Basket tray, Klamath, Late 19th Century
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Basket tray: Wordless Wednesday
green leaves nonet poem: LAPC
green leaves unfold in dawn’s early light
reaching for the warmth of summer
heart-shaped, oval, linear,
thick, slender, feathery
bending and swaying
crooning ancient
melodies
until
dusk
Lens-Artist Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Choose a color
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Catch a wave cloud: Weekend Sky
Earlier this week, I saw this catch a wave cloud over my house. The curving shapes on the upper surface looked like a series of waves.
Here’s the catch a wave cloud from a little farther away. When I looked into what kind of cloud it was, I found out they’re referred to as Kelvin-Helmholtz or fluctus clouds.
These extremely rare clouds form when two overlapping layers of air move at different speeds. They’re more likely to occur on very windy days or on days with marked upward and downward air movement.
If you see Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds, take pictures right away. They are created during periods of instability and often last only a few minutes. Sometimes, they may last up to an hour.
These beautiful clouds may have been the inspiration for Vincent Van Gogh when he created his “The Starry Night” painting in 1889.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Galley Bend: Foodie Friday
Galley Bend is an Asian fusion restaurant that opened recently in Bend, Oregon. Two former flight attendants, Krid Sathirawongwan (Kris) and Sureeporn Tattumle (Kate), created this restaurant. They feature some of their favorite dishes from their past travels. Most of the food is Thai, but you’ll also find dishes with Indian, Korean, Chinese, and Malaysian influences.
Entrees and appetizers
The Korean Fried Chicken x Garlic Gochujang Sauce is my favorite dish. The chicken is coated in buttermilk and fried until golden, then glazed with a sweet, savory, and medium-spicy garlic gochujang sauce. This is a customer favorite and it is delicious! I was glad they provided wet wipes to wash your hands with because this is a very sticky dish. We ordered a side of kimchi for an additional charge and it complimented the crunchy chicken well.
Galley West offers appetizers including larb fries, crispy pork bellies, coconut shrimp, spring rolls, crispy tofu, and crispy clamari.
Galley West serves curries, rice plates, noodle plates, salads, and soups.
The Pad Thai features stir-fried rice noodles with egg, scallions, bean sauce, and pad Thai sauce with a garnish of lime, bean sprouts, peanuts, and dried chiles. I added chicken to mine. This classic version had a familiar taste.
Their Pineapple Fried Rice is often mentioned in online reviews. It includes scrambled eggs and fried rice with onion, tomato, and chunks of pineapple topped with cashew nuts and parsley. I added beef to mine. This dish also had a familiar taste.
We also tried the Fried Chive Cakes. These chewy garlic chive cakes are fried until crisp and served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. This was an unfamiliar taste. I liked the crunchiness of the outside and the flavor of the dipping sauce.
I ordered the Red Curry, since it’s one of my favorite Thai dishes. Galley West mixes a rich Thai curry paste with red chilies, lemon grass, bamboo shoots, bell peppers, and coconut milk, topped with basil leaves. Most red curries I’ve ordered have a rich base that is so “heavy” I can’t finish a bowlful at one sitting. Galley Bend serves a lighter curry that is a nice change. I also liked the tangy taste of the lemon grass.
My dining companion ordered the Spaghetti Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles). This Thai style stir-fried spaghetti includes basil, bell peppers, and savory house sauce. It is a colorful dish with lots of different textures and flavors.
Drinks at Galley Bend
This restaurant offers soft drinks, beer, wine, cocktails, and mocktails.
On one visit, I ordered the Asahi Japanese Lager. This beer was light and refreshing.
On another visit, I ordered the Thai Iced Tea. I ordered it with coconut milk and it was yummy! 😀
The interior is decorated in a light, modern style. Unlike other industrial-style interiors in some of our local restaurants, you can actually carry on a conversation without yelling.
I also like their logo of a plane in flight. The food preparation area of an aircraft is called a galley, so this is a fitting name.
The owners of Galley Bend have connections with two other Bend restaurants. They learned some of their cooking techniques and management practices through Sathirawongwan, Jattalee (JJ) Chalernhinthong, of the Dear Mom Cafe, and Kwan Singhakahm, of the Yokocho Izakaya restaurant. Both are very good places to eat here in Bend. The owners of these three establishments once took a university class together in Bangkok. We’re lucky these friends brought their commitment to preparing meals well to Bend.
I’d also like to mention the staff working at Galley Bend. They go above and beyond in treating their customers well. You can tell they’ve worked in careers where hospitality is important.
