Black-necked Stilts facts: LAPC & BOTW

July 7, 2026July 7, 2026 / SoyBend / 12 Comments

I just returned from a stay at Summer Lake in Oregon where I saw lots of Black-necked Stilts, Himantopus mexicanus. Unlike other birds in the area, they are easy to identify.

They look stylish with their striking black and white markings and long, slim bill. Then you notice their legs. They’re so long in proportion to their bodies! In fact, only flamingos have longer legs. If that’s not enough to get your attention, the legs make a fashion statement with their bright rose-pink color.

So where can you find Black-necked Stilts? They live in wetland environments in parts of North, Central, and South America. In the continental United States, they are common along the coast of California, in interior parts of western states, along the Gulf of Mexico, and east to Florida.

Yes, you’ll see them in shallow water including in salt flats and pans, flooded lands near rivers and lakes, saltmarshes, swamps, and mudflats. However, you can also see them in human-created habitats like sewage ponds and rice fields. In some areas they actually prefer those sites.

Black-necked Stilts are often on the move. What are they eating? They feed on aquatic invertebrates, small crustaceans, amphibians, snails, and small fish.

Where do they nest? Stilts build nests on the ground and lay 2–5 eggs. Both sexes are active in incubation and chick-rearing.

To drive away predators, they sometimes gather together in a group and jump, hop, and flap their wings in a behavior referred to as “popcorning.” They’ll also pretend to have a broken wing and lure predators away, like killdeers. Predators include foxes, coyotes, feral cats, skunks, and gulls.

Are they doing okay? Populations of Black-necked Stilts have been stable overall in the continental U.S. They may be extending their range to the north, possibly because of climate change. Since they depend on the availability of wetland habitats, they’re vulnerable to habitat destruction, degradation, and pollution.

Weirdest fun fact: Black-necked Stilts and American Avocets, Recurvirostra americana, can hybridize and produce young. Birders have nicknamed these rare birds “avo-stilts.” Wow, I’d like to see one of those! 😀

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Subjects that begin with the letter B

Birds of the Week (BOTW)

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PDX—An architectural wonder: LAPC & WPWC

June 14, 2026July 3, 2026 / SoyBend / 35 Comments

At Portland International Airport, PDX, there have been some big changes. The years-long main terminal redevelopment is currently in its final phase.

The 9-acre timber roof makes the terminal stand out as an architectural wonder. Timber for the structure came from local sources, including small family-owned lots and tribal lands. The timber was harvested within 300 miles of the airport. PDX received the Best Design in North America award in 2025.

One thing I like most about the renovated PDX is the abundance of live plants. The design includes 72 mature trees and 5,000 other plants. The wooden beams bring warmth; the plants bring a sense of calm to stressed-out travelers.

It’s a great atmosphere to take a leisurely stroll through. When you’re wandering around the terminal, you might want to visit one of the airport’s 24 stores or 34 restaurants.

The redevelopment includes beautiful elements, but it also includes practical ones.

The main terminal is designed to withstand a magnitude 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. The columns holding up the roof essentially ‘float’ separately from the ground.

To decrease the need for artificial lighting, the terminal included portals with views of the sky. There are 49 of these skylights in the building.

Underground, a groundwater heat pump system warms and cools the building as needed. Even though the building size increased by 40%, it will decrease its energy usage by half.

The budget for this project was $2.15 billion. Yes, that’s with a ‘b’, not an ‘m’. The redevelopment will help accommodate the millions of customers expected to use the facility, but it will also include a nod to its past.

PDX carpet

In 2015, the airport’s special projects division announced it would replace the carpet. The iconic carpet, designed by a local architectural firm, was installed in 1988. There was such a public outcry against the planned removal of the carpet that the airport revised its plans.

To help heal the wounds inflicted during the Great PDX Carpet Replacement Tragedy, PDX will install a newly manufactured version of the beloved carpet in ten locations. You can use the map on this site to find them when you visit the airport. Yeah, really! 😀

What happened to the old, worn-out carpet? Four area businesses won contracts to remove it. When one announced they would sell framed one-foot squares and two-by-three-foot floor mats, “the cars were lined up all the way down the street.” Other businesses sold luggage tags, coasters, magazine racks, sling-back chairs, and ottomans made from the remnants. There is a reason for the well-known slogan, “Keep Portland Weird.”

Now you may have a better understanding of why PDX is often on various best airport lists. They’ve put a lot of time into making the airport beautiful, safe, and energy efficient, but also considered the voice of the people.

Other wonders nearby

After viewing all the architectural wonders at PDX over your head and below your feet, Mother Nature will show you a few of her wonders once you are airborne. Mt. Hood is a short distance from the airport and I can’t help but smile every time I fly over it.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Looking back at challenge #1: Wonder

Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge (WPWC) – Leisurely

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On 3 July 2026, I was notified that this post was selected for Freshly Pressed recognition. WordPress.com reviews posts by creators from around the world and showcases editors’ picks and community favorites on this site.

