Forest at Night exhibit at High Desert Museum, Oregon
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Oregon
Above the playa: Skywatch & Friday Flowers
Above the playa, lupines bloom amongst the boulders.
Yearning to… : LAPC
Yearning to visit places that warmed the body and soul
Wishing to smell the scent of purple, blown by the breeze
Pining for the sound of bugling calls, heralding the arrival of spring
Craving the taste of a special summer treat
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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Delicious tuna fish sandwich: FF & TTC
I recently had this delicious tuna fish sandwich from the Bread and Bunny food truck in Bend, Oregon. This food truck is located in the Midtown Yacht Club pod in northeast Bend. No, you won’t see any yachts here since it’s in the middle of a residential neighborhood. The taphouse has a maritime theme and a good variety of beer and other beverages.
Why am I only showing half of the sandwich? Because it was a gigantic sandwich that I could barely get my mouth around. I saved half for another meal.
A large portion of tuna salad is wedged between slices of multigrain bread from the Sisters Bakery. Leaf lettuce from Boundless Farmstead is included seasonally. Slices of Tillamook Jack and Colby Jack cheese are also included. The thing that make the Farmhouse Tuna sandwich a little different from a traditional tuna sandwich, is that it includes coarsely grated carrots and sliced Granny Smith apples.
On the day I ordered, I also got a couple slices of fresh pineapple. I think chips are usually included.
If you’re in the mood for a delicious tuna fish sandwich, visit the Bread and Bunny at the Midtown Yacht Club. I admit, I always order the same sandwich at the Bread and Bunny. Their menu also includes Reubens, BLTAs, melts, steak, chicken, and a variety of gourmet meat sandwiches.
Location and Hours
The Midtown Yacht Club food truck pod is located at 1661 NE 4th Street in Bend. It’s open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on Sunday from Thursday and from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. There are currently seven food trucks there.
Three Things Challenge (TTC) – Large, gigantic
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Gulls, terns, and cormorants: Birds of the Week
At Summer Lake Wildlife Area, in southeastern Oregon, you can get some great views of gulls, terns, and cormorants. At the north end of the Wildlife Area, you’ll drive by a rocky island covered with birds in the spring and summer months.
In this picture you can see California Gulls, Larus californicus, and Common Terns, Sterna hirundo.
In the picture below, you can see California Gulls and Double-crested Cormorants, Nannopterum auritum.
Luckily, this bird colony is a few hundred yards from the main road you drive on. I have helped band birds in seabird colonies before and they are one of the stinkiest places I have ever been. Phew!
You might associate gulls, terns, and cormorants with seaside habitats. However, Summer Lake is a five plus hour drive to the coast. These types of birds also live near large inland bodies of water.
Birds of the Week
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A soggy sage: WWE
A soggy sage contemplating the rain at Crystal Springs Rhodendron Garden in Portland, Oregon.
Four lounging lions: SS & WPCC
This sculpture of four lounging lions is at the Oregon Zoo in Portland. The ‘Lunch Break’ brown bronze sculptures were created by Jim Gion and put on display at the zoo in 2009.
On the day I was there, there weren’t many visitors because it was pouring down rain. On a more typical day, children would be having fun climbing all over the sculptures. See the video below.
I decided to post this today because I included posts with one, two, and three main subjects earlier this week. My photo shows four lions, but, as you can see in the video, there are two additional cubs.
Sculpture Saturday (SS)
Weekly Prompts Colour’s Challenge (WPCC) – Brown
Two taking off: Wordless Wednesday
Whole Novel Workshop: FOWC
Highlights Foundation and magazine
I recently learned I was chosen to participate in a Whole Novel Workshop hosted by the Highlights Foundation. Some of you may be familiar with Highlights magazine for children. Libraries, schools, and doctors’ and dentists’ offices always had copies of this magazine. The magazine was created in 1946 by spouses, Garry Cleveland Myers and Caroline Clark Myers.
The dark hills in Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings
In 1985, the Highlights Foundation began positively impacting “children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves.” They began offering workshops and retreats for writers and artists at their retreat center in Milanville, Pennsylvania.
Here’s a beautiful video of the center. I’ll be there for six days in October, during the time when fall foliage reaches its peak colors.