Galley Bend hours and location
Galley Bend is at 62080 Dean Swift Rd, Ste 100 on Bend’s east side. Their hours are Monday through Friday 11:00 am to 2:30 pm and from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, they’re open from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm and from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Old Hay Cart: Monochrome Monday
This old hay cart is inside the P Ranch Long Barn at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. It’s over 100 years old.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
In our journey through life: LAPC
In our journey through life, layers of wisdom accumulate in us over the years and become a thing of beauty.
We fondly recall the delicate flowers of our youth,
but sometimes forgot about the tough times.
In those days, we tumbled aimlessly from one place to another,
searching for a soft spot to land.
In our journey through life, we eventually found our way past sharp obstacles
towards a long and fruitful ending.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Textures
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Bend Foodie Crawl 2026
On April 26, we participated in the Bend Foodie Crawl 2026. At this event, you walk around to different locations in downtown Bend, Oregon and get small food and beverage samples. The number of participants is limited to help prevent overcrowding. The map for this year’s event is at the end of this post. Since not every place has a downtown location, samples are also offered at The Commons and at US Bank.
The Bend Foodie Crawl 2026 took place from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The after party at McMenamins restaurant went from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. It featured, desserts, drinks, raffles, and other entertainment.
Favorites at Bend Foodie Crawl 2026 food & drinks
I’ll start out this post with my favorites. Yoli serves modern and traditional Korean cuisine. They featured a Bulgogi Ssam with kimchi and banchan paired with a soju. This beautifully presented dish had great flavor. It was one of the spicier options of the day.
I’ve eaten at Yoli before and described a 5-course meal we had there in a previous post. It was delicious!
One of my other favorites was from Five Fusion | Sushi Bar. They served spicy hamachi with citrus and olive oil in a cute square cup. They called their drink a Good Neighbor. It included roku gin, blackberry infused St-Germain, blackberry gomme, blueberry, and lemon. It was flavorful and paired well with the hamachi.
Though I focused on the food, I liked checking out the interiors of some of our local restaurants while on the crawl. I liked the symmetry and colors of Five Fusion’s bar.
I also liked the food at El Sancho. They served beef barbacoa and pork carnitas tacos. The warm tortillas were filled with meat and garnished with cilantro, diced onions, salsa verde, and lime. They served a refreshing Sunriver Brewery beer with the tacos.
One of El Sancho’s restaurants burned down a couple of years ago but they rebuilt it. It’s a local favorite so we are glad to see its return.
Wonderland Chicken served a sample of their Nashville chicken with a side of pickle coleslaw. They let us know the chicken was level “0” on the hotness scale, with 7 as the hottest. I was glad about that because we ate there before and level 2 was too hot for me even though I like spicy food. I liked the tasty, crisp chicken and the extra pickle flavor in the slaw.
Roam is a Modern American restaurant in the Oxford Hotel, one of the more upscale hotels downtown. They served a mini elk sausage corndog with a mustard relish aioli. I was a little hesitant because elk can taste gamey, but this was good. The drink I had was a smoked honey bourbon sour.
Mother Shuckers served Willapa Bay oyster shooters with cocktail sauce, horseradish, and a wedge of lemon. The sample include a single fire cracker and a glass of Willamette Valley white wine. I admit, I prefer my oysters cooked, but I braved my aversion to the slightly slimy texture and ate the raw oysters. I still prefer them cooked. 😉
Mother Shuckers is one of my favorite Bend food trucks and I love their fish sandwiches. I usually include their lime cilantro slaw with my order.
Okay offerings
J Dub is an American restaurant and bar downtown. They served a chicken lettuce wrap with diced chicken and garlic, peppers and onions garnished with an Asian peanut glaze. It was paired with Stafford bourbon. The wrap was fine, but I preferred the more flavorful one offered by Yoli.
Cascade Culinary students served a savory green garlic brisee tartlet paired with a sweet pistachio French macaron and a sparkling strawberry sangria. It was nice to see the tasty tartlets assembled right before your eyes. The macaron was flavored perfectly, but the sangria didn’t have much taste.
It was wonderful to see students from our local culinary program enthusiastically participating in this event.
Zydeco served Boudin balls paired with a Hurricane cocktail. The Boudin balls were okay. The drink was one of my favorites.
We go to Zydeco for special occasions and ate there last night in celebration of my sister’s birthday. Maybe I’ll write a post about their food in the near future.
Not my favorites
The local Head Start Food Service also served food at this event. This organization serves food to our children in need. The grilled chicken was mixed with ancient grains, carrots and other veggies, and topped with a cherry. I thought they were trying to sneak in a lot of healthy food into this dish. I liked the unexpected inclusion of a cherry on top. They served a lemon spritzer with this dish.
