’s Murphy Park, this year I  watched as the first to arrive engaged in their mating rituals.    There will no doubt be large numbers as the weeks progress, but I enter their world in quiet steps this year.

While another photo task takes up some extra time, it’s a good evening to post some leftover images from my wandering on Daylight Saving Time.   The first photo was taken a little before what would’ve been dawn if it weren’t for rain and clouds, but blue images always intrigue me. The other two photos are from evening rambling 12 hours later.  I could’ve stopped after my morning outing, but a burst of energy took hold.   It’s planting season, a good time to see farm equipment, the day’s work done, waiting in a field for the next outing.   That last photo is this huge oak tree I’ve been trying to photograph since moving to the area in 2009.   It’s a fat old thing that hasn’t changed its look for years.   Just leftovers, folks.

I was so ticked off  about the start of Daylight Saving Time today that I rolled out of bed 45 minutes before dawn to see what there was to see.  What I saw was a cloudy and drizzly start to the day, but an old farmhouse photographed a few times was recorded again.   That house, and the land and sky around it is the essence of the Blackland Prairie.  Tonight, with a little burst of energy, I photographed the farmhouse again.  Also included here are pre-dawn and sundown photos of an interesting barn.   The last photo was taken tonight.  No morning version is included here.  I just liked the way it looked.   Note that I still do not like Daylight Saving Time.  Reconfiguring nature makes little sense.

As I drove around this morning in search of some sort of feature for my friends at the Williamson County Sun, I was almost ready to give it up, but driving by San Gabriel Park in Georgetown, I spotted kids, parents and grandparents enjoying soccer matches on some pristine green fields.  The teams a part of Georgetown Parks and Recreation’s Youth Soccer League.   The rain was steady enough to encourage use of umbrellas.  Thankfully, just a gentle rain, no stormy stuff.   Once I settled into to shooting, one very happy 3-year-old became my entire focus.    She was playing in just her second soccer match ever, but you could tell she was in her element, even making a goal, as seen in the second photo.  If the young lady needed a break from the rain, mom and dad were there with their golf-size umbrellas.   By the end of the match, she was ready for a nap.  Dad and mom assured me,  she does take naps!   This made an otherwise unproductive day a very good one.   I love these slice of life moments.

Most of us in the United States will revert to Daylight Saving Time at 2a.m. Sunday.   I’m sure you’re getting tired of my thoughts, but the change does nothing to promote good light, the basis of photography.   I do enjoy evening light.   These few images were made this week around the square in Georgetown, Texas.  

The area in and around Granger, Texas is filled with some wonderful bits and land and sky.   When planting time comes each Spring, it’s even nicer.    While wandering around the prairie this week, I happened on a Granger-area farmer and his son as they commenced planting 1000 acres of corn.   They mentioned the recent ice storm may have actually made the land even better for planting.   I like hearing that.   As mentioned numerous times, it saddens me to see so much of this land being taken over by development.   As long as possible, I’ll continue to document the vanishing Blackland Prairie.   Thanks to father and son for allowing me to observe their hard work.

Thorndale, Texas, in southwestern Milam County, is one of the little Texas towns I like to visit from time to time.  It’s just a 20-minute drive from our home in Taylor, 40 miles from Austin.   1407 people called it home as recently as 2019.   The town was founded in 1878, but moved three miles east in 1880.   It’s a comfortable, slow-paced community.   Portions  of “The Rookie,” the 2002 movie starring Dennis Quaid, was filmed here, including scenes at the high school baseball stadium and the downtown area.  These photos, like most, are just impressions.   In the evening, after finishing a downtown scene, I noticed one small shop with lights glowing beyond a set of wrinkled pink curtains.  Since the door was cracked, I stepped in and introduced myself to Mike, who operates a woodworking shop here.   Mike was finishing his night’s work, crafting a beautiful urn made of mahogany.    After Mike closed shop, he headed for home.   And so did I.

Evidence that Spring is near was at Granger City Cemetery tonight.  Little bluebonnets are making their way into the world.    Just three weeks ago, Texas was in the throes of some really bad winter weather.   It’s nice to see the Texas state flower again.   The little white flowers were pretty, too.   I’m not sure what they are, but they add their own joy to the landscape. Enjoy them while they’re with us. 

I have this terrible habit of letting photo files pile up on my desktop.  These are RAW files, mostly from a 45-megapixel camera.  The fellow that keeps my computer running has stressed the need to get that stuff filed  in order to keep things running smoothly.   So tonight I’m dropping in a few photos taken during some of my wanderings around Central Texas in November and December.   All were taken during Sunday drives my wife and took.   Included are photos from Lampasas County,

Lampasas, Texas .. November 2020

Smithville, Texas: November 2020.

Milam County, Bell County, Bastrop County,

Bell County, Texas: mid-December 2020

Rosebud, Texas: Falls County. Mid-Dec.

Rosebud, Texas: self-portrait.

Westphalia, Texas: Falls County. Mid-December.

Near Apache Pass, Milam County, Texas. December.

Cameron, Texas: Milam County. December.

Ben Arnold, Texas, in MIlam County. December.

Marble Falls, Burnet County. December.

Falls County and Burnet County.  A little caption information will be below each photo.

Just some photos from my evening around Granger, Texas tonight.   Walking the dog.  A windmill.  Granger City Hall (at lower left) in silhouette.   And a driver heading home at day’s end.  Nothing special.  Just stuff.