Miss Oregon Teen Rodeo Queen

Central Oregon is so proud of our home town girl. She made Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon this year and she is as sweet as they come. She not only looks good but she is a nice person and I don't think they could have picked a nicer or better person to represent our state.

She lives on a working ranch and is going to college and still finds time to represent our state. She has always been involved in things that help other people.

We are so proud of you Kayla and support you 100%

Wild horse race

The Warm Springs Reservation puts on a Root Feast Rodeo every spring and Saturday is kids day. This is the teen division of the wild horse race. It is real wild horses and it is wild.

If you ever get a chance to go to a rodeo there you should.  The wild horse race has got popular at a lot of rodeo's now and the team that has held first place for years lives here in Warm Springs.

Sometimes it is hard to watch as horses and people get hurt. This is a free-for-all, they turn the horses loose with a halter on them and usually no one has any control. I remember once in Sisters at the rodeo two horses hit head on.  Another time in Sisters two of the riders getting drug behind the horse hit head on.

Wild horse racing is not for the faint of heart nor is it for the faint of heart to watch.  The young group starting with 5 thru 9 or so is scary and they use the colts but in comparison in size just as bad.

Fire danger

Fire is so dangerous and so powerful and I so admire the men and women who fight them to try to save our lives and property.

Flying can be dangerous at any time but flying in the heat and thermo changes in a fire plus the fact it is hard to see in the smoke takes a strong brave person.

30 homes were in danger in this fire East of Madras and many departments sent fire engines to help and to protect the homes.  They did an amazing job and not one home was lost and that took a lot of skill on the firemen's part.

It was really hard as the fire also got down in the canyons where it was almost impossible to fight and then would grow so fast in the dry grass and sagebrush and then come up the other side like a fiery dragon and the firemen could not cross the canyon but sometimes had to drive 10 miles to get around the the other side. The wind kept changing directions which made it almost impossible to know where the fire was going to come out of the canyon.

This all could have been prevented with safety rules being followed as it was caused by a burning barrel. They did not have a good screen on the barrel, they did not clean around the barrel and your fire should be out before the dew dries. You should have a hose available to use if a spark does come out.

Everyone thinks it isn't going to happen to them.  A good load of gravel around the barrel would have been a whole lot less expensive, a new hose and screen would have been cheap for the amount of money this fire cost in equipment, personnel, property, medical injuries..

Please be safe and realize the fire danger is very real especially when you are in the dry side of the state. Many fire are caused on both sides of the mountain by unsafe burning practices...

BE SAFE! THE PRICE YOU PAY IS A BARGAIN WHEN FACED WITH THIS. 

Lightning storm and Mt. Jefferson

I love the lightning storms in Central Oregon but I hate all the fires that are started from it. It is so dry and sometimes the fire will smolder for day and break out in a major fire. When this happens it has been three days of drying out, the rain is gone and the fire builds fast.

Mt. Jefferson is a familiar site for all of Central Oregon and is dear to everyone's heart. One of the neatest thing about the mountain is that the sun sets right behind it and makes for some dramatic shots. 

Cascade Lakes Highway

If you have a day to mess around you should drive the Cascade Highway from Highway 58 to Mt Bachelor out of Bend.  You can enter going from Bend to Mt. Bachelor, off from Highway 58 from Eugene area or from LaPine going out to the high lakes.  It is a beautiful drive and great way to spend the day.

Myself I like driving it from Bend south as I think the views of the mountains and lakes are better going that direction.

There are many places along the drive for short walks or even tougher walks up into the wilderness area that are well marked. One of the best is the hike to Green Lakes which is about 6 miles long and goes up Fall Creek which is one fall after another almost all the way and ends at Green Lake which is in the bowl where the Three Sisters meet.  It is a heavily traveled hike but you can only get all the way usually in August.

Fight with a Peacock

When I was small I was like all children and fascinated by peacocks and I wanted a tail feather really bad. They were hard to come by in those days. A friend of my dad that had a 2nd hand store and was an auctioneer had some peacocks and I would stand and watch them every chance I got just wishing to find a feather.   (I found out later his wife picked the feathers off the ground every morning and put them in a jar and would sell them.

Hildebrand  told me that if I went into the pen and got a hold of the feather and got it pulled out I could have it.  That was all I needed for encouragement and I was off like a shot through the gate.  I chased the peacocks and finally got my hands on a tail feather.

That feather did not come out but it sure ticked the bird off and he turned and pecked me and hit me with his wings and I let go.

I was a determined that I was going to get a feather and I again grabbed a feather and hung on. That bird drug me, pecked me, hit me and screamed bloody murder. I did not know that a peacock could scream that way.  Dad and Hildebrand laughing the whole time.

I am covered with dirt, bird poop and my hair is tangled and I know I have bruises all over me from those stupid birds but I again grab a bird's feather.  By now feathers are flying everywhere but I am going to get a whole feather for my wall.

Mrs. Hildebrand hears the commotion and comes out of the house to see what in the world is going on. She scolds my dad and Hildebrand and takes me into the house telling me that the feathers are quite strong and that she has a whole jar full I can have as they just fall out when ready.

My friend has peacocks and they are really good watch dogs but they scream during breeding season just like they do when you pull their tail feathers, very loud, it is not pretty, it is a loud scream.

Antique horse drawn logging stuff

These are suppose to be logging stuff and I have never found someone that can tell me what the round container looking thing is. I can understand wagons but what in the world is that, some kind of gear?  If anyone knows what it is please let me know.

Closed BLM or grass land roads

We have heard about all the new rules for the roads in the grasslands and much of it is exaggerated. They have not closed as many roads as you would think. The roads they closed were already closed but people go out and tear off the signs.

