Two of my inspirations for this week’s visit to Thorndale, Texas are my esteemed photography professors from University of Texas at Austin, J.B. Colson and Frank Armstrong.   Mr. Colson recently mentioned there’s more to explore there.   And Mr. Armstrong has visited there a few times with his cameras.   The old Cadillac in this post was photographed a few years ago by Frank.    Tonight’s offering is a mixed bag of imagery, some color, others not.  I figure this stuff out as I go, folks.   Here’s a few thoughts on what you’re seeing.  The opening photo, taken at sunset, shows (at left) a long-gone shop on Main Street, its roof a distant memory.   That structure shows up again a couple of times, later on.  You might note the building with a vehicle inside.  For those uninformed, that’s a vintage Ford Ranchero.   I’m advised that belongs to Thorndale’s mayor.  Tornado sale?   A couple of weeks ago, a tornado tore through town.  Maybe a sale is called for?  Butts Dry Goods is no longer in business, but Mr. Butts is alive and well.   The last photos are at Steve’s Place, on Salty Street.   Steve is no longer around, but the new owner, Burke, keeps things going.  When I asked Burke if he considered it a restaurant or a bar, there was no hesitation:  “a bar.”  But Burke’s wife, Evelyn, says they do a really good hamburger.  The smiling fellow at the bar?  That’s Doc, a professional pianist who often plays at a nearby church.   The building itself, according to Burke, dates to 1909.  It was originally an automotive garage.   The sculpture’s a very heavy water buffalo.  The inside entrance has a photo of the Duke (Mr. John Wayne).  On top of the entrance is a Harley Davidson Sprint motorcycle.   I may find more to explore in this little town of just over 1300 in Milam County, Texas. 

I’ve said this more than a few times, but the approach of Daylight Saving Time this weekend is not something I embrace.  Good, soft, sweet light will arrive, but it will come later in the evening.   At some point in any given night, it’s not good to be wandering around on these country roads.   But I’m glad for those who will benefit from time after work for their kids, grandchildren and maybe nice horseback rides.   These are from tonight on the prairie.

On a grocery store run tonight, my attention was diverted to Taylor Regional Park after spotting an arresting flight scene in the already-beautiful Blackland Prairie skies.   There I found three paragliding friends, two Nates from Austin and a Daniel from Houston,  enjoying the last light of the day.   The expected rain never came, but nature did leave us some nice clouds.    I’d have to say these guys in their paragliders, also called paramotors (they’re engine-powered), were living a good life tonight, getting away from the city to follow a passion.   In a sense they went several steps beyond kite-flying, in essence becoming the kites.   It was serenity-personified.

On a recent Saturday morning I spent some time with David Valdez and other photographers (and photo enthusiasts) at Georgetown’s San Gabriel Park.  David’s in the white cowboy hat.   Valdez, 67,  who spent years as the personal photographer to President George H.W. Bush in Washington, D.C., is like most of us photo types:  we don’t really retire, we transition.   A few weeks ago, David started a photo walks group in the area, photowalksgtx.   Once a month, Valdez is joined by other photo types to an explore an area with the device of their choice.  Like David, it’s very low-key, meant to be fun.   On this particular Saturday, David’s group was joined by Austin’s group, photowalksatx.   A member of that group, who has high-end Nikon gear, was also using her vintage film camera, a 1972 Asahi Pentax.   Another lady chose her smart phone, expertly-mounted on a tripod.  iPad photography was in evidence, too.   A rainy and cool morning made this a shorter walk, but it was still fun.   You can connect with David via Facebook by searching photowalksgtx.   Unlike yours truly, David’s also on Instagram at davidvaldezusa.   Photography is not just fun, it’s therapy.   These photos accompanied a column done for my pals at the Williamson County Sun.

On this pretty night I drove a little north of Taylor, first taking strong rays of light filtering over Granger Lake as fishermen called it a day.   Making my way to the village of Granger, a tractor, its day’s work done, awaited a new day along F.M. 971.   As the sun faded, grain elevators added contrast to the western sky.   Finally, I stopped at Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, watching the light fade when, to my delight, a waxing gibbous moon appeared.   A full moon is expected this weekend, but the forecast calls for rain, too.   My rule of thumb:  photograph the moon when you can.  

Tonight, after the sun started to make an appearance, I did a drive-around not far from our home in Taylor, Texas.   At the expense of sounding like a broken record, I do not embrace the soon-to-arrive Daylight Saving Time.   While I know it’s a God-send for many friends, at the same time it’s a lessening of beautiful light.   I suppose I could wander around into the late night hours, but that probably won’t happen.   Our weekend was filled with rain.   Some of that is in evidence with these photos, but there’s also new growth of farmers’ fields taking hold, lighted barns, and old barns, surrounded by the remains of the rain.  

This is just a grab shot taken on a rainy Saturday night while on another assignment.   Prom time seems to roll around much sooner these days.   This doesn’t need a lot of interpretation, two kids weathering the storm on their big night on the Georgetown Square.  Two versions: I prefer the black and white.  The young lady’s dress is bright, focusing the attention away from the whole image.   One guy’s opinion.

Sometimes, when it’s been a really busy day, posts might be nonexistent.  Or I might just take a close look at the road ahead.  That’s what you have on this Saturday night, friends.   This is a county road near my home in Taylor, pretty wet after rain throughout the day.   The lights in the far distance at left……that’s my neighborhood.   These country roads are lovely, day or night.   With Daylight Saving Time making a fast approach (next weekend), I’m enjoying the night light while it’s there.   If you sense I’m not enamored with DST, you’d be right.

Friends, meet Harold.   On the way back from the grocery store this week in Taylor, I noticed a tractor working a field, pretty far along into the day.   Of course I had to stop.   After a few frames, the tractor stopped while Harold fielded a call.  After his phone chat, we talked for a while.   Harold is 71 and lives in Beyersville, Texas, just down the road a piece.   For 33 years, he worked at the Alcoa plant near Rockdale, doing a little bit of farming when time allowed.  In 1997, he retired from Alcoa and put his efforts into working the land.   When we met, Harold was planting corn seed, working a bit past sundown, utilizing night lights on his Case tractor.  When the lights didn’t do the trick, Harold’s on-board GPS system filled in the gaps.   Harold is planting 600 acres of corn this season.   Working with him is his son, Randall.   They’re not planting cotton, but embrace a wee bit of wheat.    Life on the Blackland Prairie is quite nice, even for those of us who don’t till the soil.

Lucy is a constant companion, a house cat terribly-afraid of the outdoors, but she does enjoy her windows.     Do you choose your friends, and where you live, based on political leanings?   It’s good to engage, even if you are polar opposites.   Lucy knows this.   Learn from the cat.  I have.