Happy Halloween!

Happy Pumpkin Day! SpongeBob PumpkinPants above is one of the hand-painted pumpkins I made for Halloween (see last year's Halloween post for two others). It's hard to tell in this photo, but he glows under a black light.

Here are a few more Halloween-themed photos I've taken over the last month (click on each thumbnail to see a larger view). Enjoy, and see you tomorrow for the November 1st city daily photo theme day.

The Spook Gallery:

Super Squirrel - Part II

Back in April I reported on Stayton's own Super Squirrel, a seemingly regular grey squirrel which has the ability to fly. I now have further photographic evidence of this phenomenon.

Regrettably, I was not able to ascertain if this is the same squirrel from April, since he refused both times to stop for questions. I'm just lucky I was able to get his picture. He's an elusive fellow. Provided, of course, he is a male. He could be a she.

I do know this super squirrel was spotted at the same location, Neitling Park. Coincidence? Perhaps, perhaps not. Obviously, further investigation is required.

I will continue to bring you updates on this important story as it unfolds. Stay tuned to Stayton Daily Photo, your official Super Squirrel blog.

And Yet A Few Still Linger

This is historic, friends. Yes, today I am not posting autumn leaves! They said it couldn't be done (or maybe that was me), but it's true.

Well, okay, mostly true. There are a couple of leaves on the tree, but just barely. Hardly noticeable. In fact, the overly dramatic title of today's post comes from the fruit of some variety which still hang from the branches. If you can't see them, click on the photo and choose 'all sizes' to see a bigger version.

For those who may care (and, really, why would you?), this was taken at the east end of Jefferson St.

Beneath It All

No, this isn't a self portrait.

I decided to take a (brief) break from all the autumn leaves photos to post a Halloween-themed picture. It's both a skeleton skull and a candle, so it's two, two, two things in one! Wow! This is exciting stuff, friends.

Autumn Suits Me Fine

Yes, another photo of autumn leaves. I did post a warning yesterday about that, so you shouldn't be surprised. It's not my fault if you didn't be-leaf me. In fact, you really should have known I wood. It's knot like I'm going out on a limb here. True, I may be a sap -- I may even be nuts -- but such is life.

Yes, I know I should branch out and post photos of other things. You might be out there, pining away for something non-leaves related. You may even be temped to send me an email aspen when something different will be posted. Please don't, as you would be barking up the wrong tree. For now, I must stand fir(m). The leaves are pretty, darn it, and I'm gonna post pictures of 'em. Don't they spruce things up around here? That's really the root of it, now that I think about it. So even though it may not be the poplar thing to do, you can bet your ash more will be posted.

Another Visit To The Jordan Bridge

Yesterday, I headed back to my favorite subject to photograph, the Jordan Bridge at Pioneer Park. And since I couldn't decide which photo to post, today is a double-feature. Click on the thumbnail at right to see a bigger version of that photo.

Consider this a break from all the autumn leaves photos I've been posting. Yes, I realize there are leaves in the photo, but they're not the primary focus. Tomorrow, though... I'm not making any promises. It's likely today's photo will just be... er, a bridge to from one fall leaves photo to another.

(Carla, who commented a couple of days ago that she likes my bad puns -- the horrible pun above was for you! ;) )

Autumn In Technicolor

Um. So, this is another photo of fall leaves. I know, I know... I've already posted some, but gosh darn it, I like fall leaves. So here's another photo of fall leaves.

Bad To The Balloon

This bad boy was hanging out near Locust St. He has a nice bike, with the flames and all. I wonder who makes it -- Harley-Balloonson? I hear it runs on helium. It gets good mileage since it doesn't weigh much.

Anyway, this has to be the coolest Halloween inflatable decoration I've seen.

By the way, I do apologize for the bad puns in today's post. Kinda.

Fall On The Diagonal

It's pretty much a given I will be posting autumn leaves photos on and off until they go away for the year. Blame nature.

This is one of the photos I took two days ago when I had the feline visitor I posted about yesterday. The stripes are courtesy of the parking lot of Neitling Park.

