Taken at sunset this evening in Wuthrich Hill, Texas.   I photograph quite a few cemeteries, but this one, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, might be my favorite.

Friday’s rain ushered in some very cool weather for Central Texas this morning.  Cool for us, that is.   It was 37 in Taylor when I got up this morning.   Georgetown’s Berry Springs Park & Preserve was a good place to document this great autumn day.   It was nice to see a Waning Gibbous moon, 82% visibility, still shining through the clouds.   The cold and windy morning wasn’t a deterrent for two cycling friends as they headed out on a 52-mile ride.   A gentleman and his dog enjoyed some peaceful time together on a park trail.   And just a leaf to complete this post.   Today’s temperatures never got past the 50s.   I like that a lot!

Much-needed rain and a brisk cold front didn’t stop Veterans Day observances today in Georgetown.   In Sun City, the event was held indoors.  If the day had been different, it would’ve been in t their Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans  Memorial Plaza.    But all was good.   I call specific attention to the first photo, my favorite.  Pictured are two World War II veterans.   At left is Navy veteran John Dunn, 94, having some special moments with Air Force veteran Ernie Columbus, 102.   I’ve photographed Ernie a few times in the past few years.  His memory is still sharp.   When we met today, he asked me how my eyes were doing, remembering that at this time last year I was getting ready for cataract surgeries.   Mr. Dunn has a story.   After December 7, 1941, Dunn, then 16, wanted to sign up.  He convinced his parents to sign a waiver for permission to do so.   And he served.   Everyone in this post are veterans.    I like a young Marine, 34, no longer serving, visiting with a 93-year-old Navy veteran before heading home.  He’s on crutches after recent knee surgery.  The hands closeup is Mr. Dunn, from the opening photo, holding the hand of his wife, Linnea.   I like that touch of sweetness.   At the conclusion of the event, I stepped outside into the Memorial Plaza to look around.   There I met a man coming to this Veterans Day commemoration for the first time.  He wanted to see the plaza.  As did I.   The last photo was taken a few miles away,  at the Georgetown Field of Honor, where 1600 American flags have been on display all this week.   They also had a Veterans Day observance, but the fellow in the photo stepped into the rain to make sure identification tags were in place on the flags.   His was drenched, but his heart was in the right place.

A holiday-themed tree lights up West Davilla Street in downtown Granger, Texas.    In recent years, a Christmas tree made of cotton bolls has graced this site.   I’m not sure about plans for this year, but do enjoy seeing the lights.   Mentioned before, but I think the right kind of light, whether holiday-themed or not, adds a sense of tranquility to our lives.  Some of my neighbors have lights strung outdoors every night of the year.   In my home office, there’s a small tree that I turn on every night after I come in.   This is something I do every night, regardless of the season.   It’s calming.

Flag retirement ceremonies are being held this week at the Georgetown Field of Honor, held in San Gabriel Park.   This is one I photographed Tuesday evening.   American flags are formally retired  when consumed in fire.    A flag is cut into strips and pieces before the last step.    The flag being retired this time belonged to a Marine Corps member on active duty.   He sent his flag to the ceremony with his mother.    It’s moving to observe.

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.