Blissful Spoon is a gluten-free restaurant downtown. They served pita chips with a selection of dips including Moroccan hummus, zaalouk, and muhammara. It was paired with Monkey Bay sauvignon blanc. I thought this dish was just okay. Maybe it was partly due to the almost monochromatic presentation. I expect food to be a feast for the eyes and the palate at events like this.
I liked some of the bakery items I’ve tasted here in the past and also like their well-laid out interior design.
Bend Foodie Crawl 2026 desserts
We went to the after party to check out some of the desserts. McMenamins, Bonta Gelato, Mom’s Kitchen, and Eberhard’s Dairy Products provided the food. Desserts included gelato, cheesecake, pecan bars, lemon bars, brownies, and ice cream. By the time we got there, I think my taste buds were dead but I liked the wide variety of sweet treats.
Here’s the map for the Bend Foodie Crawl 2026. I look forward to going to this event next year.
The money raised during the Foodie Crawl benefits NeighborImpact, a local nonprofit. This organization provides resources for finding food, housing, and paying bills. They also provide services for Head Start and Early Head Start for Central Oregon families. I give them a generous donation every year. Please consider donating to them here.
In case you want to see more, here’s my post about the Bend Foodie Crawl in 2025.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Northern Paiute shelter & saying: Wordless Wednesday
Northern Paiute shelter & saying at the Oregon Trail History and Education Center, Glenns Ferry, Idaho
“In the beginning, the creator gave to every people a cup of clay, and from this cup they drank their life.” Northern Paiute saying
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Star Catcher mural: Monday Murals
The Star Catcher mural in downtown Portland, Oregon, was painted by Rustam Qbic in 2015. This mural depicts a person with a conch shell head catching stars in a net and using them to light a lantern and campfire.
Qbic’s art contains small details you may not notice at first. Did you see the magical window on the back of the person in the Star Catcher mural?
Rustam Qbic is a Russian street artist whose work can be seen in countries throughout the world. His murals, illustrations, and graphic art pieces are often inspired by literature and classic poetry of Eastern countries. Qbic’s murals include vibrant colors and whimsical elements.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Clouds and quotes: LAPC & WS
For this post, I’m showing several pictures with clouds as a major element. The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week is to post quotes illustrated with your photos.
The first one shows a view of Red Canyon in Utah. The quote seemed to fit this picture perfectly.
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.
Edward Abbey
I took the next picture in my backyard in Bend. The nighttime rainbow magically appeared in this image taken with my phone.
There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.
George Carlin
I took this picture of a tree in my yard in winter. My juniper tree muse looks beautiful with a coating of snow.
In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.
Alice Walker
The next picture was taken on the Oregon coast, south of Seaside. Misty clouds collect along the shoreline.
Change is the only constant. Learn to surf your life instead of planting your feet.
Amy Poehler
I took the next picture on top of Steens Mountain in Oregon. The yellow aspen leaves contrasted well with the blue skies and puffy white clouds.
Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
George Eliot
I took the last picture from my house of a sliver of sunset in the final moments of a day. My drone captured great pictures of the setting sun and dark clouds over volcanoes in the Cascade Range.
A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.
Steve Martin
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Pick a favorite quote and illustrate it
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Wood Duck painting & photos: FFA & LAPC
Today, I’m sharing a Wood Duck painting I created. I used acrylic paints on mixed media paper that is slightly grained.
Wood Ducks, Aix sponsa, are one of the most beautiful ducks in the world. They are colorful and have unique markings.
Wood Ducks look like someone couldn’t decide what they should include when they created them. They threw in multiple colors, dots, stripes, iridescence, and striking bill patterns. They’re like something out of fantasy novel.
Creating my Wood Duck painting, mistakes and all
When I created my Wood Duck painting, I used A LOT of colors. Here’s a picture of my palette and the paper l use to try out colors. I brushed iridescent gold over parts of the head, but it’s hard to see in a photograph.
For the duck, I used sharp lines of color with a little shading. For the water in the background, I took advantage of the paper’s watercolor characteristics. I did a wash of pale green and layered on darker green and patches of pale yellow. I hope it conveys the ever-changing appearance of water.
Before painting the background, I accidentally dropped my paintbrush loaded with black paint onto the unfinished painting. It left a black spot over the duck’s head. Oh no! 😮
I tried an ink eraser and an electric eraser. Nope, those didn’t work.
