It’s our 15th Anniversary, so we headed to Bend to use our hotel vouchers and celebrate. On the way into town, we stopped at Smith Rock and did a short hike.
Matt found something to climb. 
It was a beautiful day. And because it was a Thursday afternoon in early May, it wasn’t very crowded.
Coming down from doing trail work.
Forced perspective.
It’s just so pretty there!
There was a great sunset thing happening as I flew out of Tuscon. This was my best attempt at capture.
Dad and I took the MGB out for a drive with his driving buddies from the dog park. We had a good drive.
These are tailings from the copper mines.
This is actual nature stuff, not created by extractive processes.
I love looking at all the different kinds of cacti.
Great sign!
Car interior. We had the top on, due to the chilly day.
We drove through Saguaro National Park.
Saguaro cacti are the classic form of cacti that everyone can draw, due to the cartoons. They are plentiful in the hills, which looks very cool.
We drove to a small airport and had breakfast. Then I took pictures of all the drivers and their cars.
I’m very interested in this agriculture thing happening in the desert. It seems like not the best idea, but I know little about the subject.
Having grown up with a very large white B* hovering in the foothills above my hometown, I’m always a fan of discovering letters in the landscape. There’s a big “A” visible from the freeway in Tuscon. Dad drove me up to take a look.
Here’s the story. My favorite part is that the Parks & Rec department now maintains it. Those college kids aren’t so reliable.
Desert and town
More desert and town
Even more desert and town. 
There were some shading structures with informational signage. One of them also came with a couple making out, while sitting on top of the informational sign. Between that couple and the other teenagers getting high back in the parking lot, I think I can say that Tuscon’s Sentinel Peak is not unlike Boise’s Table Rock.
Anyway, rock on top of the shading structure. I can see how that would be a thing.
The view from the freeway.
*For residents of Boise, that link up there is worth a read. It’s funny! I also learned that you can no longer drive all the way to the top of Table Rock. Fie on that!
Look at the sky! Blue! Arizona in March is wonderful!
This is the church that Frank Lloyd Wright dubbed the White Dove of the Desert. We toured!
Here’s the rocky thing next to the church with the cross on top. I know it has a name, I just can’t get the internet to cough it up right now.
Details of the sculptures on the front. 
The mission was founded by Jesuit missionary Father Kino (who you might remember being mentioned in this post). It was the northern-most mission he established. Father Kino gets good press, so I thought I would include this link as an alternate perspective.
In 1767 the Jesuits were expelled from “New Spain” and the mission was abandoned. The Franciscans came to fill the void and began construction of the church that we see today.
The four flags that have flown over the mission. Spain, Mexico, the United States and the Tohono O’odham Nation. The mission is a working parish for the Tohono O’odham people.
I loved this detail.
I also loved this photo, of tourists standing by the explanation of the Man in the Maze.
The Man in the Maze is part of Tohono O’odham culture. The man is born, which is where he is at the top of the maze. He travels through the maze (life) encountering many turns and changes. On the way he acquires knowledge, strength and understanding. Near the end he retreats to a small corner and then reaches the dark center of death and eternal life.
Work was happening on the tower. The Patronato San Xavier is a group that has been working since 1978 to preserve the church. They are also the group that gives the tours.
And here’s my own self with the Man in the Maze.
Detail of ceiling.
Detail on wall.
More front-of-church
Here’s a little mouse. There is a cat located on the other side. Legend says that if the cat catches the mouse, the tower will fall.
Not a detail of the church, but I was flummoxed by this “est. 1959” business. Hawaii was around long before that.
Interior! Nearly everything was painted, rather than tiled, due to lack of funds.
For symmetrical purposes this door was painted. Also the repeating box motif would have been tile in a more prosperous church.
The mission is a pilgrimage site. People can pray to Saint Francis for intersession.
Painted mural. Note the painted frame.
The last supper scene had a creepy little devil’s head in the corner
History of the mission that takes into account the differing cultures.
A nice illustration of the Piman groups annual cycle.
A map of the Father Kino missions.
Milagros left with Saint Francis, as well as other items.
What’s left of the termite-eaten Jesus who used to be on the wooden cross in the church.
An illustration of the Man in the Maze creeping into standard Catholic items.
Courtyard. It was a parking lot at one time.
This sign cracks me up. I’m the person who would read it and ask, “Which way is East?”
Candles stacked and ready for selling.
Across the way was an area of shops. I loved this advertisement.
Overall, a really great tour. I was surprised to learn it was our tour guide’s first tour.
