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.

In Georgetown this morning for some non-photographic errands, I took a about an hour to hike along the Katy Crossing Trail that runs parallel to the San Gabriel River.   Members of the Georgetown Trails Foundation were somewhere along the trail,  working on  more areas for cyclists  and hikers to explore.  They’ll be doing the same on Sunday.    I just wanted a different place to look at signs of autumn.  Hopefully, that dog found its way to its human.  As mentioned before, our autumn season stays around a little longer.   You may see more seasonal posts this month.

Daily walks are good for the body and soul.   Seeing a bit of seasonal color along the way is also good.   I may post others from these walks, but here are a few taken the last few mornings, all in Taylor, Texas.

Tonight I attended the first of Southwestern University’s two candlelight services held at Lois Perkins Chapel.   When the school first conducted these services in 1915 they were called the Christmas Carol Service.   In what appears to be a new tradition, begun last year, the service ends outside the chapel as attendees sing “Silent Night.”     It was a pleasant and quiet evening.

These photos were taken over a week ago, before I got busy with other assignments.   A Taylor friend has an elegant little Sweetgum tree I’ve admired since moving here.   Perhaps I could’ve photographed the whole tree, but the details were good.     I’ll have other seasonal offerings, but wanted to get this one on the books before getting swamped again.  

Just a little bit more from the Williamson County Livestock Show being held this week in Taylor.  The steer and heifer competitions are Thursday.   Since I won’t be there for those, I stopped by this evening to get some of the kids working with their cows.   But one last look at pigs, too.   The last event in the Swine Show this evening was Future Feeders, where little folks under 7 got a chance to show their skills in the arena.  I enjoyed watching one nifty little 4-year-old making a mighty fine appearance.

A return to the Williamson County Livestock Show today in Taylor, Texas.   Today and much of Wednesday are devoted to Breeding Swine and Market Swine shows.   I just call them pigs.   Right after arriving at the Williamson County Expo Center this afternoon, I saw a young man chasing a pig named Ronnie, who decided to race from the show barn for a little outside time.   His owner finally got Ronnie back inside.  An 8-year-old girl was competing for the first time this year.   She proudly shows off her third-place ribbon, also enjoying a hug from her mama.  An 11-year-old was competing despite a broken leg.  And a two-year-old wasn’t fond of all the pig noise.  The others are just scenes from today’s activity.   I might return for another outing on Wednesday.

Another interesting day was spent at the Williamson County Livestock Show in Taylor.   Today’s competitions included lambs and goats.    This is one of those posts where I don’t feel the need to say more.  

Once again, I’m delving into coverage of the Williamson County Livestock Show, thankfully just a short drive from our home in Taylor.   Today was mostly spent watching market and breeding rabbit judging.   These are categories that take forever to judge.  I didn’t stay for everything, but perhaps you’ll get the gist of it.   While you’ll see some of the judging in photos, you’ll also get a peek at things away from the arena.  Examples include a grandma cuddling with her grandson and granddaughter.  Granddaughter had just returned from a round of judging.  Her brother is competing with a broken collar bone.  When I asked how that would be, he just held up one arm, letting me know, without saying a word,  that’s all he needed.   Another young lady got encouragement from her grandparents before going in for another round.  An ag teacher helps  a student  get gussied  up while mom holds her rabbit at right.   While at the show barn, goats and lambs were moved into the show barn for Monday’s competition.  A lamb is represented here, too.   Plus identical 17-year-old twins from Georgetown, relaxing together in a stall.  One is showing lambs, the other a pig.   Finally, a lively 7-year-old who’ll be showing his goat and lamb in the Pee Wee Showmanship division this week.   Covering the livestock show has been made harder the past couple of years, but I do it because it needs to be seen.   These shows are huge to these families.

A very late post.  It’s been a very busy day.   The daytime photos were taken at Georgetown’s Christmas Stroll.   From there, I drove back to Taylor, about 30 minutes east, worked at my computer for a few hours, then attended Taylor’s annual Christmas parade and lighting of the tree at Heritage Square Park.   The evening photos are from Taylor.   A work-filled Saturday that left me with good feelings in both towns