On this first day of winter, with temperatures in the mid-70s in Central Texas, I paid a visit to the waxing crescent moon above Taylor, 12.5% visible on a night when clouds were moving in.  A first stop was at St. James Episcopal Church, going strong since 1892.   From there, it seemed like a good idea for another visit to the Christmas lights at Heritage Square Park.  You might recall something similar when the moon was full recently, but it’s still nifty to photograph.  Until, of course, the clouds came in.   As I prepared to call it a night, however, along came a group of Christmas carolers, strolling along Main Street.    The last one’s a festive friend, a bartender at Taylor Beer Company, enjoying a break outside on this warm winter’s night.

Autumn truly does last a good while here in Central Texas.  We’re still blessed with bits of color here and there.  Late this afternoon I visited Berry Springs Park & Preserve in Georgetown, where I found friends fishing and visiting with their dog, a birding lady taking. a few photos and a very sleek Great Blue Heron, soaring above a pond in search of a meal.   Temperatures reached into the 70s today, but by Friday we’ll be getting something that definitely will feel like winter.   These were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.

For the past two days in Taylor, Texas, we’ve had a bit of rain, but quite a lot of fog, too.  Both are fine with yours truly, but fog is magnificent.   It has the power to soften and make quiet so many things that might otherwise be filled with dissonance.   These photos were taken Monday afternoon and evening, around Bull Branch and Murphy Parks.  On second glance, the final photo, well into the night, was at Taylor Regional Park.  The way light changes near the end of a day continues to fascinate.   The colors you see here are a pretty accurate representation of what I saw.    Fog is a peaceful thing.   We all need a little of that, don’t we?

121817 TAYLOR, TEXAS:

Yesterday, I was poking around for something to point a camera at when I remembered one of my favorite spots … an old truss bridge spanning a section of the San Gabriel River in East Williamson County.   This bridge lived a good life, but was replaced years ago by a more modern conveyance.   Thank goodness the county, or the state, decided to leave the old one intact.   It’s beginning to show the effects of age these days.  When I step onto its surface, it pays to be careful that I don’t step into a place where boards are missing.  Some may recall other posts from here.  Last year, for instance, I spent the whole evening sitting in a chair there, waiting on a meteor shower.   The bridge and I, we have a history.  On this visit, I saw the remnants of autumn leaves gently falling on its surface.   And of course, there was the river, such a sweet sight.   While I love the ocean, ponds and lakes, rivers, with their gentle meandering, speak to me.    Maybe it’s the same for you too, friends.

This one doesn’t need much explanation … just a country road a little outside Taylor, Texas tonight.  It’s a route often taken,  but for whatever reason, I  had not thought of seeing it this way.   It took a little while to get an acceptable photo.  Waiting for cars to come by, however, is a good thing.  We like our space around here.   Be well, friends.

Once again this year, I had the good fortune to document the happenings at Georgetown’s Blue Santa distribution, held Saturday at the Public Safety headquarters.   Blue Santa is an annual event hosted by the Georgetown Police Department that pairs pre-qualified  families with gift boxes for the Christmas season.   This year’s numbers were great: 533 families, including 1,553 children, were  served.   The opening two photos show an excited 2-year-old, anxious for the doors to open to get things started this morning.   This  event, as always, is made better by the many volunteers who freely give of their time and caring to help make the season happier for families who might otherwise have a hard time providing the joy families crave.  The last photo shows a Santa who came on a motorcycle, one of almost 100 motorcycle riders who spent their morning riding around the area, collecting gifts for the families.  The ride was sponsored by Georgetown’s Central Texas PowerSports.  Note that some of the those pictured wear bright smiles, while others are more reserved.  This is a time of the year that brings to light all sorts of emotions.   Blue Santa programs can be found throughout Texas.   In all my 29 years in Atlanta I don’t recall a Blue Santa event.   Maybe that’s changed.  It’s such a positive endeavor that puts some of our finest first responders in the positive light so many of them have earned.  Most of the folks you see toting gift boxes are volunteers.  This couldn’t be the well-oiled machine it is without their help.   These photos were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.  Happy Christmas, friends. 

Taylor’s Murphy Park is a place you’ll see photos from time to time.  Part of that is that it’s close to home, about a mile away.  Beyond that?   It’s a lovely place.   The small lake, home to the park’s rookery, is serene.  We all need a little peace in our lives. 

One of the first beautiful sights I noticed when we moved home to Texas in 2009 was this church, New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church.  The congregation of Swedish immigrants formed in 1876.  The structure pictured here came along in 1922.  For many years, services were conducted in Swedish.   But here’s the thing, folks.  On this expansive prairie land northeast of Austin, you can see its spire from a far distance, poking into the heavens.   While I’ve photographed it a few times, it was not until this week I decided to see what it looked like at night.   I’m happy to report it’s just as enchanting.   The final photo is included as a teachable moment:  when you can, use a tripod.   The opening photo, taken while standing in the middle of a dark road, was NOT taken on a tripod.  Some things are best not tried on a dark country road.  

In late-1972 and early into the next year, I worked on a picture story about life in an Austin fire station.  Not the firefighting part, but rather the communal living aspect.   In this photo, a firefighter relaxes and reads in the large room designated for sleep.   Back in those days, I don’t think there were any women firefighters, at least not in Austin, Texas.   I wonder how these things are approached today?   This was for a class project at UT-Austin.  It’s likely I was also inspired a little by the work of Alfred  Stieglitz.

Travis County is home to Austin, but it spreads out a bit, too.   This farm scene was taken this evening in northeast Travis County, Texas.    The thing is, I didn’t have to travel too far from our Taylor home to see this.  I’m guessing it’s about 12 miles from my doorstep.    It’s a big, spread-out state, very urban, but also quite rural.   Thank goodness for that.