Occasionally, I’m compelled to clear stuff off my computer’s desktop.  Some subjects just sit there too dang long.   If there’s a theme here,  other than personal housecleaning, it’s cows and donkeys.   The donkey in the opening photo has been around almost two months.  The other three are in recent weeks, but they fit the theme, right?   The church behind the other donkey photo is Noack’s Christ Lutheran Church.   Longhorn mama is in Wuthrich Hill.    The cows zooming across that pasture are also in Noack.   They sure could skedaddle.   There’s still too much mess on the desktop, but it’s progress!

Although misty and foggy tonight, a Waning Gibbous moon, 99.8% visibility, made a brief appearance near the square in Georgetown, Texas.

A few photos taken during daily walks in Taylor, all with my inexpensive Olympus camera.   Our autumn isn’t what you’ll find in other areas, but we get a a little color.  Cypress trees adorn our city parks.   Beavers enjoy dining on their tree trunks, but they haven’t chomped a tree down quite yet!    I’m still keeping an eye out for more vibrancy, but happy to offer these images close to home.

Walburg’s Zion Lutheran Church held its 50th Wurstbraten tonight.   Think sausage, friends. Hand-crafted German sausage, offered with all the fixings.   I ordered two plates to take home, wishing now I’d ordered more.   Nestled behind the church are tremendous smoking pits, where 12,600 pounds of sausage was prepared this year.   Orders were to-go only this year while we continue to learn how to be safe in an ever-changing world.   The smoking pits are my favorite place to be during Wurstbraten.  Dennis, smiling while chomping on his cigar, was good company.    While I love it when the smoking process continues into evening, it was completed sooner this time.  I made up for that with a photo of tonight’s full moon as it shined over the church’s newest sanctuary, dedicated last year.   And no, I’m not staying up for an eclipse.   Sleep is more important.

More from Georgetown’s Field of Honor, a collection of 1600 American flags gracing a field at San Gabriel Park through Veterans Day.   In its sixth year, its sponsored by the Rotary Club of Georgetown.   The opening photo shows a lady pausing at a flag honoring her father, a World War II veteran who was also a Prisoner of War during that time.   He died in 1995.   When approaching her to ask her name, she asked “Did you notice my tears?”   Yes.   A traveling exhibit, “Tunnel to Towers 9/11, Never Forget,” is here this year.   Although the exhibit offers a lot, the most moving thing I saw was a New York City firefighter’s gear.   He died on 9/11/2001.     The other photos are a little of this and that.

From Saturday evening, taking in the night views at the Field of Honor.   A Waxing Gibbous moon, nearly 95% visibility, was present. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Georgetown, the Field of Honor is a collection of 1600 American flags spread out over a field at San Gabriel Park.   While there are events related to this display throughout the week, the flags are the impetus for photos.   The flags are here through Veterans Day.

I’ve noticed Milo a few times over the years while driving between Taylor and Coupland.   A while back I met Milo’s owner, who graciously allowed me to come by for some photos.   Milo is a 4-year-old camel, a part of Wild Things Zoofari.    He’s shown with his pasture friends, a miniature donkey called Bow, and a lovely horse named Jasper.

Williamson County, Texas kicked off National Adoption Month in Central Texas today in Georgetown.  With  Texas Department of Family and Protective Services  leading the way, ten families adopted 18 kids during three straight hours  of happiness in a courtroom.  During my years working at the Atlanta Journal & Constitution I hated courtroom photography.   Seldom did anything uplifting happen there.   That certainly wasn’t true as I observed forever families build strong bonds for the future.   This collection by no means covers it all, but it was nice to be there to watch the smiles and joyful tears.

From a couple nights ago while wandering around Noack, Texas.  There was evidence of rain, but not really enough.   Certainly not enough to miss an evening horseback ride.    A truck negotiates a hill while passing prairie grass on the left, followed by the  Christ Lutheran Church.   And grain elevators.   A few years ago, this farmer’s elevators were demolished by a tornado.   Come to think of it, that church was damaged by the same tornado.    All is fine now.   Prairie folks persevere. 

While it’s often difficult for me to get outdoors for early-morning photos, I did manage to make the effort today, when fog and mist hovered over Taylor for a while.    Fog has a way of simplifying scenes.   These images were taken around two local parks, Bull Branch Park and Murphy Park.  By the time  I saw the Great Blue Heron fishing for breakfast, the subtle blue light had begun to fade.   The condensation clinging to a cypress tree’s web, sparkling jewels of moisture,  was a good way to finish the post.   Within minutes, the light became mundane.   I’m glad I got outside for a while.