Point in time: LAPC

June 7, 2026June 7, 2026 / SoyBend / 27 Comments

Yesterday, I took an arrowhead representative of a point in time to an Archaeological Roadshow event in Bend, Oregon for a free evaluation. I found the arrowhead on our property northeast of Bend. This event is organized and hosted by Portland State University, the Deschutes Historical Society, and the Archaeology Society of Central Oregon.

The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week is to focus on a subject and I chose to feature pictures of my arrowhead. Several guidelines were listed and it was suggested we pick two or three of them. Since I don’t always follow the rules, I decided to present examples of all of them. 😀

In the first photo, I zoomed in on the arrowhead that I had placed on one of my western juniper trees. I love the bark on these trees.

In the second photo, I used the leading lines created by a long-dead sagebrush shrub. Leading lines are not always straight.

The third photo shows an example of negative space. This is what the arrowhead looked like when I found it. It was like a piece that did not fit into the puzzle of sandy soil.

In the fourth photo, I used selective focus. I placed the arrowhead on its side on top of part of a thunderegg rock I collected north of Madras, Oregon.

In the fifth photo, I simplified the background. I placed the arrowhead on a piece of weathered wood in my yard.

In the last photo, I changed the placement of the subject. I stuck the arrowhead between the furrows of a juniper tree’s bark. You can see the slim profile of this arrowhead when viewed from this angle.

Evaluation of my point in time

So what did the archaeologists at the event say about my arrowhead? They took several photos for their records and asked where I had collected it. They marveled at the craftmanship of this artifact. A master flintknapper created this arrowhead during a long ago point in time.

The archaeologists excitedly passed it from person to person working at the booth. One of them remarked the piece was “the cat’s meow.” That phrase means it’s excellent or outstanding.

Then came the most exciting part. They estimated this arrowhead’s age at 10,000 years. Wow!

There are several sites within an hour or so of my home where ancient artifacts have been found. At the Rimrock Draw Shelter site, the artifacts found so far are estimated to be 18,000 years old. That makes them some of the oldest found in North America.

For a quick summary of laws related to collecting on federal, state, and private lands, check out this page from the Oregon Archaeological Society.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Focus on the subject

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3 Birds in art and life: LAPC

May 31, 2026May 31, 2026 / SoyBend / 14 Comments

Today I’m sharing photos of sculptures by artist Bue Kee at the Portland Art Museum in Oregon. When I saw 3 Birds from across the room, I assumed they were carved from wood but they’re actually sculpted from clay.

The 3 Birds were created between 1939 and 1940. The sculptures include an owl, goose, and pelican. I especially liked the pelican sculpture.

These sculptures were created during the Great Depression under one of the New Deal art programs. Almost 14,000 artists were hired by the federal government in 1933-34 under the Public Works of Art Program. Between 1933 and 1943, five programs provided much-needed employment for participants and left a lasting legacy of public artworks across the country.

The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week is to show photographs with three subjects. I searched through my archives to find pictures I’d taken of the birds in the 3 Birds sculpture. All these photos were taken in Oregon.

The first picture shows a pair of Canada Geese keeping a watchful eye over their single gosling. I took this picture while out walking my dog along the Deschutes River in Bend.

The second picture shows a trio of Long-eared Owl owlets. These young birds were well-hidden in a thicket of willow at Summer Lake Wildlife Area.

The last photo shows three White Pelicans south of Burns. It almost looks like they are in a confrontation with the Double-Crested Cormorants, but they feed together regularly.

In this photo, I captured three additional species. You can spot an American Coot, Canvasback, and Ruddy Duck in the foreground.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – The rule of three

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A visit to Post – The center of Oregon: LAPC

May 25, 2026May 25, 2026 / SoyBend / 14 Comments

Yesterday, I made a visit to Post, Oregon, one hour east of my house in Bend. Why drive there? Because Post claims to be at the geographic center of Oregon.

The Post General Store and Eatery includes a store, restaurant, and post office. In 1889, Post was named after Walter Post, their first postmaster. The outside of the building has a rustic Old West charm.

A view my drone above the store shows the rural nature of this country. On this visit to Post, the weather was nice and warm with a scattering of clouds.

Inside, they sell gifts, groceries, and lots of products with a “Post: Center of Oregon” theme. I bought a new green t-shirt for my collection.

The picture below shows the Post post office. Yes, it is small. There are only 48 mail boxes.

The store also has an eatery with a very limited menu. I ordered a meatloaf sandwich and I thought it was fine, but not the style I prefer. Post General Store & Eatery serves over a dozen kinds of milkshakes.

The center of Oregon?

Is Post really located in the exact center of Oregon? There are multiple ways to determine the location of the center of a state. If you cut out a map of Oregon and balanced the rectangular-shaped state on the head of a pin, the real center is nearby. It’s on the Bonnieview Ranch, just north of Post.

