Pump Station

This is the Public Works reservoir and pump building. It, I assume, has something to do with water.

That's what my readers (hi, Mom!) have come to expect from this blog -- in depth, detailed information.

It was a fairly boring photo of pretty routine buildings, so I processed it to make it more interesting. The picture at right is another view of the building from across a field. I didn't do the processing this with this photo -- I figured the sky and field made up for it.

In Flames

I spotted this nifty mailbox painted with yellow flames in front of a house on Fern Ridge Rd. I don't know if they're trying to speed up mail delivery or what, but it's kind of awesome.

Things That Go Crackle In The Night

Early yesterday morning, my dog woke me up by sitting on my bed and growling at something. That's not unusual, but his persistence finally made me get up to see what was going on. I'm glad I did -- the front door of my house had caught fire. Thankfully, the local police and fire department acted very quickly, and made sure the damage was minimal. We still have our house, our pets, and our lives.

I want to thank the fire fighters, the police, the investigators from all the departments, and anyone else who helped us yesterday. I respect the heck out of each and every one of you, as does my entire family. What you do for the community is invaluable.

And thanks to my dog, Rex, too. He probably saved our lives by letting us know something was wrong.

DP Theme Day: Numbers

It's time once again for the City Daily Photo theme day, which for May 1st is "numbers." My offering is of some of the post office boxes at the post office on 2nd Ave.

I'm a sucker for anything involving repeating patterns. I had thought about posting something involving Stayton's zip code, or phone number prefixes, but in the end, I liked this idea best.

Visit the links below for more city daily photo blogs participating in today's theme day!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chesapeake Daily Photo (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Chicago (IL), USA by Focused Light, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Concordia Sagittaria, Italy by Patrizia, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Dallas (TX), USA by turtle, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Mary, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hong Kong, Hong Kong by Rachel A., Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Ioannina, Greece by Christos-Ioanna, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Malaga, Spain by Paula, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Medan, Indonesia by KT, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montpellier, France by Marie, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, North Hampton (NH), USA by Amy, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Penang, Malaysia by Maltelda, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Riga, Latvia by Riga Images, Rollag, Norway by Stormel, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vichy, France by Delphsnl, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Tie One On

From the truly random file comes this photo of a bit of rope tied to a wire fence. The fence surrounds an empty lot next to the DMV just off of 1st Ave.

Aren't you glad you visited today? It just doesn't get any more exciting than this. ;)

All The Way Down The Hole

I spotted this open manhole on 3rd Ave. near the grade school, a couple of days ago. The first time I passed by there were people working around it, but the second time it was void of activity. Leave it to me to get the non-action packed shot.

I don't have a clue (as usual) as to what the workers were doing in and around the manhole. Whatever it was, I'm sure it was thrilling and exotic. Or not.

E.T., I've Found An Easier Way

You know, I should make an effort to photograph all the public pay telephones, since they're something of a dying breed. They used to be all over the place, but now it's harder and harder to find them. I can't remember the last time I actually used one, since I always have my cell/mobile phone on me.

This one is next to Roth's, a grocery store on Shaff Rd.

In other news, guest photographer Theresa Smith, owner of D'-Tail Pet Grooming has started a blog for her grooming business, and it has photos of rather adorable dogs (view photos she contributed here the other day). Go, visit. Good person.

The Streets Of My Hometown

This is the view of 3rd Ave., the "historic" section of town, as seen from in front of the police station, looking north. The building on the far left is a printing shop of some sort, the white building is Harold's Jewelery, the red building with the car in front of it has Cartwright's Music and Ken Cartwright's community radio station, plus a store which sells blinds. The gray building on the right houses Our Town, a monthly community newspaper.

Possibilities And Strategies

I was wandering around in a parking lot the other day (as I am wont to do) when I noticed this basketball hoop on the side of a church. I was there to take a picture of the church itself for my ongoing church series, which I did, but it came out poorly, so I'm going to have to do it again.

As an added bonus, the photo at right is of the very same basketball hoop! From a different angle! And in black and white! Wow!

Reflecting On Nature

This is one of those happy accident situations, where I happened to look in the rear view mirror of my scooter and notice the reflection. I try periodically to do this on purpose, but getting things lined up right is a bit of a challenge for me. I'm easily confused. :)

I have succeeded a few times... here's one I took of early evening sky back in 2006, and another of a bridge from last year. Both of those were taken on my old scooter's mirrors. I also have a few more in a photoset on Flickr.

