Chihuly glass art at the Seattle Aquarium
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Chihuly glass art: Wordless Wednesday
Culture
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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Exquisite Creatures Revealed: LAPC & TTC
Exquisite Creatures Revealed is an amazing exhibition at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland, Oregon. It will be on display until February 17, 2025.
Christopher Marley combined elements of art and the natural world into three-dimensional masterpieces. Marley has lived in dozens of countries and studied art and design, while pursuing a career in fashion. The time he spent working for Luis Vuitton, Georgio Armani, Gucci, Donna Karan, and Nike influenced his overall aesthetics.
These displays were created using mainly one color, complementary colors, analogous colors, and black and white. The unique works of art highlight the wide range of colors and forms occurring in nature.
Butterfly & Beetle Exquisite Creatures
The butterfly pieces were wonderfully colorful, but also beautiful because of their iridescence. The various species of Lepidoptera shown live in France, China, Indonesia, Laos, Peru, Brazil, Guyana, Bolivia, Central African Republic, Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia.
These Jewel Beetles are all the same species, just different in color. The wide variety of colors, and their shiny texture, made for an eye-catching display. They live in Southeast Asia.
Dragonflies and katydids
These remarkable creatures are considered one of the most efficient hunters in the animal kingdom. The dragonfly species in this piece live in regions of the U.S. and Asia.
There are over 20,000 species of leaf mimic katydids in the world. The insects shown live in Peru, Indonesia, Malayasia, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea.
Crab Exquisite Creatures
This triptych shows the significant differences in crab’s body shape and size. Did you know there are over 7,000 species of crab in the world?
Sea urchin and sand dollar Exquisite Creatures
I think these were some of my favorite pieces in this exhibit. The sea urchins in these pieces reside in oceans around the world.
This triptych piece had a nice movement to it. I liked its curving lines, the variety of its colorful sea urchins, and the simple shapes of the white sand dollars in the background.
I liked the next piece because it reminded me of the excitement I’ve experienced upon finding a complete sand dollar while walking along Pacific Northwest beaches. If you shake them, you’ll hear a rattling sound. The small V-shaped pieces found inside dead sand dollars are called doves. In life, they function as teeth.
Seahorses and brittle stars
These seahorse skeletons looked so delicate. These seahorses lived in Hawaii.
This piece, composed of Brittle Stars, also looked fragile. This species lives in the Philippines.
Snakes
This piece includes three Royal Pythons that lived in Sub-Saharan Africa. This piece was interesting, but I also found it to be kind of disturbing.
Feathers and birds
This piece showed the diversity of colors and forms of feathers.
These Rosella skins show the wide range of color in their feathers. This species is native to Australia.
Orchids
Christopher Marley briefly described why he included this orchid piece in the exhibition. He was impressed by the flowers’ “bizarre, extravagant, even superfluous morphology, and the colors unbound by any parameters give them a ruggedly individual, almost defiant air that I find both intoxicating and humbling.”
In case you were wondering, all of the artwork includes real preserved specimens. The specimens were collected using ecologically friendly and sustainable methods in collaboration with zoos, museums, and collectors. None of the vertebrates featured in this exhibition were killed for the art pieces.
The Exquisite Creatures Revealed exhibition was unlike any I’ve ever seen. It was definitely one of my favorite exhibits I saw last year. Yeah, the specimens themselves are fascinating, but the way Marley displayed them was awe-inspiring. WOW!
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Complementary Colors
Three Things Challenge TTC)- Yeah, Year
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Cascades of blossoms haiku: FOTD & WIL
cascades of blossoms
delicate and resilient
varnished with spring rain
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The Blacksmith restaurant: Foodie Friday & TTC
We had a burger dish and a pasta dish recently at The Blacksmith restaurant in Bend. We made sure to leave room for one of their special desserts.
This is a picture of the Blacksmith Burger. The dish includes a 1/2-pound Kobe patty on a brioche bun, topped with tomato, lettuce, red onions, and aioli. You can choose to have the burger with either fries or a side salad. The fries and burger were delicious!
