Detour Gone Wrong - "Signs, Signs"

When the town closed off Main Street for the 4th of July celebration, no one could figure out why the parking lot was suddenly full ...

To see more signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Trash (With Heart) Into Treasure

Somebody's 4th of July party must have gotten out of hand ... this broken floor lamp was thrown into the driveway of the abandoned church sometime on the 5th of July ... broken pieces scattered about.

It was once a beautiful floor lamp, gracing someone's house with light!

The broken bulb caught my eye ... a heart!

I dragged the lamp home ...

I took out the wiring and fixture ...
Took off the metal hood ...
Sprayed the broken spots black ...
and turned it over.
I glued the metal hood onto the bottom (now top) and ...

A bird feeder now has it's home just outside the living room window!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts", and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday!

Deers Can't Read Either

(click on picture to enlarge)

I was taking pictures of the bullet-ridden "Exit" sign, when I saw movement and noticed the, er, exiting end of the deer.

I guess he can't read!

To see wonderful signs from around the world, join us over at Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Graffiti Dude

This delightful "graffiti dude" appeared sometime within the past week or so at the (formerly) abandoned church ... this guy waves goodbye as you exit the old sanctuary area.

This one guards the back door of the old school ...

And this interesting fellow poked up his head in what used to be a fire extinguisher box!

Someone certainly had fun with these! I know I had fun finding them.
I wonder if there are more that I haven't seen yet?
Maybe I'll go for another walk and find out!

No Parking Sign ...

I THINK I'll find another place to park ...


(Photo taken in front of fire station in Newberg, Oregon)

To see wonderful signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

To see wonderful reflections from around the world, visit James' "Weekend Reflections"!

Hot Air Balloons Can't Read!

I took this photo last July when a hot air balloon descended on the parking lot of the once-abandoned church across the street.

I guess they couldn't read the sign from up in the air ...

And I don't think they cared!!!

To see signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Honey Bees!!!

(click on pictures to enlarge!)

As I walked along the Metro trail at Graham Oak Nature Preserve yesterday, I was happy to see that honeybees are making a comeback, after being nearly decimated by mites over the past 10 years or so.

They were feasting on pollen from the oxeye daisies (leucanthemum vulgare) that are starting to bloom.

If you look carefully, you can see reflections of the woods and fields in their eyes ...

I never noticed before that their faces are shaped like hearts!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday!

To see reflections from around the world, visit James' "Weekend Reflections".

A Bad Contractor?

I was on my way home from church when I noticed this, um, altered sign. It looks like someone was NOT happy with this company, and came up with a unique way of making sure no one else gets a bad deal!

To see fun signs from around the world, join us over at Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

The Up Side of Too Much Rain!

It's cold, it's wet ...
Rain coats the garden flowers in jeweled beauty ...

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

Raindrops on the green plants reflect even more surrounding beauty ...

The lupine beside the road becomes encrusted in nature's diamonds ... and even more reflections!

I have been complaining about the rain ...
Shame on me!!!

To see reflections from around the world, visit James' "Weekend Reflections"!

Melted Glass from Dammasch Dump

A couple of weeks ago Sissie and I went for a walk ... we ended up at "the Dammasch Dump". Recent rains had unearthed some beautiful, weird and just plain interesting relics.

Like this beautiful abstract pattern, which is simply the result of holding a piece of melted brown glass up to the sunlight!

Dammasch State Hospital opened in 1961 and ran until 1995 - as a state psychiatric hospital. During the time they were open, they incinerated most of their trash, and the resulting debris was dumped at an undisclosed area on their property.

After the hospital closed, the property changed hands several times ... memory of the dump site was lost. Except by those of us who knew where it was all along!

"Live Every Moment" hosts a photo challenge on Fridays ... this week's photo challenge is "vibrant colors". I am submitting this post in response to this challenge!

A Drip's A Drop ... Weekend Reflections

A drop of water, leaking from the roof at the abandoned church, hits a puddle, flinging glowing drops back skyward ...
(click on photo to enlarge)

To see reflections from around the world, visit James at "Weekend Reflections".

Signs That Make You Go "Huh???"

I'm not sure what this guy was advertising ... but it looks like it involves some kind of flame thrower!

Or maybe he was protesting AGAINST the stupid dangerous pranks on YT - involving flame throwers???

Either way, I found this car parked in front of a craft store, and couldn't resist the pic!

To see fun signs from around the world, visit Lesley, and join us for "Signs, Signs".

Cloud Challenge ...