What did work was a small pumice file meant for fingernails. They work for several purposes, including cleaning stubborn stains in sinks and toilets. Fortunately, the file helped erase my paint mistake. 😁
If you use a pumice file on paintings, be extra careful. It will sand off part of the paper if you press down too hard.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
First Friday Art (FFA)
All my posts this week are related to water. Two show things in the water, and two show things on the water. I included a link to this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge in the two posts showing things on the water.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Looking back to #155 – On the water (LAPC)
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Two white sturgeon: Wordless Wednesday
Two white sturgeon at the Oregon Zoo, Portland, Oregon
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Salt ponds viewed from above: WWE
These salt ponds viewed from above are in San Francisco Bay, California. When I flew into San Francisco, I wondered what these colorful ponds were and had to look it up.
Salt water is collected in a series of ponds and as it evaporates, it turns into a thick layer of crusty salt. Initially, the color is green or brown but it becomes more pink when the water evaporates. The last stage is called “pickle” brine.
Though most people call them salt ponds, they are called “crystallizer beds” by Cargill, Inc., who harvests the salt. The beds are rolled, graded, sloped, and compacted.
Historically, Native Americans collected salt in this area. During the Gold Rush era of the 1850s, demand increased dramatically. Before refrigeration became common, food was preserved in salt. Salt-making continues to this day. After 80 percent of San Francisco Bay marshes were lost to development, there was a shift towards habitat restoration. Restoring those marshlands is part of the largest project on the West Coast.
Windsurfing the Columbia: LAPC
Windsurfing the Columbia River is a popular activity. On one of our visits to Hood River, Oregon, we happened to be there during a national Association of Wind Water Sports Industries (AWSI) event. In September, they host the AWSI Boards Sports Expo for their members.
You can see windsurfers and kiteboarders up close, and from farther away.
Why is windsurfing the Columbia River so popular? The Columbia Gorge is like a natural wind tunnel. It’s often referred to as the windsurfing capital of the world. Click here to see a map showing the numerous water sports launch sites along the Columbia.
When you’re there, you’ll get great views of the mountains surrounding the Columbia Gorge.
This photo was taken from the south shore of the Columbia.
You can see the Hood River bridge in the background.
If you drive over the bridge, you’ll get more views of windsurfers and kiteboarders. Note Mount Hood in the background.
I took this picture from the north shore.
One of the great things about this sport is that everyone can find a place to watch it from. 😀
Do you want to learn how to windsurf or kiteboard? There are several companies in and around Hood River that offer lessons.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Looking Back to #151 – On the Water
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Orchids as Art: Friday Flowers
Orchids as Art at the Exquisite Creatures Revealed exhibition at OMSI, Portland, Oregon in 2024
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
P Ranch Long Barn, Inside and Out: LAPC
The P Ranch Long Barn is at the south end of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon. This historic barn was built in the early 1880s. The land was originally owned by L. C. Porter, but was later acquired by Peter French and Dr. Hugh Glenn.
French and Glenn ran the French-Glenn Livestock Company. Through legal and sometimes questionable tactics, they eventually owned the entire Blitzen Valley. After purchasing land in nearby valleys, the French-Glenn Livestock Company ran their 45,000 head of cattle on 150,000 to 200,000 acres.
This 150-by-50-foot barn was a place to store hay and shelter horses. Hay harvested during the growing season stored here was fed to cattle and horses during winter months. This practice was uncommon at the time.
Though Pete French had a limited education, he was an astute businessman. The French-Glenn Livestock Company “was considered one of the best run and most profitable in the Pacific Northwest.” However, French’s driven, domineering style made him unpopular with neighbors and settlers. French legally contested the construction of fences on open public lands. Ed Oliver, a local settler, disagreed strongly with French’s management practices. He shot French dead in the back of his head on December 26, 1897. Even though French and his ranch hands were unarmed, the jury acquitted Oliver on the grounds of self defense. There’s a reason it was referred to as the “Wild West.” 😉
In 1935, after passing through several hands, the P Ranch and other Blitzen Valley ranchlands were purchased by the federal government and integrated into the existing Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Habitat restoration after decades of agricultural alteration became a priority.
P Ranch Long Barn preservation and restoration
The P Ranch Long Barn is on the National Register of Historic Places. Two rows of juniper trunks support the pine-shingled roof. French shipped the lumber for the walls from 100 miles away by train.
The barn has been stabilized and restored over the years. When the barn was in danger of collapsing, heavy steel cables were attached to the ceiling beams to support the structure. Concrete pads installed under the support columns help protect them from high water levels. As you can see in my photos, the barn could use a new roof.
