Downtown Signs

The building above is on 3rd Ave. It sits in the heart of historic downtown Stayton... which is approximately 4 or 5 blocks long, and a street or two wide. It's not exactly a large historic downtown, but it is historic and it is downtown, so that's really all that matters.

Fire Hydrant

Today's photo is for all dogs out there with full bladders -- that's right, it's a fire hydrant. This one resides on E. Pine St., not far from the pump station I posted back in October.

I know, this is exciting stuff. But I think fire hydrants are kind of cute (yes, really), and they certainly serve a useful purpose.

Street Light Through Leaves

I had a vague idea of a shot I wanted to take -- looking straight up at a street light at night. It ended up being the above somewhat blurry thing, since I didn't use a tripod. It was cold, and I wanted hurry back inside where it was warm.

Anyway, there were a bunch of Oregon grape leaves (which, incidentally, have nothing to do with grapes) and I think some junipers in the way of the light.

I should probably try this shot again sometime when I have my tripod... and a jacket. Did you know it's not a good idea to go outside in a t-shirt in freezing weather? Funny, that.

Inflatable Snowman

I have a confession to make: I've joined the legions of people with inflatable Christmas lawn decorations. It's strange what a half-price after-Christmas sale will do to a person. It was so cheap, and it's a snow globe with fake snow and everything! It's not my fault. It called to me.

I am weak.

But it's cute, ain't it?

Criss Cross

I like the pattern created by the power lines in today's photo. Power lines tend get in the way of things I'm trying to photograph, but this time they kinda made the shot, in my opinion.

This was taken in downtown Stayton... on 2nd Ave., if I remember correctly.

Birdhouse

I spotted the little birdhouse above on 6th Ave. the other day, and just thought it was cute.

I hope everyone had or are having some spiffy holidays. Thanks to everyone who posted holiday wishes on yesterday's post. :)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope everyone is having a day of peace and love. And pie... lots of pie. ;)

The sign above currently sits in front of Regis High School, a catholic school on Regis St. here in Stayton.

Merry Christmas Eve, Everyone

I wish everyone a peaceful and joyous Christmas Eve... and Christmas Day to those in earlier time zones. Happy holidays to all who celebrate other holidays, and have a happy day in general to everyone.

We're going to have a passel of people over at our house tonight to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. Then my 14-year-old niece will stay over, which always makes me happy because she's pretty much the only person I know who's shorter than me, if only by a little bit. It makes me feel almost tall. ;)

Frosty Branches

Here's another photo from Stayton's recent "big frost" which turned the whole town white without any snow. It's of some branches from something or other... can't remember where I took this one, so I can't remember what tree or trees it's from. I literally have no clue. Huh.

A Purple Christmas Tree

I am happy to say our lonely little Christmas tree is lonely no more. Yes, friends, it has finally been brought inside and decorated. It may not be the most attractive tree, but it's ours... and it's done and out of the way, which is a big plus.

Thanks to those who left get well wishes. I'm better today, so hopefully by tomorrow I'll be as good as whatever I was before I fell ill.

Framed in Frost

Here's another photo from Tuesday's big frost. To me, the edges of the leaves on this bush look like diamonds.

I've been ill the last day or two, and we're in the middle of a big rain spell, so please forgive me if I don't go out and take new photos. I'm sure I'll post something, though.

A Town in White

Yesterday was very cold, but absolutely beautiful. Frost settled on all the trees, bushes, etc., in town, and stayed there the entire day. And since the trees and so on are everywhere in Stayton, the whole town looked like a crystallized wonderland. The photo above is overlooking town from partway up a hill.

Note: the photo is in color. Nature, however, was in black and white. :)

I again visited the Christmas tree field I posted two days ago -- the thumbnail at right shows the trees covered in frost. Click on it to view a bigger version.

Today's weather will be a bit warmer and rainy. It would be nice to go above freezing for a change, but there was something magical about yesterday, and I'm sorry to see it change.

Out of Focus

There comes a time in every wannabe photographer's life when they take purposefully out of focus shot of lights. This is mine. :) It's of some multicolored Christmas lights I spotted in downtown Stayton.

