A friend requested something in black and white.   From a recent visit  to Coupland.   This seems suited for monotone treatment.

Three photographs from recent outings on the Blackland Prairie.   Farm country, friends.  Photos from Thrall, Taylor and Granger.  

A new Bed & Breakfast recently opened in Taylor.   The management knows how to use light to their advantage.   This one is from this evening.    The time after dark is often inspiring.

The first thought, when driving through Bartlett Monday evening, was that the community twenty  minutes north of Taylor had installed a statue on one of its historic buildings.  Naturally curious, the camera went to work.   Then the statue commenced to move, and bark!   The pooch appeared to have no fear of heights, secure in his space.   Later on, after visiting with a friend, the pooch had moseyed on.    Elliott Erwitt might’ve appreciated this scene.   Easily the best canine photographer ever. Actually, one of the best, period.    Look him up. Even if you don’t know the name, you’ll probably recognize his work.

A good bit of time has passed since the last photographs from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Wuthrich Hill, a few miles east of Taylor.   Interesting bits of turbulence on Friday and Saturday nights prompted these offerings.   The first two are from Friday, the rest from Saturday evening, when the weather was more intense.   It’s a church and cemetery resting gently on a hill overlooking portions of the Blackland Prairie.   Trees have grown taller around portions of the facade, but it’s still a beautiful place.

Saturday night’s rain in the Taylor area was followed by a lovely fog this morning.   As always mentioned, fog clarifies and simplifies subject matter.   This small collection begins in Murphy Park, then points just east of town.   By 10am the fog was moving on, leading to a day that didn’t get beyond the 70s.  Autumn is trying its best to get here.

From this week’s walks, all in Taylor this time.  Squirrels are once again included.    One little guy had to stretch for that drink of water.  Squirrels must not like getting wet.  And snippets of color, or what passes for color in this area of Central Texas.   The city has been removing trees in area parks, hopefully for a good reason.  Daddy had our trees seen by a tree doctor.   Trees replenish our world.  All photographs, of course, are taken with a small Olympus camera.

It’s a bit stormy on the Blackland Prairie tonight.  Grain elevators, or if you prefer, grain bins, are  a favorite subject.  On dark and turbulent evenings their shiny facades often stand out.   This was a few miles east of Taylor.  

A collection of photographs taken Thursday night, the first of three rodeos being held at Taylor’s Williamson County Expo Center during this year’s Williamson County Fair & Rodeo.   For those interested, two more rodeos will be held, one tonight, another on Saturday night.   We’re expecting a lot of rain this weekend, but it’s a covered arena.  A favorite rodeo subject are the little folks participating in Mutton Bustin’.  For those unfamiliar, it’s when kids ride a sheep.   The  youngest last evening was 3, the oldest 7.   They usually limit entries to those 55 pounds or less.   It’s a nice arena, but sure wish the lighting was better.  Some rodeos in the area finish their evenings with horses running through the arena.   It’s a perfect coda.

A few scenes from the first night at the Williamson County Fair, continuing through Saturday at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.  Pig racing, courtesy of the Swifty Swine Show pigs, plus a chance to get close to Honey Boo Boo, a 7-month-old piglet.  Stick horse races were a fun outlet for the kids.   And the midway is beautiful.   The fair’s rodeo begins its three-night run this evening.