Our Family Events

McMenamins Old St Francis Schools Secret Broom Closet Oregon 2018

Tonight is date night for Jeff and Liz and part of our date is to find the secret passageway that leads to a Lilliputian cafe and bar. Located at the Art House at Mcmenamins Old St Francis School is a series of passageways and the fun begins. You do need to be quiet as the hallways and rooms could be occupied. So let’s begin by looking for the secret hallway which starts on the main floor. We are looking for a door which says Barnsdale Crescent-enter at your own risk-this passageway is so amazing.

Next we head to the third floor looking for the Broom Closet- they encourage you to enter. Now the question is- are you brave enough to enter. Even after you slowly open the door and even then, what you see is a hallway of old witchie brooms, now what. Glancing around at the very artsy brooms what do you do next, we started pressing the panels and OMG one of the panels moved, we slowly pushed and entered a Lilliputian bar. Surrounded by art and greeted by a very energetic bartender who was eager to satisfy our explorers thirst. So much fun and sad the adventure has ended. We will certainly be bringing our Bend quests and exposing them to this fun quest.

Mcmenamins is far more than a artsy secret passageway, with 55 locations around Oregon and Washington, every location is worth a stop. Their signature wines and beer and pub food is renowned. The art and creativeness of every location is so worth a self tour.

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CHEERS FROM LIZ ♥♥♥♥

Ft Worth Texas- Family – Zoo – Botanic Gardens – Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge – Dinosaur Valley State Park – Waco Magnolia At The Silos

Ft Worth Texas

We were was so excited to finally arrive in Ft Worth, to spend the holidays with our daughter, son in law and two grandsons. We arrived just before Thanksgiving and left 3 days after Christmas, we definitely broke our 3 day rule. But we got to be woken up almost every morning by a three year old who would crawl in bed with us, cuddle up and want his grandpa to go hide so he could find him. This was 6 am in the morning Texas time and 4 am Bend, Oregon time and truly what great memories are made of. Well I could have used some (lots) of coffee and really needed to brush my teeth, but no this little guy just wanted to play, snaky, snaky, hiding rubber snakes all over the house. I will never forget the sound of the boys voices, their feet running on the wooden floors and getting to explore Ft Worth with them.

First thing we did was join the Ft worth Zoo and we visited a lot. Our two grandsons Cole and Bryce know every name of every snake, lizard, alligator, etc. The Ft worth Zoo has won many awards for being one of the best in the nation and for good reason. Founded in 1909 with one lion, two bear cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock and a few rabbits. The zoo now is home to 5,000 native and exotic animals and has been named the top zoo in the nation.

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The holidays were amazing, with an elf appearing every morning in a different location around the house, a Christmas parade downtown Ft Worth and the most beautifully decorated neighborhoods. We even got to attend a TCU versus Baylor football game, thanks to our son in law. To much fun.

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Our next exploration with the boys was The Botanic Gardens a living museum. A beautiful self guided tour of groomed trails, featuring numerous native plants and trees. . This day we were in search of a snapping turtle which makes his home in one of the many streams and beautiful water features and per the boys -loves granola bars. To Funny!!

Next fun adventure with the boys was The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. A natural area comprised of forests, prairies, and wetlands allowing you to step back in time and experience what the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex was like in the early 20th century. First stop was the visitor center because we just had to see the texas Alligator and numerous snakes on display. The very nice ranger on duty brought out a snake for the boys to touch, well I had to touch also. We then explored the groomed trails and had a fun picnic on the shore of Lake Worth. Now that the boys are fed its off to do some geocaching along the trails and lake. Fun day, lots of special memories.

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Dinosaur Valley State Park-Where Dinosaurs Roamed

Long ago, dinosaurs left footprints in the mud at the edge of an ancient ocean. Today, you can walk in their tracks in the bed of the Paluxy River. This long trip to the past is just a short drive from Fort Worth.

We packed a lunch, lots of water and set off for Dinosaur Valley State park, a meir 58 mile drive from Ft Worth with typical Texas scenery. (SNORE). Ok, sorry for the comment but when you are from Oregon you start to miss the color GREEN. What a fun day, the boys were in heaven trying to catch tiny fish in the Paluxy river overtop dinosaur tracks. If you like dinosaurs, you’ll love the 200 million-year-old fossil trackway. You can spend a whole day exploring the groomed, vista trails.

Love them

Dinosaur Tracks

Hiking to the river

Fun memories

Dinosaur Tracks

BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

The reL DEAL

WACO-Magnolia, Chip and Joanna, need I say more. A 90 mile drive from Ft Worth and you are in Waco eating cinnamon rolls and Joanna’s famous cupcakes at Magnolia. There’s a little something for everyone and another fun day exploring the beautiful grounds and shopping, it’s definitely worth a stop. Everything has been carefully thought out for your comfort and pleasure, from a bite to eat, covered rest areas to a safe large play area for kids.

