Andina in Portland: Foodie Friday

March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 / SoyBend / Leave a comment

When I spoke with a couple acquaintances in Bend about restaurants to try in Portland, Oregon, both mentioned Andina immediately. This Peruvian restaurant opened in 2003. Their website notes how they “bring the warmth of the Peruvian spirit into every aspect of the dining experience.”

You can order small plates, main dishes, sides, and a wide variety of drinks here. We ordered two drinks and shared four small plates on our visit last month. There was plenty of food, and I thought the price was reasonable.

The Anticucho de Pollo is like a complete meal on a small plate. It included a chicken skewer, crispy potatoes, huancaína verde, and salsa criolla. The chicken was nicely spiced and the potato chips were very crunchy.

The Peruvian Scalloped Potatoes was our favorite dish. It included purple majesty & Yukon gold potatoes, and ají panca bechamel, with salsa verde on the side. This dish wasn’t fancy, but it was delicious.

We ordered two ceviches. The Ceviche de Conchas included weathervane scallops, tomatillos, jimmy nardellos, sweet corn, and Walla Walla sweets onions topped with ham dust and cilantro. The scallops had a melt in your mouth texture and the spices gave it a bit of a bite.

We also ordered a Ceviche de Alcachofa. This vegetarian ceviche included artichoke, roasted peppers, avocado, pepitas, ají limo and coconut leche de tigre topped with cilantro and fennel. This dish had a blend of smooth and crunchy textures in a coconut broth spiced up with aji limo peppers.

The Limonada de Maracuya was my favorite drink on my short trip to Portland. This nonalcoholic passion fruit limeade had a refreshing taste. It was so good I wanted to order a second one, but I resisted the urge.

We arrived right when Andina opened and did not have a reservation. We sat at the copper-covered bar counter. This is a popular restaurant so if you want a table, be sure to make reservations in advance.

Andina location and hours

Andina is located at 1314 NW Glisan St in downtown Portland. It’s open daily from 4:00 to 9:00 pm. Andina serves brunch from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Happy hour is from 4:00 to 5:00 pm daily.

Foodie Friday

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Flag bridge through the seasons: Wordless Wednesday

March 11, 2026March 11, 2026 / SoyBend / 4 Comments

Rainbow flag bridge, Bend, Oregon 21June2019

Flag bridge through the seasons in the Old Mill district of Bend, Oregon

Wordless Wednesday

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Backyard Byway: LAPC

March 10, 2026March 10, 2026 / SoyBend / 20 Comments

On my backyard byway,

I paddle past active volcanoes

South Sister from Hosmer Lake

Reflected in alpine lakes

Mt. Bachelor from Little Lava Lake

I stomp along trails with my snowshoes

Swampy Lakes Short Snowshoe trail, Bend, Oregon 14Feb2017

Swampy Lakes Sno-Park

and watch skiers carve their signatures across hillsides

Mt. Bachelor

I drive past ridges reaching for roads

Todd Ridge

and hike to places of reflection

Blow Lake, Oregon

I see water levels fluctuate in reservoirs

Wickiup Reservoir

and the rebirth of forests after fire

Cedar Creek Fire

On my backyard byway,

I watch foliage explode with color

Fall foliage

and wild ones along the byway watching me

Great blue heron

I took the photos on this post on the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway in Central Oregon. This 66-mile long road snakes its way past majestic volcanic peaks and numerous alpine lakes.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Your Journey

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A ghostly cottonwood: Monochrome Monday

March 9, 2026March 9, 2026 / SoyBend / 4 Comments

A ghostly cottonwood at Summer Lake, Oregon

Monochrome Monday

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Native American fisherman sculpture: Sculpture Saturday

March 7, 2026March 1, 2026 / SoyBend / 4 Comments

This life-sized Native American fisherman sculpture is at the Columbia Gorge Museum in Stevenson, Washington. This sculpture shows how people of nearby tribes fished in the Columbia River with dip nets. One of their favorite fishing spots was at Celilo Falls. When The Dalles Dam was completed in 1957, the falls disappeared within hours.

Today, you might see a Native American fisherman fishing from platforms at Cascade Locks, Oregon, near the Bridge of the Gods.