You have to get permission from the landowner to view a small U. S. Geological Survey metal marker on the property. Over the years, people have assumed it marks the center of the state. However, these benchmarks were historically used to help surveyors create maps, not to mark geographical features. This marker, installed in 1903, indicates the site’s elevation at 3,348 feet. Other markers include the latitude and longitude.

If you would like to own the land where the center of the state is located, the ranch is for sale for $20 million dollars. With 20% down, your payments will only be around $101,000 a month. The 18,700 acre Bonnieview Ranch includes several buildings including three homes, two cabins, and a bunkhouse. There are more than 50 springs and ponds, plus a 35-acre reservoir.

For this post I used my Samsung phone camera, my Canon pocket camera, and my DJI drone. To play up the history of this spot, I used cross processing photo effects and a border reminiscent of old printed photographs.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Stuck in place

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green leaves nonet poem: LAPC

May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 / SoyBend / 22 Comments

green leaves unfold in dawn’s early light
reaching for the warmth of summer
heart-shaped, oval, linear,
thick, slender, feathery
bending and swaying
crooning ancient
melodies
until
dusk

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Choose a color

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In our journey through life: LAPC

May 10, 2026May 10, 2026 / SoyBend / 22 Comments

In our journey through life, layers of wisdom accumulate in us over the years and become a thing of beauty.

We fondly recall the delicate flowers of our youth,

but sometimes forgot about the tough times.

In those days, we tumbled aimlessly from one place to another,

searching for a soft spot to land.

In our journey through life, we eventually found our way past sharp obstacles

towards a long and fruitful ending.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Textures

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Clouds and quotes: LAPC & WS

May 3, 2026May 3, 2026 / SoyBend / 14 Comments

For this post, I’m showing several pictures with clouds as a major element. The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week is to post quotes illustrated with your photos.

The first one shows a view of Red Canyon in Utah. The quote seemed to fit this picture perfectly.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.

Edward Abbey

I took the next picture in my backyard in Bend. The nighttime rainbow magically appeared in this image taken with my phone.

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.

George Carlin

I took this picture of a tree in my yard in winter. My juniper tree muse looks beautiful with a coating of snow.

In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.

Alice Walker

The next picture was taken on the Oregon coast, south of Seaside. Misty clouds collect along the shoreline.

Change is the only constant. Learn to surf your life instead of planting your feet.

Amy Poehler

I took the next picture on top of Steens Mountain in Oregon. The yellow aspen leaves contrasted well with the blue skies and puffy white clouds.

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

George Eliot

I took the last picture from my house of a sliver of sunset in the final moments of a day. My drone captured great pictures of the setting sun and dark clouds over volcanoes in the Cascade Range.

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.

Steve Martin

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Pick a favorite quote and illustrate it

Weekend Sky

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Windsurfing the Columbia: LAPC

April 26, 2026April 26, 2026 / SoyBend / 22 Comments

Windsurfing the Columbia River is a popular activity. On one of our visits to Hood River, Oregon, we happened to be there during a national Association of Wind Water Sports Industries (AWSI) event. In September, they host the AWSI Boards Sports Expo for their members.

You can see windsurfers and kiteboarders up close, and from farther away.

Why is windsurfing the Columbia River so popular? The Columbia Gorge is like a natural wind tunnel. It’s often referred to as the windsurfing capital of the world. Click here to see a map showing the numerous water sports launch sites along the Columbia.

When you’re there, you’ll get great views of the mountains surrounding the Columbia Gorge.

This photo was taken from the south shore of the Columbia.

You can see the Hood River bridge in the background.

If you drive over the bridge, you’ll get more views of windsurfers and kiteboarders. Note Mount Hood in the background.

I took this picture from the north shore.

One of the great things about this sport is that everyone can find a place to watch it from. 😀

Do you want to learn how to windsurf or kiteboard? There are several companies in and around Hood River that offer lessons.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Looking Back to #151 – On the Water

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P Ranch Long Barn, Inside and Out: LAPC

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026 / SoyBend / 16 Comments

The P Ranch Long Barn is at the south end of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon. This historic barn was built in the early 1880s. The land was originally owned by L. C. Porter, but was later acquired by Peter French and Dr. Hugh Glenn.

French and Glenn ran the French-Glenn Livestock Company. Through legal and sometimes questionable tactics, they eventually owned the entire Blitzen Valley. After purchasing land in nearby valleys, the French-Glenn Livestock Company ran their 45,000 head of cattle on 150,000 to 200,000 acres.

This 150-by-50-foot barn was a place to store hay and shelter horses. Hay harvested during the growing season stored here was fed to cattle and horses during winter months. This practice was uncommon at the time.