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find something in the clouds" ...

When Sissie posted this challenge over at "Random Challenges", I just knew I was going to have an easy time. After all, Beth sees stuff in the clouds all the time - and has taught me to remember to look up too!

But wouldn't you know it ... ever since she issued the challenge, the sky has been gray. Steady slate dark gloomy gray. I'm thankful she left the meme open until June 1 - I hear we have ONE DAY of nice weather between now and then!!!

Then, as I was going through Grampa and Grandma G's old Western Road Trip (circa early 1980's) album for a "Sunday Scans" post, this beautiful cloud caught my eye.

So why not? After all, Beth said "FIND something in the clouds", right?
Well, I found a beautiful bird in this old photo!

And now I can link it with Al's "Sunday Scans", AND Beth's challenge over at "Random Challenges"!!!

Wilsonville's Finest Strikes Again

So I was on my way to the grocery store, and had gone less than half a mile when I noticed a Sheriff patrol car behind me. It didn't bother me too much, I like it that they hang out around here.

He followed me for about a mile ... down the hill, the curvy road, the stop sign, the school bus dropping off students ... then he lit up his lights.

I pulled over, and he approached the car. "May I see your drivers license, registration and proof of insurance please?"

As I fumbled for my wallet, he said "I pulled you over because ... I know you tried to cover it up, but it's not working and there is white showing through".

Huh?
"Excuse me???"

"Your taillight," he explained. "You taped it up, but there is white showing through, and that's against the law."

"Oh," I said. "I thought you were talking about my HAIR"!

I thought he was going to hurt himself trying not to laugh. After running my license, he handed it back to me and choked out "Thank you, ma'am - have a nice day" - then he practically ran back to his car.

After I turned around, I passed him again.
He gave me a big smile and a wave.

No Lifeguard On Duty!

Warning ...
There is NO LIFEGUARD on duty!
Please supervise those children ...
They might actually get the bottoms of their feet damp!!!

To see wonderful signs from all around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs Signs"!

"No Trucks"

I was pulling out of the train station in January, and had to pull over to take this picture ... when I noticed this "NO TRUCKS" sign.
Maybe the guy in the TRUCK just couldn't read?

To see wonderful signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Work Those Muscles!

Now is the time to get to the gym for a workout ...
And build up those muscles ...
Because you never know when your next job may include ...

Picking up the Customers!!!

Is there a great sign in your world? Join Lesley at "Signs, Signs" to share it with the world!

No Golfing - "Signs Signs"

I know I often get confused between public parks and country clubs ...
Between soccer balls and golf balls ...
Between "rough" and "rougher" ...
Between stylish uniforms and really ugly pants ...
How 'bout you?

To see fun signs from around the world, join Lesley's "Signs Signs" meme!

Old Fence, Old Photo

This is another old photo taken by Grampa/Grandma G during one of their many road trips throughout the US West.

I don't know where this was taken, or exactly when ... and the photo is a bit blurry with time. But I kind of like it this way!

Al's new meme "Sunday Scans" is up and running - so go through your old stuff - scan it, post it, and join us for a lot of fun - and wonderful memories!!!

To see shadows from around the world, visit "Hey Harriet", and join us for Shadow Shot Sunday!

Which Way Should I Go? ...

Lesley asked ... "what signs are in your neighborhood?".

I've always liked this one, at the entrance to a business district on the outskirts of our town. It reflects how I feel most of the time!

To see more signs, visit Lesley over at "Signs, Signs"!

Face in Puddle ... Weekend Reflections

Do you see the creepy face reflected in this puddle?

To see reflections from around the world, visit James at "Newtown Area Photo" - and join us for Weekend Reflections!

Kitty Commode Caper

Camo: Hmmmm, this is interesting ...

Sly: Hmmmmmmmm

Sly: I think Camo was pulling my leg! There's nothing interesting here!

These pictures were taken in Germany in the late 1980's.
Sly loved to flush the toilet, and would run from the bathroom at one end of the apartment to the bathroom at the other end ... flush ... flush ... flush ... flush.

Once he rolled an entire roll of TP into the bowl, then flushed. What a mess! I sure miss those kitties.

To see more fun scanned stuff, join us for "Sunday Scans" - and show us your cute old pictures ... or anything that can be scanned!

Water Drop Pointing Hand!!!

I took a series of photos in February over at the abandoned church ... I was trying to catch a drop of water dripping from a leaky roof.

