Back in September, when working on photographs at the  Waterloo Cotton Gin, it was nice spend a few minutes snapping photos of Manuel, 3-years-old.   Manuel’s father works at the gin during harvest time.   His mama usually comes along with Manuel.   I was initially taken in by the  little guy’s expressive eyes and ready smile.   After the photos, it occurred that Manuel was communicating to the camera  with his hands.   His mama, you see, is deaf.   He and his mom talk via sign language.   What Manuel was saying is a mystery since I don’t know sign language, but he’s an enchanting little boy.    People often grow up to become angry, not kind.   I’m wagering Manuel will continue to promote joy.   

Perhaps you’ve figured this out, but windmills are among my favorite subjects.   I hadn’t planned one tonight, but this one looked mighty fine next to a vibrant Texas sky.   No apologies this time, friends.   I do what I do.

Tonight’s full moon, a Beaver Moon, finds its way into the skies over Granger, Texas tonight.   The scenes are from Granger, Texas, beginning with Holy Cross Cemetery, followed by an elegant barn.   The post concludes with two views of a windmill.  

A few of the things that got my attention during daily walks in Taylor this week.   For now, all were made with an Olympus OM-D E-M10 camera equipped with a Lumix 45-150mm lens.  The first four photos were taken quite early.   The quality of light at the beginning of an autumn day is nice.

The moon, at nearly 99% visibility tonight, was climbing into the sky above a little pond and tree I’ve admired for years.   As many times as I’ve been by, not once have I seen a cow.   This isn’t a tank, friends.  It’s a pond.

Bartlett, Texas, like Granger, its neighbor just south of here, is adorned with cobblestone brick streets downtown.   Those streets get a lot of pounding now, but they’re still holding on.   Cobblestone streets are best seen at night, when town lights and headlights really make them stand out.  Bartlett, with a little over 1600 residents, is in both Williamson and Bell Counties, about 50 miles northeast of Austin.    Recently, when I posted something from Granger, a Bartlett resident mentioned the Red and White Grocery and Meat Market.   It was so busy on the evening these photos were taken, I couldn’t see the store because of all the cars in front.   Just before leaving, however,  the parking area was briefly empty, allowing a nice look inside this neat store.   Bartlett residents are fortunate to have such a fine hometown grocer!

Autumn around here is seldom vibrant, but at the right time of day trees can embrace warm light.   The San Gabriel River is presented here.   If you look closely, there’s a heron doing a bit of  fishing at lower left.   The lower resolution photos offered here and on social media don’t have a lot of impact, but we do what we can.

Locklin Cemetery, in rural Milam County, is surrounded by  beautiful topography.   The gently cared-for final resting place is also 180 years-old.  The first burial, that of blacksmith Peter M. Mercer, was in 1844.   Through the years it’s grown to include approximately 400 burials.   It can be found at the end of a dirt road  several  miles north of Thorndale.  That road concludes this offering.    A friend mentioned this site several years ago.   Sometimes, if the light isn’t right, I’ll just drive through.   On this visit, however, the sun’s rays were doing fine work across the landscape.   You might know by now that I’m intrigued by cemeteries.   I wish they were all as well-maintained as this one.  

After a few days of community journalism, a return to familiar territory on the Blackland Prairie. Near sunset last evening a little distance east of Granger, Texas.  I’d usually look for subject matter to include with the sun, but the grove of trees  had a certain smoky appearance, reason enough to offer this one.

Some of us have lived long enough to recall when war protesters were burning American flags, mostly during the Vietnam era.     I wonder how many know that flags are officially (and respectfully) retired  in fire.   Last evening I returned to the site of Georgetown’s Field of Honor to observe and record the ceremony.   The young lady in the first photo, now 16, oversaw the ceremony, assisted by Scouting America troops and American Heritage Girls.    I’ve been taking the leader’s  photo since she was 8, when the Field of Honor first came here.    The offerings don’t need much added information, but take note of the lady in the red blouse being handed a piece of a flag to retire.   She’s from a Gold Star family.  Her brother was a Marine from Pflugerville, Texas  who died during combat in Iraq in 2004.   Weather permitting, flag retirement ceremonies continue here  this week, usually beginning at sunset.   If you haven’t attended one of these, they merit your time.