Though Pete French had a limited education, he was an astute businessman. The French-Glenn Livestock Company “was considered one of the best run and most profitable in the Pacific Northwest.” However, French’s driven, domineering style made him unpopular with neighbors and settlers. French legally contested the construction of fences on open public lands. Ed Oliver, a local settler, disagreed strongly with French’s management practices. He shot French dead in the back of his head on December 26, 1897. Even though French and his ranch hands were unarmed, the jury acquitted Oliver on the grounds of self defense. There’s a reason it was referred to as the “Wild West.” 😉

In 1935, after passing through several hands, the P Ranch and other Blitzen Valley ranchlands were purchased by the federal government and integrated into the existing Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Habitat restoration after decades of agricultural alteration became a priority.

P Ranch Long Barn preservation and restoration

The P Ranch Long Barn is on the National Register of Historic Places. Two rows of juniper trunks support the pine-shingled roof. French shipped the lumber for the walls from 100 miles away by train.

The barn has been stabilized and restored over the years. When the barn was in danger of collapsing, heavy steel cables were attached to the ceiling beams to support the structure. Concrete pads installed under the support columns help protect them from high water levels. As you can see in my photos, the barn could use a new roof.

The pictures below show the hay wagon originally in use on the ranch. Since it was deteriorating because of the harsh weather conditions, it was moved inside the barn.

Harney County Migratory Bird Festival

I visited the P Ranch Long Barn on tours during the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival in mid-April 2026. Birds in this area include Bullock’s Orioles, Cedar Waxwings, Western Tanagers, and Red-naped Sapsuckers. Just northeast of the barn, you’ll find “Bobolink Alley.” Breeding pairs live in a large meadow area from late May through July. Turkey Vultures often roost on the ranch’s lookout tower on summer evenings. There’s also a Bald Eagle nest just east of the turnoff for the ranch.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – History through the lens

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As luck would have it: LAPC

April 12, 2026April 23, 2026 / SoyBend / 22 Comments

As luck would have it, sometimes I see skies painted with bold strokes of orange

In a High Desert yard - sunset October 2019

Or blue skies full of popcorn clouds

Popcorn Factory , Clouds over Bend, Oregon 9November2018

Sometimes, I’m in a distant place at the right time and see tiny perennials in bloom

Or winged beauties alighting on blossoms in my own garden

As luck would have it, sometimes I pause along a road and a small predator looks back at me

Or I discover a snowshoe-footed creature by the trail that other hikers did not notice

And if I’m very lucky, sometimes I unknowingly photograph something I hadn’t intended to

Can you find two purple pickerel bloom stalks, a pink waterlily, two spiders, and a frog?

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Lucky Shot

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A well-designed garden: LAPC

April 6, 2026April 6, 2026 / SoyBend / 23 Comments

A well-designed garden considers hardscapes and softscapes
in the foreground, middle ground, and background

Hardscape waterfalls and pergolas anchor scenes in the background
In the fall, softscapes of colorful foliage add visual interest

In winter, the structure of leafless trees and shrubs is prominent

Sand gardens serve as a neutral middle ground
In the fall, color is a main character in large gardens

In winter, string sculptures add an element of artistry

Rock-lined pathways curve ahead in the foreground
In the fall, in a well-designed garden, the colors pull you forward

In winter, structures are revealed beneath twisted, leafless trees near bamboo-bordered trails

These photographs were taken in the fall and winter at the Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Framing Your Shots: Exploring the Foreground, Middle Ground, and Background

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Tool of enlightenment: LAPC

March 29, 2026March 29, 2026 / SoyBend / 16 Comments

In moments of darkness, I reach for the tool of enlightenment tucked inside my pocket.

Click! Click! Click! Click! I enlighten exhibitions.

4th Floor to Mildness by Pipilotti Rist, Portland Art Museum in 2026, Oregon

Fulfillment of Emptiness by Jang Jin-ik, Portland Art Museum in 2026, Oregon

Forest at Night by High Desert Museum staff in 2026, Oregon

Infinite Moment: Burning Man on the Horizon by High Desert Museum staff in 2020, Oregon

In moments of darkness, I reach for the tool of enlightenment tucked inside my pocket.

Click! Click! Click! Click! I enlighten landscapes.

Subway Cave, Lassen National Forest, California

Sunrise over Bend, Oregon

Steam over hot springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Playa at Summer Lake, Oregon

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Phone Photography

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Scenes without color: LAPC

March 22, 2026March 23, 2026 / SoyBend / 19 Comments

Scenes without color highlight

design elements of feathered finery

Artistic arrangements of snacks

and fantastical architectural forms

Scenes without color highlight

perfection in imperfect patterns

bold and buoyant formations

and the delicacy of floral details

To see these same images in color see my Color in photos post.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Color in Black and White

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Crane Hot Springs

March 15, 2026April 3, 2026 / SoyBend / 18 Comments

If you’re looking for a relaxing oasis in the middle of a desert, check out Crane Hot Springs near Burns, Oregon.

Hot springs in this area were first developed for commercial use in the 1920s. A dance hall and restaurant were built near Crane Hot Springs, but they burned down around 1930.

