Our January full moon is called a Wolf Moon.   These are photographs from this evening in the area around Noack, Texas, a few miles east of Taylor.   The post begins with a photo of Christ Lutheran Church, one of the last photos taken before heading home.   The moon had risen long enough to get that burned-out look, but it’s my favorite among these.   The other three were taken a bit earlier, but all in the same beautiful community.

After several days and nights of frigid weather in Central Texas,  temperatures climbed into the mid-upper 50s  on a sunny Saturday afternoon.   Hoping to find folks outside, I drove to Georgetown’s San Gabriel Park.  Only two days before, the park was almost deserted.   This time I found a dad coaching his identical twin 4-year-olds in the sport of tee-ball (also written as t-ball).  In a few weeks the boys will begin team practice.   Dad will also be their head coach.   I mentioned to the boy’s grandparents it might be challenging to tell them apart.   Grandma pointed out their slightly different shoes and socks.   Also one of the boys was right-handed, his brother a leftie.  After days of finding the area almost deserted this was a nice gift!  Another cold snap is expected by Sunday.   Enjoy it while you can, friends.

The moon was in its Waxing Gibbous phase when this photo was taken tonight, almost full at 98.6 percent visibility.  It was embraced by a group of old-growth pecan trees, a fine combination.   I see a lot of photographs where the moon is huge.  While that’s okay, it’s not what we really see with our naked eyes.   I want to see (and record) what you see.

Mostly, I’ve just been gathering photographs from walks for the entire week, but perhaps that’s too many.  If you post too much,  folks might have a tendency to grow weary.    This group has twelve shots from around Taylor, including a crested caracara, also known as a Mexican eagle.  A member of falcon family, they’ve been moving north from Mexico for a few years.    Perhaps it might be preferable to post stuff as I go along, not waiting until week’s end?   Just thinking, friends.   I’m still a Nikon guy, but sure enjoy toting that feather-light Olympus on these strolls!   There’s a lot of birds here, plus one furry creature who fancies himself a bird.   Squirrels are the animal world’s gymnasts.

A few years ago someone mentioned an old roadhouse in Milam County I might find interesting.    Indeed it was, but that road was also a treasure.   I wandered out there a little ahead of sunset on Friday.   The late-day winter light pulled me right in.  The roadhouse is included here, but the sun’s rays were really the inspiration for this post.   The Sinclair gas pump indicated a per gallon price of around 26 cents a gallon.  That was a long time ago.

It’s 27 degrees at a little after 10p.m. tonight in Taylor, temperature dropping a little more before morning.   This photograph of Ernie was taken in downtown Taylor  a little before 7p.m., the temperature in the mid-30s.   Ernie, a  veteran in his mid-70s, is holding on as best he can.  A group here is reaching out to the area’s unhoused.  I hope they can help  Ernie.

Another simple and straightforward post tonight.   Just some trees.   Trees in Central Texas evolve into the next phase of their lives when the winter months come.   This offering begins with a couple framed by trees at Granger Lake as they embark on a fishing expedition there, followed by a lone tree under a collection of clouds.  And the last one, a blue evening photograph at a dear friend’s farm.    Again, just trees.

Each year, when the warm weather vegetation goes away, I’m surprised when this hand shack continues to stand in Taylor.   You might recall a post a few months ago, where I peeked inside it to see a lone high chair.  This is from Thursday afternoon, when rain and mist nicely cleaned up the background.  A hand shack, also called a pickers shack, was at one time a place to stay for seasonal farm workers.   A few of these dwellings remain on the Blackland Prairie, but this is one I notice.   For those unfamiliar with the phrase “Blackland Prairie” please note the dark soil.

Temperatures were in the 30s throughout the day, with rain arriving in the early-afternoon.   The rain continues tonight, into Friday morning.   Tomorrow night we dip down into the 20s.   These are from Georgetown areas this afternoon, including a woman walking her dog by the river at San Gabriel Park, a couple of misty photographs around the pond at Berry Springs Park and Preserve, concluding with a visit to the square tonight, where holiday lights were reflected on the very wet streets.   The rain-covered statue is Dan Moody, a Taylor native who served as governor from 1927-1931.  

Power lines aren’t always bad.  Sometimes they enhance a scene.   This is one I like, taken this week along a very peaceful and quiet country road close to Taylor.  Night was taking hold as this motorist drove under a fading western sky.   The cold tonality of the car’s headlights seemed to provide an interesting contrast to the surrounding warm colors.   I just like the feeling of serenity.