Watching backyard TV in Bend, Oregon
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Watching backyard TV: Wordless Wednesday
Oregon
Crane Hot Springs
If you’re looking for a relaxing oasis in the middle of a desert, check out Crane Hot Springs near Burns, Oregon.
Hot springs in this area were first developed for commercial use in the 1920s. A dance hall and restaurant were built near Crane Hot Springs, but they burned down around 1930.
Over the years, this business has passed through several owners and is currently managed by Dan and Denise Kryger. They have been busy renovating and upgrading the property. They dug out the pond, built bathhouses, added RV facilities, and renovated the motel and cabins. Previously known as Crystal Crane Hot Springs (CCHS), the current owners shortened the name to Crane Hot Springs.
The restrooms and changing rooms are clean and comfortable. Here are a couple photos of them. I visited this hot spring decades ago and there have been huge improvements since then.
The large outdoor pond is the big attraction at this site. It measures 9,728 square feet in size and holds 323,143 gallons of water. Water in the pond reaches depths of almost seven feet. Water temperatures range from 99 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Private soaking tubs are also available.
One of the wonderful things about this place is that you can sit in the hot springs and view spectacular sunrises, sunsets, and dark skies bursting with stars.
Crane Hot Springs accommodations
This site has many overnight options available. There are several cabins to stay in, but you might also consider staying in a teepee, covered wagon, or their 5th wheel rental. The smallest cabins, pictured below, have no restrooms but they are nearby. If you want to camp, there are dry camping or RV camping sites with full hookups available. We’ve stayed in our campervan here, in one of the rooms with its own spring-fed hot tub, and at a for rent by owner house nearby.
If you don’t want to spend the night, you can pay for day use at the hot springs. Prices for the large pond range from $5 to $15 for up to four hours. If you want to rent the smaller, private soaking tubs, it costs $15 per hour per person or $50 for two people for two hours.
Wildlife at Crane Hot Springs
The ponds on the property are great places to see some of the local wildlife. There’s one right next to the hot pool and another one a short walk away.
In past years, while participating in the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival, my tour group stopped here to look for birds.
You’ll see plenty of waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds in and around the ponds. Raptors can be seen feeding on the ground or drifting by on thermals overhead.
Things to do nearby
There are some interesting things to do nearby. You can visit a unique round barn, drive around Steens Mountain, see the vast landscape of the Alvord Desert, and volcanic features at Diamond Craters. You may even glimpse wild horses, some of which are direct descendants of those brought here by the Spaniards in the seventeenth century. Gas stations in this rural area are few and far between, so plan your trips accordingly.
Crane Hot Springs is at 59315 OR-78, Burns, Oregon. The hot springs are open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. If you plan to stay there, make your reservations here.
Pets are allowed in your RV and in 15 of the rooms. Dogs must be on leash on the grounds.
If you are here for day use, be aware that pets are not allowed near the outdoor pond. You are also not supposed to leave them in your vehicle. Since many travelers like to travel with their dogs, I hope they can add the doggie daycare a staff person mentioned SOON.
Our local TV station, Central Oregon Daily, did a great story on Crane Hot Springs on April 2, 2026. Watch it here. It includes some wonderful aerial views.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Time to Relax
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Andina in Portland: Foodie Friday
When I spoke with a couple acquaintances in Bend about restaurants to try in Portland, Oregon, both mentioned Andina immediately. This Peruvian restaurant opened in 2003. Their website notes how they “bring the warmth of the Peruvian spirit into every aspect of the dining experience.”
You can order small plates, main dishes, sides, and a wide variety of drinks here. We ordered two drinks and shared four small plates on our visit last month. There was plenty of food, and I thought the price was reasonable.
The Anticucho de Pollo is like a complete meal on a small plate. It included a chicken skewer, crispy potatoes, huancaína verde, and salsa criolla. The chicken was nicely spiced and the potato chips were very crunchy.
The Peruvian Scalloped Potatoes was our favorite dish. It included purple majesty & Yukon gold potatoes, and ají panca bechamel, with salsa verde on the side. This dish wasn’t fancy, but it was delicious.
