Photos taken today at Georgetown’s Christmas Stroll Festival.  While most are self-explanatory, some notes might be useful.  A young African-American member of the Georgetown High Georgettes, 16,  performs with her troupe during the parade.  Paying close attention is her 81-year-old great-grandmother, visiting from her home in Memphis.   A dancer from Bethlehem Village is shown.  She’s from Georgetown Church of the Nazarene, who present Bethlehem Village to attendees.   And an 18-month-old spends some quiet time hugging her daddy.   A 10-year-old gets into the Christmas spirit in his Santa attire.    The little guy playing the guitar was neat.   Now 7, he’s been playing for a couple years.   He offered a hat for tips (yours truly contributed).  Dad says he’s using his earnings to buy a dirt bike.  He’s well on the way to that goal.

A few photos from walks the last two mornings in Taylor.  Since returning to Texas in 2009, this has been the most vibrant autumn I can recall.   While we might not compare to fall in New England, it looks pretty good for Central Texas.

Some photos from tonight’s Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols, held at Southwestern University in Georgetown.   The service began here in 1915, then known as the Christmas Carol Service.    The post actually begins with one of the last photos taken, when attendees stepped outside Lois Perkins Chapel to join in the the singing of “Silent Night.”   It’s the first time they’ve concluded a service like this.   I thought it was pretty special.

There’s a long-retired truss bridge spanning the San Gabriel River that I like to visit from time to time.   Tuesday evening I stopped by to look at autumn views from that vantage point.   After a few minutes I began to hear soft  music at the river’s level.  Soon, a fisherman navigating a well-equipped kayak appeared.  The melodic sound was with the boat.  A shaft of light from overhead emphasized the remaining fall color.   Occasionally, he would cast one of his lines into the water, sometimes taking photos.    He had a good day on the river, catching a few bass, but also catching a bit of solitude.   I offered to help him pull the boat up the hill, but he was good to go.   He’s obviously had some practice.   I’ll remember to post the actual bridge again, but for now, this is all that’s needed.

While these are just recent evening scenes in East Williamson County, the opening photo might  help explain why I keep documenting the Blackland Prairie.   It’s a barn I’ve photographed dozens of times. When I was making that image, a gentleman who lived nearby was curious, wondering why a car was stopped in the road near his home.   I’d be curious, too, but assured him it was only to photograph that old barn, and the moon overhead.   Thankfully, no cars were coming in either direction for a few minutes.   Before I left, he said he thought  the barn would be torn down soon.   That, friends, is why I do a lot of what I do.  We need to remember what was.   The other three photos are just to round out this post.

A friend on Instagram recently mentioned Walkers Creek Cemetery, an historic cemetery in the Little River Valley  near Cameron, Texas, in Milam County.  Knowing my interest in cemeteries, he let me know about this one.  As usual, my sense of direction when  outside of my area had me wandering all over the place before finding it, but I finally did, thanks to a gentleman I flagged down.     The sign at the cemetery entrance tells us it dates back to 1882.    The photos I made are just a snippet since my arrival there was right at sunset.   Next time I’ll know where I’m going!   While looking for it, I took in the autumn beauty along mostly unpaved country roads.  I think that stream is called Big Elm Creek.   With the immense growth in our home county (Williamson), it’s good to get to these out of the way Texas jewels.

From a little bit of night wandering tonight in Cameron, Texas, the Milam County seat.   The community of a little over 5000 is beginning to look festive.   I love the Milam County courthouse, built from 1890-1892, with restoration in the early-2000’s.   That’s a Waxing Crescent moon (again), now at about 23% visibility.   The others are just some scenes around the town square.    Light is good, especially at this time of year.  

From Saturday evening, a leftover photo of a Waxing Crescent moon shining over an interesting tree in Bartlett, Texas.  Simple stuff. 

Just a little bit of the moon tonight, friends.   It’s a Waxing Crescent moon, 13.5 % visibility.   As seen near Christmas lights in downtown Taylor, Texas.

This continues my exploration of autumn scenes taken during recent daily walks in Taylor.  It’s a pretty nice season for us this year.   A reminder, I don’t spend copious amounts of time taking these snapshots.   The walking is my priority, but I’ve been known to slow down a bit more when spotting an agreeable heron.  All are made with my Olympus camera, an older OM-D E-M5.   It’s incredibly light.