The Monster Nobody Feared
October 14, 2026
On one of my daily walks through Dallas, Oregon, I came across this Halloween display just a street over from the main downtown area. It was sponsored by Willamette Valley Fiber, the company that provides our high-speed internet at home.
What caught my attention was the mysterious figure. There’s something about its expression that you can’t quite figure out. Is it a witch? A demon? Or just some strange Halloween creature with a story of its own?
It has that wonderful quality of looking a little sinister without really being frightening. You can’t tell what it’s thinking, and that’s part of the fun.
So Oz and I decided to give it a little company. Four cheerful young witches, a moonlit Halloween night, and suddenly our mysterious creature didn’t seem so scary anymore.
Maybe it was never a monster to begin with. Maybe it was just a good witch waiting for some friends.
And that’s what I enjoy about these little discoveries on my walks. Sometimes an ordinary decoration becomes something worth remembering, with a little imagination.
Photography, imagination, and a little Halloween magic.
Not Your Neighborhood Barber
October 14, 2026
A couple of days ago, while out walking, I noticed an unusual pole marking the entrance to a driveway. I’d passed it before, but this time something clicked. It reminded me of an old-fashioned barbershop pole.
I’d never seen anything quite like it in a driveway, and I thought there had to be a story hiding in there somewhere.
I let the idea sit for a couple of days. Then I finally decided to give it a try.
What emerged was a little country barbershop, tucked into what looks like an ordinary neighborhood. Except there’s nothing ordinary about the customers. There’s a moose getting a haircut, a couple of unusual characters waiting their turn, and some rather interesting barbers running the place.
It’s familiar enough to make you feel welcome, but strange enough to make you look twice.
And that’s exactly what I love about it.
Definitely not your neighborhood barber.
Created from my original photography, with a little imagination and the help of AI.