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Cheers From Just Around The Bend ♥♥♥♥

Xeriscaping OUR YARD PART TWO

Day 8, 9 and 10: The roots of the trees are winning, Jeff is having a difficult time removing the sod with 2 to 6 inch maple tree roots buried beneath the sod. Averaging 3 strips a day , it’s not going well.

Day 11: 8:30 am July 3rd- pressure is building on the time frame to accomplish the xeriscape before the Texans arrive on the 11th. Jeff is just getting started and on his 3rd row with 22′ to go and tree roots getting bigger and more plentiful as he nears the Mother tree. New Neighbors stop by to chat and say it looks well when a Ford PU pulls near the curb with a Dodge PU right behind. Jeff realizes that it is Steve from La Pine who has been taking the sod. He ask the neighbor to look out for the sod loaders have arrived. Arrived they did. Two trucks and 6 people with tools. Jeff says hes sorry but probably only has enough sod for 1 load. Steve informs him that they are not here to just load the sod but to help remove it till it is done and loaded. Jeff not believing his ears. Two hours thirty minutes later as the dust settles and drinks of water and tea with snacks it is done! Jeff can’t thank Steve and his crew enough. This puts him 3 days ahead of schedule.

Steve, Dave and Jeff

The Crew

Working so Hard

More Roots

Darn Roots

2nd truck getting loaded

Finally done-tks crew

CREW – Steve, Dave, J.J. and his sons Dominic, Simeon and Aidan

Now the fun begins, with the sod removed we need to prepare, move and modify the existing sprinkler system. So glad Jeff is a retired plumber, so off we go to Home Depot for sprinkler supplies, ground cloth etc.

Rocks being delivered

10 yards

yes more rocks

Starting to plant

after landscape cloth

before landscape cloth

Prepping yard

Our total cost for this project so far is remaining zero, but just wait until we return from Home Depot, it could get ugly.

Ground Prep $0.0

Sod Removal $0.0

Home Depot $500.00

pea gravel, metal stakes, fabric pegs, fabric cloth 2 rolls, Plants – 6 mondo grass, 1 hibiscus,, 6 black mondo grass, woolly thymus, pathway lawn edging, irrigation risers, micro tubing, pvc bushings, pvc pipe, 8 drain valves and more gravel for Jeff’s custom pathway.

Ace Hardware – $ 59.48 Pea gravel and 1/4″ drippers

Abel Supply – $ 444.50 Rocks 10 yards

Deschutes Recycling – $21.00 Soil

Harbor Freight – $50.00 Garden Pick, Hose Connectors electricians screwdriver – etc

It’s been a major project doing it ourselves, but in the long run we have saved a lot of money and Jeff has lost or sweated off a lot of weight, in another week he says he will have a 6 pack (we will see). LOL. Our neighbor 2 doors down had professional landscapers Xeriscape her yard for over $4000.00. In the long run we hope to save a lot on our water bill and enjoy not feeding, weeding, mowing and grass clippings to go somewhere.

So 5 yards of rock to go and the pleasure and enjoyment of our Xeriscaping. More water to our rivers and lakes which is my playground. Updates to be coming upon completion. Family is here and time to play and enjoy the grandkids and the big ones too.

Prepping yard

after landscape cloth

Cheers From JUST AROUND THE BEND

Wallowa Oregon Road Trip

ROAD TRIP FOR JUST AROUND THE BEND

We aren’t used to leaving home without ” Rufus” our home on wheels, but we have super good friends in Enterprise Oregon who invited us to visit for a long weekend. Took us about two minutes to think it over and next thing you know we are on a road headed to Enterprise, Oregon near the majestic Wallowa’s. It took about 8 hours of driving to reach our destination, but well worth it, beautiful scenery, good roads and plenty of fueling stations along with lots of good coffee stops (super important).♥

Wallowa Mountains

Dave and Jen

Dave and Jen are great tour guides, taking us to some of the most beautiful country that remains to this day untouched by man. Below is a picture of a prairie that has never been plowed or planted by man and where buffalo still roam freely.

Wild Buffalo

Next stop on our tour was the Ferguson Ridge Ski Area. Talk about take you back in time, this is how it should be. Small, quaint and well maintained. The people here all know each other and meeting at the ski lift is a family event. It even has a very interesting art piece as you enter the ski area. Open Saturday and Sundays, $20.00 for an adult and $10.00 for under 15 years of age. WOW what a deal.

Most of the people that live in this tight knitted countryside are cattle or hay farmers.On this day we ran into a woman herding cattle right down the middle of the roadway on a four wheeler and beside her in an infant seat was her baby.The cattle you see are very specially raised on all natural pasture, no antibiotics and Organic all of the way. I was ready to move to Enterprise.

