When using the phrase “autumn light,” I’m not referring to fall colors, but rather to the crispness  that comes with late-day light at this time of year.  This is a grove of trees photographed a few times over the years.  It’s close to home, not far from the San Gabriel River.   For me, it’s a very quiet place.  Ongoing drought has taken some trees, but a few remain.    In the midst of the ongoing noise that digs into our psyche right now,  this is a respite.  

Quite possibly my favorite windmill to photograph is offered tonight.   Its home is a friend’s farm near Walburg, Texas.   I could snap photos of this one until the cows come home.  

This was taken in recent days.   When looking up dove-hunting season in Central Texas this morning, I discovered that this is its  final day until December.    The immense pleasure of each other’s company near day’s end was reason enough to post.   Lizzie and her human are well-bonded.   The landscape here isn’t shabby, either.

The Williamson County Fair Rodeo continues tonight at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.   Offered here are photographs taken during Friday night’s session.   The light inside the arena is challenging, but we do what we can.   Mutton Bustin’ is (of course) included.  Three of the cowboys competing last evening are Australians currently living in Texas to further their studies.  I always cringe a little when watching the bull riding events.   Those athletes wear helmets and heavily-padded vests.   Bulls can be testy.

A few things seen during my daily walks in Taylor, including this morning.    When possible, I’ll try to post a little grouping each week.   All photographs were taken with a feather-light Olympus camera.

A continuation of barns that occasionally get my interest.   The metal barn in the opening photograph, in the Granger area,  can look nice at certain times of day.   Mostly, I just drive on by, but this one, taken about 15 minutes after sunset, merited a stop.   The second barn, east of Thrall, seems to be disintegrating a bit more each time I see it.   The last one is a barn in Coupland that always gets the attention of photographers, this one, too.   Although that skeleton is there year-round, it’s the right season for another peek.

County fairs don’t really need too much information, do they?    Presented here are photographs taken on Wednesday evening, the opening day of the Williamson County Fair & Rodeo, held at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.    I’m planning to photograph the rodeo on Friday evening.    Rodeo is among my favorite things to photograph, but also the most mentally and physically taxing because of keeping up with names of contestants.   It’s nightmarish at times.  

Just a sunset I like, in an area of North Williamson County where I don’t wander enough.   Traffic hasn’t overtaken this road yet.

Farmer and rancher friends often provide technical names for the grasses sprouting up in late summer into autumn, but just call them prairie grasses.    These were all taken in the early-evening time, but morning light is also sweet.   Sometimes I just shoot photos until a theme emerges.   This little group began in late-August, concluding last evening with a horse in the midst of her grasses.  This is, after all, the Blackland Prairie.

A bonus photograph tonight, friends.   During a nightly wandering around Granger this evening I happened on some friends enjoying an evening bicycle ride.   The fellow presented here was fully decked-out, with not just a headlight and taillight, but brightly-glowing blue wheels!   You could see him coming from a long way off.  And he wore a helmet.   This was taken near the conclusion of his outing.