To taste locally harvested seafood, be sure to visit the Brigham Fish Market in Cascade Locks. They serve great fish and chips and clam chowder!

Sculpture Saturday

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Penjing drawing & photo: First Friday Art

March 6, 2026March 6, 2026 / SoyBend / 4 Comments

Today I’m sharing a colored pencil penjing drawing I quickly drew this morning. Penjing, or penzai, is the Chinese version of Japanese bonsai. While bonsai often focuses on a single tree, penjing represents a scene in nature in a “three-dimensional painting.”

In China, these plantings have been created since at least the Han dynasty (206 B.C. to 221 A.D.).

My drawing is based on a penjing planting at the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. In my photo below, the wall of the gift shop made an interesting background.

I’ve always admired the artistry that goes into creating penjings. It requires a lot of patience and foresight.

Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.

First Friday Art

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Oregon Trunk Railroad Bridge: Wordless Wednesday

March 4, 2026March 4, 2026 / SoyBend / 8 Comments

Oregon Trunk Railroad Bridge

Wordless Wednesday

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Giant Pacific octopus up close: Macro Monday

March 2, 2026March 2, 2026 / SoyBend / 8 Comments

Giant Pacific octopus up close vignette

Macro Monday

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Shadows play: LAPC

March 1, 2026March 1, 2026 / SoyBend / 23 Comments

Shadows play

Within deep glacially carved gorges filled with fall foliage

And shallow grooves in clay created by an artist’s hands

Shadows gather

Around the powerful presence of a goat the color of snow

And along straight and curved ridges in a garden of sand

Shadows play

Among towering sentinels standing guard over thundering waterfalls

And around a grand and forever grounded aircraft

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Shadowed

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Please Participate: Monochrome Monday

February 23, 2026February 23, 2026 / SoyBend / Leave a comment

Please Participate by Jeppe Hein 2015 at Portland Art Museum, Oregon

Monochrome Monday

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Mt Hood from above: WS & OWS

February 22, 2026February 22, 2026 / SoyBend / 8 Comments

I took this photo of Mt Hood from above a couple of weeks ago.

If you look closely, you can see a couple other volcanoes in the background. Mt Adams, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier are all close by.

The skies were beautiful that day, but at this time of the year they should be more cloudy and gray than blue. Snow accumulation on the mountain has been much lower than usual this season. This has affected winter recreation and all the other businesses associated with it. Fortunately, a recent storm system dumped a lot of snow on Mt Hood.

Weekend Sky (WS) & One Word Sunday (OWS) – Blue

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JIA Asian Street Kitchen: Foodie Friday

February 20, 2026February 20, 2026 / SoyBend / 2 Comments

JIA Asian Street Kitchen is tucked away in the corner of a mall in southwestern Bend, Oregon. They serve a wide selection of meals, drinks, and appetizers.

The best thing we had on a recent visit was the JIA Popcorn Shrimp appetizer. You can dip tempura shrimp into spicy Gochujang aioli and Wasabi aioli sauces. Both were good. This dish comes with Vietnamese rice crackers, pictured below in the glass. I describe these crackers as “crunchy air.” 😀

The JIA’s BBQ Set, shown below, is one of their Chef’s Specials. It includes BBQ chicken marinated in lemongrass for 24 hours. It also features a green papaya salad, sticky rice in an upright basket, and tamarind and sweet chili dipping sauces. My dining companion didn’t particularly like the chicken’s flavor, but others may feel differently. He described the rice as “tough”, but did like the papaya salad.

For my main dish, I ordered the Khao Soil. This is a coconut curry soup from Northern Thailand. Tender egg noodles and grilled chicken fill the rich coconut broth. It’s topped with crisp-fried wontons, fried shallots, pickled mustard greens, and raw shallots. A drizzle of hot chili oil adds a touch of heat. I liked the spiciness of the broth and the crunchiness of the fried wontons.

JIA Asian Street Kitchen serves several cocktails with interesting names. The Unblinkable, shown below, is “A tamed dragon’s eye drifts atop Brazil’s dragon tears, enveloped in the ethereal mist of Oregon spirit absinthe a bold blend of Leblon cachaca, Midori, lemon, pineapple, and a touch of absinthe.”

