My favorite landmark in town is this covered bridge, The Stayton-Jordan Bridge, located in Pioneer Park. I’ve posted many photos of it, but it seems a fitting photo for today, because…

Stayton Daily Photo has turned six years old!!!

Which is strange, really. When I first started, I had no idea what I was going to do with it, or even why I started it. But here we are. Six whole years of posting every single day. Whoa.

I’ve only missed two days, I think, and those were because I mistyped the dates when I scheduled their posts. One of the biggest reasons I’ve been able to continue this for so long is because of my guest photographers. Around 300 photos have been because of them, which is huge.

So… thanks to everyone who has been involved in this little blog. Let’s see what kind of year this one will turn out to be, eh?

Guest photographer Jim Mullholand found something beautiful in his yard a couple of days ago. I think it’s an Oregon Swallowtail butterfly (if anyone knows, please leave a comment!). So very pretty. Thanks, Jim!

Today is Memorial Day here in the United States (see the Wikipedia page for more information). For the holiday, U.S. flags are traditionally placed on the graves of those who served in the military. The flags in the photo, shot yesterday at Lone Oak Cemetery on the corner of 3rd Ave. and Fern Ridge Rd., were but a few of the flags on display.

Guest photographer Terri Jo Adams succeeded in doing something I’ve never had the opportunity to do — take a picture of lightning. Nice job, Terri Jo.

Guest photographer Denny Barnes brings us some pretty today. His description:

Most of my rhododendrons are in full bloom now and this one is my favorite. I have no idea what its name is or how old it is. I had to cut it way back and move it once. It was only about 15 foot tall at the time and now it’s back up to 10 foot tall again. I know it’s over 50 years old. Anyway, it sure is pretty.

I love rhodies. Thanks, Denny.

Guest photographer Terri Jo Adams brings us this lovely look at some clouds, taken at the Silver Falls exist on Highway 22. Thanks, Terri Jo.

This dapper firetruck was sitting outside the fire department on Ida St. the other day. The trucks I see outside the department are always so… well, clean.

Speaking of such matters, if you live in our local area and want to become a firefighter, you should check out the Stayton Fire District web site. I can’t think of many things as awesome than being a firefighter.

This gorgeous creature was hanging out in front of a house somewhere or other in town the other day. I want it. Of course, I want all the dogs and cats I see, but this one… so beautiful.

Hey, look, it’s another flower photo from me! Wow! This time, it’s a lily! Wow! I took this at Lone Oak Cemetery! Wow!

The sky was not my friend today. It was overcast and hazy, so this is the best I could do for the annular solar eclipse. I’m surprised I achieved any sort of definition on the sun at all… I ended up having to take three bracketed exposures and combine them in Photomatix to get it. For those who don’t know what that means: technically, it means I did some stuff and this was the result.