Carly Whitfield took this colorful photo while visiting a neighbor's house in Houston.

Dick and Margaret White sent us this photo from Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon. They said it is the deepest lake in the United States, and the average surface elevation is 6,178 feet above sea level.

John Sheldon and his friends rode their motorcycles from Washington to the Amish country in Sugarcreek, Ohio. John was sitting in front of a cheese factory when he spotted these gentlemen entering the store.

Kerry Pigeon of Scenery Hill sent us this photo of the ruins of Jerpoint Park, a "lost town" near Kilkenny, Ireland. Founded in the 12th century, Newtown Jerpoint was a thriving village, but the town vanished nearly 500 years ago. It recently was uncovered by a farmer who bought the property.

Not happy to be out of the nest? Allan Jack says this baby wren's first flight was a short one, about 10 feet. But within 15 minutes, it had flown off to join its mother.

Linda Ritzer took this photo of a young buck who seemed to be stopping to have his picture taken after crossing Swagler Road in North Bethlehem Township.

Alex Ferguson took this photo of a passion flower in his daughter's yard in Carroll Township.

Debbie Smith of East Washington took this photo of a sea lion that obviously has no respect for authority. Debbie shot the photo at the Valdez Marine Terminal in Alaska while on a cruise. The terminal is an ice-free port at the southern end of the Alaska pipeline, which carries oil from northern Prudhoe Bay. The oil is then loaded onto tanker ships for transport.

Dennis Hixson, a Vietnam veteran and member of VFW Post 764, took this photo while on vacation in Ocean City, N.J.

While mowing his grandparents' yard, Denver Guzman spotted this big grasshopper and called his sister, Destiny, to snap a picture of it.

Maggie and Anthony Drezewski of Malone Ridge Road near Washington had a very large surprise visitor to their front porch recently. A large farm abuts their property, and apparently there was a "security breach." They said cows also were on the road, in their field and on the back patio.

Erica Jestat and Dennis Perri went to a recent Pittsburgh Pirates game, and this guy was their good-luck charm for a Buccos victory.

Estelle Woodburn of Independence Township sent us this photo of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, built into the red stones of Sedona, Ariz.

Joe Dague was making his newspaper deliveries one recent morning when he spotted this mama deer taking her kids for a checkup - and perhaps a shampoo and cut - on East Maiden Street in Washington.

South Strabane Township police Detective Mike Schidlmeier glances at his son, Cole, who was standing at attention during the Sept. 11 memorial service in Washington. (Photo submitted by Erin Schidlmeier)

Stephen Ezarik of Scenery Hill took this photo of an imperial moth. He says the imperial is among the largest of all moths and can be found across the eastern United States.

Ron Parry took this photo during the recent dock dogs competition at The Highlands near Wheeling. He said this young lady and her dog put on quite a show.

Carrie Swart took this photo of her golden retriever, Luna, enjoying a beautiful sunrise while vacationing on the Outer Banks.

Many people would be thrilled to capture an image of one coyote with their trail camera. Damon Neroni got a photo of a whole pack on his property near Mather.

Kerry Pigeon of Scenery Hill took this close-up of a banana spider hanging in its web, which was strung among the flowers in her garden.

Chrissie Slebonick took this photo of a close encounter between her 10-year-old daughter, Alyssa Perry, and a polar bear at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Estelle Woodburn of Independence Township took this photo of a burning "volcano" of sliced onions at a Benihana restaurant.

Earlier this year, Erik Carson was visiting his parents, Bruce and Cheryl Carson of Canton Township, when his mother remarked that a cicada had ridden all the way home clinging to the windshield of her car. Erik thought he'd do an experiment with a slippery ice cube, and sure enough, the cicada put quite a grip on it.

While on a recent visit to Havana, Cuba, Jeff Filby captured this photo of a street performer dressed as a clown.

Paul Dott said this praying mantis has been hanging around his hummingbird feeder for a couple of weeks and has been picking off the bees that visit the feeder. He said the hummingbirds did not appear pleased about sharing their space.

Mike Phillips of Washington said this baby wren's first flight took it only from a birdhouse to this pot of flowers. A second wren joined this one shortly thereafter, and both then flew off again.

Megan Sonson of Canonsburg took this photo along Route 19, near Woodruff Memorial Park.

Christopher Aiken of Canonsburg got a new fall tenant in his garden frog house.

Joe Unitas took this photo of a giant mushroom in his backyard in McMurray. The mushroom measured nearly a foot across.

Ray Racunas took this photo of one of the takeoffs made by the B-17 bomber that recently visited Washington County Airport.

Observer-Reporter

Football fans dressed in olive drab colors like the military to honor veterans at a September 2014 Peters Township High School football game.