Most of the photos failed to catch the actual drop hitting the puddle. A few caught beautiful droplets, as well as some wonderful reflections.

This picture had me doing a double-take, though, as I looked closer and noticed the shape of the droplet ... an arm, with a pointing finger.

To see reflections from around the world, visit James at "Newtown Area Photo", and join us for Weekend Reflections!

There is also a heart in this picture. Do you see it?
It is a nick in the concrete, a little above the arm!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts", and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday!

Burger K*ng Pet Clinic?

When I first saw this sign, I had to laugh ... this is one burger joint I plan to avoid!

To see wonderful signs from around the world, visit Lesley over at "Signs, Signs"!

Eye of Water ...

I found a strange eye in a drop of water!
Do you see it?

"Out in the Field", 1987

I've been going through some of my old photo albums, and finally found some of my "Germany" photos (we were stationed in Kirch Goens, Germany from 1986 to 1989).

My (ex) took these pictures during a "Field Problem" (Golden Lion) in September, 1987.

This is one of my favorites - an M102 hiding behind a tree!
Peek-a-boo! I SEE you!

Check out Al's new meme, "Sunday Scans" - and show us some of your old stuff. Oops, that didn't sound right did it?!

To see beautiful skies from around the world visit "Skywatch Friday"!

Don't Drive on the Runway ...

This is a very small airport in extremely rural Eastern Oregon.
If you go there, PLEASE do not drive on the runway.

You can, however, WALK on the runway!

This is one of my favorite sign photos ... not just because of the wonderful sign, but because this is my darling brother-in-law ... taken shortly after I first met him, around 30 years ago.

To see a bunch more fun signs, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs" blog!

To see cool scanned stuff, visit Al's new meme "Sunday Scans"!

And, just in case that's not enough visitin', this photo is also my response to a fun challenge over at "Random Challenges".

Random Challenge - Flowers!

Somehow, because of our cold, rainy, late spring ... I didn't expect to see the trilliums until much later.

Boy did I get a surprise!

Dandelions cheer me up with their gorgeous yellow color.

I know they are 'weeds' to some, but not to me.

The critters have nearly finished off this beautiful daffodil.

I am posting this series of flowers in response to a challenge issued on a new blog called "Random Challenges". This challenge blog is run by me, my sister Beth, and my 'sister-of-different-parents' Deann, and is just what it seems. We will be issuing random challenges, just for fun! We'd love for you to play along!

Because ...

We're Going Crazy, and We Want To Take You With Us!!!!!!!

No CAT Parking

So is it okay if a DOG parks here???

I know I've posted this sign before ... but it is perfect for

Signs, Signs ... over at Lesley's blog!

P.S. CAT is actually a local small town bus service (Canby Area Transit) whose logo is "Catch a CAT"

Big Brother Sign ...

He was on the street corner as I pulled into the Goodwill thrift store ... a dirty, disheveled, homeless-looking man, his long stringy hair pulled back into a ponytail. He was holding a sign, which I couldn't read.

But his smile was beautiful.

I forgot about him as I began to uncover hidden treasures within the store.

When I came out some time later, the man was gone ... his sign tossed into the bushes near where he had been standing ...

I wonder what happened to him.
Maybe "big brother" finally showed up?

I've decided to link this to the "Signs Signs" meme over at Lesley's "Signs, Signs" blog.

Hidden Notes Revealed ...

The clean-up at the abandoned mega-church has revealed some interesting notes, once hidden behind drywall and plaster. Like this one ...

I hope John enjoyed his Blue and Orange!

Deer ... Abstract

My niece Tiffi was looking out the window. "Look! A deer!" she said.
Sure enough, there was a young deer ... wading in Grampa's pond.
I grabbed my camera and took some pictures through the window.
We watched for a while, then ... another deer off to the side!
The mom!
And then more movement ... another young deer heading toward the woods behind the house. What a treat to see this precious family - a single mother with twins. They left shortly after, meandering back into the woods.

When I went to check my pictures, I found they were all blurry - and I remembered how much my old camera hates through-the-glass pictures.

But I like the effect of this one. It almost looks like a painting.

And now I finally have a critter shot for Camera Critters!

Our Hearts Are In Japan

My heart is broken for the people of Japan.
I am at a loss for words to describe the devastation that I feel.
Because we are all one world.
One people.
What affects someone on the other side of the world from me ...
Affects me.
Affects all of us.
We need to remember that.
Even if all we can do is pray ...
And cry as we wait.
And wait.
For news from our brothers and sisters.
One People ... One World.