Back to the Ranch

We are back in California visiting family; first Peter then Steven and his family and now visiting George and Jill at Takach Ranch.

Our RV site is right on the ranch near the barn...

... and the their home is our rec room and a very comfortable place to get on the I-Pad during the quite moments while visiting.

An interesting shots are this reflection off of the TV catching a lamp and Scrabble Queen in one shot...

... and the fire in the fireplace.

Now this isn't a working farm implement but it makes for wonderful yard art.

Looking back uphill to Jill's home you get an idea of the slope of the property.

I liked this nail on the top of a fence post...

... and this shot of the Musemoblie...

perhaps my favorite is this one looking down the fence-line.

Only in Southern California will you find two ocean kayaks in a barn

What a nice barn so clean and well built...

... from the door latch ...

... to the cowgirl shadow.

Our site is just perfect with even a small lawn...

... and a good view of the Texas Welcome sign.

I like the wire fencing ...

... the wagon wheel...

... the great view ...

... and the picnic spot.

The bird feeders are full and visited often.

The fence post is a great coffee mug holder...

... and a stump makes a nice small table...

... and the big white rock makes a great chair.

I like this cool rail-splitter ...

... and the wood shredder looks very used...

sitting next to the corral fence...

at the bottom of the hill.

This is a really nice wind-chime with horses at the top and bottom...

... and this is a really pretty landscape looking east in the morning with the sun's rays breaking the clouds.

Jill's green thumb is evident in the great succulents she has all over the ranch...

...and Jill and George love their animals just as much having raised Willie ...

from a small calf to a healthy beautiful full grown beauty...

and Buddy the paint to a great looking equine.

We all love Willie ...

...even when he tries to lick the camera.

They are both very loved.

We also enjoy the flowers blooming this early in the year.

Quote of the Day ~

The ranch was raw land when I bought it and, for better or worse, I have designed every aspect of it from the corrals, the arena, to the barn, to the house. ~ Janine Turner (The same could be said of Jill and with George's help)

Dinner in Portland

 Driving to Portland, Oregon on a clear day you realize there are some really big mountains to the east. It is the Cascade range and it is chocked full of volcanoes like Mount Hood.

"The Multnomah name for Mount Hood is Wy'east. In one version of the legend the two sons of the Great Spirit Sahale fell in love with the beautiful maiden Loowit who could not decide which to choose. The two braves, Wy'east and Klickitat, burned forests and villages in their battle over her. Sahale became enraged and smote the three lovers. Seeing what he had done he erected three mountain peaks to mark where each fell. He made beautiful Mount St. Helens for Loowit, proud and erect Mount Hood for Wy'east, and the somber Mount Adams for the mourning Klickitat."

We arrived in Portland about 3:43 (well exactly at 3:43.45) and found a spot to park in front of Grand Central Bakery. The newly re-modeled Hawthorn location is a Portland that now is a great place to sip and read read your paper surrounded by beautiful kiwi vines and in warm weather ample outdoor deck seating as well.

 The area around Hawthorn Blvd is built on a series of gently rolling hills with a background of big pine trees...

 ... and telephone poles with posters stapled to them advertising one show...

 ... after another.

 The Portland convention center was near the route Isaac and Nicole took us to dinner and I got a quick shot through some trees as we drove past.   The twin spires are illuminated annually on September 11 in memorial of the events of 9/11.

 I didn't get a chance to identify this building as we zipped past but I do like architectural style, art deco, I remember seeing buildings similar growing up in Houston Texas.

 The economy must be doing okay in Portland because it has several large construction projects moving forward on Williams ...

 ... and some great places to feed your Epicurean desires. There is my wonderful son in the background along with Nicole and the Scrabble Queen.(you can click on the pictures for the larger version) The eatery we are in is called Tasty N Sons. We all had Low Country Hush Puppies (fantastic) , Fried Cauliflower & Olives with harissa cream (a first but great enough not to be the last) and I ordered Monk's Carolina Cheesesteak that was very very good although next time I'll have them eliminate the lettuce.

 While waiting for the order I walked around in the building Tasty occupies getting a look into their kitchen...

 ... followed by an indoor garden next to a barber shop...

 and just before the personal transportation locker room.

 I also liked this view down a long corridor onto Williams street.

 I liked the touch of the ground pepper mill a small metallic cup of salt and a candle on the tables...

 ... and the capped bottle of water.

After leaving Tasty I noticed this marker in a driveway on NE Beech - must be a surveyor's mark - cool.

Quote of the Day ~ "Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside." ~ Mark Twain