Photos from this evening are from Granger Lake, the Granger Lake Dam and the San Gabriel River, all connected.   I had traveled there to once again try to see the comet.   While that didn’t happen, I did find a few subjects.  Included are a paramotor enthusiast gliding over the San Gabriel River near a Waxing Gibbous moon, at 96.8% visibility.   I visited with Aaron, who enjoyed a nice ride near the river with his horse named Fantasma.  And the obligatory sailboat and sunset, followed by an evening photograph over the river.  

A Texas Longhorn grazes on a hill tonight in Beyersville, Texas.   I’ve made an effort to photograph the comet, but at this point, I’ll let that go.

Most of the time when seeing a hawk I’m seldom able to get photos before they skedaddle.   This one allowed a few moments of her time before departing.  

Almost home tonight, I happened on this couple focused on the western sky from a vantage point in Taylor.  Since the sky looked nice, I stopped for a photograph.   They were seeking out the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet.   Although I didn’t see the comet, I liked the couple’s focus.  The bright spot in the distance is Venus.   Before leaving, they did see the comet.  Maybe I’ll take another look this week.  It’s supposed to be visible for most of this month.

It was one of the rare weekends when I had no specific assignment or event to cover.  The notion of not taking photographs, however, isn’t in my nomenclature.   After reading for a couple of hours Saturday, I stopped by Berry Springs Park & Preserve, a beautiful county park where I often go for walks with a camera.   It wasn’t an outing for the newspaper, just an opportunity to get outside and see a few things.   Butterflies and grasshoppers merited attention, but the photo presented tonight was a  sweet moment.  A lady  enjoying a walk with her children noticed me taking photos.   Her 4-year-old son took notice of the camera, his eyes then  settling on a busy butterfly at work.   I think it’s a Queen butterfly.   The little boy, captivated by what he saw, began to reach out toward the butterfly.  I was certain it would fly away, but there it stayed, even when the little guy actually touched it.   Just some quiet photojournalism, friends.

A few photographs from daily walks this week in Taylor.    As always, it’s a post that doesn’t need much commentary, just things I see on morning strolls.   For now, these are taken with a very light Olympus mirrorless camera.  

A scene tonight a little after 9p.m. at an elegant old cemetery in Norman’s Crossing, Texas.   The last burial here was in 1918.  After all the hoopla regarding Northern Lights, even here in Central Texas, I thought it worth a look.  Before posting this, I took a look outside near 11:30p.m.   No change.   I won’t stay up for another look this evening.   This one’s okay.   Two-second exposure, tripod-mounted camera,  ISO 800.  Not a phone.

Saturday is National Farmers Day in the United States.   Today in Taylor, Melissa Meiske, the Activity Director at the SPJST Skilled Nursing Home, held an event celebrating farmers in our area.  Several farmers brought their farm equipment for  the residents to see.  Included in this post, just because he’s cute, is Bo, the Nigerian Dwarf Goat profiled a few months ago.   A number of the nursing home residents come from farm families.  The connections go back generations on the Blackland Prairie.   Near the end of this post is a portrait of a longtime farmer, a nursing home resident, now 90.   He has wonderful face.   This offering concludes with two residents gently holding hands under a shady tree.   I thought it a good way to end this one.   Farmers continue to have importance in our world.

For now, it still feels much like summer here, but at the end of day the light can take on a gentle crispness.   Driving around this evening, I wasn’t feeling connected to much,  but a little east of Taylor,  this pond, it’s summer algae almost gone, was a fine  place for a Great Egret to search for sustenance.   It’s not knock your socks off color, but the warm tonalities surrounding the water seemed to work.  I was thankful for this quiet road on the prairie.

Volunteers were out in force this afternoon to unload a few thousand pumpkins at Georgetown’s First United Methodist Church.   Another batch will be coming from New Mexico later this month.   I always enjoy photographing this event.   Pumpkins will be available until 5p.m. on October 31st.