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Ray of hope over Tumalo Falls, Oregon
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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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]]>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? Trail in Pine Nursery Park, Bend, Oregon
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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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There are two couches, four easy chairs, and two barstools shown in this relatively small space.
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]]>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 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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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 at Summer Lake, Oregon
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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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]]>The interior is a work of art. Colorful posters, lanterns, and flags fill the space. Repurposed milk crates serve as seats at some of the tables.
In fact, I thought the interior was so interesting, I used a picture of it in the One to Three Photo Processing Challenge. In that challenge, participants show a single picture processed three ways.
Lines of customers waiting to get in can get long here. Near the entrance, there’s a yellow wall-mounted Pac-Man arcade game to pass the time.
There’s a small outdoor seating area by the front door.
Yokocho Izakaya restaurant food options
Their menu includes skewers, salads, small plates, noodle dishes, rice dishes, and several sides. There are a few dessert choices as well. Yokocho Izakaya restaurant has a large selection of sake, served hot or cold. Drinks include cocktails and mocktails with interesting names as well as beer, wine, tea, soft drinks, and Thai tea.
Bento
On my first visit, I had a bento box and the house sake. As you can see, it doesn’t look like a traditional bento box. This one included miso soup, seaweed salad, gyoza dumplings, karaage fried chicken with lemon aioli, and a yaki onigri (grilled Japanese rice ball glazed with sweet sauce). I especially liked the gyoza and chicken. Though I’m no expert on sake, I really liked the flavor of the sake I ordered.
Side dishes
On my next visit, I ordered several dishes. My first picture shows sides of Edamame and Agedashi Tofu. The steamed edamame beans were nice and salty on the outside and moist inside. The deep-fried tofu had a crunchy thin layer on the outside and silky and soft inside. The tofu is served with a dashi sauce and a topping of scallions and bonito flakes. Both were very good.
My next picture shows a serving of Okonomiyaki. This seafood pancake is covered with okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise. The garnish includes bonito flakes and seaweed. I thought it was good, but craved a stronger seafood taste.
Main dishes
The next photo is of the Teriyaki Don main dish. The grilled chicken is served with teriyaki sauce , and veggies, garnished with scallions and sesame seeds. The chicken was moist and tender and I really liked the flavor of the sauce. I preferred this chicken in this dish over the karaage chicken I had on my previous visit.
My dining companion ordered the Karaage Curry main dish. The chicken is deep-fried and served with a Japanese curry sauce. The sauce was tasty and the dish was beautifully presented.
Menu
I’m including two photos of the menu.
Hours and location
Yokocho Izakaya is open six days a week from 12:00 to 3:00 pm and 5:00 to 9:00 pm. It is closed on Wednesdays. This restaurant is located off the beaten path at 1900 NE Division St., Suite 110 in Bend, Oregon.
I’ve liked Yokocho Izakaya so far. However, several people noted how uncomfortable the milk crate seats at some of the tables are in their comments. Perhaps they can address this issue in a creative way.
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]]>trudges between boulders and blooms
on a quest for spring
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In the fall, milkweed seedpods mature and split open. The seeds inside are attached to white floss called coma. This floss allows them to be carried long distances by the wind.
Fun fact: During World War II, when the supply of kapok was cut off by Japan, milkweed floss was used as a substitute to fill life jackets.
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Articles this month include one about the Soil Alive! exhibition, one on the Joe Fedderson: Earth, Water, Sky exhibition, one on the Winter Nights! event, and one on wildfire smoke. A calendar of upcoming events and exhibitions is on the last page.
Please enjoy the High Desert Voices December 2025 issue!
To view previous issues, visit my HDV newsletter tag.
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Wordless Wednesday (WW)
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]]>This plant is part of a collection started by a donation from Anna Clise in 1921. Her donation inspired others to donate their plant collections as well.
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]]>Landscapes can be full of color,
or dark and brooding.
A wild creature close by can shine in a neutral background,
while one farther away can still show a powerful presence.
Artwork can be lighter than air,
or anchored to a concrete wall.
Some photos waiting for a prompt don’t seem to fit into any category. Though I can control the vertical and horizontal, what is the best way to present them?
When you look at them from one angle, they may hold beautiful flower arrangements.
When you look at them from another, they may be the perfect serving dish for chips and dip.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Last chance
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]]>golden edges echo shades
of summer sunsets
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]]>The post Charmed (Bestiary) sculpture: Monochrome Madness appeared first on bend branches.
]]>This fused glass and filament piece is part petroglyph wall, part wind chime, and part charm bracelet. The glass charms shift with the slightest breeze, reflecting the constant changes in nature.