We ordered two ceviches. The Ceviche de Conchas included weathervane scallops, tomatillos, jimmy nardellos, sweet corn, and Walla Walla sweets onions topped with ham dust and cilantro. The scallops had a melt in your mouth texture and the spices gave it a bit of a bite.
We also ordered a Ceviche de Alcachofa. This vegetarian ceviche included artichoke, roasted peppers, avocado, pepitas, ají limo and coconut leche de tigre topped with cilantro and fennel. This dish had a blend of smooth and crunchy textures in a coconut broth spiced up with aji limo peppers.
The Limonada de Maracuya was my favorite drink on my short trip to Portland. This nonalcoholic passion fruit limeade had a refreshing taste. It was so good I wanted to order a second one, but I resisted the urge.
We arrived right when Andina opened and did not have a reservation. We sat at the copper-covered bar counter. This is a popular restaurant so if you want a table, be sure to make reservations in advance.
Andina location and hours
Andina is located at 1314 NW Glisan St in downtown Portland. It’s open daily from 4:00 to 9:00 pm. Andina serves brunch from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Happy hour is from 4:00 to 5:00 pm daily.
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Flag bridge through the seasons: Wordless Wednesday
Flag bridge through the seasons in the Old Mill district of Bend, Oregon
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Backyard Byway: LAPC
On my backyard byway,
I paddle past active volcanoes
South Sister from Hosmer Lake
Reflected in alpine lakes
Mt. Bachelor from Little Lava Lake
I stomp along trails with my snowshoes
Swampy Lakes Sno-Park
and watch skiers carve their signatures across hillsides
Mt. Bachelor
I drive past ridges reaching for roads
Todd Ridge
and hike to places of reflection
Blow Lake, Oregon
I see water levels fluctuate in reservoirs
Wickiup Reservoir
and the rebirth of forests after fire
Cedar Creek Fire
On my backyard byway,
I watch foliage explode with color
Fall foliage
and wild ones along the byway watching me
Great blue heron
I took the photos on this post on the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway in Central Oregon. This 66-mile long road snakes its way past majestic volcanic peaks and numerous alpine lakes.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Your Journey
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Native American fisherman sculpture: Sculpture Saturday
This life-sized Native American fisherman sculpture is at the Columbia Gorge Museum in Stevenson, Washington. This sculpture shows how people of nearby tribes fished in the Columbia River with dip nets. One of their favorite fishing spots was at Celilo Falls. When The Dalles Dam was completed in 1957, the falls disappeared within hours.
Today, you might see a Native American fisherman fishing from platforms at Cascade Locks, Oregon, near the Bridge of the Gods.
To taste locally harvested seafood, be sure to visit the Brigham Fish Market in Cascade Locks. They serve great fish and chips and clam chowder!
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Penjing drawing & photo: First Friday Art
Today I’m sharing a colored pencil penjing drawing I quickly drew this morning. Penjing, or penzai, is the Chinese version of Japanese bonsai. While bonsai often focuses on a single tree, penjing represents a scene in nature in a “three-dimensional painting.”
In China, these plantings have been created since at least the Han dynasty (206 B.C. to 221 A.D.).
My drawing is based on a penjing planting at the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. In my photo below, the wall of the gift shop made an interesting background.
I’ve always admired the artistry that goes into creating penjings. It requires a lot of patience and foresight.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Oregon Trunk Railroad Bridge: Wordless Wednesday
Oregon Trunk Railroad Bridge
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Mt Hood from above: WS & OWS
I took this photo of Mt Hood from above a couple of weeks ago.
If you look closely, you can see a couple other volcanoes in the background. Mt Adams, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier are all close by.
The skies were beautiful that day, but at this time of the year they should be more cloudy and gray than blue. Snow accumulation on the mountain has been much lower than usual this season. This has affected winter recreation and all the other businesses associated with it. Fortunately, a recent storm system dumped a lot of snow on Mt Hood.