Over the years, this business has passed through several owners and is currently managed by Dan and Denise Kryger. They have been busy renovating and upgrading the property. They dug out the pond, built bathhouses, added RV facilities, and renovated the motel and cabins. Previously known as Crystal Crane Hot Springs (CCHS), the current owners shortened the name to Crane Hot Springs.

The restrooms and changing rooms are clean and comfortable. Here are a couple photos of them. I visited this hot spring decades ago and there have been huge improvements since then.

The large outdoor pond is the big attraction at this site. It measures 9,728 square feet in size and holds 323,143 gallons of water. Water in the pond reaches depths of almost seven feet. Water temperatures range from 99 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Private soaking tubs are also available.

One of the wonderful things about this place is that you can sit in the hot springs and view spectacular sunrises, sunsets, and dark skies bursting with stars.

Crane Hot Springs accommodations

This site has many overnight options available. There are several cabins to stay in, but you might also consider staying in a teepee, covered wagon, or their 5^th wheel rental. The smallest cabins, pictured below, have no restrooms but they are nearby. If you want to camp, there are dry camping or RV camping sites with full hookups available. We’ve stayed in our campervan here, in one of the rooms with its own spring-fed hot tub, and at a for rent by owner house nearby.

If you don’t want to spend the night, you can pay for day use at the hot springs. Prices for the large pond range from $5 to $15 for up to four hours. If you want to rent the smaller, private soaking tubs, it costs $15 per hour per person or $50 for two people for two hours.

Wildlife at Crane Hot Springs

The ponds on the property are great places to see some of the local wildlife. There’s one right next to the hot pool and another one a short walk away.

In past years, while participating in the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival, my tour group stopped here to look for birds.

You’ll see plenty of waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds in and around the ponds. Raptors can be seen feeding on the ground or drifting by on thermals overhead.

Yellow-headed blackbird Rising above the mist 6April2018

Steens mountain tour, western meadowlark eastern Oregon 6April2018

Turkey vulture eating ground squirrel, Harney County, OR 13April2019

Things to do nearby

There are some interesting things to do nearby. You can visit a unique round barn, drive around Steens Mountain, see the vast landscape of the Alvord Desert, and volcanic features at Diamond Craters. You may even glimpse wild horses, some of which are direct descendants of those brought here by the Spaniards in the seventeenth century. Gas stations in this rural area are few and far between, so plan your trips accordingly.

Brilliance of the desert, Big Indian Gorge, Steens Mountain, Oregon 28 August 2019

Horses near Steens Mountain, Oregon August 2019

Crane Hot Springs is at 59315 OR-78, Burns, Oregon. The hot springs are open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. If you plan to stay there, make your reservations here.

Pets are allowed in your RV and in 15 of the rooms. Dogs must be on leash on the grounds.

If you are here for day use, be aware that pets are not allowed near the outdoor pond. You are also not supposed to leave them in your vehicle. Since many travelers like to travel with their dogs, I hope they can add the doggie daycare a staff person mentioned SOON.

Our local TV station, Central Oregon Daily, did a great story on Crane Hot Springs on April 2, 2026. Watch it here. It includes some wonderful aerial views.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Time to Relax

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Backyard Byway: LAPC

March 10, 2026March 10, 2026 / SoyBend / 22 Comments

On my backyard byway,

I paddle past active volcanoes

South Sister from Hosmer Lake

Reflected in alpine lakes

Mt. Bachelor from Little Lava Lake

I stomp along trails with my snowshoes

Swampy Lakes Short Snowshoe trail, Bend, Oregon 14Feb2017

Swampy Lakes Sno-Park

and watch skiers carve their signatures across hillsides

Mt. Bachelor

I drive past ridges reaching for roads

Todd Ridge

and hike to places of reflection

Blow Lake, Oregon

I see water levels fluctuate in reservoirs

Wickiup Reservoir

and the rebirth of forests after fire

Cedar Creek Fire

On my backyard byway,

I watch foliage explode with color

Fall foliage

and wild ones along the byway watching me

Great blue heron

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

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Your Journey

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Shadows play: LAPC

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

Shadows play

Within deep glacially carved gorges filled with fall foliage

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

Shadows gather

Around the powerful presence of a goat the color of snow

And along straight and curved ridges in a garden of sand

Shadows play

Among towering sentinels standing guard over thundering waterfalls

And around a grand and forever grounded aircraft

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Shadowed

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When you trim a photo: LAPC

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

When you trim a photo

you may notice exhalations in the skies

and the embrace of trees

Dark islands may emerge

from shallow seas of dense fog

in the ring of fire

When you crop photos

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

or a rainbow of colors about to rise

When you trim a photo

you may notice soft curving lines

on a feline’s fur

Rigid radiating lines may emerge

Brushed with pale whispers

of an owl’s wisdom

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Unusual crop

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astonishment: LAPC

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

I draw in a breath in a moment of astonishment

when viewing artwork, delicate yet strong

And when seeing string sculptures scattered around a winter garden

I gasp with excitement

when two fine drakes line up perfectly for my lens

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

I draw in a breath in a moment of astonishment

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

And when seeing architectural wonders paying homage to trees

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – What Astonishes You?