The pictures below show the hay wagon originally in use on the ranch. Since it was deteriorating because of the harsh weather conditions, it was moved inside the barn.
Harney County Migratory Bird Festival
I visited the P Ranch Long Barn on tours during the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival in mid-April 2026. Birds in this area include Bullock’s Orioles, Cedar Waxwings, Western Tanagers, and Red-naped Sapsuckers. Just northeast of the barn, you’ll find “Bobolink Alley.” Breeding pairs live in a large meadow area from late May through July. Turkey Vultures often roost on the ranch’s lookout tower on summer evenings. There’s also a Bald Eagle nest just east of the turnoff for the ranch.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – History through the lens
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Bighorn sheep near and far: Mammal Monday
I saw this taxidermy mount of a bighorn sheep at the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center in California. It was nice to get such a close view of this ram.
Bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis, live in parts of western North America. There are three subspecies. Males of the Rocky Mountain subspecies can weigh more than 500 pounds.
After the population declined dramatically between 1870 to 1950, bighorns were reintroduced in several places. Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Oregon was one of those locations. Here’s a herd I saw while living there.
If you’re lucky, you can also spot bighorn in Yellowstone National Park. I took this photo of two lambs and a ewe from hundreds of yards away through my spotting scope.
Bighorn sheep are doing well throughout most of their range. However, in some locations, including Hart Mountain, there have been significant declines. Research is underway to help preserve these impressive animals.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Beyond the Edge: Sculpture Saturday
Beyond the Edge was created by Coast Salish artist, Susan Point, in 2015. This piece was carved from red cedar and painted. It was inspired by spindle whorls Coast Salish women used to spin wool. It was on display at the Portland Art Museum, Oregon in February 2026.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Tacos El Machin: Foodie Friday
Last week we ate Mexican food at Tacos El Machin in Bend, Oregon. We were pleasantly surprised by the flavor of the food and the reasonable prices.
I ordered the 3 Taco Small Plate. This meal includes 3 street-style tacos with your choice of meat, garnished with onions and cilantro. You also get rice and your choice of whole beans or refried beans. For my tacos, I chose pollo (chicken), al pastor (marinated pork), and cabeza (beef cheek). I liked the al pastor the best and appreciated the simple garnish. The rice and beans were both good and did not include a lot of other ingredients.
My companion ordered fajitas with steak. You can also choose chicken or shrimp. The large serving included small flour tortillas, grilled bell peppers and onions, with a side of rice and beans. The meat was flavorful and tender.
I ordered a Passionfruit Margarita with my meal. It came in a LARGE goblet that was so heavy I had to use both hands to lift it. This margarita had a fresh, fruity taste and was one of those drinks where the alcohol might sneak up on you. It included a straw covered with a hard layer of spices that you can stir your drink with to get more flavor.
In my previous picture, you may have noticed a reflection on the table that says, “$2 tacos.” On Tuesdays and Fridays, tacos are only $2 each. That’s a good deal!.
Their menu also includes burritos, quesadillas, torta, asada, tostadas, camarones, and alambres. They have five kinds of hot sauces, a slightly spicy salsa, and tortilla chips. Tacos El Machin serves churros and fried ice cream desserts. If you want to try these, it’s self-serve. The beverages include cocktails, horchata, Jarrito, and beer.
Tacos El Machin location and hours
Tacos El Machin is at 2570 NE Twin Knolls Dr Ste 145 in Bend, Oregon. They are open from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm Sunday through Thursday, and from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. They also have restaurants in Albany and Corvallis, Oregon.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Otters at High Desert Museum: Wordless Wednesday
Northern River Otters at High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Two Triceratops in black & white: MM
Two Triceratops in black and white at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.
Monochrome Monday (MM)
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
As luck would have it: LAPC
As luck would have it, sometimes I see skies painted with bold strokes of orange
Or blue skies full of popcorn clouds
Sometimes, I’m in a distant place at the right time and see tiny perennials in bloom
Or winged beauties alighting on blossoms in my own garden
As luck would have it, sometimes I pause along a road and a small predator looks back at me
Or I discover a snowshoe-footed creature by the trail that other hikers did not notice
And if I’m very lucky, sometimes I unknowingly photograph something I hadn’t intended to
Can you find two purple pickerel bloom stalks, a pink waterlily, two spiders, and a frog?
