Two taking off at the Balloons Over Bend event on 25 July 2025 in Bend, Oregon
Culture
Abe Capanna’s Neighborhood Pizzeria: Foodie Fridays
On Thursday, we ate at Abe Capanna’s Neighborhood Pizzeria. They opened in Bend, Oregon on Friday, July 18th.
You can order 4-slice or 8-slice square pizzas here. Their Detroit-style pizzas have thick, delicious crusts. You can also get combos that include one or two pizza slices, a small Caesar salad, and a fountain drink. Besides pizza, they also serve a few appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and pasta dishes.
I had the Mr. White pizza. The toppings include ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, roasted garlic, olive oil, and fresh basil. I thought it tasted pretty good. I could taste the garlic, but it wasn’t overpowering. With its thick crust and rich ingredients, I could barely eat two of the four pieces.
My companion decided on a make-it-yourself option. He had pepperoni, sausage, pineapple, and extra cheese on his 4-piece pizza. He liked his pizza but probably won’t add extra cheese next time. Yes, it had a lot of sauce! Like me, he could only eat half of the pizza.
On another visit, we ordered two large pizzas since we had a buy one get one free coupon. We had A LOT of leftovers. Fortunately, these pizzas freeze well.
I had The Franklin pizza. It includes BBQ chicken, mozzarella and gouda cheese, red bell pepper and red onion slices, topped with a drizzle of BBQ sauce and fresh cilantro. I thought this was a very good pizza. The toppings are light, just the way I prefer them.
My companion ordered The Janimal pizza. It has slices of pepperoni, Italian sausage, salami, and a thick layer of red sauce. This pizza was also tasty. When Detroit-style pizzas are made, they often add the sauce after the pizza comes out of the oven.
The restaurant has an industrial design, but it wasn’t too loud. Tables are covered with white paper and have a package of crayons if you’re feeling artistically inclined. They have their sign up for alcoholic drinks but are waiting for their liquor license to be approved, which shouldn’t take long.
I took a couple of pictures of the inside and of the courtyard they share with Hablos Tacos. Note that we usually eat out on Thursdays at around 4:00 to 4:30 pm. There will be more customers during busier times.
Do the Abe Capanna’s pizzas remind you of other pizzas in town? Yeah, they are similar to Rush’s Squares at the On Tap food truck pod, a mere 200 yards away. Their Pesto Marg is my current favorite pizza. I think the menus are different enough that these two pizza restaurants can co-exist.
Abe Capanna’s Neighborhood Pizzeria address & hours
Abe Capanna’s Neighborhood Pizzeria is located at 1462 N. East Cushing Ave. # 140. The restaurant is in the same complex as Hablos Tacos, Lone Pine Coffee, and Cuppa Yo. They are in their soft opening phase right now, so I’m not sure of their hours. I’ll try to update this later.
Be sure to check them out!
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Whole Novel Workshop: FOWC
Highlights Foundation and magazine
I recently learned I was chosen to participate in a Whole Novel Workshop hosted by the Highlights Foundation. Some of you may be familiar with Highlights magazine for children. Libraries, schools, and doctors’ and dentists’ offices always had copies of this magazine. The magazine was created in 1946 by spouses, Garry Cleveland Myers and Caroline Clark Myers.
The dark hills in Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings
In 1985, the Highlights Foundation began positively impacting “children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves.” They began offering workshops and retreats for writers and artists at their retreat center in Milanville, Pennsylvania.
Here’s a beautiful video of the center. I’ll be there for six days in October, during the time when fall foliage reaches its peak colors.
Whole Novel Workshop entry process
To apply, you must submit 10–15 pages of a manuscript, fill out an application, and include a short bio. I submitted part of my work-in-progress novel, Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings. It’s for kids in the 9- to 12-year-old age range.
I was inspired to write the book after a visit to Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site. I knew I also wanted to include the Painted Hills, pictured near the beginning of this post.
Where the main character in Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings lives with her grandfather
Here’s a blurb about the book. These paragraphs might appear on the back cover or in a query letter. Writers send query letters to prospective agents or editors, hoping they will want to collaborate with them.
Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings blurb
Forced out of her home in China, Jīnsè sets out on a long journey, filled with peril. Along the way, Jīnsè heals Rěnshòu, an injured gull, and several passengers on their ship. On the trip across the Pacific Ocean to Oregon, they encounter storms, poachers, and pirates. At a stop in Hawaii, Jīnsè meets Koa, a local boy who shares her love of birds. Together, they overcome a life-threatening situation.
Jīnsè continues her journey to Oregon to work with her grandfather, a local doctor skilled in the techniques of Traditional Chinese Medicine. While out collecting herbs, they find an orphaned magpie and name it Liáng. Her cousin, Feng, who works with Grandfather, becomes jealous of Jīnsè and traps her in an abandoned mine. When she escapes, she finds she has gained the ability to speak to animals and to see words written on the slopes of dark hills. Rěnshòu and Liáng help Jīnsè learn about local plants to use in herbal cures. Feng must work in the mines for a month as punishment for what he did to Jīnsè. Meanwhile, there are rumors of a distant wagon train full of settlers suffering from a terrible illness. Will Jīnsè be able to use her newfound abilities to help them in time? Will Feng help her or stand in her way?