Weekend Sky (WS) & One Word Sunday (OWS) – Blue
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JIA Asian Street Kitchen: Foodie Friday
JIA Asian Street Kitchen is tucked away in the corner of a mall in southwestern Bend, Oregon. They serve a wide selection of meals, drinks, and appetizers.
The best thing we had on a recent visit was the JIA Popcorn Shrimp appetizer. You can dip tempura shrimp into spicy Gochujang aioli and Wasabi aioli sauces. Both were good. This dish comes with Vietnamese rice crackers, pictured below in the glass. I describe these crackers as “crunchy air.” 😀
The JIA’s BBQ Set, shown below, is one of their Chef’s Specials. It includes BBQ chicken marinated in lemongrass for 24 hours. It also features a green papaya salad, sticky rice in an upright basket, and tamarind and sweet chili dipping sauces. My dining companion didn’t particularly like the chicken’s flavor, but others may feel differently. He described the rice as “tough”, but did like the papaya salad.
For my main dish, I ordered the Khao Soil. This is a coconut curry soup from Northern Thailand. Tender egg noodles and grilled chicken fill the rich coconut broth. It’s topped with crisp-fried wontons, fried shallots, pickled mustard greens, and raw shallots. A drizzle of hot chili oil adds a touch of heat. I liked the spiciness of the broth and the crunchiness of the fried wontons.
JIA Asian Street Kitchen serves several cocktails with interesting names. The Unblinkable, shown below, is “A tamed dragon’s eye drifts atop Brazil’s dragon tears, enveloped in the ethereal mist of Oregon spirit absinthe a bold blend of Leblon cachaca, Midori, lemon, pineapple, and a touch of absinthe.”
Interior design
The interior design includes a lively mural, paper lanterns, and lit-up clouds and a moon.
Rattan hanging lights and a life-size artificial cherry tree decorate the rest of the space.
The food we ordered on this and previous visits was generally good. The unique interior design is memorable.
On this visit, there was a new element in the dining area. A remote-controlled food cart delivered our food. Yeah, really. While it gets your attention, I’m not sure it’s necessary. Will photos of the cart be shared on social media? Yup, that’s what I just did!
JIA Asian Street Kitchen location and hours
JIA Asian Street Kitchen is at 19570 Amber Meadow Dr. #100, Bend, OR 97702. They are open from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Mondays through Thursdays, 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Sundays.
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Cirrus clouds over cities haiku: Skywatch Friday
graceful fragile flocks
cirrus clouds over cities
blown by winter winds
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astonishment: LAPC
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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Abstract in an elevator: 1 to 3 Challenge
On a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, I saw this abstract in an elevator. The patterns were created by reflections of lights on the stainless steel walls. At first, I was going to show this picture in black and white, but the different colored lights made it more interesting. This week, I decided to use photography effects that show the designs in even more abstract ways.
I used Corel PaintShopPro 2021 for different photo processing effects on this picture of the elevator. In the original image I increased the contrast and cropped the edges. Use the slider to view each effect compared to the original.
Abstract in an elevator three ways
In the first photo, I used a distortion effect. I went to Effects>Distortion Effects>Polar Coordinates and chose the Rectangular to Polar effect with a black background. With this effect, the program “maps pixels from Cartesian to polar coordinates.” Some describe this technique as creating ‘little planets’ from the original photo. With the black background, I thought this image looked like a distant galaxy, with a twist.
In the next photo, I also used a distortion effect. I went to Effects>Distortion Effects>Twirl and used the Right 180 setting. This effect distorts the image by twirling it around its center. I like the swooping action created by this effect. All the straight lines disappeared.
In the last abstract in an elevator photo, I used a reflection effect. I went to Effects>Reflection Effects>Kaleidoscope and used the Default setting with a reflected edge. This effect turns a pie-shaped area of the image into a circular pattern. I like how this effect turns pictures of ordinary objects into something extraordinary.
This freight elevator was in the Portland Art Museum in Oregon. Even a functional item like an elevator was beautiful.