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Designs in… :LAPC

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

Designs in… nature

may be spikey and sharp

curve around contours

or fracture along fault lines

Designs in… the human-made world

may symbolize city skylines

carved details of the cosmos

or footpaths leading us forward

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

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On a winter walk: LAPC

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

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

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

Daggers and spikes form
along edges once warm

An ancient one awakens

speaking of directions not taken

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

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

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without color: LAPC

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

without color

contrasting strands of baskets play a major role

and lesser-known vessels of silver shine

in black and white

a bowl of miso soup reveals a cryptic message

and two tacos grin with a knowing smile

without color

chairs stoically bear the burden of a spring snow

and rejoice under a refreshing downpour of rain

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

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2025 Favorite Photos: LAPC

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

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

2025 Favorite Photos of Countryside

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

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

This picture shows Burney Falls in action in California.

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

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

Photos of Cuisine

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

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

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

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

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

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

2025 Favorite Photos of Critters (and a Flower)

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

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

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

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

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

Cultural Attractions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Waiting for a prompt: LAPC

December 14, 2025December 14, 2025 / SoyBend / 20 Comments

On my blog site, I have organized my pictures that are waiting for a prompt. These include regular prompts I use, like Wordless Wednesday and Monochrome Monday. There are also folders where I store things like plant, animal, waterfall, and old building photos. Today I’m sharing some of these pictures.

Landscapes can be full of color,

or dark and brooding.

A wild creature close by can shine in a neutral background,

while one farther away can still show a powerful presence.

Artwork can be lighter than air,

or anchored to a concrete wall.

Some photos waiting for a prompt don’t seem to fit into any category. Though I can control the vertical and horizontal, what is the best way to present them?

When you look at them from one angle, they may hold beautiful flower arrangements.

When you look at them from another, they may be the perfect serving dish for chips and dip.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Last chance

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Birds on… :LAPC & BOTW

December 2, 2025December 2, 2025 / SoyBend / 22 Comments

Birds on the move, flapping wings of bronze

Or paddling alone in cool, calm waters

Flocks in the city, fluttering and chattering together

Or pairs peacefully standing beside secluded shorelines

Raptors on the ground, squatting in subdued shades of gray

Or songbirds resting, clad in brilliant shades of the sky

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC)- Wings

Birds of the Week (BOTW)

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Moments of mystery: LAPC

November 23, 2025November 23, 2025 / SoyBend / 24 Comments

Moments of mystery may loom large in front of you

Sasquatch sculpture at Sensing Sasquatch exhibition, High Desert Museum (2024)

Or hide within the shadows

Reflections in fish tank in By Hand Through Memory, High Desert Museum

Mysterious sights may make you question reality

Small stick supporting large boulder, Lassen Volcanic National Park

Or wonder which path to choose

Subway Cave, Lassen National Forest

Moments of mystery may reveal followers you didn’t know you had

Northern River Otters in Deschutes River in Bend

And secret conversations between similar species

Trumpeter Swan and Mallard, Sunriver Nature Center

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Finding the Mysterious

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Alvord Desert from above: WW & LAPC

November 19, 2025November 19, 2025 / SoyBend / 12 Comments

Alvord Desert from above in southeastern Oregon

Wordless Wednesday (WW)

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Looking back at LAPC #31 – Landscapes (LAPC)

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Driving through… : LAPC & SS

November 16, 2025November 16, 2025 / SoyBend / 19 Comments

Driving through…

Big rock mountains, sculpted and fired by the sun

And ranges, arising from basins washed by summer storms

Approaching cliffs layered with basalt flows preserving stories of their past

And volcanic hills, pounded by thundering hooves and eroded by falling rain

Driving through…

The warm comforting embrace of oak trees

And pine forests, swaying in celebration of winter’s first snowfall

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – On the Move

Sunday Stills Color Challenge (SS) – Brown and/or Gray

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The majesty of mountains: LAPC

November 11, 2025November 11, 2025 / SoyBend / 33 Comments

The majesty of mountains with distinct fringes of red

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Utah

and coming into focus over a blur of the Sagebrush Sea

Mt. Shasta, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California

The mood of mountains retreating in a blush of color

Painted Hills Unit, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon

and rising above, snow-clad and strong

Mount Rainier, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

The majesty of mountains layered in subtleties

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

and taking center stage above a curve of crops

Mt. Jefferson, Willamette National Forest, Oregon

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Looking back at LAPC #31 – Landscapes

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Stagecoach stop from above: LAPC & FOWC

October 20, 2025October 20, 2025 / SoyBend / 16 Comments

When you drive by this old stagecoach stop on the east side of Steens Mountain in Oregon, it just looks like a couple piles of rocks in the distance.