Does that make you curious about the rest of the book? That’s the point of blurbs like this.
Two of the light-winged characters in the book
A sick gull I nursed back to health also inspired me to write this book. He had avian botulism, and as his health improved, he became more and more ornery. In the book, I change the type of gull, but he still has an attitude.
The gull I nursed back to health at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings also features a Black-billed Magpie character. Here’s a drawing I did of one. They have a lot of personality.
Black-billed magpie pen and ink by Siobhan Sullivan
More about the workshop
The Whole Novel Workshop accepts twenty-one or fewer students. Students attend lectures, receive one on one guidance from faculty, and participate in small writing groups. It sounds like just what I need right now with my 57,000-word draft novel. I don’t normally brag about my accomplishments, but I’m so glad I was chosen to participate. I can’t wait! 😀
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A visit to San Simón: Foodie Friday
Last week, we visited San Simón, in downtown Bend. This restaurant is known for its unique cocktails.
They have a small menu, featuring make-your-own charcuterie boards. The board comes with dates and crackers, and the customer decides what else to include.
Here is their menu that includes charcuterie board offerings and a variety of wines.
Here’s their cocktail and mocktail menu. Yes, they came up with some creative names.
San Simón has plenty of seating, inside and out. This business is located in Tin Pan Alley. I have previously featured the tiny Tin Pan Theater that’s right next door to San Simón. I covered the outdoor artwork in the Alley in another post. This alley is small, but full of charm.
I went here to celebrate a big accomplishment and was a bit disappointed. Our bill for five charcuterie items and two cocktails, plus a tip, came to $76.50. That seemed sort of high for what we got. We liked the bread, cheese, and chutney we ordered. Though the menu indicates you get dates and crackers for free, they only gave us two small, sad dates.
I would have liked to have been able to order charcuterie boards that included things meant to go together. A thoughtfully created board may have been more satisfying than what I threw together. Just my opinion…
The cocktails were fine, but they are all priced the same, regardless of size and ingredients. The cocktails are priced at $14, while the mocktails are priced at $11.
The staff members were polite and prompt. I liked the decor and cozy atmosphere of San Simón. I remember visiting Lone Pine Coffee when it was here and enjoying its coziness.
San Simón location and hours
San Simón is located at 845 Tin Pan Alley in Bend, Oregon. It’s open daily from 3:00 pm to “late.”
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Smokey Bear mural: Monday Mural
This Smokey Bear mural is located in Burney, California. I liked the muted colors in the background of this mural. I’m not sure when it was painted, but it looks old.
In 1944, the U.S. Forest Service introduced Smokey Bear as part of a campaign to prevent fires. The slogan, “Only you can prevent forest fires,” was first used in 1947. In 2001, it was changed to, “Only you prevent wildfires.” This change reminds people to prevent fires in other habitats, like grasslands. This Smokey Bear mural shows the older slogan.
Fun fact: Did you know Bambi, from the Walt Disney movie, appeared in fire-prevention ad campaigns prior to Smokey’s creation? His likeness was “loaned” to the government for only a year.
Monday Mural
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Beautiful beaded gloves & bags: WW
Beautiful beaded gloves & bags at the High Desert Museum, Oregon
Wordless Wednesday (WW)
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Bridge of the Gods: WWE
The Bridge of the Gods spans the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington state. We had never driven over the bridge before and decided to check it out on a trip last year. About 1.6 million people cross this bridge every year.
The south end of the 1,858-foot long bridge is located at Cascade Locks in Oregon. In 2024, the toll for a passenger car to drive over the bridge was $3. A list of tolls for vehicles of other sizes is on this page.
Traveling across the bridge
I thought the structure over the toll booth had a simple yet elegant design.
The bridge is 35 feet wide with two 12 foot wide lanes.
In 1920, the U.S. War Department issued the initial construction permit for this bridge. Construction stalled. In 1926, the Wauna Toll Bridge Company bought an interest in the bridge for about $600,000. It was originally 92 feet above the river, but had to be raised 44 feet due to rising waters related to the Bonneville Dam construction in 1938. Ownership of the bridge passed to the Columbia River Bridge Company and then to the current owner, the Port of Cascades Locks, in 1961.
The grid construction style has an industrial feel to it. This is a steel truss cantilever bridge.
You may be wondering why this structure is called the “Bridge of the Gods.” Around 1450, a massive landslide blocked the Columbia River near where the bridge is presently located. Eventually, the river breached the dam. At that time, it was 200 feet high by 3.5 miles long.
Here is a view of the Columbia River to the east. The bridge sits 140 feet above the water.
Native Americans may have regularly crossed over the temporary land bridge before it washed away. Cascade Rapids formed when it was breached, but disappeared once the Bonneville Dam was constructed.
Bridge of the Gods Legend
There is a Native American legend about this site. It says Manito, the Great Spirit, created a bridge to cross the river. She appointed a guardian, Loo-Wit, to watch over the bridge. The grateful people named it the Bridge of the Gods.