Barb volunteers at the White Elephant Shop in Green Valley. Being a fan of thrift shops, I was excited to check it out.
The store is open Monday-Saturday from 9:00am to Noon. We got there before 9:00, because they run out of parking spaces, and stood in line.
“Some old lady could have died in that sweater.” So said one of my classmates to another classmate wearing a sweater bought at a thrift shop. This was in the late 80s, when not so many people were thrifting, at least not in my social strata. We’d really start hitting the thrift stores once I got to high school. They had tons of stuff, and I was pretty sure that the odds of someone dying in a particular item of clothing was pretty slim.
Visiting a thrift store in a town that is mostly comprised of retirement communities is a slightly more depressing trip. I felt like all of the stuff present had been dragged from different points all over the US, and then been donated to the thrift store when people died. And I also have a lot of stuff that will have to go somewhere when I die. This feeling probably contributed to me buying clothing, and not stuff. But here are a few things I found.
Look at this great 45 record!
Which someone originally got for free with a carton of Fresca! So cool!
There were a lot of various hobby supplies and results on display. Which tapped into the feeling that all the time I spend creating thing results in items with little inherent value and only serves to pass the time until my inevitable end. Here, for example, is David’s effort at wood sculpture. Someone priced it very high at $5.00, and I would be surprised if it sold for its reduced price. Good effort, David. Hopefully you got better at your craft. But I suspect you died.
Clothing, however, worked really well for me. I got four shirts and a dress for at total of $11.00 For that, I love the White Elephant Shop!
(And yes, some lady might have died wearing them. But I washed them, so we’re good.)
While in Arizona, I get to put together a Stave Puzzle. Dad and Barb know someone who knows someone in the Stave Puzzle world. Those people lend Barb their Stave Puzzles.
Stave Puzzles are wooden puzzles that are cut by hand and have great artwork. They are also very difficult to assemble, as they don’t come with a picture and some of the pieces are tricky. And it just gets harder as there are fewer and fewer pieces. Near the end of this one, there were times when I just tried every available piece to find the one that fit. And that boarder almost killed me.
Here’s a detail. The puzzles are customizable–this one had the names of the grandchildren–and have silhouette pieces in different shapes like birds, and the traditional Stave Jester.
This one was a tiny bit easier due to the words If you look at the bottom of this photo, you can see the name Brad spelled out as a puzzle piece.
Once we got to the castle area things got hard. Upside down and in the right corner of this puzzle, you can see the piece that says Hannah. And the name Rod is visible on the right side of the moat.
After I came home, I suggested to my boss that we buy a Stave Puzzle for a celebration at work, given that we usually have a jigsaw puzzle going. Then I looked at the prices. Crikey! I was told they were expensive, but I had no idea. I couldn’t find this puzzle on their site, but, for example, this Peony Bouqet starts at $837.00 for a 6×9-inch version. Based on those prices, I’m guessing I was putting together a puzzle that cost $2,500
Rich people have cool things.
Hey look! I’m in Arizona! Yesterday we went to the dog park and then out to dinner. Then, Barb and I started on a puzzle.
Today, Dad and I are going to visit the Gallery in the Sun. We’re taking the MGB, which is turning 50 years old this year. You’ll see more pictures from the MGB in a later post.
Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia built the Gallery in the Sun so his paintings “would feel good inside.” He built it out of adobe bricks, which were crafted on-site and used natural materials in the construction. I really loved walking through this gallery, so I would categorize his efforts as a huge success.
The entrance, which he made like a cave, or a mine opening.
And decorated with metal flowers.
The Doors! So amazing.
Close-up of the marbles in the doors.
Inside, he sometimes whitewashed the walls, and sometimes left them plain.
This is cactus, cut crosswise, laid down and varnished over. He noted it was pleasing on the feet. I was wearing slip-on shoes and so took an opportunity to test his theory. It was quite pleasing to my feet.
The skylights were covered with that wavy plastic stuff used to cover porches.
Inset frieze.
I quite liked this one. Note the addition of wiring and a security camera.
Here’s a great appliquéd wall hanging of DeGrazia’s art. It’s by Delia Figueroa.
A corner depicting his workshop space.
More great room transitions.
I loved this photo.
Here’s a favorite. “One Slice” 
After visiting the gallery, we checked out the Mission in the Sun. Here’s a fountain we saw along the way.
The mission was built first, following a regional tradition of building a chapel or shrine before the building. It is built in honor of Father Keno.
Art around a side room.
