Watching backyard TV in Bend, Oregon
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Watching backyard TV: Wordless Wednesday
Color in photos: RDP
Color in photos highlights
a balance of form and function
medleys of wholesome tasty treats
and lanterns of luck and happiness
Color in photos highlights
rainbow rows of vegetables
bright graphic designs on balloons
and the personality of each ornate orchid
Yesterday’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge was to show colorful images in monotone. My post Scenes without color shows six black and white photographs of various scenes. In today’s post, I shared how the same images looked before I edited them by restoring the color. Both versions are beautiful in their own sort of way.
Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Restore
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Scenes without color: LAPC
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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Infinity Chair: Pull Up a Seat
The Infinity Chair is a marble sculpture created by Pedro Reyes in 2018. It’s on display at the Portland Art Museum in Oregon. Reyes is a multidisciplinary Mexican artist who studied architecture at Ibero-American University in Mexico City. Later, he became interested in sculpture.
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A falconry experience in Ireland
When I visited Ireland with my daughter, one of our favorite things was a falconry experience in Dingle, County Kerry. The guides at the Dingle Falconry Experience tell you a bit about each bird they fly. You also get a chance to have the birds perch on your gloved hand.
Owls at Dingle Falconry Experience
One of the most impressive birds we saw was an Eurasian Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo.
I mentioned it in one of my previous posts. It is so heavy, the guide helps support your arm when it perches on you.
Our guide flew it from one post to another. See it in action in this video.
The bird with the most beautiful plumage was a Western Barn Owl, Tyto alba.
I took this photo of its back to get the details of its feathers. Note, I wasn’t really paying attention to the alignment of the background. 😀
The birds fly from person to person as you stand in a large circle. Here’s the Barn Owl flying around our group.
A stunning hawk
The Harris’s Hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus, had a powerful presence. Here it is up close.
Here’s the bird perching before it flies to the next participant.
A falcon in flight
When we were there, the guide used a lure with a piece of prey attached to exercise a falcon. Here’s a video of the bird in flight.
The Peregrine Falcon, Falco pergrinus, was gorgeous in flight and on the ground.
Here’s the bird eating a snack with the guide.
If you’re looking for an up-close and personal encounter with birds of prey, check out the Dingle Falconry Experience. It was educational and fun!
Hope you all have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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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.
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.
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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A ghostly cottonwood: Monochrome Monday
A ghostly cottonwood at Summer Lake, Oregon
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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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Giant Pacific octopus up close: Macro Monday
Giant Pacific octopus up close vignette
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Shadows play: LAPC
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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Please Participate: Monochrome Monday
Please Participate by Jeppe Hein 2015 at Portland Art Museum, Oregon
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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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Lunar New Year decorations: RDP
When I visited the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon last week, I saw several Lunar New Year decorations. They were prepping the garden for celebrations on February 17, the day the 2026 lunar new year begins.
This impressive dragon was inside one of the buildings hovering over a table and desk.
I zoomed in to get a better view. The colors and textures were gorgeous.
Outside, a jumping fish floated over the pond.
Here is a closer view of it surfacing near an arch, lotus blossom, and smaller fish.
In another part of the pond, a dragon curls around mountains in the clouds. All of these Lunar New Year decorations showed a lot of expression.
Speaking of expression, I’m also sharing a sculpture of a horse at the nearby Portland Art Museum. I thought it was appropriate since it’s the year of the horse. Recent “Horse” years include 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, and 2026.
The chinesenewyear.net website describes those born in the year of the horse as follows:
Horses are lively, charming, and adventurous. In the zodiac, they thrive in lively settings and are often seen as natural leaders and motivators.
This Prancing Horse sculpture, by an unidentified artist, is made of gray earthenware with traces of calcified green lead glaze. The sculpture is from China, Sichuan province. It is likely from Chengdu, Tianhuishan and created in the 2nd century CE.
I really liked the face on this sculpture. Is it grimacing or grinning? Hmm…
For more info and photos about Lan Su Chinese Garden, see my previous post.
Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Celebrations!
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When you trim a photo: LAPC
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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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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3 fish 3 ways: First Friday Art
Today, I’m sharing images I created of 3 fish 3 ways. When I took an ichthyology class at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, we visited the aquarium in Vancouver, B.C. Our assignment was to sketch some of the fish we saw and write down notes related to their life history. What a fun assignment! 😀
My first picture shows a pencil sketch of three fish. I drew a Longnose Butterflyfish, Forcipiger longirostris, a Swallow-tailed Angelfish, Genicanthus melanospilos, and a Smoothed Unicorn Tang, Naso lituratus. These three have great common names.
