Caboose Day

It's Caboose Day, at the rear of the year.

Workin' on the Railroad

I was driving along a road that paralleled a railroad track on the southern outskirts of the city when I passed this contraption that was furiously roaring, creaking and clanking while it appeared to be slowly doing nothing more than throwing up huge dust clouds.   

Looking Northeast Across the Lackawanna Valley

Ice Climb Closeup

Why climb a frozen waterfall?  Because it's there!

Frozen Pocono Mountains Waterfall

This picture was taken yesterday before the blizzard hit.  The frozen waterfall creates a unique climbing opportunity. 

Top of the Slopes at Snow Mountain

   Looking out across South Scranton the top of the slopes at Snow Mountain can be seen.  Skiers are dancing in their ski boots tonight with a weather forecast for up to ten inches of the cold white stuff.

Merry Christmas!

Santa Sighting Over Scranton

Santa has always gone green with his environmentally friendly and nearly zero emissions vehicle.

Twelve Days of Christmas in Nay Aug Park

On the first day of Christmas.....

Igloo, Sweet Igloo

It may not be Antarctica, but with yet another day that did not see our high temperature make it out of the 20's, these penguins have nothing to complain about.  

Welcome to Nay Aug Park

Season of the Snowman

When I look out my window,
what do you think I see?
Some cool cat
looking over his shoulder at me.
And it's strange.
Sure seems strange.
There's snow on the ground,
and it's 18 degrees.
Must be the season of the Snowman.
(Apologies and thanks to Donovan for "Season of the Witch".)

Holiday Light Display

The Nay Aug Park Holiday Lights can be seen from the warm comfort of your car.  This sign points the way to the beginning of the car tour, but smaller and more modest lights are scattered throughout the park as can be seen in the background of this picture. 

Interesting Shoppers at The Candle Shoppe of the Poconos

I'm not sure which of these two I find more disturbing.  The damsel with demonic eyes in the tower?  Or, the overgrown angery ape?

There is definitely more going on inside this place than just some innocent candle making.

The Candle Shoppe of the Poconos

There is more than candles to be experienced at The Candle Shoppe of the Poconos.  When the owners suspected that ghosts were on the premises and burning the candle at both ends, they contacted the Scranton based Pennsylvania Paranormal Association.  Their investigation came to the attention of a New York production company that was producing a new show called "The Haunted" for Discovery's Animal Planet channel.  The Candle Shoppe of the Poconos was featured on one of the first season's episodes.   I missed that episode, (O.K., I confess.  I missed all of the episodes.) but looking at the outside of the building I have to wonder if King Kong is suspected of doing the haunting.

Pocono Mountains Waterfall

We get a lot of rain in northeastern Pennsylvania.  The Pocono Mountains are loaded with lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.  And for those who know where to look, waterfalls.  

Ghosts of Nay Aug Park Zoo

These Holiday Lights are the only animals that you will see at the Nay Aug Park Zoo.  The zoo, once apparently famous for Tilly the elephant, mercifully closed in 1988.  The zoo was rather confining and inhospitable to its residents, and it was considered to be one of the most inhumane in the country.  It reopened in 2003 as a wildlife rehabilitation center before closing again in 2009.

The Electric City Holiday Lights

Punch Buggy

Play Punch Buggy in Scranton!  I used to think trivial thoughts about my daughter's habit of shouting out, "Punch Buggy!" and punching me in the arm every time she saw a Volkswagon Beetle.  But as evidenced by this custom painted Beetle, Punch Buggy should not be taken lightly.   See the entry at Wikipedia for a good background and explanation of the Punch Buggy game.

Nay Aug Park Holiday Lights

The David J. Wenzel Treehouse Holiday Lights Honor Guard

These Holiday Lights Soldiers make a fitting honor guard for the entrance to the David J. Wenzel Treehouse.  While serving as a First Lieutenant in Vietnam in 1971, David Wenzel was severely wounded and suffered the loss of both legs, his left hand and the use of one eye.  His injuries did not slow him down much as he went on to earn an MBA in 1974, work in a number of government positions, and serve as Scranton's twenty-seventh mayor from 1986-1990.  Recent activities include authoring a book about Scranton's mayors and working as an adjunct professor for the University of Scranton and Lackawanna College.

View of the David J. Wenzel Treehouse From Below

More Christmas Lights at Nay Aug Park

Penguin and Igloo Holiday Lights at Nay Aug

Nay Aug Park Christmas Lights

The Nay Aug Park Holiday Lights display begins at the entrance to the park where modulating arch lights give the illusion of a deer jumping over the road.  The entire exhibit can be enjoyed from inside your car as you drive through the park.  The display is free, but donations can be made at the end of the route as you leave Nay Aug Park.  According to the Scranton Times-Tribune up to 50,000 visitors will come to see the annual exhibit which this year remains open from Black Friday until approximately January 10th, 2011.

Dunder Mifflin Umbrella

The Dunder Mifflin Umbrella:  It's perfect for when life rains on your parade.

Dwight Schrute Spotted at the Steamtown Mall!

According to irrefutable facts found on Wikipedia, Time Magazine published a story that cited multiple research universities which had determined that having a Dwight Schrute around was good for business.  This is especially true if your business is a mall kiosk that sells "the Office" related merchandise.

Happy Holidays Snowman

Know why the snowman looks so happy?   It was just after sunset and the temperature was already down to 28 degrees.    This fellow can be seen across the street from Nay Aug Park when exiting the Holiday Lights display.

Christmas Vacation in Scranton

The Christmas lights on this house in Scranton would make Clark Griswold proud.

The Dreamy Lone Pine

This particular mountain in the Poconos has a stark, barren look as it waits for the first snow of the season.  But like a beacon of light piercing a dark and foreboding dream, the lone pine reaches out as a link to spring that unfailingly chases winter away.

Pods in the Poconos

While hiking in the Pocono Mountains I saw this pod which  to my non-farmer eyes is what I imagine cotton plants could look like.  A quick google search confirmed to my non-botonist brain that it is not cotton.  My search results were unsuccessful in making an I.D.  Any flora aficionados out there that can identify this plant?

What Time Is It, Scranton?

Time to buy a lottery ticket.

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