This picture shows the Shrimp Linguine dish. It includes shrimp, cherry tomato, basil, mint, red onion, and garlic. White wine lemon cream sauce, parmesan, and fresh herbs top the linguini pasta. This dish was full of flavor.
The Blacksmith restaurant desserts
The Blacksmith is well known locally for their desserts.
This photo shows their Fostered Bananas Split. This twist on a traditional banana split includes house-made banana bread, vanilla bean ice cream, and sauteed bananas, topped with orange rum caramel sauce and whipped cream. This was a good dessert, but my banana bread was a little dry.
This is a picture of their Brownie dessert. The dish includes a rich brownie sprinkled with sea salt, topped with vanilla bean ice cream, caramel, and toasted walnuts. This was a very tasty dessert, nicely presented.
I’m including a copy of their dessert menu. Yes, they are expensive! The banana split price, in particular, is too high, in my opinion.
You can find the dinner, happy hour, and drink menus on their website.
I enjoyed the food and atmosphere at The Blacksmith restaurant. This building, built in 1923, once housed Pete Pierson Blacksmithing. The owners since then have tried to keep much of the original structure. The building opened as a restaurant in 2003 and its current owners have owned it since 2013.
One of the things I appreciated the most about our meal there was the ability to carry on a conversation. I didn’t need to shout or strain to hear my tablemate speaking. At some restaurants in Bend, the industrial style-design makes talking with your tablemates very difficult.
Three Things Challenge (TTC) – Price
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Headdresses at HDM: Wordless Wednesday
Headdresses at High Desert Museum (HDM), Bend, Oregon
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Neptune’s Taphouse & Eatery mural: Monday Murals
This colorful Neptune’s Taphouse & Eatery mural is unique. It’s painted on slats of wood on a room divider. This restaurant, located in Livingston, Montana, has an ocean theme.
Livingston is a long way from the ocean, but Neptune’s Taphouse serves several dishes that include fish and shellfish. It has an extensive sushi menu. The menu also includes dishes with mussels, clams, scallops, crab, shrimp, tuna, salmon, and cod.
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A bright future: MM & JMW
This photo, taken in downtown Bend, Oregon, shows a bright future. I used infrared processing to show the light not always visible to the naked eye.
A sign on a lamppost reads, “Shelter, Help, Hope.” It’s from one of the homeless shelters here in town. Sometimes, if people in difficult situations can focus on the light ahead, they can find their way out of the darkness.
Monochrome Madness (MM)
2024 favorite photos: LAPC & SS
Today I’m sharing some of my 2024 favorite photos. I divided them into four categories: Critters, Cuisine, Cultural attractions, and Countryside.
2024 Favorite Photos of Critters
I’m beginning with the critters category. In case you didn’t know, I love animals and often feature pictures of them.
The first photo shows a curious Long-tailed Weasel emerging from roadside vegetation at Summer Lake in Oregon. It was so cute!
This Pronghorn pranced across a grassy field at Yellowstone National Park. These graceful creatures are one of my absolute favorites.
A Great Blue Heron in a Portland garden walked right up to me in the middle of a rainstorm. What a magical moment!
In this picture, an American Avocet crosses a pond at Summer Lake Wildlife Area. I liked the simplicity of this photo
Cuisine photos
The next category is cuisine. Did you know blog posts featuring food are some of the most popular?
I begin with an appetizer, of course. This Spicy King Salmon Hwe is from Yoli, a Korean restaurant in Bend, Oregon. We ate a tasty 5-course meal there.
The next photo is of a pizza from Rush’s Squares in Bend. Their Pesto Margherita pizza is delicious!
The next picture is of a fish taco from 10 Barrel Brewing in Bend. There are a lot of places that serve fish tacos, but this particular one’s ingredients make it stand out from the rest.
The last one is of a Mixed Berry Cobbler from the Blue Duck Restaurant at East Lake Resort in Oregon. This generously portioned dessert is great to share with tablemates.
2024 Favorite Photos of Cultural Attractions
The next category is Cultural Attractions. I did a lot of traveling in the West in 2024.
The first picture is one of several I took at Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. This type of garden is designed to look beautiful from any angle.