It was time for coffee, right! And maybe a bite to eat.So off we headed to The Red Horse Coffee Traders, who roast their own beans in house and it is fabulous. Our friends highly suggested a Quinoa Bowl, whole size$ 12.00 and half $8.95. We opted for of course the whole bowl and split it, glad we did as it was enormous, but so, so good. Fresh organic ingredients with layers of flavors indescribably delish. If you are ever near Joseph, Oregon look them up you won’t be sorry.

Menu includes: Coffee, Breakfast, Lunch, Breads and Pastries-everything is made with fresh local organic ingredients and made from scratch in house. Yum

Now that we are stuffed, we needed a walk and our tour guides had another brilliant idea, to walk The Nez Perce Trail. Talk about the most beautiful country, this scenic trail was a easy walk with views of the mountains and takes you to the beginning of Wallowa Lake, just spectacular. Good job tour guides. ♥

Beginning of The Trail

Jeff and Liz

Pond along The Trail

Beautiful

Wallowa River

How do you top all of this off, between the fun stores in Joseph and the amazing places to eat, besides the walking tours, it just doesn’t get better-RIGHT. Well there is always another stop that is one of the best restaurants we have ever eaten at. This will be our 4th time to eat here and reservations must be made, believe me make reservations weeks before you plan to visit.

Vali’s Alpine Restaurant, 59811 Wallowa Lake Hwy, Joseph, Oregon 97846. A wonderful family restaurant, featuring one entree a night including Hungarian classics like

Chicken Paprikas and Kettle Goulash with Fry Bread (lángos). You can still get Schnitzel on Sundays and hot fresh homemade doughnuts on the weekends! Not to mention their amazing desserts all made in house, from scratch with fresh organic ingredients. Needless to say we had another fabulous dinner and a truly special time with our best friends ever.

Sad to say we must return to Bend, with of course heavy hearts at saying until next time. Dave and Jen have been so much fun and catching up on old times was healing for especially Jen and I. So goodbye my friends, until our next adventure.

stb_9890

FROM JUST AROUND THE BEND (LIZ) ♥

Change Of Command Ceremony

JULY 15, 2016

U.S.C.G. STATION PORTLAND
CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY
The change of command ceremony was a grand ceremony to welcome our son Ian to Station Portland from Coast Guard Station San Francisco and to say goodbye to retiring Senior Chief Kellian Whidden. Coast guard personal greeted us as we arrived on base, checked our ID and personal invitation, and advised us to proceed to reserve family parking. We had our 96 YEAR OLD dad with us, a Navy veteran of WWII who was also a Chief, just entering the base brought tears to his eyes, he was suddenly going back in time of memories when he served his country. Being the family of the new Officer in Charge, we were escorted to family seating ,to our direct right was Ian’s new crew, all dressed up in there blues and at attention. I suddenly felt like I was at the inauguration of the President of the United States. Throughout the ceremony with personal awards and commendations of both Chief Ian and Senior Chief Whidden we were PROUD. They even gave special recognition to our dad Richard James Brian Thompson as the oldest retired military personal attending, it was a very special moment. Lots of Kleenex please.
Chief Boatswains Mate Ian Thompson
BMC Thompson enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 2000 from his hometown of Portland, Oregon at the age of nineteen. Upon graduating from training center in Cape May New Jersey, he reported to his first assignment to serve as a Seaman Apprentice abroad the Coast Guard Cutter ALERT, (WMEC 630) in Astoria, Oregon. His subsequent tours include:
Coast Guard Station NOYO River, Ft Bragg
Coast Guard Cutter MELLON, Seattle, WA
Coast Guard Cutter KISKA, Hilo, Hi
Coast Guard Station, Rio Vista, Ca
Coast Guard Station San Francisco where he served as Executive petty officer
Ian’s personal awards consist of the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, (3) Coast Guard Achievement Medals, a Commandants Letter of Commendation Ribbons and numerous other personal rewards. We could not be more proud of our son as he has grown into a fine outstanding leader, I’m sure he isn’t finished yet with his achievements, grass never grows under Ian’s feet, THE THOMPSON’S NEVER STAND STILL.
On a personal note, of course, we are his parents; Ian is a wonderful son and husband to Alicia. He so reminds me of his dad with the respect and love he shows his family (Alicia) every day. We know without Alicia’s support, love and holding down the home front, times would have been a lot harder and let’s face it, having the perfect spouse just helps. Here are a few personal pictures of a very special family day.

After the ceremony its time for some family fun with the family, BBQ at Ian and Alicia’s beautiful new home and was it wonderful.

CHEERS FROM JUST AROUND THE BEND JEFF AND LIZ

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