The delicate clear glass pieces of Charmed (Bestiary) are beautiful on their own, but the shadows they cast take this piece to another level. Can you find the person walking, birds flying, coyotes, and bicycle charms?
Monochrome Madness – The space between
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I drew this when I was running for a School Board Director position many years ago. Our mascot at the high school was a tiger and I put this image on my campaign literature. It must have worked because I won over a longtime incumbent. 
Since I like to print artwork on things people can actually use, I had a big batch of tiger mugs printed. I also printed some onto canvas grocery bags.
I’m including a photograph I took of a Sumatran tiger. Though tigers are known to sleep 16 to 20 hours a day, I caught this one at a wildlife park in a blur of motion.
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]]>The post Photo effects at Yokocho Izakaya: 1 to 3 Challenge appeared first on bend branches.
]]>I used Corel PaintShopPro 2021 for different photo processing effects on this picture of the restaurant. In the original image I increased the contrast and fill light and cropped the edges. Use the slider to view each effect compared to the original.
The first picture of the restaurant shows a Hue effect. For this image processing I went to Adjust>Hue and saturation>Hue map>Neon glow setting. My Yokocho Izakaya photo already had a lot of color. This effect intensifies all the colors.
The second picture of the restaurant shows an Artistic effect. For this image processing I went to Effects>Artistic Effects>Contours>Default setting. The colors are muted with this effect and contour lines are incorporated into many of the shapes. Note the customer at the bar nearly disappears with this effect.
The last picture of the restaurant shows a Time Machine effect. For this image processing I went to Effects>Photo Effects>Time Machine>Albumen setting. I tried several monotone processing effects, but I liked this one best. This effect highlights the many shapes and textures in the restaurant.
With so much to see at this restaurant, it was a challenge to decide which photo effects at Yokocho Izakaya to feature. The food is artfully presented as well.
One-to-Three Photo Processing Challenge
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Or paddling alone in cool, calm waters
Flocks in the city, fluttering and chattering together
Or pairs peacefully standing beside secluded shorelines
Raptors on the ground, squatting in subdued shades of gray
Or songbirds resting, clad in brilliant shades of the sky
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC)- Wings
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]]>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 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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Ammonites at Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Thermopolis, Wyoming
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The salmon mural was created by artists Ray Troll and Owen Oliver. Ray was friends with Coast Salish artist, Marvin E. Oliver. They had discussed creating a collaborative piece for many years. Though Marvin passed away in 2019, his son, Owen, helped fulfill that dream.
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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 in southeastern Oregon
Wordless Wednesday (WW)
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Looking back at LAPC #31 – Landscapes (LAPC)
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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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]]>Big rock mountains, sculpted and fired by the sun
And ranges, arising from basins washed by summer storms
Approaching cliffs layered with basalt flows preserving stories of their past
And volcanic hills, pounded by thundering hooves and eroded by falling rain
Driving through…
The warm comforting embrace of oak trees
And pine forests, swaying in celebration of winter’s first snowfall
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – On the Move
Sunday Stills Color Challenge (SS) – Brown and/or Gray
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]]>The 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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Bark A
Bark B
Bark C
Tree 1. Western Juniper, Juniperus occidentalis
Tree 2. Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa
Tree 3. Black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa
The answers are:
Bark A = Black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa
Bark B = Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa
Bark C = Western Juniper, Juniperus occidentalis
Did you guess which tree’s bark correctly?
There are so many kinds of bark in the world and they often make great subjects for close ups. Did you know there’s even a tag for bark? It includes tree bark, candy bark, dog barks, etc.
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Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Utah
and coming into focus over a blur of the Sagebrush Sea
Mt. Shasta, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California
The mood of mountains retreating in a blush of color
Painted Hills Unit, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon
and rising above, snow-clad and strong
Mount Rainier, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
The majesty of mountains layered in subtleties
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
and taking center stage above a curve of crops
Mt. Jefferson, Willamette National Forest, Oregon
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Looking back at LAPC #31 – Landscapes
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I drew this quick sketch with a black Pentel Brush Sign Pen Artist pen and I used a gray Tombow ABT pen for the shading. I especially liked the Pentel pen since you can easily vary the width of each stroke with the brush tip. The Tombow pen has a soft brush on one end and a hard tip on the other end.
Since I was going to be traveling during part of the Inktober challenge, I wanted a small pad I could tuck into my backpack. I found this cute little watercolor book. Yes, the paper has a rougher texture than I would prefer, but it worked out well.
I taped a copy of the 2025 Inktober prompt list onto the inside cover.
This is the photograph I worked from for the elephant seal drawing. I thought of this pair of seals I saw at Elephant Seal Vista Point north of San Simeon, California. They appeared to be smiling. I’m not sure they really were, but they certainly looked comfortable.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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