Photos from today’s Veterans Day observance in Sun City, Texas.   This is something I’ve covered  every year veterans meet.   Because of the threat of rain, the ceremony was held inside the Sun City ballroom.    The opening photo is of Ernie, now 103-years-old.    In all my years documenting veterans, he’s among the best.   A World War II veteran, I’ve been taking Ernie’s photo for a few years.  When he was in his late-90s, he was playing on a Sun City baseball team.   The next year, I saw him tending his garden at the Sun City Horticulture Club.  For his 100th birthday he celebrated by jumping out of an airplane.   He was hooked on skydiving.   He did another skydive on his next birthday.   When we talked this morning, he mentioned another jump in February, for his 104th birthday.    His mind is tack-sharp.  Each time we meet, he asks how my eyes are doing, recalling my cataract surgeries almost two years ago.   The other photos are this and that.  I particularly like the photo of the 15-year-old Boy Scout enthralled with John, a World War II Navy veteran.   John’s one of the younger World War II veterans, just 95.   The man in the blue jacket is 102, as is the white-haired lady, who was a member of the Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services) during World War II.  At the end of the formal ceremony I stepped outside to the Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza, where this observance is normally held.  It’s usually a good bet that someone will be walking around there.  This time it was a veteran of the 82nd Airborne, joined by his wife.   It was a good day.

Another drizzly evening, drawing me into things  I like to see.  Tonight it was Wuthrich Hill, where I passed some good minutes at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.   It’s a place that defines the Blackland Prairie.  The church cemetery is down a hill from  the church.   The post begins there, then moves to the pond overlooking the landscape.  It’s not a stock pond, or tank, just a place for quiet contemplation.    And then the church.  The last photo returns to the cemetery, just as full darkness settles in.   But there is some light.   Enough.

We’re getting more rain in recent weeks, along with a cool-down in temperatures.   It’s been raining for several hours in our area of Central Texas, currently about 55 degrees.   I celebrated the day with an evening drive to Bartlett, Texas, a community of a little over 1600 in both Williamson and Bell Counties.   Like Granger, Bartlett is adorned with magnificent brick cobblestones streets.   When raindrops fall on their surface, they shine like spun gold.    When these photos were taken around 7:30 tonight, the rain was coming down hard.   Drivers passing by probably wondered what that fool was doing standing on the road with a camera and tripod.   Mostly getting wet, but perhaps a little inspired, too.

Watching the flight of birds never gets old.   I’m continually amazed at how they’re able to move so well without crashing into one another.   Just another example of nature’s designs.  

Taylor doesn’t  get the outstanding autumn scenes  like some places, but there’s a bit here and there if you look around.   These few are from recent morning walks.  Our fall season usually improves as the month  moves forward.

After the time change.   Photos taken this evening near Thrall and Noack.  Our Central Standard Time sunset occurred at 5:39 p.m. tonight.  Like most of the country, we transitioned from Daylight Savings Time back to  Standard Time early Sunday morning.   Most friends, yearning for more sunshine, would prefer we remain on Daylight Savings Time all year long.   I do not.  We perpetuate  poor light.   As we fade into lower light, the skies latch onto  serenity.   I’d prefer if we embraced Daylight Savings Time in late-autumn, and  into summer.   And send it packing in November.  Yes, that’s Noack’s Christ Lutheran Church.

A few photos taken at Sunday’s opening ceremonies for the Georgetown Field of Honor, with flags on display through November 12th behind the Hammerlun Center for Leadership and Learning.   While there were speakers to photograph, my choice is just to give you impressions, perhaps share a mood.  One that moved me was a tight photo of a determined face.   The gentleman, 82, is a retired Army Sergeant Major.   That’s a big deal, friends.

Two mornings in a row the landscape was transformed by fog.   This time I ventured a little bit out of town for photos.  The San Gabriel River is included.  And trees.  And a spider.  And a hawk.

A few photographs from Saturday’s opening day of the  7th Annual Georgetown Field of Honor, coordinated by the Rotary Club of Georgetown.   This year the display of 1400 American flags is in the beautiful Old Town area of that city, in a field behind the Hammerlun Center for Leadership and Learning, overseen by the Georgetown Independent School District.  Flags were still being placed Saturday, some with photographs of those being honored.   Although Saturday was the first day, there are opening ceremonies beginning at 1:30p.m.   If you’re in the area, get there early.  Parking could be challenging.  These photos are generic scenes, but the last four highlight the U.S. Marine Corps members celebrating the its 248th birthday, complete with a cake sliced with a ceremonial sword.  Included in those are a 93-year-old Marine, plus a 17-year-old cadet, a member of the Round Rock High School Marine Corps Junior R.O.T.C. program.  Her group served as color guards for the ceremony.

Photographing foggy scenes is almost always a pleasure.  It can be nature’s monotone.   Early this morning I stepped outside to a heavenly layer of fog in Taylor.   An actual assignment was coming up in Georgetown, but I took a few minutes for a visit to Murphy Park, celebrating its 100th year this weekend.   Fog can take a complicated scene and bring a feeling of serenity.  And clarity.