One-to-Three Photo Processing Challenge February 2026
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2025 photo bloopers: LAPC
A new year has begun, so it’s time to post my 2025 photo bloopers. This is where I share pictures from the past year that didn’t quite fit into any category, were blurry, or had poor composition. I try to add a little humor to them with captions and comments. Hope they entertain you!
What happens when the photographer hasn’t had her morning coffee yet.
“Hamburger? What hamburger?”
The eyes have it!
Mole two ways
“Don’t let them get you down, Herb. You just gotta stick with it.”
The picture I shared and the rest of the story showing what was in the foreground. Use the slider to view each image.
My dog took a selfie. Pretty good, right?
“It was a dark and gloomy night… “
Hope you enjoyed my 2025 photo bloopers. See more of my funny photos on my photo bloopers tag.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Rejected
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Bosa restaurant: Foodie Friday
Bosa is an Italian and French restaurant on Bend’s westside. The food is served in courses and is meant to be shared.
Appetizers and Salads
Our first dish was the Bosa meatballs. Tomato gravy, topped with parmesan and parsley covers the three large meatballs. The tomato sauce was good, but the meatballs themselves didn’t have a lot of flavor.
Next, we had Insalata salad. This was a very good salad and it included mixed greens, fennel, and thin slices of apple, topped with spiced pistachio nuts and crumbles of Rogue smokey blue cheese. A light date vinaigrette tops it off.
Bosa Pasta
In the next course, we had house-made pasta. The first pasta dish shown below is the Bigoli “cacio e pepe.” The pasta is like a thicker version of spaghetti. This simple dish includes beurre monté (butter sauce), cracked peppercorn, parmigiano, pecorino, toasted breadcrumbs, and parsley. I thought this had good flavor without being too heavy.
The next photo shows the Tagliatelle dish. This dish includes beef and pork ragu, parmigiano, and parsley. The meat sauce was full of flavor.
If we had chosen to order the next course, we could have selected from a variety of meat and vegetable dishes. Since we had ordered a beer and a cocktail, we weren’t hungry for anything else. The dessert dishes included some enticing-looking offerings, like a warm toffee date cake with salted vanilla gelato.
Would I go here again? I’m not sure. I liked the fact that you could carry on a conversation. They have a lot of staff working there. Every time you finish a dish, they bring you a new set of silverware. Why?! The ceiling decor in the small space is a little cluttered for my taste, but others may not feel the same way. Most of what we ordered was good, but my cocktail, an Old-fashioned, was just okay.
Bosa hours and location
Bosa is located at 1005 NW Galveston Ave, in Bend, Oregon. The restaurant is open from 4:30 to 9:30 pm on Mondays through Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. Reservations are highly recommended at this popular restaurant. Their food is in the mid- to high price range. Parking in this residential neighborhood is limited, so arrive early.
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Ray of hope: Wordless Wednesday
Ray of hope over Tumalo Falls, Oregon
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without color: LAPC
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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Pot of gold ahead?: Wordless Wednesday
Pot of gold ahead? Trail in Pine Nursery Park, Bend, Oregon
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Yellow-headed Blackbird: Birds of the Week
This striking bird is a Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Its scientific name means “yellow head.”
I saw this male bird at Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon.
These large blackbirds are easy to identify. The males have a bright yellow head and a white patch on their wings.
The Yellow-headed Blackbird has a unique song that also makes it easy to identify. All About Birds describes it as sounding like “a rusty farm gate opening.”
Here’s a link to a recording made in Colorado from the Birds of the World site.
Fun Fact: Since Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest over water, young birds often fall out of the nests and swim short distances to rescue themselves.
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Deer drawing and video: First Friday Art
Today I’m sharing a deer drawing and video. I used black and gray pens to create this drawing of a mule deer buck.
I see mule deer regularly near my High Desert home. They often trigger our security cameras. I’m sharing a couple of videos of a healthy buck checking out our cameras in the middle of the night.