Sunflowers & stagecoaches at Steens Mountain, Oregon August 2019

From a closer distance, it still looks like piles of rubble.

However, when you see it from above with a drone, it looks completely different. You can clearly see the walls of the structure on the left.

The building on the right looks like this from above. There are remnants of the rock wall on the west side of the structure, but the wooden parts have fallen to the ground.

In other environments, the wood would have deteriorated by now. However, this structure is just north of the Alvord Desert, which gets an average of 7 inches of precipitation a year.

I am reposting some facts related to stagecoach travel from one of my previous posts.

In the late 1800s to early 1900s, stagecoach routes crisscrossed the West. On the more heavily traveled routes, there were stops every 25 miles or so. Why that distance? That’s about how far a team of horses pulling wagons full of goods and passengers could travel. Their progress was slow because of difficult terrain and weather that could quickly change from scorching heat to bone-chilling cold.

Some of these stations were just for changing horse teams, while others had accommodations available for travelers. The stops in Fields and Frenchglen in Oregon offered more options for weary travelers. One stop near the one pictured above charged 25 cents for overnight lodging and meals. The charge for the care of each horse was an additional 25 cents.

Travel along these stagecoach routes was not fast. For example, the east-west route from Ontario, Oregon, to Burns, Oregon, took approximately 40 hours. Today, the 130-mile route takes 2 hours 12 minutes by car. But imagine all the sights those early travelers must have seen on those slow journeys…

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Ancient

Fandango’s One Word Challenge – Fast

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In our dreams: LAPC & WS

October 12, 2025October 12, 2025 / SoyBend / 29 Comments

In our dreams,

we remember

the light and dark moments

of our lives

We remember soaring

over the highest peaks

and sinking to the lowest lowlands

In our dreams,

we remember the stormy times

and anticipate

the rainbows to come

We remember

turning around dark bends

towards the light of a new day

Lens-artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Dreamy

Weekend Sky (WS)

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Steens in the fall: LAPC, RDP, & WS

October 5, 2025October 5, 2025 / SoyBend / 20 Comments

The valleys on Steens in the fall
Are filled with green, yellow, and orange leaves,
Framed by mountain mahogany

Clouds skitter across the sky;
Parting to enlighten
Lone patches of gold

On Steens Mountain
Fall’s foliage gathers at the bottom of
Deep glacially carved gorges

Golden leaves of aspen and
Fuzzy flowers of rabbitbrush
Edge the ridgetops and roads

The last colorful moments shine brightly
On Steens in the fall
As winter’s darkness creeps in

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Looking Back to Lens-Artist Challenge #106: Autumn

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Valley

Weekend Sky (WS)

All pictures were taken on 1 October 2025 while driving to the top of Steens Mountain, Oregon. The mountain reaches an elevation 9,733 feet. The 52-mile long Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway loop road to the summit is open seasonally.

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A Steens Mountain Tour: LAPC

September 28, 2025September 28, 2025 / SoyBend / 28 Comments

Up with the birds for a Steens Mountain tour

On April 6, I was up bright and early for a birdwatching trip that would encircle Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon in a single day. Being a bit of an introvert, I wasn’t sure I wanted to partake in a tour like this one. The Steens Mountain tour was one of 22 tours available for nature enthusiasts at the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival. The festival, which started in 1981, takes advantage of the annual spring bird migration in the Harney Basin. More than 300 species of birds use this area annually.

A land full of drama

At 6:00 am, participants in the Circle the Steens Mountain & Alvord Desert tour met at Burns High School. The weather was not cooperating for the 200-mile trip. A big storm system was blowing in. Twelve hours and 76 bird species later, we returned to the high school. Though we didn’t see any rare birds, we did see a lot, considering the weather conditions. Our views were framed by the dramatic landscapes of Harney County. The pale colored sands of the Alvord Desert stood out in contrast to the dark stormy skies. Steens Mountain provided beautiful panoramas from many different angles. We also had great views of pronghorn and deer.

We traveled east of Steens Mountain, south to Fields, then north along the west side of the 50-mile long mountain. Our tour guides, Joan Suther and Rick Hall, worked for the Bureau of Land Management locally for many years. The first brief stop was to look at burrowing owls. The small owls were seen braving the wind on this tour and the one I was on the next day. Flocks of snow geese and Ross’ geese were in fields nearby. Our next stop, at Crystal Crane Hot Springs, was much longer.