The tree in the photo above is in the middle of a parking lot on 1st Ave.

Smile

This, friends, is the face of the Great Root Bear at the A&W Restaurant on Washington St. If you aren't familiar with the big guy, he's the mascot of the restaurant chain.

For whatever reason, I had thought his name was Root Beer Bear, since one of A&W's main things is root beer floats, but the A&W web site says otherwise. I was wrong all these years. My whole world has been shattered (insert dramatic sigh here).

Over My Head

This is the edge of Stayton's industrial area, just off of Wilco Rd. There are several blocks in that area of large buildings and large equipment doing various things (don't ask me what). I don't get to go down Wilco Rd. itself, since my scooter isn't fast enough to go the speed limit. and other vehicles don't take kindly to me slowing them down. Funny, that.

Somewhere A Wagon Is Missing A Wheel

I spotted this wagon wheel in a small field off of E. Virginia St. So of course I took a picture. Because that's what I do... I take pictures of anything and everything for this blog. I get weird looks, me with my camera all the time, taking pictures of things like random wagon wheels, but I gotta do what I gotta do. Okay, technically, I don't have to do it.

Anyway, as a completely non-important point of reference, my paternal grandparents once lived on E. Virginia St. for many years. I'm sure you're thrilled to learn that.

Going This Way And That

From the truly random file comes this shot of some curved wrought iron on a mailbox post. It has nothing to do with anything, except that I took it in Stayton and I like it. That's all.

It's All Water Under The Bridge

I posted a photo of a small bridge in July of 2006, which was one of my personal favorites. I had the occasion to photograph the same bridge using a different camera on a different day (complete with different weather conditions), and was surprised at how similar yet how very dissimilar they are.

At right is the original image, and the main image above is the re-photographed version. I think the weather accounts for part of the difference in color, but it's probably mostly the different cameras. I'm torn as to which image I like better. If anyone has any opinion on the matter, feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!

Kickin' It Old Skool

Now listen here, youngsters, I'm going to tell you a story. Back in my day, we didn't have computers. No, sir, we had these things called typewriters. No spell-check, no fancy fonts, just good old fashioned words on good old fashioned paper! And we were thankful for it, yes we were.

We had to carry our typewriters on our backs to and from school every single day in the sleet and blinding snow, but you didn't hear us complain. It built character! That's right, big hunks of metal strapped to our backs. We didn't have laptops, we had backtops! We are permanently hunched over now, but it was worth it, let me tell you.

But now, all you youngsters have your computers, and nobody has to think, and you just zip off your messages to your friends, you ungrateful good-for-nothing kids without hunchbacks. And don't get me started on texting! Nobody can spell a darned thing these days.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go to the public library where they know the value of a good typewriter (pictured above), and I'm going to write honest to goodness letters, not that anyone ever writes me back. Use email, they say. We don't write letters anymore, they say. Well, I'll show them, those spoiled little punks.

Where Dreams Take Flight

I went to a used book sale at the public library yesterday, so I took the opportunity to take some photos. The above statue sits on top of a book shelf near a reading alcove.

I also have some Christmas-oriented photos from the library, but haven't had a chance to go through those yet. I'll probably post another photos from the library in a day or two.

Scenes From A Music Shop

As mentioned yesterday, I spent part of Tuesday taking photos at Cartwright's Music on 3rd Ave. Since I couldn't decide on just one photo to post, here's a mosaic of some detail shots of some of the goodies at the shop.

Tomorrow I'll post some shots I took of Stayton's new community radio station Ken Cartwright has started.

If you want to see each full photo individually (the photos in the mosaic are cropped), here are the links:

1. Little Toy Drums, 2. Purple Fingers, 3. The One In The Blue Hat, 4. Stay In Tune, 5. Play Me, 6. Lay Your Hands On Me, 7. Little Tin Horn, 8. Suspension Bridge, 9. Cymbalic

Biker Chick

This is one of the photos I took as a possible shot for "the color blue" November 1st theme day photo. The shadow is of me sitting on my now dearly departed scooter. The backdrop is a blue dumpster. I'm now tempted to throw my scooter in that dumpster, but I won't. It's not a total loss, just too expensive for me to repair.