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Lucky Shot
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Origami Wall sculptures: Pull Up a Seat & Weekend Coffee Share
These Origami Wall sculptures are on display at the International District/Chinatown light rail station in Seattle, Washington. The nine 14 x 14-foot painted aluminum sculptures show the steps of the origami folding process. You start at either end and in the center you’ll find two completed pieces; one of a man and one of a woman. These pieces were created by Sonya Ishii in 1990.
There are several wooden benches for you to sit on while waiting for the next train. Trains run every four to fifteen minutes, depending on the time of day.
Here’s a closer look at the Origami Wall sculptures.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Ear-full of waxwings: Birds of the Week
Last spring, I saw this ear-full of waxwings in my yard. A group of Cedar Waxwings, Bombycilla cedrorum, is referred to as an ‘ear-full’ or a ‘museum’. Yes, there are some very strange names for groups of animals.
Why are they called ear-fulls? It may be because of their constant high-pitched calls and trills. I often hear them way before I see them.
Here’s a recording of their calls.
These sociable birds frequently travel in groups. Sometimes these ear-fulls include hundreds of waxwings.
In my yard, they like to perch atop western juniper trees.
They also like to drink and bathe in our water feature.
It’s kinda like a spa for birds. 😉
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
A well-designed garden: LAPC
A well-designed garden considers hardscapes and softscapes
in the foreground, middle ground, and background
Hardscape waterfalls and pergolas anchor scenes in the background
In the fall, softscapes of colorful foliage add visual interest
In winter, the structure of leafless trees and shrubs is prominent
Sand gardens serve as a neutral middle ground
In the fall, color is a main character in large gardens
In winter, string sculptures add an element of artistry
Rock-lined pathways curve ahead in the foreground
In the fall, in a well-designed garden, the colors pull you forward
In winter, structures are revealed beneath twisted, leafless trees near bamboo-bordered trails
These photographs were taken in the fall and winter at the Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Poem with an artsy mat: First Friday Art
I framed this river poem I wrote with an artsy mat. The green paper contains small leaves, and the brown paper includes little bits of bark and sticks. I bought this paper at an art supply store.
I created the blue paper by dripping acrylic paint onto a pan full of liquid laundry starch and gently swirling it. You drop a piece of paper onto this mixture and peel it away to get a marbled effect “print.” It’s a fun process because you never know how it will turn out.
I altered the length and position of each line of this poem to imitate a meandering river. By showing the poem with an artsy mat and changing the layout, it became a unique piece of art. When I entered this piece in a state fair competition, it won a blue ribbon. 😀
Here’s the poem in another format.
River Retreat
Traveling from afar to alight
In an oasis of comfort and contentment
A restful sleep wakening to
A joyful dawn chorus from feathered friends
Breaking the fast with
Nourishment for body and soul
Flying away
Until the river beckons us again
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
High Desert Voices April 2026 newsletter
Here’s the High Desert Voices April 2026 newsletter for your reading pleasure. Lots of nice photos as well! This newsletter is published by and for volunteers at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon. I’ve been working there as a volunteer since 2013.
Articles this month include one about the Hollow and Still: Photographs Following Fire exhibition and a talk on the long-term effects of wildfire, one on the Prohibition Party event, and one on the Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration exhibition. A calendar of upcoming events and exhibitions is on the last page.
Please enjoy the High Desert Voices April 2026 issue!
To view previous issues, visit the HDV newsletter tag.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Tool of enlightenment: LAPC
In moments of darkness, I reach for the tool of enlightenment tucked inside my pocket.
Click! Click! Click! Click! I enlighten exhibitions.
4th Floor to Mildness by Pipilotti Rist, Portland Art Museum in 2026, Oregon
Fulfillment of Emptiness by Jang Jin-ik, Portland Art Museum in 2026, Oregon
Forest at Night by High Desert Museum staff in 2026, Oregon
Infinite Moment: Burning Man on the Horizon by High Desert Museum staff in 2020, Oregon
In moments of darkness, I reach for the tool of enlightenment tucked inside my pocket.
Click! Click! Click! Click! I enlighten landscapes.
Subway Cave, Lassen National Forest, California
Sunrise over Bend, Oregon
Steam over hot springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Playa at Summer Lake, Oregon
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Phone Photography
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Burger and fries in Bend: Foodie Friday
There are a lot of places to buy a burger and fries in Bend, Oregon. Today, I’ll feature burgers from three different restaurants.
Americana burger and fries
If you ask a local where to buy a good burger and fries, many will mention Americana first. They used to only serve their burgers from a food truck, but now they have a brick-and-mortar location downtown. They still have a truck at one of our food truck pods.