Manito sent his three snow mountain sons to Earth. Multnomah, the warrior (Mt. Rainier), Klickitat, the totem maker (Mt. Adams), and Wy’east, the singer (Mt. Hood) got along well until Squaw Mountain moved between two of them.
Squaw Mountain loved Wy’east, but flirted with Klickitat and eventually a rivalry arose between the brothers. In their anger, they shook the earth, spat ash, and belched clouds of black smoke. The hot rocks they hurled at each other caused forest fires. The rocks piled up on the bridge and the earth shook, causing the bridge to collapse.
Their angry father, Manito, punished them by creating huge rapids in the river.
Read a more complete version of the story, and the conclusion, here.
When you travel about halfway across the current bridge, you’ll see the “Welcome to Washington” sign.
Here’s the view of the river to the West.
When you get close to the north end of the bridge, you’ll see why Washington is called the “Evergreen State.”
Fun Fact: In 1927, aviator Charles Lindbergh flew his plane low over the newly constructed Bridge of the Gods then turned around and flew underneath it.
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Eye drawings and paintings: FFA
Today I’m sharing eye drawings and paintings. The first three show pencil sketches of human eyes; the second three show paintings of animal eyes done with acrylics.
Pencil drawings
In the first drawing, I tried to convey a person who is bright and inquisitive. Slight changes in how open the eye is and the position of the eyebrow can change the emotions you are trying to portray.
In the next drawing, I show the eye of a person who is sad and anxious.
In the last drawing I started out trying to portray someone laughing, but I think it turned into a slightly mysterious, Mona Lisa-type smiling expression.
Acrylic paintings
The next photo shows a close up of an Australian shepherd I painted on a rock with acrylics. Though I could have added more shading to the eyes, I decided not to. The expression could be seen as startled or alert.
Australian shepherds’ hauntingly blue eyes often are referred to as “ghost eyes.” Here’s a quote from Dogster about this feature:
“According to legend, Native Americans considered them sacred animals whose unique eyes linked them to the spirit world. Other legends speak of heterochromatic dogs as being able to view heaven and earth simultaneously.”
Here is a close-up of one of my current dog’s eyes. Her other eye is predominantly brown, so she has heterochromatic eyes. Now I understand why she sees things in a unique way. 🙂
The next painting shows a close up of a fox rock I painted. On this rock, I added a light color on the bottom of the eye and darker color near the top eyelid. This adds depth to the eyes and shows the fox’s sly personality.
The last painting shows a close up of a lion’s eyes. On this painting, I added a thick black line around the eyes. This “eyeliner” effect pulls your attention to the eyes. They give this lion a powerful presence.
I hope these eye drawings and paintings show you different ways you can portray a person or an animal’s personality.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Bend Branches birthday
Ten years ago today, I published my first post on this blog. I am celebrating Bend Branches birthday with a little treat.
My first post was titled, Time. It featured a photo of my favorite western juniper tree in my yard in Bend, Oregon. A winter sunset paints the skies in the background.
My post also included the following observation:
“The twists and turns of time can ravage one or make them into a thing of beauty.”
Thank you to my followers and to others who stop by to view my posts. Your likes and comments have encouraged and inspired me. I hope to celebrate another Bend Branches birthday ten years from now.
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Get creative on blog posts: LAPC
You can get creative on blog posts in several ways.
Artwork
You may want to showcase your own artwork.
This rock was the perfect shape for a barn owl painting. I used acrylic paint on this rock. First, I applied a cream colored base coat, then used small brushes to add the details. I perched it in the fork of a tree in my yard for the photo.
The next photo shows a magpie flying over the Painted Hills. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, the bird is a character in a book I’m working on. For this painting, I used watercolors and ink from a Chinese inkstick.
In the next drawing, I used pen and ink. This a stylized drawing of a grizzly bear. I had forgotten it was on the back of another drawing I had done of a bear.
Photo Bloopers
You can be creative in other ways. I like to occasionally post photo bloopers. This is where I post pictures that didn’t turn out as expected, so I add a little humor to them.
One day, I was following a family of Trumpeter Swans near the Sunriver Nature Center in Oregon. As soon as I started taking pictures, they did this.
The caption reads, “She’s about to take our picture. Quick, everyone put your head underwater!”
The next one shows the Three Gossips rock formation in Arches National Park in Utah.
One of the gossips is saying, “Then Rocky told me he’d give me the latest scoop.” Another says, “Really?” The last one says, “Cliff, you really shouldn’t spread that kind of dirt.”
The next photo shows a close up of wrinkly bark on a western juniper tree.
The caption reads, “Uh… the anti-wrinkle cream doesn’t seem to be working.”
Photo Processing Effects
Another way to get creative on your blog is to use photo processing effects. I use Corel PaintShop Pro 2021 to edit my pictures.
The first shows a cloud-filled sky over Playa at Summer Lake. If you move the slider, you can see how the original compares to the edited version. I increased the contrast and used a black and white film effect. This effect works well with cloud formations.
In the next photo, I used a colored edges effect on a picture I took of daisies. I like this one because it almost looks like a drawing with this effect.
The last photo shows a windmill at Fort Rock Homestead Village Museum in Oregon. For this picture I used a glowing edges artistic effect. It makes all the details stand out.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Creativity
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Brickhouse restaurant: Foodie Friday & OWS
Last weekend, we had an excellent meal at the Brickhouse in downtown Bend, Oregon.
