It’s a given I won’t soon run out of subjects for my cameras.   The culture in Central Texas, but more specifically East and North Williamson County, is rich.   I spent a few hours this past weekend in the recreation hall at Granger’s Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church watching as church members lovingly created kolaches, a traditional Czech pastry.   Some of the thirty volunteers arrived as early as 4:30a.m. to begin making and kneading the dough.   It’s an artful process.   It must be  since members crafted 390 dozen kolaches.   They knew just how many to make since every batch was ordered in advance.   And I love that both women and men participate in the work.

To be clear, I checked with Benny and this is how he spells his name, none of that “Bennie” stuff!   Benny is a wonderful horse who recently found a new home with my writer/rancher/teacher friend Carol Fox in Circleville, Texas.   Benny’s got a few years under his belt, but he’s happy to be able to gallop on this fine bit of Blackland Prairie land near the San Gabriel River.   This set of photos were taken on two different visits, a couple of weeks apart, thus the difference in lighting.   Benny’s a work of art.   He’s got a great home with Carol.

Tonight’s post again presents photos unrelated to one another except for the fact they were all made right here on the Blackland Prairie in Texas.   The opening photo was made tonight on a friend’s Circleville ranch.  That little mesquite tree, a different version posted last week, is a fine anchor on that hill.   Are those bright objects stars, or planets?   The other points of light, I’m pretty sure, are stars.  The other two were made on recent evenings, a bit of prairie grass in Beyersville, a moist county road after a day of rain south of Granger.   This and that, friends.

Much of this afternoon and early-evening was spent at the Georgetown square for the arrival of the U.S. National Christmas Tree.   The 60-foot tall tree is a Colorado Blue Spruce from the Carson National Forest in New Mexico.  Its journey is being made in a tractor trailer.   If all goes as planned it will be installed on the grounds of the United States Capitol on November 25th.   Folks came out in large numbers to see it today. Many were gifted with twigs from the tree to take home.    A few families, however, came to see Santa Claus and a reindeer friend called Rose.   Rose and the kids were the most fun part of the day and therefore lead this post.

These photos, as the ones posted earlier, are also from Taylor’s Bull Branch Park.  Unlike the last post, these were taken during daylight hours.   The color palette is looking pretty nice this season and I’m content with these results.   What really sparked my interest, however, were the reeds surrounding the park’s pond.   I had no idea autumn could affect them, too.   They were fascinating, particularly when I walked to different areas, observing the changes in hues as the camera angle changed. Light changes when we move around (of course it does).  Intriguing subjects.

After a day of rain in Taylor on Thursday, I was heading home about an hour past sunset.   On my right, Bull Branch Park was covered in a fine mist and fog, accentuated by the park’s lights.   It was compelling enough that a stop was in order.   The light levels were low, but that wasn’t a problem because, as always, a tripod is nearby.  While much of what I photograph doesn’t lend itself to a tripod’s use, this did.   A future post will present some daylight photos of the park’s autumn colors, but this fit the bill tonight.  And yes, that shiny spot in the last photo (with a bit of light painting on the reeds) is our planet’s moon.  I love the moon. 

While we don’t have the abundant autumn color afforded to some areas,  it’s turning out to be a pretty good year for it in Georgetown, Texas.    These photos were made last weekend in three area city parks.   I’ll keep the words brief this time and let the images do the communicating.

These four photographs were made a few weeks ago at Taylor’s Murphy Park.  Although many of the nesting egrets have moved on from the rookery, cormorants, ducks and geese are plentiful throughout  the year.  Some of the egrets have remained, like the ones you see flying toward the cormorant-covered rookery.  These visits to the park are enriching bits of therapy.

As if it needs a name,  the full moon this evening is called a Beaver Moon.  I just know it’s mighty nice.   These images were made above some friends’ grain elevators in Norman’s Crossing, Texas.   When the moon first rises, at least in its full state, it is often imbued with rich color, but only briefly.   After getting that first photo, I took note of the moon’s light gently gracing the facades of the elevators.  It was intriguing enough to keep me outside on a cold night for a few extra minutes.

Although unusual, a second post tonight.   Veterans Day pushes the envelope this time.   These are photos made on this cold and rainy evening at Taylor Cafe, the barbecue cafe opened by Vencil Mares in Taylor, Texas in 1948.   Mr. Mares turned 96 on Sunday.  Taylor dubbed it Vencil Mares Day.  Vencil was a combat medic during World War II.   Feeling patriotic urges, he managed to join at 16.   A few years after the war, he came to Taylor and opened Taylor Cafe.   Even though confined to a wheelchair, he’s there by 6a.m., not leaving before 9p.m.   Others keep things going, but Vencil is there.  Friends and family will have a birthday party for Vencil at the restaurant beginning at 5p.m. Tuesday.   Happy birthday, sir.