Americana serves smashburgers. This is a type of burger that’s smashed flat before or during cooking. Their menu is limited to eight burgers, two kinds of fries, soft drinks, beer, and milkshakes. The food truck only serves three kinds of burgers. It kinda reminds me of the ‘Cheeseburger Cheeseburger‘ sketch that was on Saturday Night Live.
Here’s a close up of The Popper burger I ordered. It includes pickled jalapeños, jalapeño cream cheese, white American cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, shredded lettuce, fresh tomato and secret sauce served on a brioche bun. I admit, I like thicker burgers, but I liked this nicely spicey, very flavorful burger.
The fries, shown below, were another story. The pieces were small and didn’t have much flavor at all.
Americana’s restaurant is at 1033 NW Bond St, Suite 100 in Bend. Their food truck is at at the Podski pod at 536 NW Arizona Ave in Bend. Both locations are open from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm on Tuesday through Saturday. They’re closed on Sunday and Monday. The prices at Americana are relatively low.
Killer Burger
Next, I’m showing a burger from Killer Burger. Their menu includes nine beef burgers, including a Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon one. They also serve three chicken burgers, chicken tenders, and eight sauces. You can order three sizes of burgers, Pint, Original, and Double. Drinks include beer, cider, and soda.
I ordered a Classic burger in the Original size. It included bacon, American cheese, crisp lettuce, tomato, grilled onion, pickle, mayonnaise, and house sauce. I’ll have to go back and try something more unique next time. I thought the burger was better than average, but not outstanding.
The fries, however, were great! Nice and crispy and full of flavor.
Killer Burger is at 20789 NW Henry Ave, Suite 180 in Bend. They are open from 10:30 am to 9:00 pm daily. This restaurant is right next to Costco. They have other restaurants in western Oregon, eastern Washington, and in parts of Texas. Their prices are low to moderate.
Bend Burger Company burger and fries
Next, I’m sharing a picture of a burger from Bend Burger. I ordered the Pole Pedal Paddle burger. It included fresh cut charred jalapeños, mango ginger chutney, aged cheddar cheese, bacon, and mayonnaise. This burger was a wonderful combination of sweet and spicy. It does get messy, so be prepared. Do NOT attempt to eat this one while driving.
The fries were thick-cut and the serving size was large. However, they were a bit soggy, not crispy.
Bend Burger Company serves eight beef burgers, two chicken burgers, a tri-tip steak sandwich, BLTs, and a grilled cheese sandwich. They also have three salads. Bend Burger makes three kinds of fries, two kinds of tater tots, onion rings, and seven sauces. They serve the usual drinks plus milkshakes in six flavors.
Bend Burger is at 1939 NE 3rd Street in Bend. There’s also a Redmond location. They are open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm daily. The prices are on the high end, but I’ve never had a bad burger there.
Best burger and fries?
So which place had the best burger and fries? I can’t really say. One burger was a smashburger, one was a classic burger, and one was a gourmet burger. If I rated just the beef patty, not including the bun or condiments, I’d have to say Americana.
The fries were easier to pick a favorite. Killer Burger’s fries were crispy and flavorful, just the way I like them.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Watching backyard TV: Wordless Wednesday
Watching backyard TV in Bend, Oregon
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Color in photos: RDP
Color in photos highlights
a balance of form and function
medleys of wholesome tasty treats
and lanterns of luck and happiness
Color in photos highlights
rainbow rows of vegetables
bright graphic designs on balloons
and the personality of each ornate orchid
Yesterday’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge was to show colorful images in monotone. My post Scenes without color shows six black and white photographs of various scenes. In today’s post, I shared how the same images looked before I edited them by restoring the color. Both versions are beautiful in their own sort of way.
Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Restore
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Scenes without color: LAPC
Scenes without color highlight
design elements of feathered finery
Artistic arrangements of snacks
and fantastical architectural forms
Scenes without color highlight
perfection in imperfect patterns
bold and buoyant formations
and the delicacy of floral details
To see these same images in color see my Color in photos post.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Color in Black and White
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Infinity Chair: Pull Up a Seat
The Infinity Chair is a marble sculpture created by Pedro Reyes in 2018. It’s on display at the Portland Art Museum in Oregon. Reyes is a multidisciplinary Mexican artist who studied architecture at Ibero-American University in Mexico City. Later, he became interested in sculpture.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
A falconry experience in Ireland
When I visited Ireland with my daughter, one of our favorite things was a falconry experience in Dingle, County Kerry. The guides at the Dingle Falconry Experience tell you a bit about each bird they fly. You also get a chance to have the birds perch on your gloved hand.