Whole Novel Workshop entry process
To apply, you must submit 10–15 pages of a manuscript, fill out an application, and include a short bio. I submitted part of my work-in-progress novel, Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings. It’s for kids in the 9- to 12-year-old age range.
I was inspired to write the book after a visit to Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site. I knew I also wanted to include the Painted Hills, pictured near the beginning of this post.
Where the main character in Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings lives with her grandfather
Here’s a blurb about the book. These paragraphs might appear on the back cover or in a query letter. Writers send query letters to prospective agents or editors, hoping they will want to collaborate with them.
Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings blurb
Forced out of her home in China, Jīnsè sets out on a long journey, filled with peril. Along the way, Jīnsè heals Rěnshòu, an injured gull, and several passengers on their ship. On the trip across the Pacific Ocean to Oregon, they encounter storms, poachers, and pirates. At a stop in Hawaii, Jīnsè meets Koa, a local boy who shares her love of birds. Together, they overcome a life-threatening situation.
Jīnsè continues her journey to Oregon to work with her grandfather, a local doctor skilled in the techniques of Traditional Chinese Medicine. While out collecting herbs, they find an orphaned magpie and name it Liáng. Her cousin, Feng, who works with Grandfather, becomes jealous of Jīnsè and traps her in an abandoned mine. When she escapes, she finds she has gained the ability to speak to animals and to see words written on the slopes of dark hills. Rěnshòu and Liáng help Jīnsè learn about local plants to use in herbal cures. Feng must work in the mines for a month as punishment for what he did to Jīnsè. Meanwhile, there are rumors of a distant wagon train full of settlers suffering from a terrible illness. Will Jīnsè be able to use her newfound abilities to help them in time? Will Feng help her or stand in her way?
Does that make you curious about the rest of the book? That’s the point of blurbs like this.
Two of the light-winged characters in the book
A sick gull I nursed back to health also inspired me to write this book. He had avian botulism, and as his health improved, he became more and more ornery. In the book, I change the type of gull, but he still has an attitude.
The gull I nursed back to health at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
Darkness of Hills, Lightness of Wings also features a Black-billed Magpie character. Here’s a drawing I did of one. They have a lot of personality.
Black-billed magpie pen and ink by Siobhan Sullivan
More about the workshop
The Whole Novel Workshop accepts twenty-one or fewer students. Students attend lectures, receive one on one guidance from faculty, and participate in small writing groups. It sounds like just what I need right now with my 57,000-word draft novel. I don’t normally brag about my accomplishments, but I’m so glad I was chosen to participate. I can’t wait! 😀
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She’s surfin’ the Deschutes: Wordless Wednesday
She’s surfin’ the Deschutes River at the Bend Whitewater Park in Oregon
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Bridge of the Gods: WWE
The Bridge of the Gods spans the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington state. We had never driven over the bridge before and decided to check it out on a trip last year. About 1.6 million people cross this bridge every year.
The south end of the 1,858-foot long bridge is located at Cascade Locks in Oregon. In 2024, the toll for a passenger car to drive over the bridge was $3. A list of tolls for vehicles of other sizes is on this page.
Traveling across the bridge
I thought the structure over the toll booth had a simple yet elegant design.
The bridge is 35 feet wide with two 12 foot wide lanes.
In 1920, the U.S. War Department issued the initial construction permit for this bridge. Construction stalled. In 1926, the Wauna Toll Bridge Company bought an interest in the bridge for about $600,000. It was originally 92 feet above the river, but had to be raised 44 feet due to rising waters related to the Bonneville Dam construction in 1938. Ownership of the bridge passed to the Columbia River Bridge Company and then to the current owner, the Port of Cascades Locks, in 1961.
The grid construction style has an industrial feel to it. This is a steel truss cantilever bridge.
You may be wondering why this structure is called the “Bridge of the Gods.” Around 1450, a massive landslide blocked the Columbia River near where the bridge is presently located. Eventually, the river breached the dam. At that time, it was 200 feet high by 3.5 miles long.
Here is a view of the Columbia River to the east. The bridge sits 140 feet above the water.
Native Americans may have regularly crossed over the temporary land bridge before it washed away. Cascade Rapids formed when it was breached, but disappeared once the Bonneville Dam was constructed.
