Knowing how crazy and sad this year has been, a few months ago I was chatting with a policeman friend in Georgetown, wondering about the fate of their annual Blue Santa distribution.   My assumption was that it too would be cancelled.   My friend’s eyes got brighter as he told me “We have a plan for that!”   For those not familiar with the program, Blue Santa distributes gift boxes each year at Christmas to pre-qualified  families who might otherwise not have much to give their children.   It’s an important part of  community outreach.   This year’s Blue Santa, held on this rainy Central Texas morning, was a drive-through experience, with recipients remaining in their vehicles while volunteers placed their gift boxes in the back.   While not ideal, the Georgetown Police Department made it happen, providing gifts for 1,908 children in 649 families.   It’s been a tough year for many, but good light shines through this  giving back to a community.  

Just a few bovine images tonight, friends, not far from Coupland.  I’ll leave it there. 

A socially-distant Santa Claus visited the Mary Bailey Head Start Program this morning in Georgetown.   While there was no sitting on Santa’s lap because of our ongoing pandemic, Santa read Christmas stories to 30 enthralled children.  Once the stories were done, Santa and his helpers from the Georgetown Family YMCA made sure every child received gifts. Gift-giving was supported by Sports Clips and the Georgetown Health Foundation.   The Head Start program originated in 1965 as part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty.   It’s going strong today, with 1700 Head Start programs throughout the United States.   In what’s been a pretty yucky year, it’s good to see some joy.  

We were gifted with a nice Waxing Crescent moon tonight in Taylor.   It’s just under 8% visibility, but is fairly prominent thanks to a clear evening.    These views are above grain elevators at Williamson County Grain.    In the second photo, I’m curious about the two bright spots above the moon.   Would they be planets, or just bright stars?   Back in college, I signed up for an Astronomy class, thinking it would be an easy science elective.   Was I ever wrong!    Thankfully, I know the moon phases pretty well.  

Is there another state that displays its flag in unique ways?   Texans are not shy about this.  A couple of scenes here  from Falls County, Texas.   The Texas-themed barn is a new one for me.   The barn appears to have some age on it, but the flag seems to sparkle around all that Blackland Prairie land.    In Rosebud, another flag was flying along Main Street on a windy Sunday afternoon.  We’ll have to wait for census figures, but the most recent ones put Rosebud’s population at around 1600.   I may post more on this community.   It’s very nice.

Sometimes I forget we’re now living in a warmer climate.   Would that mean our autumn colors arrive a bit later?   These  late-afternoon Sunday scenes from Milam County, Texas tell me that is so.   The three photos were made only seconds apart, along a nice stretch of country road.   When people sometimes mention  an image looks like a painting, that’s high praise, but it’s a simple thing to do when the light is just right.   Granted, it was more than right for this outing.

Last night I was trying to take photos of something at Taylor’s Fannie Robinson Park, but it didn’t pan out as hoped.   When I was heading back to my car, however, I noticed this tree, on the way to its winter’s look.   I snapped a couple  of shots at a higher ISO, hand-held, then thought better of it and grabbed my tripod.    While much of what I photograph is grab and go, this time I tried to do that tree a little justice: tripod, low ISO (200) and longer exposure.  Included here are two images, one incorporating the power lines.   Power lines can be a royal pain unless you make them work to your advantage.

McKinney Falls State Park is in Austin, only 13 miles south of the state capitol.   We had to make reservations several days in advance for admittance.   With COVID-19 concerns, I completely get that.   When we finally got there last weekend, I assumed the falls would be easy to find.   They were not.   What you see here are not the falls, but some pretty nice scenes.   Here’s a suggestion to Texas Parks and Wildlife …place signage on trails that lead to what you want us to see.  Maps at check-in won’t work.   All in all, however, it’s a nice place to visit.

Except for the sale on Saturday, the 75th Annual Williamson County Livestock Show ran its course today as steers and heifers were judged.   I don’t need to explain anything here.  Just scenes from the day’s activity.

On a recent drive, I passed by this old homesite, one photographed a couple times over the years, but it’s been a while.   Summer’s growth always covers up the old house, but as leaves begin to go it returns.   At least for now.   Not far from this field is the home of a good friend.  When we visited the other night, the friend mentioned that a road project will take a portion of the  land  she and her husband bought decades ago.  The home will remain, but a chunk of good soil will be lopped off without a thought.   Since coming to this area in summer 2009, I’ve watched some beautiful and significant Blackland Prairie land get gobbled up to make way for housing developments, roads, even fuel storage facilities.   These kids you’ve seen at the livestock show this week?  Many live on land much like this.  The second photo was made tonight on a county road I traveled maybe 2 or 3 years ago.   At the time, that field, quite a few acres, was on the market.   Tonight the land remains pristine, the black soil still here for planting.    I know that development is inevitable, but  hope the pace slows enough for farms to survive.   They matter, too.