I traced a copy of the pencil drawing and outlined each fish with an ink brush pen.
In the last of my 3 fish 3 ways pictures, I quickly filled in the ink outlines with watercolor pens. The coloring of these fish varies widely.
Note to self… use a good quality watercolor paper next time. Since I used cheap printer paper, the paint dried fast and I couldn’t blend it.
Here’s the watercolor pen set I used. I found it at one of the gift stores in downtown Bend. I like having them organized in a handy case.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Cat on a golden rug: Wordless Wednesday
Cat on a golden rug
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Designs in… :LAPC
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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In turbulent times haiku: The Weekend in Black and White
in turbulent times
barriers bring together
remnants of autumn
The Weekend in Black and White
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Joe Feddersen baskets: Wordless Wednesday
Joe Feddersen baskets at the High Desert Museum, Bend, Oregon
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Go Speed Racer?: Birds of the Week
Last April, we had an unexpected Speed Racer show up in our yard.
We could see that the pigeon had a yellow band on one leg and a blue one on the other.
We also noticed how tame the bird was. It walked right up to us without any fear.
I called the local animal rescue organization, and they said they don’t deal with pigeons, aka Rock Pigeons, Columba livia. They referred me to the local Central Oregon Racing Pigeon Club. When I sent them photos, they determined it belonged to one of their members.
They instructed me to keep it in a safe place until they could drive to our house to pick it up. The guy asked, more than once, if it was able to escape since they’d had other calls where the bird got away before they arrived. I reassured him that the bird could not escape.
Racing Pigeons
After he picked up the Speed Racer pigeon, I did a little research on racing pigeons. According to the America Racing Pigeon Union, there are more than 700 affiliated clubs around the country. They recommend this hobby to people who enjoy working with animals and appreciate their athleticism. The races their members participate in range from 100 to 600 miles in distance.
Pigeon racing is popular throughout the world. These birds were domesticated thousands of years ago, and the sport of pigeon racing began in the 19th century. Participants in this sport take it very seriously and are willing to pay high prices for the birds. The highest price paid was 1.9 million dollars. The higher priced birds often originate from Belgium.
Because of their high value, racing pigeons are often stolen. One well-known breeder in Belgium, Frans Bungeneers, had 60 birds stolen from his property in 2017. Some of these heists read like a fictional thriller. Today’s breeders rely on cameras, sensors, and alarms to protect their Speed Racer birds.
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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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On a winter walk: LAPC
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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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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Seals by the shore: Mammal Monday
When you look at the first picture below, you may not notice the seals by the shore. It just looks like a scenic California beach.
But if you zoom in a little more, you can see Northern Elephant Seals, Mirounga angustirostris, scattered all along the shore.
I took these pictures at the Elephant Seal Vista Point near San Simeon, California. Visitors can view the seals at this rookery from elevated platforms and boardwalks. Volunteers from Friends of the Elephant Seal are there to answer your questions.
You’ll get great views of these large sea mammals. Females weigh up to 2,000 pounds, while males can reach weights of 7,000 pounds. That’s HUGE! The southern species, Mirounga leonina, gets even bigger. Males can weigh up to 9,000 pounds.
Once again, I’m sharing this picture of two content-looking sleeping seals.
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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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Well-loved camels: Monochrome Mondays
These two well-loved camels are at Volunteer Park in Seattle. Numerous children have climbed onto these large sculptures. Though they may not remember what was inside the museum, they likely have fond memories of their time spent sitting atop these large sculptures. The two camel sculptures flank the doors of the Seattle Asian Art Museum, formerly the Seattle Art Museum (SAM).
Of the nearly 24,000 objects in SAM’s collection, two sculptures have probably had the broadest impact on visitors’ experience of the museum since it opened in 1933.
The original marble camels were created in the late 14th-mid 17th century in China. Due to conservation concerns, in 1991 the originals were moved inside SAM. Today, the well-loved camels outside the Seattle Asian Art Museum are replicas.
Here is a 1933 picture of the Art Deco-style building that shows two camel and two ram sculptures in front of the museum.
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Seating at Hawkeye & Huckleberry: Pull Up a Seat
This seating at Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge in Bend, Oregon has a modern cowboy kind of vibe. There’s a lot going on in this design.
There are two couches, four easy chairs, and two barstools shown in this relatively small space.
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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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2025 Favorite Photos: LAPC
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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