Bridge of the Gods Legend
There is a Native American legend about this site. It says Manito, the Great Spirit, created a bridge to cross the river. She appointed a guardian, Loo-Wit, to watch over the bridge. The grateful people named it the Bridge of the Gods.
Manito sent his three snow mountain sons to Earth. Multnomah, the warrior (Mt. Rainier), Klickitat, the totem maker (Mt. Adams), and Wy’east, the singer (Mt. Hood) got along well until Squaw Mountain moved between two of them.
Squaw Mountain loved Wy’east, but flirted with Klickitat and eventually a rivalry arose between the brothers. In their anger, they shook the earth, spat ash, and belched clouds of black smoke. The hot rocks they hurled at each other caused forest fires. The rocks piled up on the bridge and the earth shook, causing the bridge to collapse.
Their angry father, Manito, punished them by creating huge rapids in the river.
Read a more complete version of the story, and the conclusion, here.
When you travel about halfway across the current bridge, you’ll see the “Welcome to Washington” sign.
Here’s the view of the river to the West.
When you get close to the north end of the bridge, you’ll see why Washington is called the “Evergreen State.”
Fun Fact: In 1927, aviator Charles Lindbergh flew his plane low over the newly constructed Bridge of the Gods then turned around and flew underneath it.
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Bend Branches birthday
Ten years ago today, I published my first post on this blog. I am celebrating Bend Branches birthday with a little treat.
My first post was titled, Time. It featured a photo of my favorite western juniper tree in my yard in Bend, Oregon. A winter sunset paints the skies in the background.
My post also included the following observation:
“The twists and turns of time can ravage one or make them into a thing of beauty.”
Thank you to my followers and to others who stop by to view my posts. Your likes and comments have encouraged and inspired me. I hope to celebrate another Bend Branches birthday ten years from now.
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Reflecting on adventures
Reflecting on adventures to
national parks to see iconic landmarks
Or to hidden gems in more isolated places
Remembering trips in search of feathered friends and
Finding tiny floating treasures
Or elegant creatures striding on stilt-like legs
Reflecting on adventures to
familiar places seen in a new light with a coating of snow
Or framed by the fiery leaves of fall
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Reflections
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Saber-toothed Cat skeleton: Wordless Wednesday
Saber-toothed cat skeleton at University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History
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Rattlesnake drawings & photos: First Friday Art
Today I’m sharing a few rattlesnake drawings and a couple of recent photos I took. I did these drawings when I was working on a writing a character in a book. When I draw a character, it helps with my writing.
Roca, the rattlesnake character, gets his power from thundereggs. Thundereggs are the official state rock in Oregon. As of this year, they have been designated as the state rock for 60 years.
Here’s a photo of a giant one that I had cut in half. I found it at the Priday Polka-Dot Agate Beds, located near Madras. Read more about this amazing site here.
Anyway… back to rattlesnakes. While participating in a workshop through Playa at Summer Lake, we stopped at Abert Lake. At the north end of the lake, we saw not one, not two, but three rattlesnakes rattling their rattles. Here’s one of them.
In Oregon, there are two subspecies of Western rattlesnakes. The one pictured above is a Great Basin rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus lutosus. The other subspecies is the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus.
Here’s another snake nearby.
We may have seen three snakes in close proximity because they denned together over the winter and recently emerged. Reptiles have a hard time regulating their body temperature. In the winter, they gather together and go into a kind of suspended animation called “brumation.”
Though people may fear them, it should be remembered snakes play an important role in maintaining the balance in ecosystems. They play a significant role in controlling rodent populations.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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In a blue landscape haiku: BOTW
in a blue landscape
a swallow’s iridescence
echoes summer sun
Birds of the Week (BOTW)
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Pink & white tulip up close: Macro Monday
This photo shows a beautiful pink & white tulip up close.
This particular flower is special because it’s the only one the resident mule deer have not eaten.
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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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Dwarf purple monkeyflower up close: MM
Today I’m sharing a couple photos of a dwarf purple monkeyflower up close. This tiny flower is blossoming now in my High Desert yard near Bend, Oregon. They bloom from May to August. In years with ample precipitation, this plant produces branches bearing dozens of flowers.
