Skull in the Halloween Tree

 "Cuevos!" sang a far voice up the hill.
  Inside the graveyard, voices echoed the song.
  Leaning against the graveyard walls, some with guitars in their hands or bottles, were the men of the village.
 "Cuevos de los Muertos-" sang the faraway voice.
 "Cuevos de los Muertos," sang the men in shadows inside the gate.
  "Skulls," translated Tom.  "The skulls of the dead."

                                              from The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Electric Trolley Car With Halloween Spirit

It looks like the Electric City's trolley car operators have a seasonal sense of humor.  This electric trolley car pulled into the Lackawanna County stadium station with its Halloween decoration prominently displayed.

Statue of Dante at the University of Scranton

Looking for a good intellectual Halloween read?  You might want to try this fella's classic The Divine Comedy,  particulary the Inferno section.  If you are not familiar with the fourteenth century Italian writer and poet Dante Allighieri, the Inferno section of the book refers to Hell.   If you find fourteenth century literature somewhat tedious reading,  Inferno by acclaimed science fiction writers Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle is a creepy and quite entertaining read, with the setting based on Dante's description.

Castle in Scranton

 

What better place to keep your soldiers than a castle?    It may be an anchronism, but it certainly is not  boring.   This formidable structure is plunked right down in the middle of a residential neighborhood.   I suppose the zoning ordinances explain the disappointing lack of a moat.

The Banshee Restaurant in Downtown Scranton

I suppose if you are dining at The Banshee and you hear a wailing sound you should cross yourself, hold your breath and hope you don't drop dead.    According to Irish legend, a banshee wail is an omen of death.  The banshee is a messenger from the underworld whose wail can be heard, but she can not always be seen.  But when she can be seen she will appear as an ugly old hag or perhaps a strikingly beautiful woman.  This could be the ideal place for dinner on Halloween in just a few days.  Just pay attention to whoever is sitting nearby.

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University of Scranton Motto

The University of Scranton is a Jesuit university founded in 1888 by the Most Reverend  William O'Hara, the first bishop of Scranton.  My language skills are pretty much limited to English, but I'm guessing a loose translation would read something like, " Religion results in culture."  Or,  "Religion accounts for culture."  Whatever it means, it is a pretty interesting emblem.

Scranton Police K9 Unit 5K Run

This billboard for the Scranton Police K9 Unit 5K Run is still up a week after the event.    I'm glad I had a chance to see the sign because it is good for a chuckle.  I'm assuming the picture represents a police dog chasing a bad guy.  Or is this how they planned to motivate the 5K runners?  

National Physical Therapy Month

It was a good thing I had the opportunity to walk through the University of Scranton campus. Otherwise, I would not have seen this banner and I would have continued to be completely oblivious to the fact that October is National Physical Therapy Month.  I will sleep better tonight secure in my new knowledge.

Elm Park United Methodist Church makes a visual statement next to the entrance to the University of Scranton.

America.  Land of the free.  Home of the brave...

...and T's Corner News and Laundromat!

Sundown at Roba's Family Farm

Orange Goodness

Pumpkin Pies Just Waiting to Happen

Colorful Cow at Roba's

"Hey!  Who put those there?  Do I look like a pack mule to you?"

Bailey Hollow Mining Company

The Bailey Hollow Mining Company is located at Roba's Family Farm.  The gold mining sluice is good fun for kids, but the real gold mine is the farm itself.  The place is a countrified Disneyland with a cow train, hay bale fort or pyramid, pig racing, a giant pillow bounce, a monster corn maze, corn cannons, farm animals, pumpkin patches,  entrance fee, gift shop and plenty of  food and drink concessions.  To their credit, it is a very well organized operation and great family fun, and a downright bargain compared to a Disney park.  

Long-eared Scarecrow

This bunny is on duty at Roba's Family Farm, located a few miles outside of Scranton.  Be afraid, crows.  Be very, very afraid.  

Street Mural View #2

Street Art Train

Spoiled Plans

"Sorry, kids!  Put the shovels back in the car.  I know it won't be as much fun, but we'll just have to play baseball today."

Local Baseball Field

America loves baseball, hotdogs, apple pie......

.....and memorials.  And all of these can be experienced at a neighborhood little league baseball field like the one where this photo was taken.

 

Wall Painting at Connell Park

Michelangelo might not be impressed, but the lively colors in this wall painting are certainly a reflection of the uplifting brilliance of a sunny day.  Actual sunny and cloudless days tend to be a rarity in Northeast Pennsylvania, so it's kind of nice knowing that at least the representation of one can always be found here in Connell Park.

Autumn Comes to Connell Park

Lake Wallenpaupack

Lake Wallenpaupack is a huge, sprawling lake that was created by PP&L (Pennsylvania Power & Light Company) in 1926 for hydroeclectric power creation.  It has fifty-two miles of shoreline and is up to sixty feet deep at some locations.   For The Office fans, this is the lake where the "Booze Cruise" episode from season two took place.  This photo was taken using the color accent mode on Canon's Powershot G11 (f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 80). 

Streets of Scranton

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T.G.I.F.

Ruins of Historic Iron Furnaces

Scranton's Historic Iron Furnaces

Lackawanna Iron

Scranton's Historic Iron Furnaces

Canadian National 3254

The Canadian National 3254 steam engine is a 2-8-2 model built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in 1917.  The 2-8-2 refers to the type of wheel arrangement.  This steam engine was built to pull heavy freight trains.  It was retired in 1958 and eventually purchased by the Steamtown Foundation in 1987.  It now operates as an excursion train taking passengers to Moscow and Tobyhanna in the Poconos.   It is pictured here steaming past the downtown area of Scranton.

University of Scranton Banners

Deer Outside of Scranton

With a white tail deer population of more than 1.5 million in Pennsylvania, 
you don't have to travel far outside the city to see one of these.