On Saturday, the closing day of the Williamson County Fair and Rodeo, I spent most of my time watching kids from around the state show off their sheep and goats.   It was wonderful to see.   Growing up in Texarkana, I  remember livestock being an integral part of our annual Four States Fair and Rodeo.    The number of very young children at Saturday’s competition was impressive.   Among the youngest was a red-headed 4-year-old from Troy, Texas, who showed his entry named “Sweet Girl.”  Like the other entrants, he was in his element.  Moms and dads were extremely supportive.   One young teen, who was showing three lambs, held up his fingers, asking this pesky photographer to give him some space.  I only shot that one frame.  A few minutes later, he was happy and good to go!    Our new county fair pays homage to the agricultural roots here.    As growth continues to dominate, it’s good to hold onto those things.

How about a few rodeo photos tonight?    Friday evening I attended the first rodeo night at the  Williamson County Fair and Rodeo, held at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.   Most of the images included here are self-explanatory.   I’m always impressed with the work these young cowboys and cowgirls put in, like in the opening photo, where a saddle bronc rider loosened everything up before his time in the arena.  His moves were not unlike ones seen with serious dancers.   The final photo was one taken a few minutes before heading home.   I liked seeing that moon again this week.   The rodeo and fair conclude tonight.   

From a recent evening in downtown Granger, Texas.   Included in the photo: Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, S.P.J.S.T. Hall.   Just a quiet interlude before moseying out for the evening.

Just a few photos taken this evening on the first night of the Williamson County Fair & Rodeo, being held at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.   The rodeo will be held on Friday and Saturday, but I do love a good midway at night!

Last night’s moon was closest to a full moon we’ll get.   This evening we’re in the the Waning Gibbous phase, 99.9% visibility.    I’ve heard this month’s full moon called a Hunter’s Moon.   Let’s just call this a Cormorant Moon.   From tonight at Taylor’s Murphy Park.

It’s a windmill I’ve photographed dozens of times, but always from one point of view.   I’d wanted to take photos of the rising full moon, but needed to point the camera to the east.   To accomplish that, I needed to be on someone’s property, something I prefer not do without permission.   About 30 minutes ahead of moonrise, I was able to connect with with the gentleman who lived there, who generously gave permission.  Because I like to give a sense of place, the opening photo is my favorite.  The middle image gives you that “big moon” idea.   The last photo was taken from my usual point of view, but the skies looked magnificent in the west, too.    Of all the windmills I’ve photographed, this may be my favorite.

Call it what you want.  It can be a Harvest Moon, Tiger Moon, Dog Moon, or whatever.   It’s the moon, friends, beautiful in all its iterations.  Tonight it’s a Waxing Gibbous moon, 97.2% visibility.   This one’s over a field east of town, with a little blue night light, too.

This photo, like the previous post, was taken early Sunday morning, but didn’t fit the water theme.   I pass this old house in Taylor often.   When we moved here in 2009, it already looked abandoned.   During growing season, it often gets surrounded by tall corn stalks.  The field is cleared now, providing a fuller view.   The morning light, barely past sunrise, added a soothing warmth.   I know nothing about this house.  Was it a farmhouse?   I’ve always thought it looked like a beach house from an earlier and simpler time.  The road where the house sits  will be widened in the near future.  It rests close to the current road.    One wonders if it will be here after the widening?   I think it’s a really neat structure, wish it could be saved.

An assignment in Georgetown this morning  took me by misty scenes a bit after sunrise.   The opening photo is a sweet pond I sometimes drive by near Taylor.  During the harsh daylight hours, it’s not so much, but it’s enthralling at certain times of day.   The other two photos were from the San Gabriel River.   A few hours later, as I headed east to Taylor, there wasn’t much to see, but a few minutes after sunrise?   Mighty fine, friends.  Is there a favorite image?  For me it’s the last one. 

The egrets that come to Taylor’s Murphy Park are mostly gone for the season, but a few remain.   The smaller cattle egrets, of course, are always around.   Like clockwork every year, when the larger egrets vacate the rookery, cormorants take their place.  Cormorants are pretty nifty birds, too, with properties of ducks and egrets.  New to me are the ibis, birds with long skinny bills.  This is the first year I’ve seen them here.    Mentioned many times before, but I like this park no matter the time of year.   The moon’s presence is nice, too.   Last evening it was in a Waxing Gibbous phase, just over 80% visibility.   As the last light faded, the skies filled with some amazing color.  And then it was gone.