The dwarf purple monkeyflower, Diplacus nanus or Mimulus nanus, is a native plant that grows in parts of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming. It grows in sagebrush-steppe and open pine forest habitats.
To show just how small they are, I photographed two plants next to a quarter.
Macro Monday (MM)
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Bend Foodie Crawl 2025
After taking a few years off, we participated in the Bend Foodie Crawl 2025 in downtown Bend, Oregon on April 27. This event features bite-sized samples of food from local restaurants and food trucks paired with an alcoholic drink. I think non-alcoholic options are available. Upon registration, you are given a map showing the location of each stop. Since some of the places providing the sample are food trucks, downtown businesses graciously allow them to set up inside their business. The number of participants in this event is limited to help prevent overcrowding.
This year, there were ten stops. The Bend Foodie Crawl hours run from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. If you want to hit up all ten of them, you can’t linger for long at each stop. The After Party runs from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at McMenamins. Desserts and small drink samples are provided at this stop. If you’re still hungry or thirsty, you can purchase food and drinks there.
Bend Foodie Crawl 2025 food & drinks
Blackened Ahi Street Tacos paired with Stafford Bourbon Huckleberry Margarita at J-Dub.
Bend Foodie Crawl participants at Zydeco.
Boudin Balls paired with a Jalapeno Passion Fruit Margarita at Zydeco. Boudin balls are Cajun snacks made with pork sausage, rice, and seasonings. The margarita at this stop was my favorite cocktail offered on the Crawl. Spicy, but not too spicy.
Mini Dumplings (Chinese Pork, Pad Thai, or 4-Cheese Pizza) from Dump City Dumplings at US Bank paired with Huckleberry Vodka Lemonade provided by US Bank. The pictures show one dumpling with Coconut Lime Peanut Sauce and another with Teriyaki Sauce.
Tuscan Almond Cookies paired with White Sangria at Blissful Spoon. This was delicious!
Crispy Chicken Bites & Biscuit with House Made Honey Siracha Aioli paired with Drake’s Mojito (Soda, Sprite, mint, lime, & strawberries) at The Drake.
Bend Foodie participants inside The Drake.
Lamb & Spring Herb Croquette paired with beer from Roam. This one was just okay.
Booths at and near The Commons
Foodie participants at The Commons, an outdoor meeting area. There’s a long line in front of El Sancho’s booth.
Beef Birria with Ancient Grains and Roasted Corn paired with Apple Juice boxes from Head Start Food Service at The Commons. This tasty dish is one of several provided to Head Start kids in our area.
Pork Carnitas Taco served on a Warm Tortilla with Cilantro & Diced Onion, Salsa Verde, and a Lime from El Sancho paired with Saiko beer from Sunriver Brewing Company at The Commons.
Sunriver Brewing Company Saiko Lager. This Japanese rice beer was my favorite beer of those offered. Nice, light flavor.
Asian Inspired Meatballs, Carrot/Daikon Pickle paired with Humm Kombucha from Dinky Dau at The Commons.
Nashville Chicken with Pickle Slaw paired with Worthy Brewing Collaborative Pickle Pilsner Beer at Wonderland Chicken. This was one of my favorite foods offered. Loved the slaw tucked underneath the chicken.
The last stop on the Bend Foodie Crawl 2025
Newport Avenue Market Chocolate Chip Cookie and Brownie, Eberhard’s Ice Cream, Nothing But Bundt Cakes Carrot Bundt Cake, and a taster of Broken Top Ascent Bourbon Whiskey at McMenamins.
People waiting to hear who won raffle items at the After Party at McMenamins.
Funds raised during this event benefit NeighborImpact, a local nonprofit. Recent cuts in funding have slashed their food bank budget by 17%. This organization provides resources for finding food, housing, and paying bills. They also provide services for Head Start and Early Head Start for Central Oregon families. If you can’t make it to the Bend Foodie Crawl, consider making a donation to this nonprofit. I give them a generous donation every year.