Interior design

The interior design includes a lively mural, paper lanterns, and lit-up clouds and a moon.

Rattan hanging lights and a life-size artificial cherry tree decorate the rest of the space.

The food we ordered on this and previous visits was generally good. The unique interior design is memorable.

On this visit, there was a new element in the dining area. A remote-controlled food cart delivered our food. Yeah, really. While it gets your attention, I’m not sure it’s necessary. Will photos of the cart be shared on social media? Yup, that’s what I just did!

JIA Asian Street Kitchen location and hours

JIA Asian Street Kitchen is at 19570 Amber Meadow Dr. #100, Bend, OR 97702. They are open from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Mondays through Thursdays, 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Sundays.

Foodie Friday

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Lunar New Year decorations: RDP

February 17, 2026February 17, 2026 / SoyBend / 14 Comments

When I visited the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon last week, I saw several Lunar New Year decorations. They were prepping the garden for celebrations on February 17, the day the 2026 lunar new year begins.

This impressive dragon was inside one of the buildings hovering over a table and desk.

I zoomed in to get a better view. The colors and textures were gorgeous.

Outside, a jumping fish floated over the pond.

Here is a closer view of it surfacing near an arch, lotus blossom, and smaller fish.

In another part of the pond, a dragon curls around mountains in the clouds. All of these Lunar New Year decorations showed a lot of expression.

Speaking of expression, I’m also sharing a sculpture of a horse at the nearby Portland Art Museum. I thought it was appropriate since it’s the year of the horse. Recent “Horse” years include 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, and 2026.

The chinesenewyear.net website describes those born in the year of the horse as follows:

Horses are lively, charming, and adventurous. In the zodiac, they thrive in lively settings and are often seen as natural leaders and motivators.

This Prancing Horse sculpture, by an unidentified artist, is made of gray earthenware with traces of calcified green lead glaze. The sculpture is from China, Sichuan province. It is likely from Chengdu, Tianhuishan and created in the 2nd century CE.

I really liked the face on this sculpture. Is it grimacing or grinning? Hmm…

For more info and photos about Lan Su Chinese Garden, see my previous post.

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Celebrations!

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When you trim a photo: LAPC

February 15, 2026February 15, 2026 / SoyBend / 19 Comments

When you trim a photo

you may notice exhalations in the skies

and the embrace of trees

Dark islands may emerge

from shallow seas of dense fog

in the ring of fire

When you crop photos

you may notice red, yellow, and green layers about to fall

or a rainbow of colors about to rise

When you trim a photo

you may notice soft curving lines

on a feline’s fur

Rigid radiating lines may emerge

Brushed with pale whispers

of an owl’s wisdom

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Unusual crop

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Cirrus clouds over cities haiku: Skywatch Friday

February 13, 2026February 13, 2026 / SoyBend / 16 Comments

graceful fragile flocks
cirrus clouds over cities
blown by winter winds

Skywatch Friday

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astonishment: LAPC

February 10, 2026February 10, 2026 / SoyBend / 14 Comments

I draw in a breath in a moment of astonishment

when viewing artwork, delicate yet strong

And when seeing string sculptures scattered around a winter garden

I gasp with excitement

when two fine drakes line up perfectly for my lens

And when viewing a peaceful place in the center of a bustling city

I draw in a breath in a moment of astonishment

when tasting a marvelous blend of spicey and smooth, cilantro and coconut

And when seeing architectural wonders paying homage to trees

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – What Astonishes You?

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Abstract in an elevator: 1 to 3 Challenge

February 9, 2026February 9, 2026 / SoyBend / 13 Comments

On a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, I saw this abstract in an elevator. The patterns were created by reflections of lights on the stainless steel walls. At first, I was going to show this picture in black and white, but the different colored lights made it more interesting. This week, I decided to use photography effects that show the designs in even more abstract ways.

I used Corel PaintShopPro 2021 for different photo processing effects on this picture of the elevator. In the original image I increased the contrast and cropped the edges. Use the slider to view each effect compared to the original.

