Labor Day Weekend in Bend

We had a terrific time in Bend on Labor Day weekend.  Barb and I flew from Ontario where it was a balmy 95 degrees.  We got into the Portland Airport early enough  (8:30AM--yawn) to do some shopping.  Below is some of the fantastic artwork by Susan Murrell in Terminal A.  I thought this piece was three dimensional until I walked up to it and realized it was tape on the wall!

We got to Bend about noon.  Mom and Dad were out when I called so we had lunch on the patio of a micro-brewery and watched the other patrons with their dogs.  It really is a dog-friendly town.

We split a fried chicken wrap and tator tots.  Yummo!

After lunch, we did a bit of grocery shopping for the important things: wine, M&M's, bananas, and milk for breakfast, then went over and visited Mom and Dad at Touchmark.  We both nearly fell off the couch when Dad remarked that, "it was a pretty good place for old people."  Since Barb and I had gotten up at 4AM to catch the plane, the visit was brief.  We went back to the house, had a glass of wine, and Barb went to bed before 8PM (and slept for 10 hours).  George showed up and wanted attention; Figo made an appearance but would not come in, of course.

Next morning, I went for a walk around the neighborhood and collected real estate flyers.  For the price of a condo in San Clemente, one can buy a "charming" (it was) 1863 sq.ft. home with a 1600 sq.ft. detached, heated garage on a 1/2 acre in Bend.  You bet I was drooling!

Saturday morning, we hit a Bed & Bath place, Costco and Safeway and then had Mom & Dad as well as Barb from across the street, her mother, her sister, and her business partner over for an early dinner.  Zach did most of the real cooking--making a spinach salad as well as a corn & bean salsa.  We purchased a couple chickens from Costco, potato salad and broccoli salad from Safeway.  To celebrate Dad's birthday, we got Red Velvet cupcakes as well as a selection of cookies from Costco.  Oink!

George came up and let Mom hold him.  Unfortunately, we dummies could not get the "smart TV" to work so Dad missed his football game and wanted to go home right after dinner.

After Jamie took Mom & Dad back to Touchmark, we headed out to an art walk that Barb had found on the internet.  It was at The Workhouse in an industrial part of town.  We toured the artists individual studios--very cool--and posed for a few photos.

Barb

Deb

There were musicians outside, a small bakery, and a cart selling "Dump City Dumplings" though we were too full to indulge.  We all bought a few things and enjoyed talking with the artists.

Sun was setting and moon rising.

The next morning, Barb and I went for a 4 mile walk along the Deschutes River Trail, Jamie went for a bike ride, and Zach slept in.

Barb on the trail.  It felt great to have to wear a jacket!

The trail goes under this bridge and then becomes a rougher dirt trail.  We saw a group of Stand-up Paddlers taking a lesson on this part of the river.  One of them is under the bridge in this photo.

Add caption

Obviously, the SU-paddlers turned around before this section of the river...

After a couple miles, we warmed up and the jackets came off.  Amazingly, Barb, the neighbor from across the street, and her partner passed us on the trail.  (We were poking along taking photos while they were power walking.)

After the walk, Barb and I drove up to Touchmark and went for another--much shorter--walk with Mom and Dad.

  Dad only wanted to go around the courtyard loop while Barb, Mom, and I went further.

Barb and I stayed for lunch and had BLT's, salad, and a big cookie in the dining room at TM.  We headed home afterwards and got cleaned up.  Jamie arrived from her bike ride and we convinced her and Zach to quickly clean up and we headed downtown before the stores closed to get a sweater for Dad's birthday.

Unfortunately, Roberts, the old department store downtown was going out of business, so we settled on a cozy black sweater jacket from Patagonia.  Zach modeled it for us and looked quite handsome.  After a bit of power shopping at McKensie & Co (to get Jamie some new clothes without Gracie's toenail holes in them), we had Thai food at a place as funky as it was good.  I forget the name but it had something to do with roses.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the food but it was yummy, especially the soup.