On a different note, Ham at London Daily Photo is raising money for Breast Cancer Care. For more information on supporting this worthy cause, please visit the link at above.

The Blue Door

This photo is one I was consider for the Nov. 1st theme day, which was "the color blue." It's a side door on a store on 1st Ave. which sells video games. I think. I've never been inside. But I love the bright colors on the building.... very blue and very yellow.

By the way, we may be stuck with more autumn leaf shots over the next handful of days. I crashed my scooter last night (I'm okay, other than a hurt shoulder and arm), so my picture taking will be severely limited until the scooter's been fixed. I don't know how long that will be as of yet.

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.

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.

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. ;)

Back In Time

I took this shot of 3rd Avenue the other day while standing in front of City Hall, and it just kinda felt like the scene was from another time. So I fiddled with it to give it an aged look to fit what I felt the mood to be. Just, ya know, ignore all those modern cars and such in the photo, 'kay? :)

From The Earth

A string of train cars were parked on the tracks which run alongside Locust St. yesterday. The cars had graffiti marked with a variety of dates and locations, like the one above. I think it's kinda cool I found this one two years to the day it was created, apparently in or around Minneapolis, Minnesota (visit two Minneapolis daily photo blogs -- Minneapolis Daily Photo and Dusty Lens).

Click here for more of my photos of the train cars.

Reflection Of Life

I had to go to the post office yesterday, so I took a minute to take a picture of the post office boxes which live in a little alcove in the lobby. The colors in the glass are from a covered bridge mural painted on the front window of the post office.

I took a similar shot last year of the post office boxes, though both are different in a lot of ways.

Back Alley

There's an alley way which runs midway between 1st Ave. and 2nd Ave. for a few blocks, near the north end of town. I don't know why it's there... never thought about it before, actually.

I don't think there are other alleys anywhere in Stayton, though I could be wrong. I'm just a veritable font of non-information today, aren't I? That's not exactly unusual, of course. Such is my life. ;)

Superfresh

Today's photo is of some of the fresh (or as the tags on them say, superfresh) green apples at the Safeway grocery store. And because I'm feeling extra generous, at right is yet another photo of produce in the form of onions. Isn't this exciting?

But wait, that's not all. I've also included a photo of watermelons at no extra charge. Click on the thumbnails to take advantage of this one-time offer. You have to act now, because this offer... well, it will still be here later, in the site archives.

Eh. Sorry. I've seen too many TV commercials. Oh, don't forget to visit my newly started personal photoblog, Photos By Celine. It has photos you won't find here, and some you will.

Faded Glory

This flag was on the front of a house. Judging by how faded it is, I'd say it's been there for some time.

A Little Broken Up

I happened past the water tower a few days ago and noticed this light fixture hanging from the tower. I didn't break it, I swear! The color of the water tower is due to the setting sun casting some pretty colors.

A Dog's Best Friend

Since I seem to be on an emergency services kick, why not highlight that little hunk of... well, whatever it's made from... better known as a fire hydrant or fireplug?

Really, why not? Because I have a picture of one, so it would really be handy. So that's what I'm doing. Because I can.

This one lives behind the hospital, just off the parking lot. It's a lovely yellow color with green plug things, but the color version just didn't work for me, so I posted a monotone version. So use your imagination.

Pole Position

Today's photo is from the completely random files of my brain (and camera). It's a utility (telephone?) pole with lots of stuff which I'm sure serve very important utility (telephone?) functions. Don't ask me what those functions may be.

Patience

Today's photo is just a quiet scene on a side street off of 3rd Ave. It's another one of those things I'd passed by any number of times and never noticed before. It really pays to just stop and look around once in a while.

Shadows Fall Where They May

A conveniently placed evening sun cast some interesting shadows on a sidewalk on 3rd Ave.

Eruption

Today's photo (not that I would spend time here describing a photo from, say, yesterday or last week) is of an automated sprinkler in the landscaped area of a parking lot. Not that the landscaped area has anything but dirt to water at the moment, but automated sprinklers don't care about that. They just do their job.

I know a lot of people like that, come to think of it.

Arched

This is the back part of a dirt and gravel driveway on Fern Ridge Rd. I love how the trees have created an archway leading to the field beyond. But, then again, I am easily amused. ;)

What Fortunes They Will Hold

Did you know it's almost physically painful for me to go anywhere without my camera? I feel like I'm missing a vi