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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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Summer Lake’s scenery: LAPC & FOWC
Summer Lake’s scenery is full of drama
From a distance, clouds, water, and flora all play parts in a scene
Up close, individual plants become the stars
From the sky, works of art are minor components of a vast playa backdrop
Up close, the strength of a single piece of art shines
From above, an old barn is one of several structures on the sagebrush set
Up close, the barn’s face is shown in its best light
From a distance, the action of a cattle drive scene blurs in a cloud of dust
Up close, a cowhand and his dog costars come into sharp focus
Summer Lake’s scenery is part of an impressive production, from a distance and up close
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Cinematic
Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC) – Cattle
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Above Big Sky Park with drone effects: JMK
In my quest to get more familiar with my drone, I flew it above Big Sky Park in Bend. This park, a few miles from my home, is 97 acres in size. It includes playing fields, an off-leash dog park, miles of trails, picnic areas, and a new bike park. It’s a great place to go for walks.
On this trip, I wanted to try out a couple specific video features on my DJI Mini 4 Pro drone.
MasterShot
With this option, you get several effects with the push of a single button. You select a point of interest (POI) on the screen by dragging a shape around it. The drone then goes through a series of maneuvers. It goes up high and points in one direction, then it points right below. It zooms in on the POI, a goal net in this case. Then it circles high, moves closer to the POI, then farther away. It goes high and looks in the opposite direction of the first shots. Finally it focuses on the POI.
Asteroid above Big Sky Park
Another option I tried that day was Asteroid. The drone flies backward and upward, takes several pictures, then returns to the starting point. It then combines the footage it takes into a globe shape. The video I took above Big Sky Park turned out really cool!
Active Track
I’ve tried the tracking option a couple of times. Last week, we went to a hilltop park with rocky trails. I selected myself as the POI, and had my drone track me as I walked. When you fly drones, you should always be aware of your surroundings. The drone pilot watches the drone’s progress on the controller screen, while the spotter helps keeps track of where the drone is. Unfortunately, I was paying too much attention to the screen and not enough to the trail. Since I had both hands on the controller, I tripped and fell face first. Yikes, how embarrassing!
I had a few cuts and some swelling on my nose, but otherwise was okay. I spent the rest of the day icing my face off and on. A couple doses of Acetaminophen eased the pain.
The funny thing is, my drone recorded the fall. The picture above was part of the video it recorded. Sorry to tell you, but I will NOT be sharing the entire video.
Here’s a photo of my drone following me at Ochoco Wayside State Park before I fell. The lesson I learned that day was, keep your hands on the controller, but your eyes on what’s going on around you.
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Creatures of the sky tanka: TTPC
creatures of the sky
preen within shallow marshlands
in pale shades of white
gathered from Winter’s first snow
cast over gossamer wings
Above Haystack Reservoir: LAPC & WS
On a recent sunny day, I decided to take pictures above Haystack Reservoir in Central Oregon. Here in the High Desert, reservoirs provide much of the water used in local agriculture.
The first photo shows the dam on the reservoir. There’s a fishing dock in the lower right corner. Visitors can catch largemouth bass, crappie, rainbow trout, kokanee, brown trout, and brown bullhead here.
My next picture shows a view towards the west. There’s a corner of the reservoir in the lower right. The snow-covered peak of Mount Jefferson is in the distance.
When I pointed my drone towards the east, it almost looked like a different location. The rising sun is reflected in the reservoir’s waters in a nearly monochrome image.
The next picture shows Mount Jefferson on the left and Mount Hood on the right. Volcanic peaks are ever-present characters in our landscape.
Looking again to the east, the morning light begins to brighten the scene.
Towards the south, you can spot one of the reservoir’s campgrounds. There are three campgrounds at the reservoir, including one specifically for groups.
When I zoomed in a bit above Haystack Reservoir, I saw the Sister’s peaks peeking out from between the hills.
The last picture, is looking to the southeast. Gray Butte is in the middle of the picture. It’s a great place to hike and find gorgeous wildflowers in the spring.
In past years, this and other Central Oregon reservoir levels were low due to an ongoing drought. However, we had higher than average precipitation this winter and there is currently no drought in Oregon.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Seen on My last Outing
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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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Powell Butte thunderstorms: WW & WS
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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Mount Hood from above: Wordless Wednesday
Pendleton Roundup artifacts: Wordless Wednesday
East Lake paddle: WWE & FOWC
Last July, I went on a nice East Lake paddle in my kayak. I enjoyed the view of these colorful cliffs covered in cracks and crevices. I went a little crazy with the alliteration in describing them. 😉 East Lake is located in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument in Central Oregon. There’s a nice campground here and at Paulina Lake, right next door.
