Almost 50 years ago, one of my mentors imparted a bit of wisdom. Photos can be loud, or they can be quiet. The skies hovering over Granger tonight were most definitely loud. Nice, but intense. Another Blackland Prairie image was taken a few weeks ago along a county road in East Williamson County, a delicate farm scene. Quiet. Each has merit, but quiet is healing. 
As I drive around the Blackland Prairie, many things get my attention. Tractors are one of them. The likelihood that the ones presented tonight still function, but I like seeing them. 
Today I spent some meaningful time at Tippit Middle School for a Black History Month event in Georgetown. With a health and wellness theme, it was made possible by the Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial Association, a group that’s been around for many years in this area. Coordinating the exercises were Camp Gladiator, Silver Sneakers (based at the Georgetown Recreation Center), Let’s Get Healthy and MPower Basketball Training. While this collection is meant to represent the month, I was particularly happy to see the two little girls taking part. Ages 6 and 7, they were impressive. But the most impressive thing? The kids never met before today. I assumed they were good buddies already. They are now. Adults could learn a lot from children. 
Another post where the only theme is that both photos were taken as the last light of day faded into memory. The deer photo came about when I was trying to follow a horse through some brushy growth. The horse didn’t materialize, but another head popped up. The second image is just some prairie grass found close to home. This was on a lightly-traveled stretch, allowing the nutty photographer an opportunity to grab a low angle while standing in the middle of the road. Following my lead might not always be wise! 
When I took photos of this stand of trees at the first of the year, they were transitioning to their winter look, but still had a touch of color. Remnants of autumn stay around a little longer in South Central Texas. Passing by them again earlier this week, the color leaving us with a with an almost black-and-white landscape. The white on some trees isn’t frost. If that were so, all the trees would look similar. Nature creates some soothing palettes. 
In the years since returning to Texas, I’ve taken many photos of old farmhouses and barns. This is a house I’ve seen for a long time, but haven’t made a photo. Last evening, with its misty, sleet-laden evening, the mood was right for a document. Initially, I thought it was a barn, but if you look closely, you can see remnants of a fireplace on the roof. Some of these old homes eventually become barns. I’m guessing that cow at left knows it well. Maybe I’ll start posting some of the decaying farmhouse images again. At times, it seems all people want to see are pretty photos, but telling stories with a camera has meaning, too, 
The cold breath of winter isn’t done with us yet in Central Texas. I took a drive around East Williamson County tonight, encountering sleet and temperatures in the 20s. Going home seemed like a good idea, but not before seeing these friends finding warmth and a dry place to get out of the wind. Ice was forming on my car when I got home. Mostly, I like our winters, but never cotton to ice. 
On a recent early-evening ramble, I wasn’t seeing much, but then this sunset in North Williamson County pulled me in for a few moments. Daylight Saving Time is just a few weeks away. Most know this, but I deplore the change. Leave nature alone. 
Last night was one the rare times with development and growth actually helped achieve desired photos. I’d photographed this windmill a few times through the years, but the two-lane county road had become too busy for me to pull over for photos. The road now has a wide shoulder, providing a place where I can pull over and shoot as long as I want without disturbing anyone. The opening photo is my top choice, one of the last ones taken. I had started to head on home when a cow and her calf moseyed into the frame. The other two are simply windmill images. The last one may give you some idea of the area, a scene-setter if you will. 
Something I saw tonight before moseying on home. Just a simple scene from the Blackland Prairie. 