Clouds and rain are a welcome sight in our area of Central Texas, where extreme drought is still present.   These three photographs were taken this afternoon and evening, both in Williamson and Travis  Counties.   The row of grain elevators near Coupland was actually the last photo taken tonight, but they’re  great subjects.   Earlier in the afternoon, I saw two Texas Longhorns taking advantage of a shelter to get out of a pouring rain.   I’m glad the owners thought to offer that to them.   Finally, there’s New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Northeast Travis County, a few miles northeast of Manor.   I do look for reasons to photograph that church.   The rain is a blessing!

A photo taken during Sunday evening wanderings, this scene near Thrall, Texas.   So many times I’ve seen a collection of clouds that never produce rain.   This time, however, precipitation came our way.    When stepping outside at 6:30 this morning, a gentle rain ushered in a pleasant day.    It stopped a bit after sunrise, but more is expected throughout the week.  I’m thankful.

Is there a theme connecting the photos in tonight’s post?   Maybe. 

It may come as a surprise to some folks, but many of the photographs I take are ones  done just for the joy of seeing them, not for financial gain.  Take today, for instance.   I had a couple of paying assignments that should have been enough to satisfy the urge to click a shutter, but more personal therapy was needed.   So I got up well before sunrise today to wander a bit prior to  the actual assignments.   The first photo, taken just after sunrise, was this odd stuffed animal I’ve seen before,  attached to a post near a field.  When passing it in the evening, the light was awful, but it was dandy just after 7:30 a.m. today.   From a distance I thought the critter was a bear, but closer inspection seems to indicate it’s a three-toed sloth.   Zoologists, weigh in if you know!   It’s an oddity that begged to be recorded.   A few minutes later, I pulled over near Jonah to observe an elegant  white horse soaking up morning rays.   The rest of the day was spent with assignment work.   Tiring of sitting in front of the computer late this afternoon, I ventured outside, seeing the skies filled with clouds.  The windmill photo is near sunset.   Dawn to dusk, friends. Let’s hope those clouds eventually give us rain.    We continue to be very drought-stricken here.   The forecast calls for rain chances increasing Sunday, even more on Monday.   Bring it on, please.

The San Gabriel River has taken a beating during the drought, but it was looking rather nice Thursday evening when I spent time at Georgetown’s San Gabriel Park.   It seems I’d forgotten that Great Egrets enjoy it, too.   They gather in trees high above the water, caressing the air as they glide into a space.   And yes, there’s even a moon photograph included.  Plus a gathering of ducks.   I enjoy bodies of water in all forms, but a good river can’t be surpassed.  The San Gabriel is elegant, not too muddy, not too wide.    It’s the very essence of serenity.

Land is finite.   We’re not making anymore.   I think about that when rambling through the countryside.   Tonight’s photograph is a swath of land in Southeast Williamson County, Texas.   I love this view, one recorded a number of times.    I can’t speak for others, but it’s places like this that are in peril as development takes hold.   That development will have an impact for generations.   

Just a grab shot, something seen this week while wandering near Granger Lake.   They mostly stayed hidden in the brush, but ventured out for a minute to say howdy. 

Just when I think it’s time to move onto to other subject matter, a moonscape appears to be following my movements this week.   Tonight it made its presence known above Granger’s City Hall, a Waxing Crescent moon at 18.6% visibility.    Honestly, I look for reasons to photograph this structure.   It was built in 1908-09 for use as the Farmer’s State Bank building.   The bank closed in 1926.   The City of Granger made it theirs in 1929.  It’s one of the iconic structures in this community nestled in the heart of Williamson County, Texas.

Although I’d planned to move on from moon photography, tonight’s Waxing Crescent moon over Taylor’s St. James Episcopal Church kept me focused a little more.   At 11.1% visibility it looked wonderful.   But of course I think most moon photographs can be wonderful.   This church was built in 1893, using cypress, oak and pine wood.   It remains an active church today.  An organ installed in 1914 is still in use.  

Staying close to home Monday evening, I drove to downtown Taylor and just strolled around a little, enjoying the cool night air.   Walking under the viaduct I noticed a tiny slice of moonlight shining above the Taylor train yards, a Waxing Crescent moon, at 5.3% visibility.  Eclipses are nice, but the moon always looks good.