I started with the Beet Salad. This salad includes pickled beets, endive, arugula, radicchio, and candied pumpkin seeds topped with Rogue Blue cheese crumbles and citrus vinaigrette. I especially liked the tartness of the beets and the sweetness of the pumpkin seeds.
By the way, the Rogue cheese sprinkled on the salad won the World’s Best Cheese award in 2019 and won a Super Gold Award in 2022 at the World Cheese Awards.
Next, I had the Seafood Pasta. This dish includes wild prawns, sea scallops, and fresh fish topped with Parmigiano Reggiano cream sauce and fresh herbs. This was delicious and so rich, the leftovers lasted for two more meals.
My dining companion had the Rib Eye Steak. This is an 18-oz piece of heavily marbled USDA Prime meat. It was perfectly prepared and served with bone marrow butter (for an additional cost).
We celebrated a special occasion with the Marionberry Cobbler. The cobbler was full of flavorful berries and topped with vanilla ice cream and a mint leaf. The crumble topping on this dessert was very good.
Service at the restaurant was prompt and polite. Since we ordered a salad, dessert, and drinks in addition to the entrees, this was a pricey meal. However, I appreciated the well-prepared meal, good service, and the fact you can carry on a conversation. As I’ve mentioned before, restaurants where I have to shout to be heard, lose points with me. I will definitely return to the Brickhouse and recommend it to others.
Brickhouse location and hours
The Brickhouse is located at 5 NW Minnesota Ave, Bend, Oregon 97703. It’s open seven days a week from 4:00 to 9:30 pm. Brickhouse offers First Hour Specials at discounted prices from 4:00 to 5:00 pm.
One Word Sunday (OWS) – Looking down
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Chihuly glass art: Wordless Wednesday
Chihuly glass art at the Seattle Aquarium
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Rattlesnake drawings & photos: First Friday Art
Today I’m sharing a few rattlesnake drawings and a couple of recent photos I took. I did these drawings when I was working on a writing a character in a book. When I draw a character, it helps with my writing.
Roca, the rattlesnake character, gets his power from thundereggs. Thundereggs are the official state rock in Oregon. As of this year, they have been designated as the state rock for 60 years.
Here’s a photo of a giant one that I had cut in half. I found it at the Priday Polka-Dot Agate Beds, located near Madras. Read more about this amazing site here.
Anyway… back to rattlesnakes. While participating in a workshop through Playa at Summer Lake, we stopped at Abert Lake. At the north end of the lake, we saw not one, not two, but three rattlesnakes rattling their rattles. Here’s one of them.
In Oregon, there are two subspecies of Western rattlesnakes. The one pictured above is a Great Basin rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus lutosus. The other subspecies is the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus.
Here’s another snake nearby.
We may have seen three snakes in close proximity because they denned together over the winter and recently emerged. Reptiles have a hard time regulating their body temperature. In the winter, they gather together and go into a kind of suspended animation called “brumation.”
Though people may fear them, it should be remembered snakes play an important role in maintaining the balance in ecosystems. They play a significant role in controlling rodent populations.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Mountain goat sculpture & photo: Sculpture Saturday
This bronze mountain goat sculpture shows an adult goat with a kid on its back. This piece was created by Pete Helzer and installed at the Oregon Zoo in 1998.
You can see real mountain goats at a nearby enclosure.
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Red Beard Barbecue: Foodie Friday
Red Beard Barbecue is a great place to order barbecue in Bend, Oregon. Their food truck is located at the Dogwood at the Pine Shed food truck lot. They have an additional truck at Otto’s Landing in Redmond, Oregon.
The photo below shows the Three Meat Combo. There are several choices for meat. This one includes Pork Ribs, Tri-tip, and Chicken. Red Beard offers seven sides. We had the Coleslaw. The sauces with this order included the Spicy Honey Garlic and the Honey Garlic.
The smoked meat tastes good with or without the sauce. That’s how I judge a barbecue place. I also liked how they serve a generous portion that gives you plenty for leftovers.
This picture shows a few of the food trucks at the Pine Shed lot. Red Beard Barbecue is the red one in the back. Note, this picture was taken in February when there was a little snow on the ground. They have a wonderful indoor seating area here and they serve unique cocktails.
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Heron sculpture: Sculpture Saturday
This bronze heron sculpture is in Barclay Park in Sisters Oregon. Artist Danae Bennett Miller uses the lost wax method in her castings. This piece was installed in December 2012.
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Sea otter bench: Pull up a seat
This sea otter bench is at the Seattle Aquarium. The 8-foot long bench was created by Pat McVay and installed in 2001.
It’s outdoors in a covered area. Over the years, the effects of the weather have added character to this sculpture.
Pull up a seat
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Riding on the Range: Wordless Wednesday
Riding on the range in Yellowstone National Park
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Pike Place Fish Co: One-to-Three Processing Challenge
On a recent trip to Seattle, I visited Pike Place Fish Co. at the Pike Place Market. There are lots of opportunities for photography at the Market. On the day I visited, it was packed with people.
