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.

Horses.   It’s a post where you don’t need much background information.   Offered tonight are  portraits of horses seen during my wanderings around the Blackland Prairie.  Horses are beautiful and exquisite beings.   A few scenes from Taylor, Beyersville, Circleville and Noack.

Sunday morning I was en route to the annual Blessing of the Animals service conducted by Grace Episcopal Church in Georgetown.   The service was held at San Gabriel Park.  A few minutes from the service site, I came upon a beautiful and fluffy white dog along the Inner Loop.  She had a collar and looked well-kept, but I couldn’t be late for the service.  Thankfully, a motorist, also seeing the dog, stopped to assist.   There are  good people in the world.     But as always, I digress.   These photographs are from Sunday’s service.  Most receiving blessings were canines, but a Bearded Dragon named Zuzu was there, too, along with a few cats.   I was happy to cover the service, but truly glad that lost dog was helped.  

“I like your photographs because they’re quiet” is  one of the most meaningful compliments I’ve received.   The person mentioned this on our first meeting a couple of years ago.  We continue as friends.

Hopefully, this photograph taken during a morning walk today works that way.  As with all walk photos, it was a quick moment, but I felt the lady and child had a bond as they observed water flowing through a stream in Bull Branch Park.

We’re living in a noisy world.   Dissonance and mean-spirited behavior seems to be the order of the day.   As elections near, yard signs seem to add another level of stress.  Everything is loud, too intense, chaotic.

Look for a quiet place.  And don’t try to engage this writer into a discussion.  

Jim Bob and Kelly Clayman held their 31st Annual Clayman Rodeo on Saturday at Windsong Farm in Georgetown.   I’ve been fortunate to photograph it for about fifteen  of those years for the Williamson County Sun.   Kelly and Jim Bob, both former rodeo athletes, have been training youth, and a few adults, in equestrian skills and etiquette.  Along the way, they learn some rodeo things, too.   This event is the culmination of training for many.   You won’t see steer wrestling, bull riding, bareback riding, or anything that could lead to serious injury.   At Clayman events you’ll see barrel racing, pole bending, team roping and breakaway roping.   And lots of determined faces, each learning life skills, too.    The opening and second photos are of the same 6-year-old, with granddad giving support in the second one.   Since it’s still hot in Central Texas, you’ll that here, too.

With another busy evening, an early  post.  When heading out for daily walks, I consider all the things missed for years  by not toting a camera with me.  So far, that camera is an Olympus.    The world is adorned with light, color and design.   And if we’re fortunate, an occasional good moment.   Keep looking for small landscapes, my friends.