Barb and I flew home the next day--nearly missing our flight from Seattle to Ontario as we were sitting at the wrong gate.  Yes, we'll be ready for TM soon.  Fortunately, Barb's sharp ears caught the PA announcement and we made a run for the gate with five minutes to spare.  NO, WE WERE NOT SHOPPING!  Though I did take this photo of the gift shop window...

We did have breakfast with Mom & Dad before we left.  The sweater fit Dad perfectly and we hope it will work for him.

One legged gulls and lizard at the beach

Hi, this is Debbie.  Thought you might want to see a few scenes from the beach today.  It was "Ocean Fest," a two-day water sport competition. 

Walking toward the pier--ocean is pretty glassy, not much wave action.

Love this one-legged gull

 

 

After walking the trail, I checked out the sand sculpture competition.  It started at 8:30AM and these were taken about 10 or 10:30, so they weren't that far along.

The caption here reads "Lucky Dawg."  Someone's shoulder got in the way...

Now you can see the dawg.

Love the sunglasses and hat on this sandman.

I think this is going to be some sort of snowflake.  They were working with a template.

This of course was my favorite.

Not sure what "Warm Hugs" is about...

And another shot of the lizard...

I ran into my friends, Steve and his wife Maureen, later on the trail.  They were headed up to the pier where he was going to compete in the one mile swim competition.  Steve said the water temperature has dropped to 66 degrees.  I told him that maybe that will make him swim faster!  (They aren't allowed to wear wetsuits.)  Strangely enough, I ran into them yesterday when we were on our bikes. 

They are leaving in a few weeks on vacation taking their mountain bikes and stand-up paddle boards--headed up to Northern California and Oregon--riding and paddling.  Steve asked me if I know the temperature of the Deshutes River as they plan to paddle it.  Of course, I didn't know but I bet it's colder than 66 degrees!  Last year they rode down the Oregon Coast.  Lucky ducks!

More Succulents

Hi, this is Debbie.  I spent day before yesterday in San Diego shopping new home subdivisions.  Their backyards were especially interesting.  Succulents are obviously the "hot" plant.  See the photos below.

This raised planter would be easy to tend.

What to do with your old pans--glue mirrors to the bottom and hang them on the wall!

And here is a whole wall of succulents.

Another shot of the same thing.

They are in plastic trays that are about 12 or 16 inches square.  I think the trays could be moved in and out to tend the plants.

Oregon Visit

Posted by Mackenzie  6/27/14

Ted and I have really been enjoying our trip to Oregon and are lamenting the fact that we have to set off back to Ohio in less than a week. Oregon just feels like home!

Here are some of the things we've been up to since our arrival:

• A day trip to Cannon Beach - We were lucky enough to have warmish temperatures and even a little blue sky!
• A hike at Eagle Creek in the Gorge. My dad and Zach came with us; Zach made it all the way to Tunnel Falls (6 miles in), while Ted, my dad, and I turned around shortly after High Bridge (about 3.5 miles in). 

Punchbowl Falls, from above

Punchbowl Falls, from below

• We've tried out a couple new restaurants in Bend. We really liked Spork (a mixture of Korean, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, and other foods - really yummy), and the food and drinks at Bend Brew Werks were pretty good, but the view from their patio was great.

View of the river and the Mill District from Bend Brew Werks

Spork

Mexican Chilaquiles with fried egg

Thai Noodles

Thai Curry

Spork - inside

• Mom and I gave a little piano concert in the lobby of Touchmark.

• We took a trip into Sisters to visit the Stitching Post so Grandma could submit her quilt block for a group quilt. 

• Ted and I hiked up to Tumalo Falls. We went about 1.5 miles past the falls but turned around because we were getting hungry for lunch! At the spot where we turned around, we actually met a family from Ohio who is here on vacation. 

• And we've had some quality time with Jorge and Figo (and broken up several fights through the sliding glass doors between our cats and Bob's cats), usually at 5:00am.

George has one very thick white whisker on his right cheek.

Both George and Figo love 'the birdie' toy that we brought.

I'm sure I'll have even more to post when our trip is over.