A week ago, while out walking in the Old Mill District of Bend, I had a close encounter with a deer. A doe charged at me, stopping within three feet of me. There were two fawns and a young buck nearby. The trails were icy so no one else was out there walking. There weren’t any trees nearby to hide behind, so I stood my ground, waved my arms, and yelled at her to go away. She listened to me eventually and left.
Protective doe and her fawn
Earlier this year, we had a fawn “trapped” on our fenced property. Though he was big enough to jump our 4-foot tall wire fence, he didn’t have the confidence to try it. His mother was very protective of him and charged at us and our dogs several times. After ten days of putting up with that behavior, I chased the reluctant fawn out of our yard by running towards him with a walking stick. He jumped the fence easily.
Deer may look tame, but they are wild creatures who will not hesitate to protect their young. My advice is to admire them from a safe distance. 🙂
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Two whoo whoos in a barn: Wordless Wednesday
Two whoo whoos in a barn at Summer Lake, Oregon
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Outdoor art by OMSI: Monday Murals
This outdoor art by OMSI is on Southeast Water Avenue in Portland, Oregon. The mural is right across the street from the main entrance of OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
I believe the mural artist is Mario De Leon. The mural appears to include elements of Egyptian art, Aztec symbolism, and Black history.
The bird sculpture, Migrations, was created in a collaborative process by several people. These include: artist Olivia Guethling, Engineer Trevor Blackann, GuildWorks Founder & Principal Mar Ricketts, and many others. To read more about the creation of this piece, see Migrations: A Long Way From Home.
There are lots of amazing things to see inside the museum, but this outdoor art by OMSI was an unexpected treasure.
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A wandering soul haiku
a wandering soul
trudges between boulders and blooms
on a quest for spring
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Rock textures: Sunday Stills
Rock textures can be shaped
by water
River rocks
by fire
Obsidian
by wind
Pebbles in the sand
Rock textures may be created
by chipping away
Indigenous scraping tool
by piling together
Rock garden
by tumbling
Polished Labradorite
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A stunning sunset: Skywatch Friday & Weekend Sky
A stunning sunset near Bend, Oregon. I took this photo with my drone from the backyard. You can see several volcanic peaks along the horizon.
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Moments of mystery: LAPC
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
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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Cliff Swallows in action: BOTW & RDP
I’ve always liked watching Cliff Swallows in action. Cliff Swallows, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, live in colonies located in building eaves, bridges, dams, culverts, trees, cliffs, and caves. Their colonies often contain 200-1,000 nests.
Both sexes build nests by collecting mud pellets in their bills and then molding them in place. The gourd-shaped nests they create contain 900-1,200 of these pellets.
Mud is gathered along streambanks, lakesides, and puddles.
The Schoolhouse Lake Wildlife Viewing station, shown below, is located at Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon. It doesn’t contain hundreds of nests, but it’s a great place to view Cliff Swallow nests up close.
Here’s a short video of Cliff Swallows in action flying around their nests on this building. Swallows in flight are mesmerizing and full of grace.
Cliff Swallows live in parts of North America, Central America, and South America. They are widespread with relatively stable populations.
Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Grace
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Café Yumm!: Foodie Friday
Café Yumm! is one of those restaurants where I always order the same thing. I LOVE their Original Yumm! Bowl. The one word I would use to describe it is “fresh.”
The Original Bowl includes Organic brown rice (or Thai jasmine rice), Organic black beans, Original Yumm! Sauce, and a spoonful of mild red salsa. The bowls are topped with shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, sliced black olives, a spoonful of sour cream, and a pinch of fresh cilantro leaves. I don’t usually add anything else to mine, but you can add chicken, tofu, nori, pepitas, slivered almonds, and Café Yumm! Crispy Noodles. You may choose to create a custom bowl.
Café Yumm’s! menu includes bowls, bentos, quesadillas, salads, soups, skewers, cookies, and drinks. If you like their sauces, dressings, and salsas, you can also purchase those in their restaurants.
There are two Café Yumms! in Bend, one in the Old Mill district on the westside, and one near the hospital on the eastside. They are open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Café Yumm! has restaurants in parts of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington State.