I Was Being Watched

I was at Neitling Park yesterday taking photos of autumn leaves, when I noticed I had an audience. The cat didn't come too close (this was shot at 300mm), but he (or she) stayed for quite a while, just looking at me. Of course, he (or she) was completely nonchalant about it, like he just happened to be facing my direction and wasn't really paying attention to me. Because he (or she) is a cat. That's what they do.

Scattered

Yes, friends, we have another autumn leaves photo. This time it's a color cutout, meaning the whole thing is in black and white except the yellow leaves. Click on the thumbnail at right to see the original version.

Someone on Zooomr (a photo sharing site I recommend -- check out my Zooomr photos) suggested I do the cutout version. I think it worked out well.

Moon Dance

I took the above shot of the moon last night. We were between rain showers, and the clouds provided a pretty setting for the moon.

5 Minutes For A Dollar

There used to be telephone booths all over town. But thanks to the advent of cellular/mobile phones, there are far fewer, and judging by the sign on the side of the booth, they're a lot more expensive.

I can't remember the last time I used a phone booth. Of course, I generally have trouble remembering yesterday, so that's probably not saying much.

This particular phone booth lives on Washington St., by the A&W Restaurant. Click on the thumbnail at right to see another view of the phone booth.

Let Them Fall Where They May

There are a lot of trees in Stayton, and as a result there are a lot of autumn leaves scattered all over the place right now. Which means I shall take pictures of them.

These particular leaves were on a sidewalk on 2nd Ave., near the Jones Hotel apartment building.

Stop City Of Stayton

This sign struck me as odd. When read as a whole, it clearly says, "Stop City of Stayton." Stop them from doing what? It doesn't say.

Stranger still, I think it was actually placed there by the city itself. Is the city engaging in some sort of compulsive behavior? Did it put out this sign as a cry for help? I just don't know.

Someone should get to the bottom of the pressing matter. I would volunteer, but seeing as how it took me over four months to actually get around to posting this photo after I took it, I'm probably not the best candidate.

Think! Safety Pays You!

This rather large sign graces an outside wall of the Norpac Cannery on Washington St. So remember -- think (something I generally try to avoid) and then safety will pay you. Or something like that. I could have things a bit confused.

I featured another Norpac shot in August of last year, if anyone is at all interested.

The Little Shed On The Hill

Today's photo is of an as yet unoccupied section of the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, looking towards a storage shed and the Lone Oak Cemetery side of things (they are side-by-side).

An Autumn Casualty

Autumn is definitely here. The weather's turned wet and colder, and the leaves have started to turn lots of nifty colors. I found this maple leaf on the ground, looking like it had been chewed up and spit out by the changing of the seasons.

Something Along Those Lines

Today's photo is from the completely random file. Just a fence and sidewalk, with a few scattered leaves, moss, and dirt littering the path. Just a sidewalk. Just a fence.

Oh, sure, I could make up something about how the moss is overtaking the man made sidewalk, and how that's a statement about how nature will eventually reclaim the land... but I won't.

Enjoy your Saturday.

Meet Me In The Back

This is the back of a building on 3rd Ave. I have no idea what building it is... some business or other. I've been told this "looks like a good place to get mugged." I doubt it, since Stayton's not exactly a hotbed of person-on-person criminal activity, but one can never be too sure.

By The Light Of The Bridge

In my night wanderings around town, I went by one of my favorite subjects, the Jordan Bridge at Pioneer Park, and snapped the above. I thought about cropping it, but I like the off-center placement. I guess I can identify with being off-center. ;)

If This Isn't Scary, I Just Don't Know What Is

I'm a little concerned. When I was out a couple of nights ago I saw this inflatable Halloween decoration not once, but twice, in two yards in separate parts of town. This leads to the inevitable conclusion that they're either multiplying or one was following me. Either way, this can't be good.

If they are breeding or are sentient and capable of movement, then we should all be on high alert. Pay attention next time you're out driving around and you'll see them everywhere. What are these creatures thinking? What are they hiding? This is an issue I strongly feel should be looked into closely. Possibly with the aid of large federal grants.

We need act now, before it's too late. The evil inflatable Halloween monsters are everywhere, in every yard across the country. There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. They're coming for you!!

Ahem. Sorry. I may be rushing to judgment. Forgive me.

I leave you with a final warning: do not approach any of these... beings. We don't know what they're capable of, so it's best to not engage. Use extreme caution.