I used Corel PaintShopPro 2021 for different photo processing effects on this picture of the Pike Place Fish Co. booth. In the original image I slightly increased the contrast and fill light and cropped the edges. Use the slider to view each effect compared to the original.
The first one shows the original photograph and the same picture with a Cross Process effect. For this image I went to Effects>Photo Effects>Time Machine>Cross Process. I liked how this effect intensified the colors. The original had a lot of color to begin with.
The next one shows the original photograph and the same picture with a Film & Filters effect. For this image I went to Effects>Photo Effects>Film & Filters>Enhanced Reds>Cooling filter. I liked how this effect enhanced the red color on the crab, salmon, and spice jars.
The last picture of the Pike Place Fish Co. shows an Artistic Effect. For this image processing I went to Effects>Artistic Effects>Colored Edges>Default setting. I used the Fill Flash adjustment to lighten it slightly. I liked the strong outlines and muted colors of this image. It looks like an old-time illustration.
One-to-Three Processing Challenge – May 2025
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Bozeman Hot Springs: LAPC & FOWC
In June 2024, we visited hot springs in three western states, and Bozeman Hot Springs in Montana was our favorite. The modern rustic design is beautiful inside and out. We arrived early in the day, and it was peaceful and serene.
There are 12 pools at Bozeman Hot Springs. Water temperature ranges between 57 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
Outdoor pools at Bozeman Hot Springs
Outside, two curving pools flank the stage with another one in front. I like how they incorporated big angular boulders into the landscaping.
The curving outdoor pools include Big Pool, Kiddie Pool, and Middle Pool.
There is a large rectangular pool nearby.
This is Springs Pool.
Indoor pools at Bozeman Hot Springs
Inside, three smaller pools are at one end of a large pool and four are at the other. This picture shows Upper Left Hot Tub, Upper Cold Plunge, and Upper Right Hot Tub.
I zoomed in a bit to show you the seals spouting cold water. They were a nice whimsical detail.
The large indoor pool is known as Big Pool, appropriately. I liked being able to do some swimming here between time spent in the other pools.
At the other end of Big Pool, you’ll find Kiddie Pool, Adult Hot Tub, Lower Cold Pool, and Lower Right Hot Tub. Note that Adult Hot Tub has the hottest temperature of any of the pools.
This sign shows the current temperature of the outdoor pools. The temperature fluctuates throughout the day.
History
Jeremiah Mathews originally purchased the springs in 1879. He built five private bathing rooms and a 14 foot by 18 foot plunge bath. In 1890, E. Myron Ferris purchased the springs and built a two-story motel, plunge bath and private baths. The springs supposedly treat several kinds of ailments. After World War I, the parcel containing the springs was raffled off. In the early 1920s, Sam Collett purchased the springs. His renovations included a dance hall. Later, it was turned into a roller skating rink.
When we were there in June 2024, they were putting the finishing touches on the latest renovations. Robyn Duffy-Carlson and her late husband, Tom Duffy, bought the property in 2013. Since then, they have added three outdoor pools, a live music stage, and a business hub. The most recent renovations included redoing the locker rooms.
Other amenities
This facility also includes several other amenities. There is a fitness center that opened in 2010. It offers classes and personal trainers. Accommodations at Bozeman Hot Springs include RV camping sites, tent sites, and one-room and two-room cabins. For a list of upcoming events there, see this page.
A cafe provides comfortable seating next to striking artwork.
There is more seating nearby.
Things that made this hot spring stand out for me were the overall design, the number and type of pools, and the restrooms. Everything was clean and inviting. The pools include cold pools if you want to cool off after being in a hot one. The restrooms had nice showers, changing rooms, and lockers.
The restrooms had something else… hot water! A couple of the other commercial hot springs we visited did not have hot showers, even though they are built atop one of the most geologically hot places on earth.
If you’re looking for a great place for rest and relaxation, be sure to visit Bozeman Hot Springs.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Serenity
Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC) – Visit
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Before Edmonds mural: MM
This Before Edmonds mural is located in downtown Edmonds, Washington. It shows a view of Puget Sound with the Olympic Mountains in the background. The canoes of Native Americans can be seen near the shore.
I couldn’t get the whole mural in one shot, so I took another one. Here you can see a raven at the top of the mural and a closer view of the heron.
One of the things I liked best in this mural was how the artist painted the clouds. If you’ve looked at very many posts on my blog, you’ll know I love dramatic skyscapes like this one.
The Before Edmonds mural was created by Andy Eccleshall, in collaboration with Ty Juvinel (Tulalip tribe). It was installed in August of 2020. This mural, and the one facing it in an alleyway, took 18 months to paint. The Art Walk Edmonds website has more details on this and other murals in the vicinity.
Bear having fun sculpture: Sculpture Saturday
I saw this bear having fun sculpture at the Oregon Zoo in Portland last spring. The artist did a great job of capturing a moment of a bear just doing what bears like to do.
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Fat Tony’s Pizzeria: Foodie Friday
If you type “pizza” into a website like Yelp, you’ll come up with pages and pages of restaurants and food trucks in Central Oregon. One of my current favorites is Fat Tony’s Pizzeria.
