Princess is a wonderful Texas Longhorn.   When inspiration is called for, I visit this beautiful cow and Joyce,  her owner,  at their ranch a little south of Bartlett.   Princess, however, often presents a visual challenge.   She’s like the photographer, a little anti-social.   I get that.  She’s usually surrounded by her friends, including some donkeys and a few other cows.  When visiting late last week, those friends begged for attention, as in the last photo.   But I finally got a few shots before the light faded away.    Daylight Saving Time was useful this time.

Turbulent weather this evening in Williamson County, Texas.   I wandered out a little before 6:30, just as a tornado passed over Taylor, moving east/northeast.   After a few minutes, things settled down, leaving some peacefu Blackland Prairie l skies.   As this is written, more stormy weather could come.  

Before taking  last night’s barn and silo photo,  my idea to document the first day of Spring was bluebonnets.   They’re beginning to make an appearance in Central Texas, but it’s early days.   In farm country, most of the land is used for crops, not wildflowers.   I can’t argue with that.   The places I usually see wildflowers each year are cemeteries.   The first three photos were taken at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Gardens, in eastern Georgetown.   The statue honors Father John Vianney, a French priest who lived from 1786-1859, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests.   The last photo was taken the little family cemetery in Circleville.   It’s always proper to pay homage to our state weed. 

I didn’t remember today was the first day of Spring, but ventured out this evening to come up with something to document the day.   A few other photos were taken before this one, but I like the feel in this image.    Equestrian Spring.

This is a little of this and that.   I was on the road to Georgetown very early this morning for the Georgetown Photography Festival, but was out early enough to see another moonset as I was leaving Taylor.   This morning’s moon, in a Waning Gibbous phase, was still at 97% visibility.   Those are the first two photos.  The rest are from the festival, my paying assignment for today.  I particularly like the photos of Jersey, 7, learning photography from her grandmother, Kat.    The event, in its third year, is coordinated by the Williamson Museum and David Valdez, photographer for President George H.W. Bush.   Photographers from Dallas to San Antonio made it to the town square for inspiration and classes.   The last photo?  Just two bulldogs I find adorable.

Chasing moon photos can be a roll of the dice.   Thursday night I wandered around for 90 minutes before figuring out no moon image was possible.  Too much cloud cover.    I made a mental note to check the skies out this morning.   Stepping into the backyard just after 6:30, there it was.   Moonset was at 8:03 a.m.    Hopping into my car, I headed east, toward Wuthrich Hill for a photo  of the  morning’s Waning Gibbous moon, 99.8% visible.   They call it a Worm Moon.  It  looked good over Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, a bird flying past my reason for being there.     And there’s a photo at the church cemetery, the moon sinking lower as sunrise neared.  All was good.   I made a couple more moon photos before it went away, but before leaving the cemetery, the morning sunrise merited a photo, too.   Circumstances don’t allow too many early-morning outings with my camera, but one does what one can.  

Since tonight’s full moon was obscured by clouds tonight in my area of Central Texas, I’m embracing those skies this evening with some photos taken this week. The first photo is a wonderful old oak tree that commands a regal spot on top of a hill in Bell County.   A friend mentioned the tree a few years ago.  I don’t photograph it often, but the cloud patterns overhead earlier this week made it worthwhile.  The second shot was made on the same night, just a little outside Granger.   The last one is from tonight, when I’d finally given up on the moon photo.   It’s an old barn solidly in the Taylor city limits.  With development looming since the Samsung announcement, I’m fearing that field, perhaps the barn, will be relegated to history.  

Tonight’s Waxing Gibbous moon is 98.2% visible.   I stayed close to our Taylor home for these three photos.  The opening is at Williamson County Grain, followed by a photo of the now-closed Vencil Mares Taylor Cafe BBQ.  Mr. Mares, a World War II veteran, kept it going until his death a couple years ago at 96.   The last one is the Texas-themed facade of Louie Mueller BBQ, well-known not just here, but throughout the country.

A couple from Bell County tonight.   Some stormy weather moved through the area, creating some interesting skies.   And a rainbow.

Each year March rolls around, Taylor’s Murphy Park begins to liven up as Great Egrets migrate there to grow their families at the rookery on the lake.   Recently, I’ve noticed the egrets’ return, but resident cormorants seem reluctant to give up their prized rookery roosts.    Not to be deterred, the egrets have started setting up shop in other trees near the park.   One Great Blue Heron appeared to be getting pushed out of her spot in a tree.   We’ll see how that plays out.   These cormorants are tough birds, but I’m thinking a lot more Great Egrets are en route.   An interesting drama in the avian world!