Corner Bar

The Santiam Depot restaurant on 3rd Avenue is housed in a building dating back to 1911. According to the Stayton/Sublimity Chamber of Commerce web site it was a bank (1911), a Stayton Mail (Stayton's weekly newspaper) annex (1914), and a grocery store (1918). I'm not sure when it became the Depot, but it's been around for several decades.

That said, I've never been inside. I should do that someday. Anyway, I love all the neon, which is why I wanted to photograph it. It's too cool.

In other news, thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate this blog's 1st birthday. Y'all rock, and I appreciate it.

1st Birthday!

Well, I actually did it. This here blog is officially a year old today. Technically, today's photo isn't of Stayton, but it was taken in Stayton, and I baked the cupcake in Stayton... and I'll eat it in Stayton, for that matter, so close enough. :)

Thank you to everyone who visits and comments, and the various guest photographers who've shared their images. I appreciate each and everyone one of you.

A huge thank you goes to the city daily photo community. You guys rock, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

I fully intend to keep posting each day, so who knows, we may see a 2nd birthday in another year. Stranger things have happened.

Memorial Day, 2007

I took a few photos at Lone Oak Cemetery yesterday for Memorial Day. You can view my Flickr photoset here for more from the cemetery.

Red, White, Blue, Green, and Yellow

This is one of the many American flags which can be found around town. I've posted this photo in honor of Memorial Day, 2007, and all that it means. This flag flies above Pioneer Park.

Sometimes Beauty Is On The Outside

Here's another photo from Friday's sunrise (see also yesterday's photo). Same basic location, just looking in a slightly different direction. I really like the silhouettes of the trees.

Sky Power

Sunrise, yesterday morning. There are a lot of trees in town, so finding a spot where the sunrise can be seen is tough. I finally found this at the end of Fern Ridge Rd., near where it crosses Highway 22. I like the pattern the power lines create against the sky.

Yellow

This is a side wall of a bright yellow and blue building on 1st Avenue. It houses a business called Games Galore & More. I haven't been inside, but I'm inclined to think they sell games and some other stuff.

The thumbnail at right is of a different portion of the wall, showing a bit of the bright blue foundation. Click on it to see a larger version of the photo.

Delicate In Pink

I received a new camera today (a Canon Rebel XT) and only had a few minutes to take photos before it got dark, so you'll have to forgive me for the gratuitous flower macro. :)

It's a lupine in my backyard. Can I just say I am in love with my new camera? Because I am.

In other news, this here photo blog reaches its first birthday on May 30th, and I continue to be utterly stunned I've posted a photo every single day for almost a year. Whoooo.

Just A Boy And His Pumpkins

I spotted this artwork on the side of a small portable (I think) building on 4th Ave. I don't know what it is or was used for... perhaps a pumpkin patch. Dunno.

If you'll notice, the boy has his hands behind his back. What is he hiding? Does he have some pumpkin seeds he's just waiting to pop in his mouth and spit at unsuspecting passers by? Is he hiding a potential lack of hands due to insufficient drawing skills on the part of the artist? Oh, the possibilities.

Ouch

I almost missed seeing the damage on the RV (recreational vehicle) pictured above. I'd stopped to take some photos of some flowers nearby when I spotted the missing back corner.

I can understand the need for air conditioning, but that seems a bit extreme. ;)

It makes one wonder what happened. The metal siding is ripped up and out... whatever did happen, I hope any people who may have been involved were/are okay. I didn't see any other external damage on the vehicle.

Church And Cross

This is part of the Church of the Nazarene on E. Washington St. I posted a photo of the entire building last July, but as I was passing by over the weekend and saw this setting, I couldn't help but stop and take some photos of it again.

Bridge

Continuing my interest in bridges, I bring you yet another Stayton bridge. I didn't know we had so many. Anyway, this one is next a building which once housed the power company before they moved to another city. The bridge leads back to what I assume are power-related things like the water canal and... um, other stuff. I think the power station's back there somewhere. I've never been back there, so I'm not sure.