Abstract in an elevator three ways

In the first photo, I used a distortion effect. I went to Effects>Distortion Effects>Polar Coordinates and chose the Rectangular to Polar effect with a black background. With this effect, the program “maps pixels from Cartesian to polar coordinates.” Some describe this technique as creating ‘little planets’ from the original photo. With the black background, I thought this image looked like a distant galaxy, with a twist.

In the next photo, I also used a distortion effect. I went to Effects>Distortion Effects>Twirl and used the Right 180 setting. This effect distorts the image by twirling it around its center. I like the swooping action created by this effect. All the straight lines disappeared.

In the last abstract in an elevator photo, I used a reflection effect. I went to Effects>Reflection Effects>Kaleidoscope and used the Default setting with a reflected edge. This effect turns a pie-shaped area of the image into a circular pattern. I like how this effect turns pictures of ordinary objects into something extraordinary.

This freight elevator was in the Portland Art Museum in Oregon. Even a functional item like an elevator was beautiful.

One-to-Three Photo Processing Challenge February 2026

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3 fish 3 ways: First Friday Art

February 7, 2026February 7, 2026 / SoyBend / Leave a comment

Today, I’m sharing images I created of 3 fish 3 ways. When I took an ichthyology class at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, we visited the aquarium in Vancouver, B.C. Our assignment was to sketch some of the fish we saw and write down notes related to their life history. What a fun assignment! 😀

My first picture shows a pencil sketch of three fish. I drew a Longnose Butterflyfish, Forcipiger longirostris, a Swallow-tailed Angelfish, Genicanthus melanospilos, and a Smoothed Unicorn Tang, Naso lituratus. These three have great common names.

I traced a copy of the pencil drawing and outlined each fish with an ink brush pen.

In the last of my 3 fish 3 ways pictures, I quickly filled in the ink outlines with watercolor pens. The coloring of these fish varies widely.

Note to self… use a good quality watercolor paper next time. Since I used cheap printer paper, the paint dried fast and I couldn’t blend it.

Here’s the watercolor pen set I used. I found it at one of the gift stores in downtown Bend. I like having them organized in a handy case.

Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.

First Friday Art

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Cat on a golden rug: Wordless Wednesday

February 4, 2026February 3, 2026 / SoyBend / Leave a comment

Cat on a golden rug

Wordless Wednesday

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Designs in… :LAPC

February 3, 2026February 2, 2026 / SoyBend / 18 Comments

Designs in… nature

may be spikey and sharp

curve around contours

or fracture along fault lines

Designs in… the human-made world

may symbolize city skylines

carved details of the cosmos

or footpaths leading us forward

Lens-Artist Photography Challenge – Looking back to 174 – Shapes and design

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In turbulent times haiku: The Weekend in Black and White

January 30, 2026January 30, 2026 / SoyBend / Leave a comment

in turbulent times
barriers bring together
remnants of autumn

The Weekend in Black and White

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Joe Feddersen baskets: Wordless Wednesday

January 28, 2026January 28, 2026 / SoyBend / 2 Comments

Joe Feddersen baskets at the High Desert Museum, Bend, Oregon

Wordless Wednesday

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Go Speed Racer?: Birds of the Week

January 27, 2026January 27, 2026 / SoyBend / 7 Comments

Last April, we had an unexpected Speed Racer show up in our yard.

We could see that the pigeon had a yellow band on one leg and a blue one on the other.

We also noticed how tame the bird was. It walked right up to us without any fear.

I called the local animal rescue organization, and they said they don’t deal with pigeons, aka Rock Pigeons, Columba livia. They referred me to the local Central Oregon Racing Pigeon Club. When I sent them photos, they determined it belonged to one of their members.

They instructed me to keep it in a safe place until they could drive to our house to pick it up. The guy asked, more than once, if it was able to escape since they’d had other calls where the bird got away before they arrived. I reassured him that the bird could not escape.

Racing Pigeons

After he picked up the Speed Racer pigeon, I did a little research on racing pigeons. According to the America Racing Pigeon Union, there are more than 700 affiliated clubs around the country. They recommend this hobby to people who enjoy working with animals and appreciate their athleticism. The races their members participate in range from 100 to 600 miles in distance.

