It’s always nice to include both a sunset and moonrise in a post.   That’s what you see tonight.   A vibrant setting sun east of Granger was followed by the appearance of a Waxing Crescent moon, just 2.6% visibility, shining through goalposts at Taylor Middle School.  The airplane flying through the scene was an interesting addition.

Even when not posting them, it’s a pretty good bet that I’m taking photos of windmills, our rural Texas skyscrapers.    Beginning with one taken this evening, presented here are four taken since the start of winter.   The one surrounded by blue light was taken before dawn on Christmas morning.    Expect more  of these at some point.  

Just some photos taken around Georgetown today to mark the new year.   The weather was warm, with temperatures into the 70s.   A cold front will change things later tonight.  Lows in the 20s are expected by morning, not getting past the mid-40s.   For us Central Texans, that’s quite chilly!  I asked the fly fisherman if his waders would suffice on a frigid day.  “No.”  I get it.  Have a great year.

This was my first photo taken in 2022, a few minutes before dawn on a cloudy start to the year.   These strutting hens crossed the road in style.   Thankfully, it’s a road less traveled.  

As the year nears its final hours, I offer what may be familiar scene.   This area around Beyersville, in southeast Williamson County,  remains pristine.  I travel through here when a respite from unchecked growth is needed.   For now, this field surrounding Mager Cemetery is as serene as it gets.  I can sit in the cemetery for several minutes without seeing a car pass by.  This post opens with a wider view, for perspective.   Inevitable growth is coming, but let’s cherish what’s here for now.   The Blackland Prairie is still with us.   As I was leaving here last evening, the wreath on the barn I photographed last week was glowing, a fine end to the evening.

Sometimes I like to drive a bit more, into North Williamson County, Texas.    A highlight for me is seeing the twin spires of Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Corn Hill.   The first church was built here in 1889, then called Immaculate Conception.    A larger church was built in 1891, becoming  Holy Trinity Catholic Church, homage to a church by that name in Ostravice, Moravia, former home of many Corn Hill residents.  The current church was dedicated in 1913.    Those spires are visible from quite a distance.

While autumn color is very nice, I have to admit an affection for trees when their leaves fall away, leaving behind their exquisite skeletal personas.   These are photos taken last evening at Taylor’s Murphy Park, watching day become night.  

While rambling around in July, I happened on a horse galloping across a hill in southeast Williamson County.    While I liked the image, it wasn’t posted.   It opens tonight’s post because I passed that field again this week, now noticing that that horse had a friend to share that field.    Horses are incredibly-graceful and intelligent beings.

I have an affection for old bridges, whether or not they’re operational.    A few years ago, I met a gentleman who mentioned a long-retired truss bridge in the Noack area.  It rests in a field just beyond the county road, replaced by a more modern conveyance.   While I’d love to tromp through the brush to check it out, there’s a No Trespassing sign on the property.    I respect those signs.    It’s been hard to photograph it from the road, but Sunday evening the sun began to go down right behind it.    If any folks living in that area know the owner of the land, please let them know my interest.   There’s a truss bridge, also retired,  along County Road 366 in Taylor I’ve photographed quite a few times.  Through the years, folks visiting the bridge have shown little respect for its history, spray painting it with all sorts of graffiti.   I can sure understand the desire to protect the bridge in Noack.

Although I’d seen large flocks of birds flying in mass, it was only when a friend told me it was called murmuration.   From what I’ve come to understand, it’s most commonly associated with starlings, but grackles will also take part in these aerial ballets.   Starlings usually have pinkish legs and yellow bills, while grackles have black legs and black bills.   I think the birds in these photos are grackles, one of the most predominant birds in Texas.   At any rate, I find it mesmerizing to watch them in action.   The photos with the abandoned farmhouse are from this week, the others from a few evenings back.