A lot of my wandering is out in the countryside. With Christmas coming soon, I’m seeing lights adorning spaces. Three are included here, including one taken this evening in downtown Thorndale. The one I like most, however, is the most subtle, a single star shining atop a pole on a farm west of Granger. That is understated elegance. 
Many of the landscape photos I take are made in the Coupland area, just a few short miles south of Taylor. Although its population is a mere 300 people, this town has much to offer. Sculptor Jim Huntington lives here, as does Wells Mason, founder of Ironwood Industries, also lives and creates here. And there’s St. Peter’s Church of Coupland. The Coupland Dance Hall has been closed for a while, but is coming back to life soon. When scanning Facebook early Sunday afternoon, an item from the Coupland Civic Organization caught my eye. Not only would Santa be coming to the historic depot, arriving in a fire engine from the Coupland Volunteer Fire Department. Horseback Carolers from St. Peter’s Church of Coupland were there, too. This isn’t something seen often! Santa was in his element once seated in the depot. Some kids were shy. One 3-month-old, obviously close to nap time, snuggled next to mama. A 17-month-old fellow was probably seeing Santa Claus for the first time in his short life. He was a little unsettled, but did enjoy getting free cookies and a candy cane. The last photo shows Santa stretching between visitors well after sundown. It’s a neat community. 
A few photos from recent morning walks in Taylor, Texas. As we near the start of winter, a few examples of autumn remain. 
This morning I was honored to once again attend the Georgetown Police Department’s Blue Santa distribution, held at the Public Safety headquarters. Now in its eighteenth year, the event is managed by members of the Citizen Police Academy, with plenty of volunteers there to hand out gift boxes to over 600 prequalified families and 2300 children. You’ll mostly just see faces of recipients and volunteers, but the last photo, the little fellow with lights on his Santa cap? That’s just fun. He’s the son of Georgetown Police Department commanders. I never see him without a big smile. 
As East Williamson County gets more congested I often find my way to quieter places. Two recent landscapes from Bell County, Texas are presented this evening. Both have been photographed before. And might be again. That Texas-themed barn is beginning to show a little wear, but it’s still there. For some reason I’d not noticed the old pickup in back, a nice addition. The Live Oak tree was called to my attention a few years ago by a friend. It’s time to also revisit that wonderful tree, also a nice windmill and recently-planted crops. 
Tonight I made the short drive north to Holland, a community of about 1100 in Bell County, Texas. This little community always puts up a few holiday lights along Travis Street in December. For a town so small, there sure was a lot of traffic through downtown, but not stopping. My favorite building is their First National Bank building, built in 1905. It’s still a bank today, operating as a branch of Horizon Bank. It’s just elegant. Lights shine in another building. And a Waxing Crescent moon, shining at 6 % visibility, is framed by lights. Just tidbits from a small Texas town. 
An evening scene photographed from Williamson County, Texas, the grain elevators in neighboring Travis County, home to Austin. The view is also close to our home in Taylor. And Coupland. 
Some places just bring a feeling of calm and peace. Other than morning walks, it’s been months since I’ve just gone to Taylor’s Murphy Park and just observed the birds. The awful hot and dry summer left the lake looking sad. When stopping by last evening, however, I first saw a duck gliding across the replenished water, then Great Egrets and Ibis in flight over the cormorants. The presence of the Great Egrets and Ibis were a welcome gift. I stayed until the light diminished. Serenity.
At certain times of day, trees, even without an abundance of colorful leaves, can transform into something divine. That time for these recent photos near Coupland is when the sunlight begins to take its final bows, just ahead of evening’s blue light. It’s mighty pretty, but appears and disappears quickly. Autumn leaves are very nice, but autumn light is downright elegant. 
Except for a couple of missed years due to the pandemic, it’s been a pleasure through the years to photograph the Pilgrimage to Bethlehem, the live nativity at Taylor’s Immanuel Lutheran Church. I was there Saturday evening as the outside temperatures began to fall, but not enough to damper the spirit of participants and guests. Although the event is based at Immanuel, a number of other churches have members participating. Each year’s visit is made even better with the presence of the angels. The church will conduct a second performance beginning at 5:30 p.m. this evening. At the end of this post is a photo taken Friday evening from nearby U.S. 79. There’s a very large presence just over the hill from Immanuel. Some are embracing a 6 million square foot semiconductor plant. Some aren’t. A friend recently said it it wasn’t Samsung, it would’ve been something else. He’s probably right. The prairie changes. 