Continue reading →

Water falls: SS, WWE, LAPC

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025 / SoyBend / 25 Comments

Water falls in cascades over moss-covered cliffs

Burney Falls, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, California

and between dolphins, dancing and spinning

Rhapsody, Kelowna, British Columbia

Water flows down rocky crags, plummeting and thundering

Bridalveil Waterfall, Yosemite National Park, California

and emerges quietly from lagoons bordered by blossoms

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Portland, Oregon

Water falls twice through basalt canyons, producing essential power

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho

and continuously over rustic artistry created from stone

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, The Dalles, Oregon

Sunday Stills (SS) – Fountains and Falls

Water Water Everywhere (WWE)

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – City Mouse/ Country Mouse

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Yearning to… : LAPC

September 14, 2025September 14, 2025 / SoyBend / 20 Comments

Yearning to visit places that warmed the body and soul

Wishing to smell the scent of purple, blown by the breeze

purple flower border — Volunteer Park Conservatory, Seattle, Washington

Pining for the sound of bugling calls, heralding the arrival of spring

yearning to see sandhills — Sandhill Cranes, Summer Lake, Oregon

Craving the taste of a special summer treat

tasty treat at East Lake — Mixed Berry Cobbler, East Lake, Oregon

Longing to catch glimpses of beloved companions from the past

A picture helps us remember when we are yearning to feel, smell, hear, taste, and see our memories.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Longing

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In a quiet space haiku: LAPC

September 8, 2025September 8, 2025 / SoyBend / 24 Comments

in a quiet space
dark shadows dance and light sings
on a summer morn

Anila Quayyum Agha: Geometry of Light exhibition at Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Quiet moment

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Some things in nature… : LAPC

August 31, 2025August 31, 2025 / SoyBend / 22 Comments

Some things in nature have patterns in whirls,

Other things are smooth and plain

Some things in nature are velvety soft,

Other things have rough, bumpy surfaces

And in underwater worlds, things may be patterned or smooth

soft or rough and bumpy

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Virtual Scavenger Hunt

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WinterFest 2025 fire pits: LAPC & RDP

August 10, 2025August 10, 2025 / SoyBend / 13 Comments

I was really looking forward to seeing the WinterFest 2025 fire pits at Bend’s winter festival event in Bend’s Old Mill District last February. They are great to photograph! I have posted pictures from previous years under the fire pit tag.

We are about to experience some of our hottest temperatures of the year in Bend this week. Maybe you are also getting some hot days where you live. I thought it might be a great time to remember the cooler temperatures of winter.

One of my favorite fire pits this year, was this VW van. It was well-designed and fun.

Another one I really liked was this one featuring a forest. Loved those trees!

Some of the fire pits have more intricate designs.

Others are more simple.

Some, like this one, are enormous. You can see lots of people meeting up around this WinterFest 2025 fire pit to take advantage of its warmth.

Some of the fire pits used a more traditional design, but included interesting cut-out details.

Others were all about the details. This octopus surrounding a boat, which I’ve shown before, had amazing details.

Some are cone or column shaped.

Other are square.

This year, snow from a recent storm covered the ground. It added to the festive mood.

Other attractions at Bend WinterFest 2025

This event includes ice carvings, 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.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Found at the fair/market

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – meet

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Balloons before lift off – Rispetto poem: LAPC

August 3, 2025August 3, 2025 / SoyBend / 28 Comments

Colorful resting balloons, drowsy at dawn,
Breathe in heated air, unfold, stretch, and inflate
Burners roar, envelopes fill, tense crews hang on
Baskets shift on the ground, sandbags balance weight
Pilots check the weather, instruments, and tanks
Passengers clamber aboard, voicing their thanks
Flames dance over burners, heat enters the skirt
Lift greater than weight, balloons float o’er desert

Photographs taken at Balloons Over Bend event July 2025. Here’s a short video from a previous post.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Lines, colors, and patterns

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Wandering beneath the giants: LAPC & ST

July 20, 2025July 20, 2025 / SoyBend / 26 Comments

The sun peers at me wandering beneath the giants.

I pause beside an ancient one. She is broad and strong at the base, with outstretched branches reaching for the sky.

I continue wandering beneath the giants until I find him, the oldest one of them all.

His branches tremble and point towards a burned-out tree. The fire exposed its heart, but its thick bark protected it for many years.

I notice the toes of the tree curling. It is struggling to keep itself upright.

Then… whoosh, boom! It falls to the ground. The voices of the trees around it rise in a song of mourning.

The burned wood at its core falls away. Its wrinkled bark flakes off, exposing a more youthful surface. The hollowed out tree shares its soul with curious visitors who marvel at the wonder of its life.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Into the Woods

Sunday Trees

Photos taken at Kings Canyon National Park, California.

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PDX carpet

Other wonders nearby

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Evaluation of my point in time

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The center of Oregon?

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P Ranch Long Barn preservation and restoration

Harney County Migratory Bird Festival

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Crane Hot Springs accommodations

Wildlife at Crane Hot Springs

Things to do nearby

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2025 Favorite Photos of Countryside

Photos of Cuisine

2025 Favorite Photos of Critters (and a Flower)

Cultural Attractions

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Up with the birds for a Steens Mountain tour

A land full of drama

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