This afternoon I visited Garey Park, a 525-acre park in Georgetown as families gathered to hike the various trails offered.   A couple of the routes took visitors by the South Fork of the San Gabriel River.   This portion of my favorite river has some wonderful rock outcroppings hard to resist.  The brothers presented here had no trouble at all.   Truman, however, couldn’t help hide his reservations.   A Westie, Truman managed to climb up on the rock, but when it was time to go, he cold cold feet.  He finally made the leap and moseyed on.   I’m hoping you all have a fine 2020.

While there’s no hard and fast rule, I wanted to post something tonight actually taken tonight.   That happened to work out on this last day of 2019.   There’s been much discussion in recent regarding whether or not this marks the end of a decade.   You know what?   It doesn’t matter a bit.   By Wednesday morning we’ll be in 2020. Call it what you like.   That’s Princess strolling away from my camera at a friend’s farm a little south of Bartlett, Texas.   Princess, for whatever reason, was feeling moody.  That’s her prerogative.   She’s still a very sweet lady.   The second photo was taken this evening in downtown Granger, Texas.   I’m a big fan of flags and this one in an old storefront window seemed a good way to end the year’s posts.   I passed this scene two days ago and took a photo, but somehow, the night setting just worked better.   No need to show you the daylight shot.    Happy New Year, friends.  

The Saul family cemetery is a picturesque plot of earth along F.M. 1660 between Norman’s Crossing and Hutto.    Charles Saul moved to this area of Williamson County, Texas in 1850.   In 1862 he purchased 640 acres along Brushy Creek, setting aside this space for a cemetery.    In 1870 his was the first burial.    The last person laid to rest here was in 1918.   There are 23 marked graves and a few unmarked graves of former slaves.    I’ve visited this cemetery a few times through the years.   Williamson County is currently widening F.M. 1660.   While I don’t think this site will be affected, the new road will come awfully close to a place I consider hallowed ground.    Growth and expansion will take a toll on this farm country.   Note that six of the seven photos were taken this month.   One was made in July.   I post the summer photo to call attention to a tree’s seasonal changes.  The opening photo shows it in December, the final photo from July.  

Yesterday I wore myself out, driving almost continually for three hours in search of photos.   These images are a continuation of Saturday’s ramblings on the Blackland Prairie.  I don’t feel so great tonight so will keep the words to a minimum, but worth noting that these were all made in the Coupland area.  

It’s been one of those days where color photos come close to being black-and-white.    On this Saturday in and around Taylor, Texas, we didn’t get a lot of rain, but did get plenty of mist and drizzle.  And of course some mighty dark clouds.   I spent three hours today chasing after photos.  Four of them are presented here.   When fields get a little soaking, it seems to bring out flocks of birds in even greater numbers.     That’s okay because I love our avian beings.   These images were all taken nearby:  Taylor, Thrall and Beyersville.   As you might know by now, I generally stay close to home.  

The moon, when not covered by clouds, was beautiful tonight.  It’s in its Waxing Crescent phase, only 3.6% visible.    Even when a little sliver is all there is, it’s enough.  This was taken while wandering through Bartlett, Texas.   Rain is forecast for Saturday.  I doubt we’ll see much moon tomorrow night.

For the longest time I refused to consider using a mobile phone for any photography, but then I began seeing interesting things on those daily long walks of two hours.   The phone, though limited, was light.   A couple of these photos were taken on my Christmas morning walk.  The phones I use are by no means expensive.   The phone photos, from Taylor’s Bull Branch Park, were made with my new Samsung Galaxy A20, less than $200.   The last photo was taken late Wednesday afternoon at the San Gabriel River in Georgetown.   That one was made with the “real” camera.  

Are these seasonal fireworks stands a common sight where you live?    They can be found along several roads in Williamson County, Texas.   This one’s along Texas Highway 95 just north of Taylor.    I can’t recall if we had these in Georgia.   Maybe we did.   Note that fireworks are illegal in most city limits around the country.

Windmills, church spires and grain elevators (or silos) are very much a part of the nomenclature on the Blackland Prairie in East Williamson County, Texas.   They are our skyscrapers.  All are well-documented by my cameras through the years.   While I run the risk of boring you with too many of these subjects,  they’re part of what I do.   These windmills are from a couple of nights ago.  And one that includes the sunroof of my old Honda.  

Some of you might recall photos taken in late-April and early-May at Granger United Methodist Church in Granger,  Texas.   The photos accompanied a piece in the Williamson County Sun about its closing after being nestled in a neighborhood at Elm and South Granger Streets  since 1905.   The attendance had dwindled to just a handful of regulars.   Since it was designated a Texas Historic Site in 1970, I had hopes that it would continue to be a part of the community.    While taking pictures of Granger’s cotton Christmas tree a few weeks ago, I happened to meet Robert and JoAnn Halstrom, both 59,  from  Wimberley.    We chatted briefly about the town’s history.  Then Robert casually mentioned they’d recently bought the local Methodist church.    This was great news!    Two days a week, on their days off from work, they drive to Granger to do restoration.  Sorting through years of debris, JoAnn found a number of those old-fashioned hand fans, adorned with colorful art.   The  extensive work is expected  to take about a year, maybe a little more.   The interior woodwork and stained glass windows are beautiful.  They hope to do the majority of the interior work themselves, but will need help when it comes to the exterior.    Included with their purchase were three pianos and an organ.  JoAnn plans to keep at least one of the pianos.   When the work is done, they envision it becoming a bed and breakfast, perhaps a restaurant.  Or perhaps a private home.   One afternoon while Robert was working outside, Granger resident Linda Jezisek passed by.  Rolling down her window, she asked if it was okay if she took a peek inside.   It turns out Jezisek attended church here growing up.  JoAnn told me a number of residents had stopped to chat and give their blessing to this undertaking.    Whatever its future use, I’m glad to see it being treated with grace.