Pigeon racing is popular throughout the world. These birds were domesticated thousands of years ago, and the sport of pigeon racing began in the 19th century. Participants in this sport take it very seriously and are willing to pay high prices for the birds. The highest price paid was 1.9 million dollars. The higher priced birds often originate from Belgium.

Because of their high value, racing pigeons are often stolen. One well-known breeder in Belgium, Frans Bungeneers, had 60 birds stolen from his property in 2017. Some of these heists read like a fictional thriller. Today’s breeders rely on cameras, sensors, and alarms to protect their Speed Racer birds.

Birds of the Week

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2025 photo bloopers: LAPC

January 25, 2026January 25, 2026 / SoyBend / 14 Comments

A new year has begun, so it’s time to post my 2025 photo bloopers. This is where I share pictures from the past year that didn’t quite fit into any category, were blurry, or had poor composition. I try to add a little humor to them with captions and comments. Hope they entertain you!

What happens when the photographer hasn’t had her morning coffee yet.

“Hamburger? What hamburger?”

The eyes have it!

Mole two ways

“Don’t let them get you down, Herb. You just gotta stick with it.”

The picture I shared and the rest of the story showing what was in the foreground. Use the slider to view each image.

My dog took a selfie. Pretty good, right?

“It was a dark and gloomy night… “

Hope you enjoyed my 2025 photo bloopers. See more of my funny photos on my photo bloopers tag.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Rejected

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On a winter walk: LAPC

January 24, 2026January 24, 2026 / SoyBend / 18 Comments

On a winter walk
down my block
A dusting of snow
shows which way to go

Fences of wood, wire, and stone
divide us, and leave us all alone

Daggers and spikes form
along edges once warm

An ancient one awakens

speaking of directions not taken

On a winter walk
down my block
A warm sunrise glow
shows which way to go

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – What’s around the corner

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Bosa restaurant: Foodie Friday

January 23, 2026January 23, 2026 / SoyBend / 2 Comments

Bosa is an Italian and French restaurant on Bend’s westside. The food is served in courses and is meant to be shared.

Appetizers and Salads

Our first dish was the Bosa meatballs. Tomato gravy, topped with parmesan and parsley covers the three large meatballs. The tomato sauce was good, but the meatballs themselves didn’t have a lot of flavor.

Next, we had Insalata salad. This was a very good salad and it included mixed greens, fennel, and thin slices of apple, topped with spiced pistachio nuts and crumbles of Rogue smokey blue cheese. A light date vinaigrette tops it off.

Bosa Pasta

In the next course, we had house-made pasta. The first pasta dish shown below is the Bigoli “cacio e pepe.” The pasta is like a thicker version of spaghetti. This simple dish includes beurre monté (butter sauce), cracked peppercorn, parmigiano, pecorino, toasted breadcrumbs, and parsley. I thought this had good flavor without being too heavy.

The next photo shows the Tagliatelle dish. This dish includes beef and pork ragu, parmigiano, and parsley. The meat sauce was full of flavor.

If we had chosen to order the next course, we could have selected from a variety of meat and vegetable dishes. Since we had ordered a beer and a cocktail, we weren’t hungry for anything else. The dessert dishes included some enticing-looking offerings, like a warm toffee date cake with salted vanilla gelato.

Would I go here again? I’m not sure. I liked the fact that you could carry on a conversation. They have a lot of staff working there. Every time you finish a dish, they bring you a new set of silverware. Why?! The ceiling decor in the small space is a little cluttered for my taste, but others may not feel the same way. Most of what we ordered was good, but my cocktail, an Old-fashioned, was just okay.

Bosa hours and location

Bosa is located at 1005 NW Galveston Ave, in Bend, Oregon. The restaurant is open from 4:30 to 9:30 pm on Mondays through Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. Reservations are highly recommended at this popular restaurant. Their food is in the mid- to high price range. Parking in this residential neighborhood is limited, so arrive early.