Owls at Dingle Falconry Experience
One of the most impressive birds we saw was an Eurasian Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo.
I mentioned it in one of my previous posts. It is so heavy, the guide helps support your arm when it perches on you.
Our guide flew it from one post to another. See it in action in this video.
The bird with the most beautiful plumage was a Western Barn Owl, Tyto alba.
I took this photo of its back to get the details of its feathers. Note, I wasn’t really paying attention to the alignment of the background. 😀
The birds fly from person to person as you stand in a large circle. Here’s the Barn Owl flying around our group.
A stunning hawk
The Harris’s Hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus, had a powerful presence. Here it is up close.
Here’s the bird perching before it flies to the next participant.
A falcon in flight
When we were there, the guide used a lure with a piece of prey attached to exercise a falcon. Here’s a video of the bird in flight.
The Peregrine Falcon, Falco pergrinus, was gorgeous in flight and on the ground.
Here’s the bird eating a snack with the guide.
If you’re looking for an up-close and personal encounter with birds of prey, check out the Dingle Falconry Experience. It was educational and fun!
Hope you all have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Crane Hot Springs
If you’re looking for a relaxing oasis in the middle of a desert, check out Crane Hot Springs near Burns, Oregon.
Hot springs in this area were first developed for commercial use in the 1920s. A dance hall and restaurant were built near Crane Hot Springs, but they burned down around 1930.
Over the years, this business has passed through several owners and is currently managed by Dan and Denise Kryger. They have been busy renovating and upgrading the property. They dug out the pond, built bathhouses, added RV facilities, and renovated the motel and cabins. Previously known as Crystal Crane Hot Springs (CCHS), the current owners shortened the name to Crane Hot Springs.
The restrooms and changing rooms are clean and comfortable. Here are a couple photos of them. I visited this hot spring decades ago and there have been huge improvements since then.
The large outdoor pond is the big attraction at this site. It measures 9,728 square feet in size and holds 323,143 gallons of water. Water in the pond reaches depths of almost seven feet. Water temperatures range from 99 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Private soaking tubs are also available.
One of the wonderful things about this place is that you can sit in the hot springs and view spectacular sunrises, sunsets, and dark skies bursting with stars.
Crane Hot Springs accommodations
This site has many overnight options available. There are several cabins to stay in, but you might also consider staying in a teepee, covered wagon, or their 5th wheel rental. The smallest cabins, pictured below, have no restrooms but they are nearby. If you want to camp, there are dry camping or RV camping sites with full hookups available. We’ve stayed in our campervan here, in one of the rooms with its own spring-fed hot tub, and at a for rent by owner house nearby.
If you don’t want to spend the night, you can pay for day use at the hot springs. Prices for the large pond range from $5 to $15 for up to four hours. If you want to rent the smaller, private soaking tubs, it costs $15 per hour per person or $50 for two people for two hours.
Wildlife at Crane Hot Springs
The ponds on the property are great places to see some of the local wildlife. There’s one right next to the hot pool and another one a short walk away.
In past years, while participating in the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival, my tour group stopped here to look for birds.
You’ll see plenty of waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds in and around the ponds. Raptors can be seen feeding on the ground or drifting by on thermals overhead.
Things to do nearby
There are some interesting things to do nearby. You can visit a unique round barn, drive around Steens Mountain, see the vast landscape of the Alvord Desert, and volcanic features at Diamond Craters. You may even glimpse wild horses, some of which are direct descendants of those brought here by the Spaniards in the seventeenth century. Gas stations in this rural area are few and far between, so plan your trips accordingly.
Crane Hot Springs is at 59315 OR-78, Burns, Oregon. The hot springs are open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. If you plan to stay there, make your reservations here.
Pets are allowed in your RV and in 15 of the rooms. Dogs must be on leash on the grounds.
If you are here for day use, be aware that pets are not allowed near the outdoor pond. You are also not supposed to leave them in your vehicle. Since many travelers like to travel with their dogs, I hope they can add the doggie daycare a staff person mentioned SOON.
Our local TV station, Central Oregon Daily, did a great story on Crane Hot Springs on April 2, 2026. Watch it here. It includes some wonderful aerial views.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Time to Relax
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Andina in Portland: Foodie Friday
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.
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Flag bridge through the seasons: Wordless Wednesday
Flag bridge through the seasons in the Old Mill district of Bend, Oregon
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Backyard Byway: LAPC
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 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
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
A ghostly cottonwood: Monochrome Monday
A ghostly cottonwood at Summer Lake, Oregon
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!
Native American fisherman sculpture: Sculpture Saturday
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!
Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!