Once again this year I had the pleasure of documenting the annual Wurstbraten at Zion Lutheran Church in Walburg, Texas.   Though small, Walburg is a distinctly-German community in North Williamson County.   According to a Google search “wurst” means sausage while “braten” is roasted meat.  German friends could probably do a better job of translating this.  At any rate, Wurstbraten is a celebration of sausage.  The meat is prepared in advance by church members, then on the big day it’s smoked in huge pits behind the church.  Diners can get to-go plates with all the fixings, or dine inside the large gymnasium, which usually fills up every year. This year the church smoked 12,500 pounds of sausage.  By the end of the night it was history. I love those pits, particularly when the sun goes down.   Added to the mix in the pit area is a portrait of an 11-year-old boy lighted by dim lights from above the pits as well as hot coals.   It’s thrown in here just because I like it.   In the dining area, my favorite moment was finding a little guy, about 18-months-old, enjoying his first-ever bits of sausage.   He was making good time with that meat!   Anyway, this is essentially another of those posts that (hopefully) tells you a little something about the culture of Central Texas.   Its diversity might surprise you.

Another pretty straightforward presentation tonight, friends.   Just a few tree images for you.  These four photos are from Taylor, Circleville and Thrall.  The last one, from Sunday night, presents a Waxing Gibbous moon.    While I could get wordy, nothing would be gained by that.  Let’s let these Blackland Prairie photographs do the talking this time.

There are a handful of small towns in Central Texas where I point a camera as often as possible.  One of those is Bartlett, a community on the Williamson/Bell County line.   I can’t keep track of census figures, but think it’s currently around 1,600 residents.  This community is adorned with charm.  I’m especially fond of its downtown corridor, pictured in these evening photos.   As you might know, I have an affection for night images.   Bear with me while I scratch that itch here.

As we say goodbye to Daylight Saving Time in most states, here are some photos taken this evening as the sun began to fade into the night over the San Gabriel River at San Gabriel Park in Georgetown, Texas.   The photos can speak for themselves.   Daylight Saving Time, however, is not an occurrence I like.  Thank goodness we’re putting it aside for a few months to let the good light come through sooner.  My opinion, of course.

Granted, I’m a hoarder to some extent, but prefer to hold onto old photographs.  When we returned to Texas ten years ago we downsized to a much smaller home, but prints going back to 1972 made the trip.   Most are in sturdy and protective containers, but a few just float about, like these stacked under my desk.   I did, however, find the early-morning light on them to be kind of intriguing.

It’s another post where a theme might not be apparent, but if you follow these wanderings, you’ll know the theme is straightforward:  documenting what’s around our Blackland Prairie while still possible.   The opening photo, yet another windmill, was taken well into the blue period past sundown on a little road south of Granger, Texas.   If your device is adequate, note the barn in the distance at left.   The second photo is a long-abandoned homesite along a now-busy road close to Circleville.   A few years ago I photographed this house, but a friend who’d not seen that image mentioned the house.  So this is for Joyce.   The rural nomenclature of our land is changing.  Developers see farmland as prime real estate for subdivisions and shopping centers.   I do not.      While many photos I present could be thought of as “pretty,” the message is more  than that.

It’s always a blast hanging out on Main Street in Old Town Georgetown on Halloween night. The families along a two-block portion just south of the downtown square are always welcoming to trick-or-treaters.  And even photographers!   These are a few taken tonight during this year’s fun.  

This seemed like a good choice for a morning post today, a striking bit of art on a wall in downtown Taylor, Texas.  I think this is very cool.   Artistic expression, friends.

The past couple of days in Central Texas have been cloudy and cold, with occasional drops of rainy mist.  The conditions were just right for making photos that, though taken in color, were essentially monotones, probably aided by the fact that all were made at day’s end.    While I like color photography, lessening tonalities  can clarify and simplify.   That’s just fine.

There’s this area on the San Gabriel River a little north of Taylor, a little south of Granger, Dickerson’s River Bottom, where I try to make a few photos a couple of times a year.   Fishermen like it a lot, too.  During past visits, I’ve met anglers coming from two hours away. to try their luck.    To get to it you have to do a little hike through some dense forest and steep hills, but it’s there.    During my stop there a couple of days  ago, some of the trails were covered in trees and limbs that had been cut down, making my usual route nearly impossible.  Rather than give up, I found another way to go.   This is an area known to be frequented by snakes.  I was very watchful, thankful no critters reared their heads.  This view from a bluff was a nice reward, late-afternoon light spilling on the water, the woods quite dark.   The photo is color, but pretty close to black-and-white.   The view made the trek worthwhile.