The thumbnail at right is a black and white version of the photo above.

Waiting

This beautiful guy or gal was hanging out in the back of a truck at Dairy Queen yesterday. He or she was very well behaved, but certainly perked up whenever someone walked out of the DQ with some food.

Of course, I do the same thing. ;)

So A-peel-ing

A small apartment building on 2nd Ave. was painting fairly recently... within the last few years, I think. Apparently it didn't go quite as planned, since it's already peeling quite a bit.

For whatever reason, the pattern of the peeling paint reminds me of a world map. Well, maybe a world map as painted by a hyperactive chicken, but still, a map of the world.

On a side note, I want to thank Abraham Lincoln at Brookville (Ohio) Daily Photo for taking the time to comment so often on my and others' daily photo blogs. Be sure to visit his blog for great photos of wildlife, plus much more.

In The Shade

This is Neitling Park, a cute little area with paths and trees and grass and more and trees and grass. It sits right next to Pioneer Park, and I think of it has the quieter, more peaceful cousin of Pioneer. At least I do now, since I just made that up.

As a side note, I'd like to wish my mother happy birthday. So happy birthday, Mom! She would very likely kill me if I posted her picture here, so I'm not gonna. My mother didn't raise a dummy, after all. :)

Big Giant Rock

This big giant rock marks the entrance to Pioneer Park, as you might have guessed by the writing on the rock. It might be difficult to tell in the photo, but it's partially engraved and partially painted, some of which is peeling off. Still, it's kinda nifty.

New Hope Community Church

Today brings a new entry in my effort to photograph the various churches in Stayton. I have most of them posted... after this I think I have one more to do.

The church above resides on 2nd Ave. Other than that, I know virtually nothing about it. If anyone out there has any information about it, please leave a comment. Thanks. :)

A Prickly Situation

I stopped near someone's front yard the other day and discovered the pointy thing above. I was surprised to see it growing here, as I didn't think cacti grew in this part of the country. I think it's a prickly pear, but if someone knows more than I, please leave a comment. I would appreciate it.

In other news, I have a bit of an addition to yesterday's bovine bonanza. I've just started experimenting with an "out of bounds" technique, which is intended to make part of the photo appear as if it's coming out of a frame. I tried it out on the cows from yesterday's photos. Click here for the result. I still have more to learn about it, but it's an interesting thing to try.

A Bovine Extravaganza

I had a rather pleasant visit with a couple of bovine beauties this weekend. We chewed the cud, had some laughs, listened to some music by the Cowsills, and they were very kind to pose for me while I took some photos. In fact, they were rather persistent in the matter. I was happy to oblige, since they're much bigger than me, and I'm a udder coward.

And since I felt I should milk this for all it's worth, below are more photos (click on each thumbnail to see larger versions):

Green, Green Grass of Home

This is part of an overgrown field on E. Ida St. I'd stopped near the field to see if any ducks were around in a small creek. No ducks were about, so I decided to play in the green grass for a bit to get today's photo.

Red Barn

This is a retail nursery on 1st Ave. called Yarnell's Grower's Outlet. From what I understand, it used to be an actual functioning barn, but I don't know it's history. If anyone out there knows, please email me (my email link can be found in the right-hand menu, or email 'site (at) specialweb.com').

It definitely makes for a distinct building, though you'd probably miss if you didn't know where to look. It sits off the road a bit, behind some other businesses.

At right is a back and white version of the photo. Click on the thumbnail to see it larger.

Motorcycle Rider

I happened to catch this lucky guy going by on his motorcycle the other day. I always feel a distinct case of bike envy whenever I see someone on a rumbling motorcycle... makes my 49cc scooter seem like a bicycle with training wheels.

Note: I rearranged the numbers on the license plate to protect the privacy of the rider.

Lupine Alight

It's time once again for a self-indulgent flower-oriented photo. I took this yesterday evening, when the sun was coming through some trees and creating interesting effects around the top of a lupine flower stalk thing (to use a technical term).