I’ve had their Regina Margherita pizza a couple of times. It includes cherry tomatoes, imported buffalo mozzarella cheese, basil, and a small amount of pizza sauce. I like pizzas like this where less is more.
My companion ordered the Classico (meat) pizza. This pizza includes sausage, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, fresh mozzarella cheese, and tomato sauce. Pineapple was added to the order.
I like their pizzas for a few reasons. The crust is medium in thickness; not too thick, not too thin. Fat Tony’s Pizzeria well-seasoned pizzas don’t pile on excess cheese or sauce.
Fat Tony’s is located at 215 NW Hill St in Bend, Oregon. It’s open seven days a week from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. They also serve starters, salad, pasta, and desserts. You can order gluten free crusts on any 12 inch pizza.
What makes a good pizza seems to be more subjective as compared to other foods. I’ve tasted pizzas that were highly rated on the Bend Foodies page and been disappointed. Since Bend is constantly adding more places to eat, I noted that Fat Tony’s Pizzeria is one of my “current” favorite places to get pizza.
In February, Ken’s Artisan Pizza opened in downtown Bend. Their other restaurant in Oregon is known as a “beloved Portland institution” and “world-renowned.” I will wait until the hype dies down a bit before visiting their restaurant.
Depression glass S & P: Wordless Wednesday
Depression glass S & P shakers in geometric design
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Salute restaurant: Foodie Friday
In early March, we visited Salute restaurant in downtown Bend, Oregon. This restaurant serves “contemporary Italian cuisine.”
This Endive Salad included endive, walnuts, bleu cheese, walnuts, and green onions. It had a light vinaigrette dressing. This salad was my favorite part of our meal. All the flavors blended together well. Note, this item is not currently listed on the menu so check the website ahead of time for availability.
The Scampi included wild ocean prawns, capellini, white wine, garlic, shallots, butter, and fresh herbs. This dish had good flavor and had a nice serving size of prawns. However, the prawns were a bit overcooked. I know from cooking them myself, it’s easy to cook them for too long.
The Hand Made Ravioli included raviolis stuffed with four cheeses with your choice of spinach alfredo or house Bolognese meat sauce. While this dish had good flavor, the serving size was way too small. There were only seven very small raviolis.
The word I would use to describe this restaurant is “light.” Light flavor is great, but tiny, light serving sizes are not, in my opinion.
The Banana Millefeuille contained layers of caramelized phyllo & banana pastry cream, butterscotch sauce, coconut “snow”, whipped cream, and roasted walnuts. The dish was beautifully presented and I liked the crunchiness of the phyllo dough layers.
We arrived at Salute restaurant at 4:00 pm, right when they opened, without reservations. Service was slower than we are accustomed to.
Though there were a few glitches, the food itself at Salute was good. Fingers crossed that our next experience there goes a little more smoothly. 🤞
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High Desert Voices April 2025
Here’s the High Desert Voices April 2025 newsletter for your reading pleasure. Lots of nice photos as well!
This newsletter is published by volunteers at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon. We have a great team of writers, photographers, and editors that help put this publication together. I’ve been a part of that team since 2013.
Articles this month include one about the many forms of fractals, one on the history of flannel, one on portraits of Native Americans created by Frank S. Matsura, and one on removing the invasive American Bullfrog. The last page of the newsletter includes a list of upcoming events related to the Museum.
Please enjoy the High Desert Voices April 2025 issue!
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Dog travois sketch & photo: FFA & TTC
Here is a dog travois sketch I drew based on a display at the Plains Indian wing of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Wyoming.
Before the introduction of horses in North America, people relied on dogs to pull loads up to 75 pounds in weight. After the use of horses became commonplace, dogs continued to carry lighter loads.
This quick sketch was done for the Inktober challenge in 2024. The prompt for that day was “nomadic.”
This beautiful display at the Buffalo Bill Center shows a woman walking beside a dog travois. A man on horseback leads the way. Native people have relied on dogs as guardians, hunters, and companions for hundreds of years.
I’ve used saddlebags on my dogs in the past, but travois carry much heavier loads. Here’s a historical photo of dogs pulling travois in Alaska in 1897.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
Three Things Challenge (TTC) – people
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Rock Garden windows: Monday Window
Here is a close up of rock garden windows in a model of a building at Petersen Rock Garden and Museum in Redmond, Oregon. The walls are covered with black and mahogany obsidian.
The windows shown above are on this building. It is impressive!
The row of colorful lawn chairs in front of it adds a nice touch.
See my post about this unusual roadside attraction for more information.
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Xalisco Latin Cuisine: Foodie Friday
I recently had dinner at Xalisco Latin Cuisine in Redmond, Oregon. I’ve eaten here before and it’s a place I recommend to locals and visitors.
This time, I had the Tacos de Camaron of Mezcal dish. The three tortillas are filled with a mixture of shrimp cooked in garlic and peppers and flambeed with mezcal and peanut sauce, chile pepper, and pineapple. It’s served with slices of cucumber and radishes, cilantro, plus two sauces. They were bursting with flavor.
I splurged and had a Margarita Flight. The flavors included hibiscus, tamarind, mango, and guava. They were all tasty, and I liked how they didn’t have way too much alcohol.
