On this recent evening I wasn’t seeing much inspiration until a field adorned with prairie grass came along.    Coming to a stop, there was hope I’d get an opportunity to document what was there, but one never knows.   Once truly agrarian, our area of Central Texas is morphing into a developer’s paradise.   Thankfully, I was able to stop for a couple of minutes to record this scene.   No fast-moving vehicles barreled along behind me.  These were quiet moments.   A little bit of prairie grass on the Blackland Prairie, my friends.

Granted, I probably post too much about Taylor’s rookery, but it’s a therapy that grounds me.   Those egrets (and a few Ibis) have provided resourceful use of my time since 2009.   These are from a few evenings ago.   Thinking back to last year, the rookery was in poor shape.   The summer heat and lack of rain decimated the bird’s habitat.   While this summer hasn’t been ideal, at least there’s water in the lake now.   We didn’t move to Taylor because of the rookery, but it’s a nice bonus.   My house is less than a mile away.   I’m still waiting for the birds to lay waste to our roof and yard.    Quite a few birds will be leaving soon.  The park will still be there, as well as herons, geese, cormorants and ducks.  These sky dancers, however, will be missed.

Patriot Day commemorates the losses we experienced on September 11, 2001.  The City of Taylor began holding their Patriot Day observances the year after 9/11.   A few photos tonight from their parade and program in downtown Taylor, Texas.   The ringing of the bell acknowledges the loss of a firefighter in the line of duty.   It’s quite moving to see. Please remember these things, my friends. 

Most photos from this year’s Memorial Stair Climb are either on Facebook or Instagram, but I’m offering one shot of a weary firefighter here near the conclusion of his climb at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.   You know the reason for this post, right?

An early post today, many things on my plate to photograph this afternoon and this evening.    These are some photographs from one recent daily walk in Taylor.   I am certainly enjoying my “new” used Olympus camera.

Just some train stuff this evening.   Late-day light around the Taylor  train yards is often interesting.   A few rail-related photographs accompany this brief text.  Three of the four photos were taken in Taylor, the fourth just south of Granger as a freight train continued north, passing a recently-harvested cornfield.   The graffiti might be something profane, or maybe pranksters entertaining themselves.   A simple offering this time.  Light observations, my friends.

Just some tractors tonight, friends.  Created in the American Midwest in the 19th Century, they continue to be integral components  in our agrarian landscape.  On a technical note, some photographs were taken with Nikons, others with a smaller Olympus.  Try to guess which is which. 

The Olympus cameras purchased in recent years have been for use on daily walks, but when on assignment around the Georgetown square Friday night I carried my Nikons, but also an Olympus.  It was really too much to carry, but near day’s end I just focused on light patterns with the Olympus. These are  Olympus photographs.    While migrating to Olympus full-time doesn’t fit my comfort zone yet,  it’s a dandy little system.  

On the way home tonight I noticed the Waxing Crescent moon, not quite 14 percent visibility, shining brightly over a scene close to home in Taylor.   It was reason enough to stop for a snapshot.   Enough said.  I see what I see.  

The light isn’t as perfect as I would’ve liked, but this scene in southern Bell County this week brings together things I cherish, including a dirt road, a weathered windmill and a well-worn barn.  While I photograph each of these treasures from time to time, they seldom gather in one scene.    It was wonderful to see.