Foodie Friday
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East of Steens: Weekend Sky
A view from above east of Steens Mountain, Oregon. I took this photo with my drone on a cool October morning.
I liked the variety of components in this picture. Puffy white clouds, rough mountains, gray-green sagebrush flats, bright green hayfields, and red soil.
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Fall seating: Pull up a Seat
Fall seating near the Flag Bridge in the Old Mill District of Bend, Oregon
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Strawberry Mountain in the fall: Wordless Wednesday
Strawberry Mountain in the fall, Oregon
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Bonsai growing on a tree: Sunday Trees
When I walked past this, I did a double take. It looked like a bonsai growing on this tree near Withers Lake, Oregon.
I imagined some woodland elf climbing up the ponderosa pine’s trunk to tend to this little tree. They must have trimmed and shaped it over many years. Is it dead or just dormant? Hmmm… there must be more to this story.
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Stagecoach stop from above: LAPC & FOWC
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.
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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Around the Round Barn: RDP
The Pete French Round Barn in eastern Oregon is a beautiful structure. On a recent trip, I took pictures and video of the barn with my phone and my drone.
This picture shows the building from above.
In this video, the drone flies around the perimeter of the barn. You get a much better perspective from this angle.
These pictures show some of the internal structure. The supporting beams and posts are like a work of art.
In the spring and summer, barn owls nest in the center of the barn. You can see the whitewash near the nest.
This is a panoramic view of the inside of the barn. In this view, you can see the details in the rock walls.
Here’s a closer view of the walls.
The story of pioneer Pete French is an interesting one. Though he accomplished a lot in his lifetime, he was not well liked. He ended up dying at the hands of a neighbor with whom he had a dispute. See my previous post for more about him.
The Pete French Round Barn is a state heritage site near Diamond, Oregon. Built in the late 1870s to early 1880s, it served as a place to train and stable horses.
In the summer, the barn is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. In winter, it’s open Friday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
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Portable Cattle Squeeze: Wordless Wednesday
Portable Cattle Squeeze near Crane Hot Springs, Oregon
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A rockin bridge: Wordless Wednesday
A Steens Mountain Tour: LAPC
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 readingOblivion Pour House: Foodie Friday
Last week, we visited Oblivion Pour House in Bend, Oregon. I ordered the Smoked Baby Back Ribs. It included a half-rack of in-house smoked ribs, smashed potatoes with a cheesy sauce, and grilled broccoli, zucchini, carrots, and squash. I ate part of the large portion of food and took the rest home for two more meals. The ribs were tasty but weren’t the fall-off-the-bone type. The veggies were all good, especially the potatoes.
This entree includes a Caesar or house salad. I chose the house salad with a honey mustard dressing and it was delicious!
My dining companion ordered the Jambalaya Mac. Oblivion Pour House serves 11 kinds of mac and cheese. This dish includes sauteed chicken, Gulf shrimp, andouille, bacon, garlic, and tomato. The house-made 6-cheese cream reduction poblano-infused sauce covers the elbow macaroni. Green onions garnish this delicious dish. A heel of bread is served on the side.
We shared a piece of Key Lime pie for dessert. It was also good.
Their extensive menu includes salads, mac and cheese, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, tacos, and several entrees. Their drinks include Oblivion Brewing beer on tap, as well as several nonalcoholic drink options.
Previously known as the Pour House Grill, this restaurant underwent renovations and added ‘Oblivion’ to its name. Oblivion Brewing is one of many microbrews in Bend and they moved their tasting room to this location. The comfortable interior has several big-screen TVs playing various sports.
Oblivion Pour House Location and Hours
Oblivion Pour House is in the outlet mall at the south end of Bend. The address is 61276 S Hwy 97, Bend, OR 97702. They are open from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm Monday through Friday, from 9:30 am to 10:00 pm on Saturdays, and from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm on Sundays.
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Forest at Night exhibit videos: Wordless Wednesday
Forest at Night exhibit at High Desert Museum, Oregon
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