Little Train

I was scootering around downtown again last night, and spotted this little toy train in the window of Stayton's new community-based radio station. A place I keep meaning to visit.

Anyway, I'm surprised the shot came out as well as it did. There was very little light, and I couldn't use a flash, as it would have just caused a glare on the window. Thank goodness for a high ISO.... as long as you don't look too closely and see all the digital noise. :)

Time Waits

Back in April I posted a photo of a thermometer which hangs from a building on 3rd Ave. On the opposite side of the thermometer is the clock pictured above. I don't think it works anymore, as it was off by several hours when I took the photo, but I think it has a great look to it.

It lives under an overhang, so it's pretty easy to miss unless one has reason to look up. Or when one is looking for random things to photograph, as I was.

Stayton Church Of Christ

Today's photo is of the Church of Christ on E. Washington St. I posted a nighttime shot of the cross last year but hadn't gotten a photo of the whole building. Well, this isn't quite all of it, but it's pretty close.

The right-hand side of the building houses the Stayton Christian School.

Postal Employees Only

Today's photo is of the back door to the post office on 2nd Ave. No reason, really, other than I had to drop off some stuff to mail in a mail drop-off box located near the door, and I had my camera, and, well... you do the math. I think these bins are used to transfer mail to the delivery trucks.

You know, it just occurred to me I could have asked my brother that, since he's a mail carrier. I would call him now, but it's almost midnight and I doubt he'd appreciate it. And he knows were I live. ;)

Corner Office

Here's another photo from my nighttime photo excursion. This is an eye doctor's office on 3rd Ave.

Down In The Alley

I was scootering around downtown a few nights ago with my camera when I came across this nifty alleyway next to the Food Bank. It's yet another thing I would have completely missed if I hadn't been looking for things to photograph.

Under Construction

This is one of several new homes being built off of E. Jefferson St. I'm not sure what the land used to be... I'm guessing farm land since the new neighborhood sits right next to some farm fields, but I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time, and definitely not the last.

A Patch Of Pumpkins

I'm not ready. The local stores have put Halloween-related items on sale, and I'm not ready. I love Halloween, but it's way too soon to acknowledge it even being October.

DP Theme Day: Cemetery / Tombstones

This month City Daily Photo theme day is Cemetery/Tombstones. Stayton has two cemeteries side-by-side, the Lone Oak Cemetery and the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

The photo above is of a cross on the top of one of the upright tombstones. The sun happened to be shining through the clouds right behind the cross, so I set my camera to make the cross in shadow to show more of the light.

For those who are into this sort of thing, the effect was done in-camera (f/22, 1/500 sec, ISO 100), with only minor color and contrast changes done in processing.

Click here for more photos from my walk of the cemetery.

To visit more cities participating in today's theme, please click on the links below.

St. Louis (MO), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Mainz, Germany - Hyde, UK - Arlington (VA), USA - Cape Town, South Africa - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Toulouse, France - Arradon, France - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Joplin (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Seattle (WA), USA - Baziège, France - Baltimore (MD), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Sequim (WA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Anderson (SC), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Nashville (TN), USA - Tenerife, Spain - Manila, Philippines - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Jacksonville (FL), USA - River Falls (WI), USA - Chateaubriant, France - Quincy (MA), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - Lubbock (TX), USA - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Moscow, Russia - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Minneapolis (MN), USA - New Orleans (LA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Toruń, Poland - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Christchurch, New Zealand - London, England - Paderborn, Germany - The Hague, Netherlands - Selma (AL), USA - Sunderland, UK - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Stavanger, Norway - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Portland (OR), USA - Forks (WA), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Boston (MA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Wellington, New Zealand - Montpellier, France - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Evry, France - Saarbrücken, Germany - New York City (NY), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - North Bay (ON), Canada - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cypress (TX), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Paris, France - San Diego (CA), USA - Wichita (Ks), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Prague, Czech Republic - Zurich, Switzerland - Budapest, Hungary - Paris, France - Saigon, Vietnam - Grenoble, France - Zurich, Switzerland - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Naples (FL), USA - Toronto (ON), Canada - Sequim (WA), USA - Chicago (IL), USA