Fog Over a Christmas Tree Field

Since it's almost Christmas, I thought I'd revisit the Christmas tree field I first posted back in June. Back then the weather was warm and sunny. Yesterday's weather was cold and foggy, and there was frost on the ground.

Wikipedia has some interesting information on Christmas tree farms in their section on natural Christmas trees.

Tree farms are great in that they are virtually a never ending supply of Christmas trees without harming the environment since they don't contribute to deforestation, the trees themselves help the environment while they growing, and the trees can be turned into mulch after they're cut down.

Wikipedia also has a section on the environmental impact of Christmas trees, both real and artifical.

Note: I'm not affiliated with any tree farms. I just like Christmas trees. :)

The Town Tree

I finally managed to get a photo of Stayton's Christmas tree when the lights were on. I think it looks rather pretty sitting next to that gazebo. The star on top of the tree is tipped over... probably a result of the high winds the other night. The tree itself is tied down, and I'm glad it didn't fall over.

Speaking of holidays, I want to wish a Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate it.

Lonely little Christmas tree update: the tree I bought was finally moved inside the house today, where it stayed for about 10 minutes before it had to be moved to another room. It aggravated our allergies something awful. We might have to move it to the patio and look at it through the glass door.

Post-Wind Wind-Up

You may have heard about the wind storm the pacific northwest had a couple of nights ago. I went out briefly around town on Friday and didn't see any major damage. I did hear that at least some parts of the Stayton area were without power. We came close but didn't lose our power, though the cable was out for several hours.

The small tree above in a yard on 3rd Ave. appears to have blown over in the gusty winds, and the thumbnail at right shows what one of the streets in my neighborhood looked like yesterday morning.

A metal-framed canopy tent we normally have over our patio tipped over and started to go for a trip through the yard before we caught it. My brother in nearby Salem had trouble getting home last night due to downed trees littering the roads. What is normally a ten minute trip took over two hours.

We all are safe, thankfully, so it could have been much worse.

The Lonely Muffler

I spotted the above lonely, abandoned muffler a few blocks away from where I came across Frosty the Snowman passed out in the dirt... on the very same day, no less. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

Perhaps Frosty and his pals went for a joyride in someone's car and this poor muffler is all that's left. Or maybe he ripped out of someone's car as a prank. If so, somewhere there is an overly loud car in need of a muffler. Or possibly Frosty wasn't involved at all. Hey, we shouldn't assume.

There was also a bit of garbage strewn about near the muffler. It could be a sign of late night partying... or a messy muffler thief. Hmmm. I guess we'll never know what really happened.

But Frosty better watch his snowy back, 'cause I'm watching him. ;)

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Passed Out Frosty

LATE BREAKING UPDATE: Today's post is number 200, and I didn't notice until the day was half over. I'm such a dork. Anyway, on with the post...

Yesterday I promised to show you what Frosty the Snowman does in his off time. Well, I have photographic evidence he has a life beyond that of guarding Christmas tree lots.

Now, let's not assume anything. He could be passed out with his carrot nose stuck in the dirt beneath him for a very good reason. And just because there's an empty whipped cream container next to him doesn't necessarily mean he was hitting the eggnog a bit too hard, so just get that idea out of your head right now. He could have been... um, making holiday pies to give to needy families, and he just dropped from exhaustion.

I do wonder, however, why there's a second snowman nearby who looks exactly like him. Could it be Frosty has a double to take over when he's out of commission?

Tomorrow's photo is of something I found a few blocks away from where I found the above. I'm not saying it's related, but one never knows. Check back tomorrow and draw your own conclusions.

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Christmas Trees For Sale

The above is from the local Boy Scouts Christmas tree lot, which is being silently and ardently guarded by Mr. Frosty T. Snowman. If you don't pay, he bonks you on the head with his cane. If you're rude -- bonk. If you look at him funny -- bonk. Don't mess with Frosty. Hey, it's all for a good cause.

Tune in tomorrow to find out what Frosty does in his off time.

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Old Wall

The weather is still icky here, so today's photo is one from October I never posted. It's of an outside wall of the Mason lodge on 3rd Ave. I love the cracked textures and the lines of the windows and pipes.

Lonely little Christmas tree update: it's still lonely. I hope to bring it inside in the next day or two... still not sure where, of course, but someplace or another.

