All that glitters is not gold

'Twas Jeff's birthday on Saturday, so we spent the weekend at his favourite place in the whole world. I know the next three photos are almost exactly the same, but if you look closely at the gong in the upper right corner of the photos, you can see how hard the wind was blowing. From inside the house, it's kind of comforting to hear the low-pitched vibration that the gong emits in high winds.

Last spring, we would remark to the locals on the terrific winds we were experiencing out at the Ranch, and they would say, "Oh, it's very unusual for this time of year," and we eventually decided that they were all in denial. So now, whenever gale force winds start up again (almost every day) Jeff is wont to say, "Yes, it's very unusual for this time of year," and we both crack up. 

We are easily amused.

I suggested a trip down to Bend, which is Central Oregon's shopping mecca. Jeff had requested a tie-tac for his birthday and I hadn't been able to find one. A nice lunch and a walk to the top of Pilot Butte were also on the agenda, not necessarily in that order.

The first time we saw Pilot Butte was in the mid-90's, when we chaperoned Bethany's band trip to Bend. It stuck in my memory, being such a pronounced bump on the otherwise flat landscape of the town. At that time, it was fairly isolated, but now it is surrounded by houses and businesses.

The wind was fierce and we thought that perhaps we wouldn't brave the steep mile to the top, but it was such a lovely clear day and lots of other people seemed to be doing it, so we did too. I had to wear my baseball cap backwards so that it didn't blow away and I looked like a real dork.

It doesn't look very high, and in fact it is only 500 feet above the surrounding land, but it is at almost a mile above sea level and I find it harder because of that.

Junipers are the prevailing timber. This must be an old one. The trunk has a lovely patina that only age can bestow.

The view from the top wasn't astounding, mostly buildings and mountains in the distance, but it was a fun little detour anyway.

We walked down the paved road instead of the rocky nature trail, given my tendency towards disaster on rocky downward trails.

We headed straightly to McGrath's Fish House, to fill our starving bellies. 

We both had a bowl of clam chowder and Jeff had a seafood platter.

He wasn't going to share, but he caved.

Those baby blues, right there is one of the first things I loved about him, way back when.

Mm-m. Cod, prawns, scallops and clams.

We were very full, but indulged in dessert anyway. Jeff had marionberry cobbler and I, a German Chocolate brownie with ice cream.  

We were disgustingly satiated and barely had enough energy to shop for a tie-tac, so it was lucky we found some at the second place we tried. Macy's, if you care.

There was a sign that said "40% off" on top of the stand upon which the tie-tacs resided. It wasn't perfectly clear if it applied to the jewelry or not, so when they rang up full price at the register, I pointed it out to the cashier. "Yes, it is a bit confusing," he said, and took off that 40%, which suited my little cheapskate self quite well.

Yesterday, this arrived in the mail from Annie's crew in North Carolina. I believe it is showcasing the artistic talents of three-year-old Elsie. 

Some things are priceless.