Foodie Friday

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Ray of hope: Wordless Wednesday

January 21, 2026January 20, 2026 / SoyBend / 6 Comments

Ray of hope over Tumalo Falls, Oregon

Wordless Wednesday

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Seals by the shore: Mammal Monday

January 19, 2026January 19, 2026 / SoyBend / 11 Comments

When you look at the first picture below, you may not notice the seals by the shore. It just looks like a scenic California beach.

But if you zoom in a little more, you can see Northern Elephant Seals, Mirounga angustirostris, scattered all along the shore.

I took these pictures at the Elephant Seal Vista Point near San Simeon, California. Visitors can view the seals at this rookery from elevated platforms and boardwalks. Volunteers from Friends of the Elephant Seal are there to answer your questions.

You’ll get great views of these large sea mammals. Females weigh up to 2,000 pounds, while males can reach weights of 7,000 pounds. That’s HUGE! The southern species, Mirounga leonina, gets even bigger. Males can weigh up to 9,000 pounds.

Once again, I’m sharing this picture of two content-looking sleeping seals.

Mammal Monday

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without color: LAPC

January 18, 2026January 18, 2026 / SoyBend / 23 Comments

without color

contrasting strands of baskets play a major role

and lesser-known vessels of silver shine

in black and white

a bowl of miso soup reveals a cryptic message

and two tacos grin with a knowing smile

without color

chairs stoically bear the burden of a spring snow

and rejoice under a refreshing downpour of rain

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Minimalism in black and white photography

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Pot of gold ahead?: Wordless Wednesday

January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 / SoyBend / 4 Comments

Pot of gold ahead? Trail in Pine Nursery Park, Bend, Oregon

Wordless Wednesday

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Well-loved camels: Monochrome Mondays

January 12, 2026January 12, 2026 / SoyBend / 4 Comments

These two well-loved camels are at Volunteer Park in Seattle. Numerous children have climbed onto these large sculptures. Though they may not remember what was inside the museum, they likely have fond memories of their time spent sitting atop these large sculptures. The two camel sculptures flank the doors of the Seattle Asian Art Museum, formerly the Seattle Art Museum (SAM).

Of the nearly 24,000 objects in SAM’s collection, two sculptures have probably had the broadest impact on visitors’ experience of the museum since it opened in 1933.

SAM Stories

The original marble camels were created in the late 14th-mid 17th century in China. Due to conservation concerns, in 1991 the originals were moved inside SAM. Today, the well-loved camels outside the Seattle Asian Art Museum are replicas.

Here is a 1933 picture of the Art Deco-style building that shows two camel and two ram sculptures in front of the museum.

Monochrome Monday

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Seating at Hawkeye & Huckleberry: Pull Up a Seat

January 9, 2026January 9, 2026 / SoyBend / 4 Comments

This seating at Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge in Bend, Oregon has a modern cowboy kind of vibe. There’s a lot going on in this design.

There are two couches, four easy chairs, and two barstools shown in this relatively small space.

Pull Up a Seat

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Yellow-headed Blackbird: Birds of the Week

January 6, 2026January 6, 2026 / SoyBend / 14 Comments

This striking bird is a Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Its scientific name means “yellow head.”

I saw this male bird at Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon.

These large blackbirds are easy to identify. The males have a bright yellow head and a white patch on their wings.

The Yellow-headed Blackbird has a unique song that also makes it easy to identify. All About Birds describes it as sounding like “a rusty farm gate opening.”

Here’s a link to a recording made in Colorado from the Birds of the World site.

Fun Fact: Since Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest over water, young birds often fall out of the nests and swim short distances to rescue themselves.

Birds of the Week

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2025 Favorite Photos: LAPC

January 4, 2026January 4, 2026 / SoyBend / 30 Comments

Today, I’m sharing some of my 2025 favorite photos I posted on my blog. I’ve divided them into four categories: Countryside, Cuisine, Critters, and Cultural Attractions. Enjoy!

2025 Favorite Photos of Countryside

I’ll begin with a picture of a sunset I took with my drone from my backyard in Bend, Oregon. Stunning, right?

The next picture, also taken with my drone, is on the east side of Steens Mountain, Oregon.

This picture shows Burney Falls in action in California.

The next is of the Red Canyon Overlook in Wyoming. I loved the layers of earth and sky.

