Just some photos taken last evening as I drove around Noack.   Try as I might, it’s not easy to ignore Christ Lutheran Church as it rests on a hill overlooking FM 112.   If you take a drive from Taylor to Lexington along this route,  I wager you’ll be impressed, too.   Those are a group of motorcyclists buzzing along in the opening photo.  I remember taking photos of the church a few years ago when a series of tornados ripped off a western section of the church.   It’s standing tall and complete now.   Last night’s moon was in its Waxing Crescent phase, 41.8% visible.

This photo was taken about 35-40 minutes before sunrise.  I often go by  this pond ,  but when the day’s first light whispers across its surface, it’s a peaceful gift.   As often mentioned, getting up and out the door for early morning images is hard.    The beginning of a new day is transformative, wherever you might be.

The City of Taylor held its 19th Annual Patriot Day parade and observance tonight to commemorate the tragedy of 9/11/2001.  A parade of first responders from several jurisdictions participated in the parade along Main  Street, followed by a program in Heritage Square Park.   A few images from this evening.  

As the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, once again I was at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown for the city’s Memorial Stair Climb, arriving before sunrise, along with Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from Troop and Pack 151, there to hand out hydration drinks to participants.  The climb seeks to give a sense of what first responders went through at the World Trade Center in 2001.   The light-colored flag is adorned with the names of all the first responders who died. One firefighter did the climb carrying his 15-month-old daughter.    As the event wound down, a little boy stood near his firefighter daddy as the posted flags were taken down.   These commemorations happen throughout the country each year.  All have meaning.

Thursday night was a good one to stay close to home.   These photos are in the downtown Taylor area, just over two miles from our home.   I always enjoy seeing the train yard near sunset.   And some of the vintage architecture, too.  One building has been here since 1883.   It’s been vacant for years.  I wish some entrepreneur would breathe new life into it.  Nearby is another swell structure, the Thompson building, opened in 1889.   A sign in the window tells us that space is for rent.   It sure  looks like a cool space.   Last night’s moon was in its Waxing Crescent phase.  To its left, that tiny dot is the planet Venus, if I’m to believe the posts seen from several others.   This post concludes with a bit of window shopping.   When growing up in the 50s and 60s in Texarkana, our family would go downtown at night to look in the windows.   It was neat.   It still is.

Last night’s goal was to come away with another photo of New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Alas, things didn’t line up like I’d hoped.  However, as I headed for home, the church’s cemetery, about a mile west, provided some inspiration.  The day’s light was fading, calling attention to a lighted monument just under the American flag.   Once the wider photo was made, I stepped up to get a closeup of the monument, included here.   The church will be there next time.

On yet another cloudy evening this week  I meandered into the Sandoval area.   There’s a water tank nearby  indicating I’m near Milam County, but I think these happy horses vying for attention are in southeast Williamson County, just barely.   There’s a church nearby that I’ve photographed a few times, but that dang water tower sits right next to it.   Whoever thought to place that tower there wasn’t planning very well.  At any rate, an equestrian post, friends.

The past few days I’ve kept an eye out for cotton fields around the Blackland Prairie.    It remains one of the most photogenic crops to  document.   More than one farmer in the area has mentioned they’re not planting cotton this season.   If this year is like others, however, Texas continues to be the largest cotton-producing state in the country.   I always enjoy seeing our “Texas Snow.”

A couple of photos from Sunday evening along a county road a little north of Taylor, beyond Circleville, but south of Granger. Late-summer storms seem to be popping up.  Sometimes we get rain with that.   At day’s end, we might also get some comforting blue night light.

It’s been a good, but busy weekend, one where I had an opportunity to do some actual photojournalism.   Much of this Sunday was spent at Granger’s Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, where members held their Parish Bazaar.   Last year’s event was cancelled because of the pandemic.   Workers were being extra cautious this year.   A lot of the bazaar focuses on food.   Members smoked barbecue and sausages, others prepared potatoes, dressing, green beans and gravy.    Diners could get their orders via a to-go line, or could dine inside the parish hall.   The line for the to-go orders was, as always, quite long.   One gentleman  had just come from morning mass at another church and busied himself reading his church’s bulletin while waiting.  Beyond food, there was a live auction and games.  This evening, as this is written, they’re hosting a dance.   I do relish the chance to document these traditions.