A full day and evening was spent photographing the annual bazaar and evening dance at Granger’s Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church.   The early part of the day was spent watching church members preparing brisket, sausage and plenty of vegetables  at the parish hall.   If so desired, attendees could receive plates via a to-go line.   One lady who was first in line arrived over an hour early, but a lot of folks chose to dine in the parish hall.  I like the young fellow giving his mama a big hug, plus a bright-eyed 7-year-old enjoying the festivities.  This evening a dance was held in the parish hall, with traditional Czech music provided by Fritz Hodde and the Fabulous Six.  This is such a pleasurable undertaking each year.

Sunset nears tonight over West Davilla Street in downtown Granger, Texas.   It’s a picturesque community of around 1500  only ten miles north of Taylor.   In the 2010 Coen brothers remake of “True Grit” this street played the role of late-1800s Fort Smith, Arkansas.   It continues to have the look and feel of that time.   If you’ve not read the novel, I recommend spending some time with this great work by Charles Portis, an Arkansas writer who died in February 2020.  

Dove season begins this weekend in our area of Texas.   Friends and families from throughout the state, and from other states, flock to Central Texas to participate.   I don’t always photograph it, but much of the land where hunters have pursued their passion is being scooped up by development.   Thousands of acres are on the market, including the ones documented this weekend.   Things do change.

This is the farm near Walburg where I photographed Wednesday night’s Blue Moon.   It’s 189 acres of beautiful Blackland Prairie land owned by a  friend who allows me to roam there  whenever possible.   Before the moonrise I spent some quiet minutes documenting what caught my eye.   A recent corn harvest allowed a fine view of the rich Blackland Prairie soil.  There are several tanks (ponds) onsite, hurting a bit because of the heat and drought, but they’re holding on.   Sunsets are special here.   As is that wonderful windmill.  Progress is rampant here, but my friend is determined to keep this good land pristine for future generations.

Photography has been a way to earn a living for over five decades, but as I like to remind folks, it’s also a therapy.   One from a daily walk.

A sunset tonight over Taylor, Texas.   This is quite close to where we live, also close to a huge semiconductor plant being built.   Land all around here is for sale.   Things change, but what do we lose in the process?

The full moon, as seen east of Walburg, Texas this evening.   Why they call it a Super Blue Moon is a mystery.   It’s certainly not blue, rather a warm embrace of color before becoming a hot white ball above us.   But it’s always nice to see.

The heat and drought have been hard on cotton crops this year, but one south of Taylor looked mighty nice at sunset tonight.   As did a moonrise over Coupland.  The moon is at 98.2% visibility.  

Tonight’s Waxing Gibbous moon, at 94.1% visibility, glistened over Granger City Hall tonight.   I love this historic structure.   It opened in 1909 as Farmers State Bank, later becoming home to Granger City Hall in the 1920s.   The building is undergoing restoration.   I’ve no doubt it will be here for years to come.

The state has identified our area as one experiencing exceptional drought.   We’re well aware of that.   Late this afternoon, clouds materialized and the wind brought forth with abandon.   Finally, I thought, we’d get the relief we need.  The first photo was taken near a  friend’s farm west of Taylor.  Surely the rain would come.   When I ventured out early this evening, rain was minimal.   A recently-harvested cornfield rested under a canopy of color.    At sunset, a windmill I’ve not photographed before made itself known.   I love sunsets, but rain would be healing.  On the positive side, the temperature dropped from 106 to the mid-70s in no time at all.  We’re thankful for that.