Dedication
The mission has an open-air roof
I loved this cross
A well-used alter
Colored glass
We then visited the artist studio next to the Mission in the Sun. This is where DeGrazia did his work. Visiting artists use the space today. 
Also, the gift shop had these very cool Sand Painting Kits.
I was very intrigued by this kit, but not enough to buy one.
We are cashing in two of our six free hotel nights. Thanks McMenamins Passport! (McMenamins Passport replies: Thank you for spending all that money at McMenamins while completing your passport.)
We’re staying at Anderson School, which is the newest hotel in the chain. I’m glad to use our free nights at this hotel, as it’s more expensive than some of the others.
Why is is more expensive than some of the hotels? A bathroom! In the room! While I don’t mind at all the shared bathroom situation at many of the hotels (and am happy to trade off the bathroom for a lower-cost room) it was nice to have our very own bathroom. There was also a TV. Very un-McMenamins-like!
It did have the same awesome artwork throughout. We stayed in a room named after a local Bothell resident who became an astronomer. 
I didn’t take pictures of the soaking pool, but it was an interesting experience. (You can see a picture in this blog post, or by googling) When we walked into the pool area, it seemed to be very cold and the lifeguards were bundled up in sweats and blankets. We got in the water and kept as much of our bodies as possible in the warmth. It was night, so it took a while, but eventually I wondered if the skylights not skylights but openings in the roof. They were indeed openings. And the huge windows on one wall were not windows, but also openings. It’s an indoor/outdoor pool. Apparently, it was built that way, when Anderson School was a school. McMenamins kept it the same way.
“What happens when it rains?” I asked the lifeguard.
“It rains through the skylight,” was his nonplussed answer.
“What happens when it snows?”
“It snows through the skylight,” he said with a shrug.
Because of the unique indoor/outdoor pool experience, at times the pool is closed due to fog.
On Saturday we ate at the Tavern on the Square (actually we also ate there on Friday night, [McMenamins says: Thanks for spending money onsite while staying in the room for free] but these pictures came from Saturday morning)
This set of stained glass windows is David Schlicker’s interpretation of Mike McMenamin’s most favorite Grateful Dead song “Scarlet Begonias”
The lyrics to the verse are carved around the bar.
Aside from watching three movies and reading, my big activity in Centralia this trip was taking a long walk on Saturday morning. I walked Main Street until it turned into Harrison Street and took me to Fort Borst Park. Here’s what I saw:
Given my upbringing, it was inevitable that the next work that came to mind after reading that sign was “Footloose“.
I was interested that this business was wholly outside. The garage to the right was rented to another business.
I also loved their muffler man.
Too many flutes at the pawn shop.
Typical setup. Planned Parenthood on one side of the street, anti-abortion organization on the other.
Someone had placed a scrap wood bench in front of their house.
Crossing the Skookumchuck River.
Hoo-boy did I love this sign. Clearly, at one time the Panda Inn was a different kind of establishment. 
A “lady” tending her crop outside the Country Cousin restaurant.
The Historic Fort Borst Blockhouse, which was originally built for protection, but actually used to store grain. Later Mr. Borst bought it and it was used as a house while the Borst house was being built. That’s when the windows were cut in.
Fort Borst Park has a lot going on. I took the one mile trail around the park.
No one was fishing when I walked by.
Here is the historic Borst House. It was not open for tours when I wandered by.
The Borsts had a lot of dead children.
This Oregonian grumblingly questions if the trail in Washington is really the Oregon Trail.
Another picture of the Borst house.
Master Gardeners! It’s always good to come across a demonstration garden.
There was also a one-room replica schoolhouse. 
So many things to do at Fort Borst Park. The “Pioneer Soccer Fields” name cracked me up. Those pioneers were big soccer players. Or maybe they are fields honoring early soccer players?
I loved this brochure rack of information available to all.
Some of the brochures were a little worse for wear, but still imparting important information.
There was a swim center in the park. And attached to the swim center was a…miniature golf course?
Look what’s coming soon at the miniature golf theater.
On my way back I stopped at the Goodwill.
I was blown away by their Halloween display, including Look Book.
You could also have a costume match up. My match up? Ghostly Lumberjack. I like the May 23 choice: Evil Hero.
I found a mini keyboard to bring along to the ukulele sing alongs I occasionally attend. I loved the design, including the tape player that looks like a CD player. Sadly, this keyboard is not in tune. The C is actually an A#, so back to the Goodwill (in Portland) it went, to delight another. It cost me $4.00, so I wasn’t terribly broken up.
I spent some time reading in the Centralia Library and really liked this reading recommendation flow chart.
