With the corn growing tall and crispy around East Williamson County, it was a proper  assumption  that harvest time was near.  Driving home a few evenings ago, I needed no further proof when I saw some farmers known for years, their tractors and combines in a circle to ward off the summer sun as they enjoyed an evening supper onsite before returning to work.  The farmers are Shaun Raesz, 49, and his brother Steven, 47, who took over after their father, Arnold Raesz, retired in 2022.   This season they’re harvesting 3,700 acres of corn.  Helping out are Shaun’s sons Montgomery, 24, and Maverick, 21.   Driving one of the tractors this season is Shaun’s niece Emily, 20, a student at University of Texas in Austin who is quite good at navigating a tractor and grain bin.   Once school begins, Emily is a trombonist with the UT Marching Band.  Shaun’s wife Kari and daughter-in law Madalynn help prepare and deliver the evening meals.   Steven spends much of his time guiding harvested corn into several grain elevators.  Helping him there is his girlfriend Kate, and his niece Genevieve.  A few non-family members are always there to help.   Harvesting 3,700 acres is time-consuming.  They often go well into the night, recently stopping at 1a.m.  Shaun shares concerns for his slow-moving farm equipment as he and his crew move along county roads, dominated now by massive growth in the area.   If you encounter a combine or tractor on a road, please be respectful.  

As most who follow these posts know by now, I tote a small mirrorless camera (Olympus) with me on daily walks, usually in Taylor.   When those little moments start to clutter my desktop, they end up here.   They’re mostly closeups, primarily taken because of the light.   It’s most always about the light.

A few impressions of Bartlett, Texas taken Sunday evening.   Bartlett is a community about twenty minutes north of Taylor, with around 2,000 residents, more or less.   It rests in both Williamson and Bell Counties.   Like its neighbor, Granger, a few miles south, it retains some of its wonderful brick streets.  Summer growth is taking hold, too.   I don’t cotton to summer light, but it wasn’t bad this time.

A continuation of the Round Rock bridge post.   Mexican free-tailed bats make their home under the McNeil Street bridge near Interstate 35 in Round Rock.   I joined a group of watchers on Saturday evening, there to observe the activity.  Texas Master Naturalists were on hand to guide the discussion and questions.   I’d hoped to see a swarm of thousands of bats flying over the bridge, but the little critters stayed pretty close to the bridge last evening.   Our guide mentioned they’ve only flown high above the bridge en masse one time so far this year.   It was still neat to observe.

This bridge in Round Rock was not my specific assignment Saturday evening, but the light gathered around (and above) its surfaces was too good to ignore.    Another post will follow soon, the main reason I was there.   For now, just the bridge.

It’s a photograph taken a few evenings ago in North Williamson County.   I’ve let it gather dust for a while, not sure if anyone would care to look at a “grab shot,” something I see and shoot with zero advance planning.    The harsh sunlight was blazing in the distance when this farmer heading home caught my eye.   I quickly grabbed a camera, hopped out of the car and made a few frames.  The farmer probably assumed the photographer was daft (he’d have been right!)  but thankfully there was nobody behind me on this quiet country road.   The light was problematic, but is reminiscent  of the Eastman Kodak snapshots my parents took with their little box cameras in the 50s.   If you’re looking for technical wizardry, look elsewhere this time.   I just like this one’s mood.

Getting up early isn’t difficult, but taking photos at the beginning of a day can be challenging.   This morning, however, I made myself get out the door about twenty minutes before sunrise, choosing to stay close to home.   The rookery at Taylor’s Murphy Park is usually a good option.   This collection of photos includes not just our seasonal visitors, egrets, but also ducks and geese, year-round residents.  The first three are before sunrise.  The power lines around the park make sunrises tricky, but I managed.    It’s good to be an early-bird sometimes.

It’s an area east of Granger I’ve  photographed quite a lot, but enjoyed the recent arrival of warm light near sunset.   The structure, if I’m correct, was at one time a picker’s shack,  made available for seasonal workers many years ago.   It fits well into this scene.

This continues a series of photographs documenting barns.   Pictured tonight is a barn I first photographed seven years ago.   Just up the road from us, I’d seen it for several years, but wouldn’t set foot on the property without an okay from the owner.   In 2017, however, I noticed a couple outside, tending a garden in their yard.   Pulling into the driveway, I asked if it was alright to take photos. “Sure, but watch out where you step,” pointing to a spot.  “I killed a rattlesnake right there,” he explained.    Since then this barn has been in front of my lenses a few times.   The road it’s on was closed down for almost a year for a widening project, but recently it re-opened.   These were taken last evening.   I’m glad to see the 1963 Chevrolet still there.    A few barns photographed no longer exist.   It’s important to document them now.

Finally, the sun began to go down last night.   It’s going to be a long hot summer.   Summer in Texas is not kind.