Two people at our table ordered burritos. The Burrito Percherons were a nice size and tasted great. Some restaurants fill them too full and they’re hard to eat. This burrito includes skirt steak, chorizo, peppers, onions, portabello mushrooms, guacamole, cream, pico de gallo, cheese, and chipolte sauce.
The nicely presented Chiles Rellenos also tasted good.
The Chimichanga, with a side of rice and beans, was tasty. The serving size was perfect; not too big and not too small.
If you’re looking for a Latin restaurant that focuses on quality over quantity, go to Xalisco Latin Cuisine. It’s at 3835 SW 21st STE 105, Redmond, Oregon.
Magpie & Painted Hills painting: First Friday Art
Today I’m sharing a painting I did of a Black-billed Magpie flying over the Painted Hills. They are both characters in my magical realism work-in-progress novel with the working title of Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings. I wrote this book for kids in the 8 to 12-year-old age range. Yes, it’s fiction, but it includes factual information related to history and nature.
In the book, the main character, Jīnsè, moves from China to Oregon to work with her grandfather, a local doctor. After a traumatic event, she develops the ability to understand animals and also receives messages written on the hills. The magpie character shown in my painting is named Liàng. Jīnsè also has a snarky seagull friend she names Rěnshòu.
I painted this piece on watercolor paper with watercolor paints and ink from inksticks. I used my set of Chinese brushes. Once again, I was impressed with the Chinese inkstick ink. The ink has a nice consistency. I edited the picture with Corel PaintShop Pro.
Most of the time, I do pencil sketches of characters when I’m working on books. I decided to put a little more effort into creating a color piece. Becky Wallick, my blogging friend at Wild Sensibility, suggested I include some of my artwork when I send out manuscripts for review. Thanks for the great idea, Becky! 😊
I used this picture I took at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in eastern Oregon to create my magpie and Painted Hills painting. The colors of the soil on this visit really stood out after a rainstorm.
I took this picture of a magpie in Bozeman, Montana. Though they live in my neighborhood in Bend, I’ve never had one visit my yard. Maybe one day…
Kam Wah Chung
I decided to write a book for kids after visiting Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site in John Day, Oregon. When a long-abandoned building was opened in 1967, a treasure trove of artifacts was discovered inside. This building served as a medical clinic and apothecary, meeting place, boarding house, place of worship, and store for Chinese immigrants and local residents from the late 1880s to 1940.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Octopus art: Wordless Wednesday
Octopus art in Edmonds, Washington
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OMSI in black & white: Monochrome Monday
Today I’m sharing an image of OMSI in black and white. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, Oregon has great architecture for pictures.
It looks interesting from inside and the outside.
Though you’re supposed to share black and white images for Monochrome Monday, I couldn’t resist showing this pop of red color on the sign. 😀
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A road may… :LAPC
A road may take you straight ahead to distant mountains beneath moody skies
Or twist and turn uphill towards massive works of art
A road may drop you deep into the layers of earth
Or elevate you above wide winding waterways
Lens-Artist Photo Challenge – Pick a Word
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Ice carvings at WinterFest 2025: LAPC
On February 15, we visited the Bend WinterFest event in the Old Mill District. I was really looking forward to seeing the ice carvings. In past years, we always seemed to be there at the wrong time and missed these amazing works of art.
The artists this year included Lisa Donze + John Donze, Jacob Lucas, Russ Leno, and Wade Lapp. The ice carvings are beautiful by themselves, but if you add a little lighting, they become sort of magical.
A multi-colored butterfly ice carving
This butterfly is shown with bold bright colors and softer pastel tones. I liked how this one looked in the bold blue color the best.
Two ice cube heads ice carvings
The next carving is a whimsical one. Two people with ice cube heads carry an enormous heart. The red color was very fitting for this one.
Penguins face to face ice carvings
The next carving shows two penguins facing each other. I think I liked the purple color best on this one.
An icy rose carving
The last carving is shown in one color. This three rose sculpture looks great in this gorgeous green color.
WinterFest briefly moved away to another venue, and I was happy to see it once again at this site beside the Deschutes River. This event includes ice carvings, amazing hand-crafted fire pits, the Pump Bump Jam (a ski ramp with several jumps), a wine walk, food carts, beer, wine, and cider booths, bands playing on the stage, a flying dog show, and a kid’s area. It also includes booths from a wide variety of businesses and booths selling everything from jewelry and clothing to unique food items. This year there were more Marketplace booths than I’ve ever seen before.
I will be working on another post about the firepits that I’ll share in the future. I have featured the fire pits in the past on my blog, and it’s always been a popular topic.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Bold
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The Dominican: Foodie Friday
Yesterday, we thought we would try out a new food cart pod, Dogwood at the Pine Shed, on the east side of Bend. There are currently about 30 food cart pods in Central Oregon with more in the works. I decided to try food from The Dominican, a cart featuring food from the Dominican Republic. Have I had Dominican food before? Nope, but I’m always open to trying new things.
I tried a combination plate called La Bandera. The meal included a generous portion of melt-in-your-mouth-it’s-so-tender marinated beef. It was complimented with sides of fluffy rice and tasty beans. The Dominican house salad was equal parts leafy green lettuce and chopped tomatoes and cucumber, topped with shredded cheese and crunchy croutons.