This picture shows the aptly named Reflection Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California.

Photos of Cuisine

Though I have featured food photos from many locations in past favorite posts, this year all of them happen to be in Bend, Oregon.

This picture shows one the many dishes served during the Foodie Crawl in Bend. It was a Crispy Chicken Bite & Biscuit paired with a mojito at The Drake.

I love salads. This is the house salad served at Oblivion Pour House.

This photo shows the Original Bowl at Café Yumm! There is rice hiding underneath all the veggies. Delicious!

One of the main dishes I sampled during a recent visit to Yokocho Izakaya. This is the don teriyaki.

A yummy brownie with ice cream beautifully presented at The Blacksmith.

2025 Favorite Photos of Critters (and a Flower)

Here’s a pronghorn from behind in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

This is a photo of my very comfortable cat resting on my lap.

This photo shows a tiger in a blur of motion at Fota Wildlife Park near Carrigtwohill, County Cork, Ireland.

The side-blotched lizard was soaking up the sun in Arches National Park, Utah.

I got a nice close up of this Cattleya orchid in Volunteer Park Conservatory, Washington.

Cultural Attractions

One of my favorite cultural attractions I saw this year was the Exquisite Creatures Revealed exhibition at OMSI in Portland, Oregon. Be sure to check out the other pictures I took of this unique exhibit.

This polo player sculpture is at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, Washington. I liked the horse’s expression in this small sculpture.

This photo shows a variety of sea anemones at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

This whimsical VW van firepit was featured at Winterfest in Bend, Oregon.

I decided to show this portable cattle squeeze in black and white. This dramatic photo was taken in Crane, Oregon, near the hot springs.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Favorite Images of 2025

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Deer drawing and video: First Friday Art

January 2, 2026January 2, 2026 / SoyBend / 2 Comments

Today I’m sharing a deer drawing and video. I used black and gray pens to create this drawing of a mule deer buck.

I see mule deer regularly near my High Desert home. They often trigger our security cameras. I’m sharing a couple of videos of a healthy buck checking out our cameras in the middle of the night.

A week ago, while out walking in the Old Mill District of Bend, I had a close encounter with a deer. A doe charged at me, stopping within three feet of me. There were two fawns and a young buck nearby. The trails were icy so no one else was out there walking. There weren’t any trees nearby to hide behind, so I stood my ground, waved my arms, and yelled at her to go away. She listened to me eventually and left.

Protective doe and her fawn

Earlier this year, we had a fawn “trapped” on our fenced property. Though he was big enough to jump our 4-foot tall wire fence, he didn’t have the confidence to try it. His mother was very protective of him and charged at us and our dogs several times. After ten days of putting up with that behavior, I chased the reluctant fawn out of our yard by running towards him with a walking stick. He jumped the fence easily.

Deer may look tame, but they are wild creatures who will not hesitate to protect their young. My advice is to admire them from a safe distance. 🙂

Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.

First Friday Art

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Two whoo whoos in a barn: Wordless Wednesday

December 31, 2025December 31, 2025 / SoyBend / 5 Comments

Two whoo whoos in a barn at Summer Lake, Oregon

Wordless Wednesday

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Outdoor art by OMSI: Monday Murals

December 29, 2025December 29, 2025 / SoyBend / Leave a comment

This outdoor art by OMSI is on Southeast Water Avenue in Portland, Oregon. The mural is right across the street from the main entrance of OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

I believe the mural artist is Mario De Leon. The mural appears to include elements of Egyptian art, Aztec symbolism, and Black history.

The bird sculpture, Migrations, was created in a collaborative process by several people. These include: artist Olivia Guethling, Engineer Trevor Blackann, GuildWorks Founder & Principal Mar Ricketts, and many others. To read more about the creation of this piece, see Migrations: A Long Way From Home.

There are lots of amazing things to see inside the museum, but this outdoor art by OMSI was an unexpected treasure.