The next picture is of old machinery at The Museum of the American West in Lander, Wyoming. I used black and white processing to highlight the lines and shapes of the machinery and the clouds.
This photo is of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. It is one of many photos I took at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.
The next photo is of a rock-covered bridge and building beside a pond. This picture was taken at Petersen Rock Garden and Museum, a unique roadside attraction in Redmond, Oregon.
Countryside Photos
The last category is Countryside. I include photos of landscapes from the sea to the mountains.
The first picture was taken at Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area in Oregon. The curving shapes formed by the tide were beautiful.
This photo of river reflections was taken along the Columbia River in Oregon. I used cross processing to oversaturate the colors.
I used my new drone to take pictures at Summer Lake in Oregon. This photo shows an art piece created with rocks in the foreground and dust devils spinning over the playa in the background. I wrote a short story about my visit there, featuring other drone photos.
The last photo shows the mountains surrounding the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Bison herds frequently graze peacefully in these grasslands.
Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my 2024 favorite photos. Be sure to check out my recent 2024 Bloopers post to see photos from the last year interpreted with my unique sense of humor. 🙂
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Favorite images of 2024
Sunday Stills (SS) – Memorable Moments of 2024
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Waterlily paintings & photo: First Friday Art
Today I’m sharing a couple waterlily paintings and a photo I created. I attempted to paint the waterlily using a traditional Chinese style. Artisans train for years to perfect this type of painting. My first efforts at Chinese brush painting pale in comparison.
In the first painting, I used watercolor paint on a smooth cold press paper. Since I like showing a lot of detail in my artwork, this type of painting, where less is more, was challenging. This was my third attempt at doing this style of painting.
In the second painting, I used acrylic paints on a mixed media slightly grained paper.
I worked from the photo shown below of a waterlily blooming at Petersen Rock Garden and Museum.
Before doing the waterlily paintings, I familiarized myself with the brushes using black ink. The quality of brushes varies, but sets can be purchased online at low costs.
Here are some of the exercises I did with ink using hard and soft brushes. I really enjoyed doing these exercises. When using some of these techniques, you hold the brush straight up and down instead of at an angle. I used The Chinese Brush Painting Bible by Jane Dwight as a guide.
Inkstones and Inksticks
I recently decided to purchase an inkstone and an inkstick. You grind the inksticks on the inkstones with a little water to make ink. In the Chinese period dramas I’ve watched, they frequently feature characters grinding ink. The inkstone I purchased is of a simple design, but some are elaborate works of art.
I bought an inkstick because you can vary the density of color more than you can with traditional bottled ink. To see the ancient method used to create inksticks, watch this FASCINATING video. The oldest Chinese inkstick artifacts date back to the 12th century BC.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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2024 Bloopers: RDP & FOWC
Now that the new year has begun, it’s time to post some of my 2024 bloopers. This is where I share pictures that didn’t quite fit into any category or were blurry. I try to add a little humor to them with captions and comments. Hope they entertain you!
“Ah, that’s the spot! Yeah, keep scratching right by my hip joint.”
A radiant smile can be found in the most unexpected of places.
“Did I really spill something on my bill, or are you just trying to make me look all cross-eyed?”
Good fences make good neighbors.
“Okay, I’ll give you three chances to get the focus right. One… two… three, you got it!”
“You say you’re having problems reading the subtitles? I’ll just read them for you, okay?”
Well, here’s one way to remind pool visitors of where to go and not go.
Uh… maybe I should just pay someone else to make sushi for me.
Hope you enjoyed my 2024 bloopers. See more of my funny photos on my photo bloopers tag.
Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Radiant
Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC) – Joint
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An Edmonds ferry: Water Water Everywhere
Beyond the boulders, an Edmonds ferry patiently awaits the next crossing of Puget Sound in Washington state.
Kendall Planetarium ceiling art: MM & SS
I saw this Kendall Planetarium ceiling art on a recent trip to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), in Portland, Oregon. I thought these metallic strips hanging from the ceiling would look great in black and white. For this post, I’m showing them with infrared processing.
Monochrome Monday (MM)
Sunday Stills (SS) Monthly Color Challenge – Things that are metallic