I happened by a laundromat near the south end of 1st Ave. last night, so I took a picture through the window. After I started this post, I realized I’d taken a very, very similar shot (and even processed it pretty much the same way) back in 2008. I guess my brain decided doing a

I had to travel to nearby Salem yesterday to accompany my mother to a medical appointment, so I took along my camera. The above is the canopy of a covered walkway leading into the Skyline Kaiser Permanente office.

Queen Anne’s Lace grows wild around here, and it’s one of my favorite flowers. It’s even spiffier when a bee (unless it’s a hoverfly, but it really looks like a bee to me) makes an appearance. I took this at the edge of a field on 10th Ave.

Guest photographer John Brandt took today’s photo of a dead tree (or part of a tree) in Wilderness Park he doesn’t expect to survive another winter. I haven’t been through that park in some time. I really need to do it again very soon. Once the temperature cools down a bit, that is.

I don’t have a clue when this time/temperature sign on Washington St. was installed, but it had to have been fairly recently. Or maybe I’m even less observant than I thought. Whichever. I’m not going to tell you what time of day it was when I took the photo. It’s a secret.

I passed by flowering ground cover being watered the other day, so I stopped to get a picture. I didn’t have the right lens with me to get what I was really after, but this will do.

I took this photo one night a week or two ago of a window display at Cartwright’s Music Repair Shop on 3rd Ave. Guitars are beautiful creatures.

I took this the other night at Campbell-Grier Cemetery, just outside of Stayton. The silhouette is part of a metal decoration of a girl holding up a flower. That flower looks like a sun in silhouette, which made me think of the song “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden, which led to using part of the

Guest photographer Terri Jo Adams sent in today’s photo. Her description: Another good reason to stay in the valley! This is from along Ridge Dr. It is indeed lovely. The Willamette Valley, where Stayton and other area towns are situated between two mountain ranges (the Cascades and the Coastal Range), is simply beaut

I was asked by Greg and Ruth McWayne of the Santiam Senior Center to take some photos at the elementary school yesterday. They are working on a calendar for the Center with the theme “forever young.” It was fun watching the folks who volunteered play on the playground, jump rope, play marbles, and more. I

Guest photographer Patrick sent in today’s lovely photo. His description: I wasn’t the only person photographing the fields of flowers on and near Kaufman Road today. So retinal! So beautiful! I wish I were there… it looks gorgeous. Thanks, Patrick!

Guest photographer Terri Jo Adams sent in today’s photo. Her description: Not too bad a view to have from your backyard is it… This is the overpass at the Silver Creek Falls exit. The road pictured is Hwy 22. It is certainly a lovely view. That is Mt. Hood, isn’t it? I confess, I get

Guest photographer Theresa Smith from D-Tail Pet Grooming sent in today’s photo. Her description: This plane flew over our house a few days back and I liked how the sun was shining of the plane and the “steam” from it. I love plane contrails, and she certainly captured these nicely. Thanks, Theresa.

Frequent guest photographer Patrick is a really nice guy. He’s been helping me by finding cool photos he’s taken while real life has been keeping me busy. I really appreciate that. His latest offering is one he took during the Independence Day parade earlier this month. His description: In an attempt to help you

We have another lovely photo from guest photographer Chelsea Speidel. Her description: This picture was taken about 5 miles west of town on Saturday at our friends farm. I just love how both old and new are represented in this photo! Very nice. Thanks, Chelsea!

Guest photographer Patrick sent in today’s photo. His description: This guy was taking a snooze under the bridge south of town a couple weeks ago. Seemed like he had the right idea because other boats that were docking reported no luck with the fish upriver. I love it. It looks like the ideal way to

I have more awesome guest photographer photos to post, but I decided to sneak one of my own in here, because it made me giggle. I spotted this sign outside the New Life Foursquare Church on 1st Ave. two nights ago. It’s much more fun to take it literally, than to put that inferred “group”

We have a new guest photographer today! Chelsea Speidel sent in today’s gorgeous photo of some beautiful strawberries she took over the weekend on her friend’s farm about five miles west of Stayton. It seems like one could just pluck them right out of the photo. Chelsea sent another photo in, which I’ll be

I managed to take a photo this week. Be very proud of me, since I’ve had virtually no free time. Thank goodness for the generosity of my guest photographers. Anyway, this photo is of a yellow St. John’s Wort flower, found as ground cover in a parking strip on 10th Ave. With its cheerful color

Guest photographer Patrick sent in today’s photo. His description: Someone’s vacation was slightly delayed today at Ida and Wilco Rd. I’d say so. It looks like no one was hurt, which is good. Nice catch, Patrick, and I appreciate you sending it along.

Guest photographer Terri Jo Adams sent in today’s photo of a lovely tree at Lone Oak Cemetery. Her description: This isn’t all that unusual of a picture, I just have always thought this was one of the most beautiful Oak trees I’ve ever seen….. It is beautiful. I always enjoy looking at the trees ther

We have another photo from guest photographer Debbie D. Dodd. Her description: This stunning rainbow dropped down at sunset the other day in the eastern sky. The photo was taken from our farm south of Stayton. Lovely. I’m not sure there’s much prettier than a rainbow. Thanks, Debbie.

Guest photographer Debbie D. Dodd sent in today’s rather spiffy photo. Her description: This VERY AWESOME bald eagle landed in the trees across the river from our farm ON THE 4TH OF JULY! We were impressed with the size and beauty of this fine specimen of our national symbol. Very cool, Debbie! Be sure to

(Click here to see my Flickr photoset of the parade!) As promised yesterday, here are the photos I took at the Independence Day parade on Sunday. I posted entirely too many photos to a Flickr photoset. There are over one hundred of them. And that’s after I went through them twice to reduce the number.

(See my Flickr photoset of the fireworks!) Last night I attended the fireworks show held at the Stayton Middle School, and I took a whole big bunch of photos. Check them out in my Flickr photoset, which has over 50 images. Be sure to “oooh” and “aaah” while you look at them, because that is

I apologize for posting a random photo of a motorcycle, but I haven’t had the opportunity to go out and take photos. I took this one last month in the parking lot of Power Motor Sports between here and Sublimity. Oh, and happy Independence Day to everyone in the United States. Stay safe out there.

We have another photo from guest photographer Terri Jo Adams. Her description: We have the most interesting fence post finials here in Stayton….. almost lifelike! I adore squirrels. Thanks once again, Terri.

Guest photographer Terri Jo Adams sent in today’s photo, taken close to nearby Turner. Her description: This was taken from a series of photos I’ve snapped called “I am Terri’s Windshield”, and are just various shots from around the valley – no special camera – just my little Sony 7

Guest photographer Patrick in today’s photo, taken a few days ago at the World Beat Festival held in nearby Salem. His description: I went to the Salem World Beat Festival yesterday and saw this photo coming from forty yards away. The hard part was timing the photo without showing their full faces but still capturing

I apologize for yet another sunset photo. I haven’t been able to go out and take photos much lately, so I’m presently stuck with a whole lotta nothin’. I’ll try to get a little somethin’ as soon as I can. That last sentence sounded a lot more innocent in my head. This photo was taken