Monday Mural

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Yokocho Izakaya restaurant: Foodie Friday

December 26, 2025December 26, 2025 / SoyBend / 4 Comments

Yokocho Izakaya restaurant serves what it calls “Japanese & Asian comfort food.” It opened earlier this year in northeast Bend, Oregon. The restaurant was created by Kwanchanok Singhakahm (Chef Kwan) and Phanpat Namsr (Chef Nong), both originally from Thailand. A recent article notes that they enjoy serving Tokyo street food-style dishes here because it’s their “passion”, not to make money.

The interior is a work of art. Colorful posters, lanterns, and flags fill the space. Repurposed milk crates serve as seats at some of the tables.

In fact, I thought the interior was so interesting, I used a picture of it in the One to Three Photo Processing Challenge. In that challenge, participants show a single picture processed three ways.

Lines of customers waiting to get in can get long here. Near the entrance, there’s a yellow wall-mounted Pac-Man arcade game to pass the time.

There’s a small outdoor seating area by the front door.

Yokocho Izakaya restaurant food options

Their menu includes skewers, salads, small plates, noodle dishes, rice dishes, and several sides. There are a few dessert choices as well. Yokocho Izakaya restaurant has a large selection of sake, served hot or cold. Drinks include cocktails and mocktails with interesting names as well as beer, wine, tea, soft drinks, and Thai tea.

Bento

On my first visit, I had a bento box and the house sake. As you can see, it doesn’t look like a traditional bento box. This one included miso soup, seaweed salad, gyoza dumplings, karaage fried chicken with lemon aioli, and a yaki onigri (grilled Japanese rice ball glazed with sweet sauce). I especially liked the gyoza and chicken. Though I’m no expert on sake, I really liked the flavor of the sake I ordered.

Side dishes

On my next visit, I ordered several dishes. My first picture shows sides of Edamame and Agedashi Tofu. The steamed edamame beans were nice and salty on the outside and moist inside. The deep-fried tofu had a crunchy thin layer on the outside and silky and soft inside. The tofu is served with a dashi sauce and a topping of scallions and bonito flakes. Both were very good.

My next picture shows a serving of Okonomiyaki. This seafood pancake is covered with okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise. The garnish includes bonito flakes and seaweed. I thought it was good, but craved a stronger seafood taste.

Main dishes

The next photo is of the Teriyaki Don main dish. The grilled chicken is served with teriyaki sauce , and veggies, garnished with scallions and sesame seeds. The chicken was moist and tender and I really liked the flavor of the sauce. I preferred this chicken in this dish over the karaage chicken I had on my previous visit.

My dining companion ordered the Karaage Curry main dish. The chicken is deep-fried and served with a Japanese curry sauce. The sauce was tasty and the dish was beautifully presented.

Hours and location

Yokocho Izakaya is open six days a week from 12:00 to 3:00 pm and 5:00 to 9:00 pm. It is closed on Wednesdays. This restaurant is located off the beaten path at 1900 NE Division St., Suite 110 in Bend, Oregon.

I’ve liked Yokocho Izakaya so far. However, several people noted how uncomfortable the milk crate seats at some of the tables are in their comments. Perhaps they can address this issue in a creative way.

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Foodie Friday

A wandering soul haiku

December 23, 2025December 23, 2025 / SoyBend / 9 Comments

a wandering soul
trudges between boulders and blooms
on a quest for spring

Haiku

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Milkweed seedpods: Monochrome & Macro Monday

December 22, 2025December 22, 2025 / SoyBend / 4 Comments

Milkweed seedpods are beautiful and unique. Milkweed, Asclepias spp., is well-known for attracting monarch butterflies. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are attracted to this plant’s flowers. They produce abundant nectar.

In the fall, milkweed seedpods mature and split open. The seeds inside are attached to white floss called coma. This floss allows them to be carried long distances by the wind.

Fun fact: During World War II, when the supply of kapok was cut off by Japan, milkweed floss was used as a substitute to fill life jackets.

Monochrome Monday

Macro Monday

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Andina location and hours

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Interior design

JIA Asian Street Kitchen location and hours

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Abstract in an elevator three ways

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Racing Pigeons

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Appetizers and Salads

Bosa Pasta

Bosa hours and location

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2025 Favorite Photos of Countryside

Photos of Cuisine

2025 Favorite Photos of Critters (and a Flower)

Cultural Attractions

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