For more details about another East Lake paddle, see one of my previous posts.
Water Water Everywhere (WWE)
Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC) – Crevice
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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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Garry oak near the Columbia: TTL
These Garry oak trees near the Columbia River caught my eye. The oaks were growing east of Mosier, Oregon along the Historic Columbia River Highway.
I’ve always liked how oak tree branches twist and turn. Garry oak, Quercus garryana, does not grow in a neat and tidy kind of way. This tree is also known as the Oregon white oak.
The deciduous leaves are darker green on the top side and finely haired underneath..
The distinctive lobed leaves turn brown in the fall.
These trees flowers in the spring and the acorns they produce ripen from August to November. The acorns are eaten by many wildlife species including, woodpeckers, doves, jays, chipmunks, squirrels, deer, and bear.
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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Center of the Universe: Wordless Wednesday
A chilly heron: Birds of the Week
When I went on my weekly walk along the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon a couple of weeks ago, I saw a chilly heron standing by the shore.
This Great Blue Heron seemed frozen in place in the icy waters. As dawn broke, the clouds over the river and snow on the ground nicely framed the scene. You can see the Hayden Homes Amphitheater in the background, waiting patiently to host concerts and other events.
The temperature recently dropped to -7.4 degrees Fahrenheit at our house. Brrr! Hope the heron and other wild creatures are finding ways to keep warm.
Sage in the snow: Wordless Wednesday
Sage in the snow near Bend, Oregon
Wordless Wednesday (WW)
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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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Our pets: LAPC
Our pets know when we need to laugh
Or when we need to have a good cry
Pets show us when to dig in
Or when it’s time to hit the road
Animals learn how to fit into our lives
Or share a space when it’s needed
Pets help us weather hard times
Or find a soft place to land
Our pets know when it’s time to take a break
Or go on an adventure with a friend
Pets learn how to expand the possibilities
Or make the best of a tight situation
Animals know how to find excitement in every new day
Or show us how old age is not an excuse to slow down
And when our pets are no longer a presence in front of our eyes,
they will always hold a place in our hearts
This post includes pictures of every cat and dog I’ve owned since leaving home at age 17.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Cats & Dogs
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Cascade sunsets from above: WS & RDP
I thought it would be fun to take pictures of Cascade sunsets from above to get more comfortable with using my drone. For eight consecutive days, I flew my DJI drone up to an altitude of 100 feet from my backyard. The mountains featured in these photos are approximately 26 miles away, as the crow flies.
These pictures show several volcanoes that are a part of Oregon’s Cascade Mountain Range. I recently featured aerial pictures of them from a closer perspective in another post.
Hope you enjoy these images of our spectacular skies near Bend, Oregon!
Colorful Cascade sunsets
The first photo shows a fiery sky. These are more commonly seen in the winter months around here.
The second photo shows a pale yellow background with the clouds floating over the mountains edged in pink.
Blue sky sunsets
The third photo shows a mostly clear sky. There appears to be a haze of smoke that could be from one of our prescribed burns in local forests. These controlled fires help prevent bigger fires.
The fourth photo shows another clear sky.
The fifth photo shows yet another clear sky. This time I took the photo right as the sun was setting over the mountains.
The next photo shows… uh, maybe we should pause for musical interlude. This song, Blue Sky & The Painter by Bastille, is one of my current favorites and it’s about blue skies.
Why did I include an interlude? Because there were more days without a single cloud in the sky when the sun set!
The sixth photo shows a clear day as the sun sets.
The seventh day shows, you guessed it, another sunny clear day.
Based on these photos, is it really true that Bend, Oregon gets 300 days of sunshine a year? Nope. However, we do have 250-260+ days a year that are clear or mostly clear.
Stormy Cascade sunsets
The eighth day shows, HURRAY!, clouds as a storm was moving in. A thick, dark cloud floated ominously over the snow-covered peaks.
The Oregon Cascade Range gets quite a bit of snow each winter. Mount Bachelor (shown on the left in these photos), as I stated in another post, gets over 400 inches of snow a year.
I may try taking sunrise pictures for a future post. I just hope that if I do, the clouds will cooperate. 😉
Weekend Sky (WS)
Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Float
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