It’s a bit stormy on the Blackland Prairie tonight.  Grain elevators, or if you prefer, grain bins, are  a favorite subject.  On dark and turbulent evenings their shiny facades often stand out.   This was a few miles east of Taylor.  

A collection of photographs taken Thursday night, the first of three rodeos being held at Taylor’s Williamson County Expo Center during this year’s Williamson County Fair & Rodeo.   For those interested, two more rodeos will be held, one tonight, another on Saturday night.   We’re expecting a lot of rain this weekend, but it’s a covered arena.  A favorite rodeo subject are the little folks participating in Mutton Bustin’.  For those unfamiliar, it’s when kids ride a sheep.   The  youngest last evening was 3, the oldest 7.   They usually limit entries to those 55 pounds or less.   It’s a nice arena, but sure wish the lighting was better.  Some rodeos in the area finish their evenings with horses running through the arena.   It’s a perfect coda.

A few scenes from the first night at the Williamson County Fair, continuing through Saturday at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.  Pig racing, courtesy of the Swifty Swine Show pigs, plus a chance to get close to Honey Boo Boo, a 7-month-old piglet.  Stick horse races were a fun outlet for the kids.   And the midway is beautiful.   The fair’s rodeo begins its three-night run this evening.  

Seen Tuesday during a drive through North Williamson County, Texas.   It’s farm country, friends.

Getting photographs of raptors continues to be a challenge.   Most of the time they’re spotted on utility poles during daily drives.   The cameras are always sitting in the empty passenger seat, ready to go.   More times than not, when these majestic birds (this one’s a Red-Tailed Hawk, isn’t it?) see the camera they quickly depart.    This week, however, when the late-day light was at its warmest, this hawk was a bit more helpful.    Light can sometimes make things look good.  

Evening light is inspirational.    Passing this recently-harvested field east of Granger is a prime example.   Those warm rays caressing a few acres of Blackland Prairie were a gift.

It was nice seeing a friend who attends Taylor’s Immanuel Lutheran Church while at the grocery store today.   So tonight is a good time to post recent photographs taken there just a few evenings ago.   This beautiful church rests a hair’s breadth from the Samsung Semiconductor plant site, but when you’re standing  on their grounds you don’t even know it’s there.    Good neighbors give one another good space.

Photographs from daily walks this week in Taylor.   Perhaps they’re becoming tiresome, but for  a while they’ll get posted, even if nobody bothers to look.   It’s therapy, friends.

A layer of clouds joined Taylor’s sunrise on Saturday morning,  a 30-second stop on the way to Georgetown.

Coverage of “No Kings” demonstrations today in Williamson County, Texas.   Wasn’t sure there would be a post here, but the opening photograph, in Taylor,  prompted this one.  His sign spoke volumes.   In case you don’t recall, or know, this five decade career is photojournalism.  Perhaps more on that later.  Most of these were in downtown Taylor, where about 300 people showed up. A kitten named Gigi was present with her human.  A couple, presenting an opposing view, was heckled quite a lot, but they have every right to be there.   The last one was in Georgetown, where a couple conducted their own quiet vigil in front of the San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.