Last night I was trying to take photos of something at Taylor’s Fannie Robinson Park, but it didn’t pan out as hoped.   When I was heading back to my car, however, I noticed this tree, on the way to its winter’s look.   I snapped a couple  of shots at a higher ISO, hand-held, then thought better of it and grabbed my tripod.    While much of what I photograph is grab and go, this time I tried to do that tree a little justice: tripod, low ISO (200) and longer exposure.  Included here are two images, one incorporating the power lines.   Power lines can be a royal pain unless you make them work to your advantage.

McKinney Falls State Park is in Austin, only 13 miles south of the state capitol.   We had to make reservations several days in advance for admittance.   With COVID-19 concerns, I completely get that.   When we finally got there last weekend, I assumed the falls would be easy to find.   They were not.   What you see here are not the falls, but some pretty nice scenes.   Here’s a suggestion to Texas Parks and Wildlife …place signage on trails that lead to what you want us to see.  Maps at check-in won’t work.   All in all, however, it’s a nice place to visit.

Except for the sale on Saturday, the 75th Annual Williamson County Livestock Show ran its course today as steers and heifers were judged.   I don’t need to explain anything here.  Just scenes from the day’s activity.

On a recent drive, I passed by this old homesite, one photographed a couple times over the years, but it’s been a while.   Summer’s growth always covers up the old house, but as leaves begin to go it returns.   At least for now.   Not far from this field is the home of a good friend.  When we visited the other night, the friend mentioned that a road project will take a portion of the  land  she and her husband bought decades ago.  The home will remain, but a chunk of good soil will be lopped off without a thought.   Since coming to this area in summer 2009, I’ve watched some beautiful and significant Blackland Prairie land get gobbled up to make way for housing developments, roads, even fuel storage facilities.   These kids you’ve seen at the livestock show this week?  Many live on land much like this.  The second photo was made tonight on a county road I traveled maybe 2 or 3 years ago.   At the time, that field, quite a few acres, was on the market.   Tonight the land remains pristine, the black soil still here for planting.    I know that development is inevitable, but  hope the pace slows enough for farms to survive.   They matter, too. 

I really love photographing kids and their pigs during the swine show segment of the 75th Annual Williamson County Livestock Show, held this year at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.  Included here are some scene photos from this evening.  The young fellow in the opening shot is congratulating her little sister after she had a turn in the ring with her pig.  Big brother also had a good showing.  The youngest competitors so far this year are siblings, ages 2 (her) and 3.   Their daddy said they’d been around pigs all of their young lives.    Just some scenes, friends.

Once again this year, Granger’s Mike Anderson has put together a  cotton Christmas tree for his town.  It’s 25 feet tall, made entirely of cotton harvested from area farmers.  With steel rebar used as a form, he estimates it weighs several hundred pounds.   Saturday I watched while he worked.  Ready to stand it upright, he sought help from friends, but in the end he used a crane to get the job done.   Cotton was stored in an old smokehouse.   Anderson says he used every bit, too.   It’s up and lighted tonight.   Take a drive along West Davilla Street after sunset and take a look.   It’s unique.  

Organizers weren’t sure the 75th Annual Williamson County Livestock Show would come together in this crazy year, but it’s on this week at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.   Today I observed the poultry and rabbit competitions, also visiting entrants for Tuesday’s goat and lamb shows.    Thankfully, most competitors wore the required face masks.   I’m not sure why one young fellow competed without his.  It was nice to see an 8-year-old getting encouragement from her grandmother before entering her huge tom turkey for her first-ever event.  Her 17-year-old cousin helped hold the bird up for judging.    The competition continues throughout the week.   I’m glad these kids got to take part in their Super Bowl.

Before autumn  color moves along for this year, allow a few more photos  from Bull Branch Park, the awesome space just down the street from our house.   These were made over a two-evening period in early-December.   The cypress trees did us proud this year.  I love walking through this park.  

It might be true that I tend to get focused on a particular subject at times.   One of those is the abundance of prairie grass in this area of Texas.  I’ve heard it called Johnson grass.  Perhaps that’s right, but I like my terminology.    It’s not a crop, just stuff that grows in fields all around here.   If there’s a comparison, I’d have to say wheat fields.    As winter approaches, the grass will disappear, but for now, the fascination continues.  The last image is sort of a self-portrait, my 14-year-old Honda Accord coupe, my head at the top.  So there. 

A few weeks ago I posted some photos of Pedro and Lil’ Bob, the resident donkeys at Berry Springs Park & Preserve in Georgetown.   This morning, I got to see these guys gussied up in their finest holiday attire.    Folks stopped by to get their photos taken with these guys, a fundraiser for Friends of Berry Springs.   Volunteers worked tirelessly to keep them focused on the task at hand, but it was fun.   I’m surprised Pedro and Lil’ Bob didn’t eat their Christmas finery!