The crunchiness continued in the tostones. Tostones are twice-fried plantain slices. A tostonera is used to flatten the slices prior to frying. I’ve never had them before, but they were delicious!
On another trip to The Dominican, I had the Chicharrón meal. It includes crispy pieces of pork belly topped with seasoned onions. The light crispy texture of the pork belly is hard to describe, but I will definitely be back to order it again. Yum! Fluffy rice and tostones fill up the rest of the plate.
I ordered the cocktail inside at the Dogwood bar. It’s the Thai One On and it includes blanco rum, malibu, basil, matcha, and coconut milk with a refreshing splash of soda. On other trips, I ordered the Southern Sidecar and Poco Loco drinks. Every drink I’ve ordered so far has been unique and tasty.
There are several Dominican options at The Dominican cart, but also a few American choices. They serve cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, and pork sandwiches. You can opt for a side of tostones or the more traditional French fries.
Other food trucks
This pod also has trucks with Mexican food, Vietnamese food, sandwiches, cookies, and barbecue. There’s plenty of outside seating at picnic tables and inside the Pine Shed. The Pine Shed, a rustic metal building, once served as a warehouse, and later, as a coffee shop. It was moved across town from an industrial area to this new location. Inside, you’ll find Dogwood, which serves unique cocktails, beer, and wine.
At this time, major road construction is going on in this neighborhood. Please make an extra effort to visit this new food pod and support our local businesses!
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Aosagi mural: Monday Mural
This Aosagi mural is located in downtown Edmonds, Washington. It was created by Shoga Ota and installed in September 2021. The mural’s style is similar to Japanese woodblocks. In the mural, a large blue heron (Aosagi) flies over a series of waves.
Japanese immigrants were an important part of the history of the Pacific Northwest. In the 19th century, they were instrumental in the railroad, mining, timber, and fishing industries. During World War II, there was a rise in anti-Japanese sentiments and they were forcibly relocated to internment camps. Reparations for that action did not occur until 1988, under the Civil Liberties Act.
In April of 1988, Edmonds developed a sister city relationship with Hekinan, Japan. This mural was created partly to acknowledge Edmond’s relationship with Hekinan. The goal of this relationship is to foster “exchanges that reflect our intercultural focus between business, education and nonprofit organizations in the local area.”
This mural was funded by a grant from the City of Edmonds Arts Commission and a generous donation from the McMurray family.
Monday Mural
Structure of the elements: LAPC
When I’m trying to decide if I should use black and white processing on an image, I ask myself one important question: Does the structure of the elements justify its usage?
When you think of structure, you may think of architectural details. Yes, that’s one interpretation, but everything has a structure.
The first two images show a Hosta plant during a downpour of rain at Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. Initially, I was disappointed to visit on a rainy day. However, while researching the garden later, I found visitors often seek out rainy days.
The color image shows off the green colors in the leaves. The monochrome image shows off the structure of the elements. The contrasting edge color, the curving veins of the leaves, and the glossiness created by the rain, shine in the black and white version.
The next two images show a Borealosuchus crocodile skeleton cast at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. As soon as I entered this museum, the photographer part of my brain started imagining everything in black and white.
The color version shows the skeleton in warm tones and a recreation of what they looked like in life focuses on a vibrant creature. The black and white version highlights the structure of the elements. Whenever a skeleton is displayed well, you’ll notice its exquisite details.
Sometimes when you create a monochromatic version, you’ll find hidden surprises. The reflections from other displays across from the crocodile made this into what appeared to be a double exposure.
The next two images show barrels at Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. For certain brews, beer is aged in barrels once containing whiskey, tequila, and other liquor.
The color version shows the varying colors of the aged wood in the barrels. The black and white version also shows the age of the barrels, but emphasizes the orderliness of the storage and the structure of the stairs.
The last two images show the view from an overlook at the Paint Pots trail in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. This picture shows dense forests, mountains in the distance, steaming thermal features, and a sky full of puffy clouds.
The color version highlights the cool tones of the sky and forest and the warm tones of the soil around the hot springs. The black and white version lets the cloudscape be the main feature. The thermal features blend into the foreground.
Is a color or monochrome version best? Sometimes there is no right answer. As photographers, we try to capture a moment in time for viewers. With a touch of magic, we help them “see” what they may not have noticed, in color or black and white.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Exploring Color vs Black & White
Asparagus drawing & photo: FFA & FF
While participating in the Inktober challenge last fall, I created this simple asparagus drawing with pen and ink. The drawing prompt for that day was “roam.”
We have a restaurant in downtown Bend named Roam and I’ve taken several pictures while dining there. I took this picture of an asparagus dish we had last summer. It was delicious!
For the drawing, I edited out several of the asparagus stalks.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Bear with Humor: Wordless Wednesday
Bear with Humor by Rick Bartow (Mad River Band of the Wiyot Tribe, d. 2016) at High Desert Museum
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Arrowheads up close: Macro Monday
This photo showing arrowheads up close was taken at Petersen Rock Garden & Museum. This unique roadside attraction is in Redmond, Oregon.
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