Windmills have been a continual fascination  since returning to Texas in 2009.   They weren’t common sights in Georgia, where we lived for 29 years.   Nor in the growing up years in Northeast Texas.   They’ve been abundant in Central Texas.   Unlike barns, another favorite subject, most of the many windmills  seen in this area are still standing.  Only one has gone away, apparently run over by a tractor south of Granger.   This one photographed at sunset tonight, however, remains.   This photographer is glad it’s there.

The Williamson Museum held its Hoppy Easter event at the Old Settlers Association  site in Round Rock today.   Most of the photographs have a seasonal theme, but perhaps  the favorites are the young lady learning how to  churn butter.   She was enthralled. The Old Settlers Association is a wonderful place  to visit, with structures from the 19th Century.  And because  it was there, it’s hard to pass up a windmilll opportunity.  The windmill was the first photo taken this morning when arriving, a cloud cover holding back the sun.   True to form, the clouds parted, leaving us with a pretty warm day.

These ramblings sometimes become themes for these pages.   There’s never really a plan, just wandering, looking, noticing.   Let’s go with trees for this set of four.  

Just a few horse photographs  from recent outings.  No need for more words tonight.

A scene near Walburg tonight, the sun going down beyond a wisteria vine.   If the plant identification is incorrect please advise.

It’s early days, but Great Egrets are beginning to make their way to the rookery at Taylor’s Murphy Park.   Included here are eight photographs taken on two different evenings.  The first four are from Friday, the last four from last night’s cloudy evening.  The rookery soon became a go-to place right after moving here in 2009.   If they stay true to form, you’ll see many more  in the coming months.   If you follow daily walk posts, you know that some Great Egrets stay here year-round, just like our cormorants.   As Spring gets closer, expect to see Snowy Egrets, with black bills, cattle egrets  and Ibis.  Quite a few local folks don’t cotton to these protected species, but a few of us adore them.   When not feeling up to driving all over the countryside, there’s nothing more relaxing than unfolding a chair, sitting down and just taking in the majesty of these birds.

A drive to Georgetown on a slightly rainy Saturday afternoon led to a nice surprise at Edwards Park.   Do they bloom this soon each year?   it’s always  nice to  see these elegant flowers.   A number of residences in Georgetown’s Old Town District are also  welcoming poppies, but it’s better to show them in public spaces like this park.   Signs are posted there, asking visitors to step carefully, giving the poppies a chance to grow.   If memory serves, during one recent year the folks mowing the grounds inadvertently mowed them down.   Hopefully that’s not an issue now.   Poppies are most evident in March, but the city’s Red Poppy Festival doesn’t happen until late-April, when most of the blooms are gone.   Why not have the festival in March?    Poppies are exceptional.

Chase The Chief are running/walking events coordinated by the Georgetown Police Department.   Their goal is to raise funds for physical education needs in the Georgetown Independent School District.  At today’s events,  held at East View High School,  close to 2000 folks took part in a 1K Fun Run or 5K Run.    These local events aren’t posted often, but maybe that needs to change.   Running events, large or small, aren’t really about  the winners.   Everyone making the effort is a winner.  Take note of the opening photograph.  That’s Scout, 9, who blasted the air horn to start the Fun Run.   Scout has battled brain cancer for quite a while.  On New Year’s Eve she had her sixth surgery at St. Jude’s in Memphis.   She’s doing very well now.  With her is her dad, the principal at Richarte High School in Georgetown.  Scout is why these “local” posts matter.  

As Daylight Savings Time nears, a hats off to night light.   Offered here are photographs taken on two recent evenings in downtown Taylor.  It’s likely a minority opinion, but some of us actually prefer fewer daylight  hours.  Evening light, whether natural or man-made, can exude a sense of calm.  Honestly, for the first couple of months each year the extra hour of daylight is okay, but when full summer arrives in June, many of us wish the   hot Texas sun would just go away.   It would be nice to artificially  change the time, but revert to “normal” time by mid-June.   Again, a minority opinion here.    Thus this ode to the serenity of night.

More photographs taken during daily walks in Taylor, Texas.   If you’re walking, cycling or running in Taylor’s Murphy Park, give the geese a lot of space.