The old rules said a road was open unless a closed sign was there. Since people won't leave the signs up it becomes to expensive to mark them so the new rule is, a road is closed unless it shows on the map as open.

The roads have not changed, the rules on markings have changed since some people can not follow rules. They are tearing up the land and the new growth that feeds our wild animals.

Please show respect for the land and the animals!  By the way the maps are free and are available at the grasslands office near you. In Madras the office is right at the south "Y". Stop and get your FREE maps and the friendly helpful people who work there.

Round Butte

A picture of Round Butte which sets just above "The Cove". In the late 50's and early 60's it was the place to go set and watch for UFO's. Now people live around the lower edges of the butte but you can still drive up on top and see amazing views of the surrounding farmland.

People talk about how dry and gray or brown Central Oregon is. Central Oregon is a land of many personalities and seasons. In spring it is very green and flowers are abundant, the land is full of wildlife and interesting terrain.

People come over all the time from the West side of the mountains like Portland headed for "The Cove" to go out on their boats or to camp. In the camps you can see many deer that have became quite tame to the tourists. This makes them an ideal target for poachers and horn hunters.

One big five point buck who was massive was shot and they did not even cut hi horns off right for them to be a trophy as they did not take any of the skull that holds the horns but cut them off with a saw just above the eye horns and left his body to rot among the sage.

Please visit and enjoy Central Oregon but show some respect to our land and our animals, PLEASE we beg you.

Dinner before the storm

A herd of deer come out to eat as a thunderstorm builds in the background. They are watching carefully but are not the least bit worried as when they get scared their tails go up instead of laying down. If you make any movement or sound their tails would have went up  and off they would have gone. If I stand quiet enough they will just watch carefully.

What does the Sandman look like?

We always hear about the sandman but no one ever gets to see him, well here he is. He lives just north of Madras, Oregon just off highway 26. He is bald with a beard and tiny little slits for eyes.  I just love this old sandman who I found by accident as I was turning around.

After the Storm

I think everyone has heard the song "Just walking in the rain". I think it should be walking after the rain. In Central Oregon we don't get a lot of rain but there is nothing like a good thundershower at the end of a hot day to cool it off and make the air smell so good. If you could can that smell for air fresheners you would be rich.

When you walk after the rain the joy is catching, the storm is over, the new begins. Fresh air fills your lungs and the smell fills your nose. Even the plants grow better after a thunderstorm. Some people say you can watch the plants grow after a thunderstorm they grow so fast.

If you want refreshed both inside and out, head out as soon as the thunderstorm is over and enjoy the walk of a lifetime, a time when things get tough you can go to in your mind to remember after the storm life is great.

Pioneer House

This is the old pioneer house they moved to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Seem so funny for it to be called a pioneer house since my folks used to play cards in it when I was really small.  Time does pass so quick. Can you just imagine the stories this house could  tell. It has sheltered families, hurts, heartaches and joys and love and maybe even survived wars, cattle wars, sheep wars or even wars with the Native Americans who populate this area.

Shortcuts for beauty

When we go to Central Oregon from Portland area we head right down highway 26 full speed ahead. The old saying "stop and smell the roses" holds true for this trip.  When I go to Estacada or Hubbard I sometime take off the back way. The drive is out of this world.  Head up the Clackamas River from Estacada and the extra time is well spent.  The post before of the Clackamas Ranger Station and all these flowers make the drive so worth while.  It is paved all the way through. It is fun to spend the whole day going through this way, stop and hike. Great huckleberry picking in the fall too.

Clackamas Lake Ranger Station Historical place

This is a really beautiful place.  It is on the historical places list for the United States and one of the first ever ranger stations.  It is not far off from Highway 26 and well worth the stop. I could have spent the whole day hiking around here.

Photo of Cyrus Springs Orchard

Have you ever came across an old homestead of a valley or a outcropping of rocks you just know has a history galore if it could talk.  When I see an old homestead place I always wonder what the pioneers that lived here had to say.  Sometimes I can set there and just feel the life that once occupied the place and I so wish they could tell me the stories.  The hardships, the danger, the adventure and the hopes and joys.

You know when you come across one like this at Cyrus Springs that someone at one time loved this place, they planted trees and a great big orchard.

There is a horse camp, Cyrus Springs horse camp just down the road from here that is one of the neatest ones I have been to.

old barn at dawn

Dawn is a time of the day that so many people miss. They never know the peace a dawn brings to your soul. The cows and horses are just starting to get up. The birds are singing, the air is fresh with dew, it is like a new day brings a new joy to your heart, like starting anew.

Songbirds make a hike a delight

There is nothing like hiking with your dog in the early morning light and listening to the birds singing. The quiet seeps into your bones and fills you with a peaceful feeling. Stress goes away, blood pressure goes down and even hiking your pulse slows and a smile creeps across your face.  The time before the world starts moving and clanging  and beeping and roaring, out here nothing but the birds singing. I love to go hike out of town with the animals at first light of the day. It is the best way to start a day.

Old weathered wood fence posts

I love the old fence posts and corrals that are in our public lands. Anyone can use the corrals to go out and work their horses or put a horse in the corral while you have lunch. I park at this one a lot with my horse trailer and then go riding and come back here to have lunch and  let the horses loose to roll and drink.

I have not been riding for a couple of years but I am hoping this year I will have some time. Seems like I am so busy anymore that riding is down the list. I just brush them and do some work and riding at home but very rarely ever haul out for the whole day as I don't like to leave my mom at home that long.  My daughter lives in town now so I am hoping to take off for a day here and there.