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Twinkle

Since yesterday's post was about the more commercial side of Christmas tree decor, I felt today's post should be a simple display of tree lights which I feel capture the spirit of the season.

That's my way of saying it rained today and I couldn't go out and take photos of something in town, so I took a photo of something in my living room instead.

No, I still haven't put up my lonely little Christmas tree. The lights above are from a small artificial tree I have sitting in the front window of my home.

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'Tis The Season To Buy

This big, bushy holiday tree sits in the lobby of the Safeway grocery store. I wasn't sure if I should be amused or annoyed that the only decorations on it are lights and gift cards one can buy. Really, throw on a few candy canes or something, eh? Maybe a few bows?

Speaking of Christmas trees, I still don't have a place for mine, so it's presently sitting outside. I feel bad, what with it sitting out there all by itself and all. Hey, maybe I should buy a second one to give it some company? Or better yet, give it a gift card so it can buy itself another one?

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Deck the Fire Hall

The Stayton Fire Department put up some wreaths and lights for the the holiday season. I think it looks spiffy.

Speaking of decorations, I bought a cute little four foot tall Christmas tree today. We usually get a much bigger one, but I don't have any place to put it at the moment. Once I brought the new tree home, I realized I don't really have any place to put that one, either. I'm sure I'll squeeze it in somewhere.

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A Storm's Brewing

I took the photo above late last month, when we were having storms every two seconds (okay, that might be a slight exaggeration). This was taken on E. Hollister St., looking west towards 3rd Ave. It had rained earlier in the day, and was very close to doing it again.

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Cracked

The other day I posted a photo of an old rusted door on the side of a building in downtown Stayton.

Attached to the building is a smaller wooden structure in a similar run-down condition. The photo above is of the front of the structure, taken at close range and at an angle to show the various textures of the surface.

I can't tell you how many times I passed by it without actually looking at it. It wasn't until I parked nearby to take a photo of something else did I really stop to look at it. I'm glad I did.

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Nearly Full Moon

It was too foggy two nights ago to take a picture of the full moon like I'd wanted, but last night was a little more clear, so I figured a 98% full moon (according to Weather Underground) was close enough.

I'm finally getting to where I have some vague concept of the various settings on my camera, so I was able to fiddle with it to get a clear shot. Well, that and I got lucky. ;)

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Oh, Christmas Tree

Stayton has a brand new site for the town Christmas tree this year. The old one lived at the public library, but had to be moved due to construction. The new one is on an empty lot on 3rd Ave. It sits next to the historic A.D. Gardner House, which was built in 1898. It houses a bed and breakfast, and (I think) a coffee shop is going or has gone in to the main part of the building.

I haven't been able to get a nighttime shot of the Christmas tree yet, but hopefully I will soon.

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Doorways To Learning

Today's photo is of the entrance to the Stayton Middle School, a building my grandmother's brother helped build. He was a contractor.

I spent four academic years of my life in this place, and it's always strange to go back to see how little has changed. There are still some wooden signs up in the gym I helped paint back when I was in 7th grade (I think), which was *gasp* 19 years ago. I'm so old.

The signs were done in in art class, which was taught by my favorite teacher, Rebecca Penna. Mrs. Penna, wherever you are (Google says you're teaching in nearby Dallas, OR, now): you made a difference in my life, and I thank you.

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Presents And Pictures

Yesterday I attended the 34th Annual Friends of the Library Christmas Bazaar at the Stayton Middle School. The photo above is from one of the booths which sold decorative lighted Christmas "presents" and framed picture mirror things. The thumbnail at right (click on it to see the full version) is from another booth with beautiful lighted containers. Very pretty stuff.

I went looking for presents for others, but, as always, I found it hard to not buy things for myself. I did restrict myself to spending only $3.25 on me. I'm so proud. ;)

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Salvation Army Bell Ringers

Thanks to everyone who guessed what the people in yesterday's photo were doing. Annie of Little Rock Daily Photo got it right with the first guess -- they were Salvation Army bell ringers. The World AIDS Day guesses were good, as well.

The photo above is the full shot of the two bell ringers, who were standing outside Safeway, which is one of Stayton's two grocery stores.

Annie, if you'll email me at 'site (at) specialweb.com' with your postal address, I'll get the postcard out to you right away.

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