Below are a couple of other views of the lupine. Click on the thumbnails to see bigger versions.

     

Covere Bridge (Yes, Again)

Frequent visitors may recognize this bridge, Jordan Bridge in Pioneer Park, since I've posted it once or twice. Or possibly five or six. Or maybe more. Anyway, it was time for yet another view.

So here's another view. And I just realized I have a thing for bridges. Not just this bridge, but bridges in general. But that's okay. I can live with it.

Spanning Bridges

"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.” ~ Winnie the Pooh

The view from the rear view mirror of my scooter.

I've posted a picture of this bridge before - my photo Danger: Swift Water shows it the opposite direction, looking towards the bridge I was on when I took the photo above.

Are You Lookin' At My Bum?

I stopped to take a picture of a pretty azalea near Pioneer Park yesterday, when a little interloper decided it would rather be photographed instead.

The dude above is a narcissus fly, from what I've gathered (please correct me if I'm wrong), which is a type bee mimic. For another view, click on the thumbnail at right.

Twisted

Today's photo is small part of a chain link fence surrounding the public library while it undergoes construction for an expansion. That's all, just a bit twisted metal.

If you want to see more of the fence, just repeat the visual above in your head intersecting with other twisted metal bits over and over again until it forms a large fence, 'kay? :)

Make A Wish

I found these nifty dandelions growing by the side of the road. Kim at Seattle Daily Photo asked if I got down on the ground to take the picture, but, alas, 'twas not the case. The camera was the only thing down that low. Yes, friends, it suffers for my photography so I don't have to. Or something like that.

Raindrop

Today's photo is of a raindrop on a lupinus/lupine leaf. It rained a lot yesterday. And it hailed a lot. And it thundered so hard it shook the house. That means I went as far as my backyard to take pictures, and even then it was only briefly, in between rain showers.

Gravel Road

Stayton still has a gravel road here and there in town. This one runs between E. Hollister St. and... um... some other street. Possibly E. Robidoux St. Possibly not. Perhaps I should have paid attention. Perhaps not. The gravel road might be 5th Ave. Again, maybe not.

DP Theme Day: City Exchange

This month the theme day is: post a photo of a city other than yours. My photo is of Historic Columbian Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. I have a vested interest in the cemetery, as my mother runs the place and I maintain the web site.

This photo was taken in the fall of 2005.

(Note: I'm posting this a few hours early to try to keep in line with participants in earlier time zones.)

There are currently 80 blogs participating in this theme day:

Monte Carlo, Monaco - Rome, Italy - Singapore, Singapore - Tenerife, Spain - Rotterdam, Netherlands - London, UK - Montréal (QC), Canada - Melbourne, Australia - Naples (FL), USA - Bastia, France - Hong Kong, China - Mazatlan, Mexico - Buenos Aeres, Argentina - Manila, Philippines - Arradon, France - Madison (WI), USA - Evry, France - Seoul, Korea - Shanghai, China - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Sequim (WA), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Hamburg, Germany - Toruń, Poland - Nelson, New Zealand - Madison (WI), USA - Vantaa, Finland - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Mainz, Germany - Dubai, UAE - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Cork, Ireland - Stockholm, Sweden - Menton, France - Tel Aviv, Israel - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Kitakami, Japan - Stayton (OR), USA - Szentes, Hungary - Stavanger, Norway - Grenoble, France - Villigen, Switzerland - Paris, France - Hyde, UK - Moscow, Russia - Joplin (MO), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Greenville (SC), USA - Cape Town, South Africa - Asheville (NC), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Madrid, Spain - Auckland, New Zealand - Oulu, Finland - Lubbock (TX), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Vancouver, Canada - Seattle (WA), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Manila, Philippines - Lyon, France - New York City (NY), USA - Los Angeles (CA), USA - Brookville (OH), USA - Hayle, UK - Wailea (HI), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - San Diego (CA), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cypress (TX), USA