Located in Stayton, Oregon, USA, also featuring other nearby towns in the Willamette Valley.
Vintage Hood Ornament
01 month ago
Guest photographer Jon Goodman spotted this bit of automotive awesomeness:
Saw this beautiful hood ornament on a 50′s era Buick across from Cascade Pro Auto. They really don’t make cool stuff like this anymore.
No, they sure don’t, and it’s a shame. Thanks, Jon!
Victor Point
01 month ago
by Celine
in guest photographers
We have yet another beautiful photo from Tom Miller, which comes complete with a bit of information about the area in which the photo was taken. His description:
This little barn sits on the hill is just north of Sublimity on Riches Rd SE.
On the other side of the road theres a little pond and marsh area that the Northern Harries return to every year.
Further up the road you run into Victor Point Rd, where the old Victor Point School (built in 1889) is, it sits right across the road from the newer one.
Missing The Trees
01 month ago
by Celine
in guest photographers
Guest photographer Denny Barnes lives in the hills outside of town, and the area where he and his dog like to walk has been changing lately. His description:
I know how you feel about your special tree being cut down. One of my favorite hikes in the wood will never be the same. The trees will be all gone. Some of it has already been logged and now they have cut in new roads to finish the job. Reggie, my dog will miss all the deer trails she would check out to see if maybe there might be one using them. Anyway, I miss the trees.
I don’t blame you, Denny. Not at all. Click on each of the thumbnails below to see more images from the logging:
Blossomy Goodness
01 month ago
Guest photographer Maryann Nielson brings us this big of springtime loveliness for our viewing pleasure today. Thanks, Maryann!
Beautiful Blooms
11 month ago
Guest photographer Dorothy Loftin found these lovely flowers (tulips?) in her sister’s yard in nearby Jefferson. So lovely. Thanks, Dorothy!
The End Of An Era
2
It’s a sad day, at least for me. I’ve been posting photos of two oak trees next to the hospital for as long as I’ve been running this site, but two days ago, one of those trees was cut down. Cut up logs are all that remain.
You can see the difference on a photo I took just a few weeks ago, when they put in the fence between the two trees.
I don’t know why it was cut down, and I won’t judge the homeowners for its removal. It’s just a serious bummer for me.
It may not seem like a big deal — and in the grand scheme of things it isn’t — but it still saddens me, after watching the trees over the seasons for almost seven years. Goodbye, old friend. You will be missed.
Thank you to Eric for letting me know about the tree.
P.S. The bright spot in the clouds in the upper right-hand corner of the photo looks like an electric guitar.
Coming Back Into My Own
11 month ago
A few of the trees at Pioneer Park are in bloom, so this is my attempt at getting the Jordan Bridge framed by one of the trees. It’s not quite what I wanted, but I haven’t figured out how to bend the earth to my will yet, so I had to settle for what was available.
Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk
01 month ago
Guest photographer Tom Miller has a great story to go along with some pretty awesome photos:
I spotted this cute juvenile red tailed hawk out in a field just outside of Stayton last summer. Later that day on my way home I noticed it was still just sitting out in the field.
So I pulled over and walked down to it, while being watched from above by mom and dad. It tried to fly but didn’t get far, that’s when I noticed it had injured one of its wings.
I then decided to call the Oregon Department of Fish Game and see if there was any way it could be rescued, it was such a cute little thing I couldn’t see just letting it die.
So they gave me the number to Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center, and the next day a older gentlemen by the name of Dave called me. We ended up driving out to where the red tail was and after several attempts we finally netted her.
A month or so later they released her back in the same area, so if you spot a Red Tailed Hawk in the Kingston area it might just be her.
Thanks to Tom for being aware and helping the bird, and for telling us the story… not to mention the beautiful photos. Click on the thumbnails below to see more of the hawk and her watchful mother:
“Nature”
01 month ago
Guest photographer Maryann Nielson found something interesting when out for a walk over the weekend:
Sunday (3-31-13) we took a walk along the Santiam Station Wetland Enhancement Area and saw this part of “Nature.”
I can’t be certain, but this tire might belong with the wild hubcap I found by the hospital four years ago. Maybe the tire was out looking for its long-lost friend.
On a more serious note: This didn’t just fall off a vehicle and magically land in the wetland area. Tires and other objects don’t belong discarded anywhere, let alone in an area specifically set aside as protected. Don’t be stupid.
Thanks, Maryann! 
Pileated Woodpecker
01 month ago
Guest photographer Tom Miller has a shout out:
This one’s for all the bird fans out there.
I took a photo of a similar woodpecker once back in 2009, which appears to be of the same variety. It’s interesting to note the small differences in their markings. Thanks, Tom!
By the way…
I was going to post an April Fool’s joke for today, but I couldn’t think of one. I am so disappointed in myself.
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