Mother's Day Mini-Vacation, No. 24 - Happy Mother's Day to Me!

-->
 

Why I enjoyed Mother's Day. No, it's not the Anthem Pear Cider. Leland on the left, Lamont on the right. We're waiting for our Sunday morning breakfast at Brother Jon's Public House in Bend, Oregon.
 

Leland, leaning back so that I can get his brother Lamont into the photo without feeling like I just might fall over the split rail. (Have I explained that I have a fear of heights? That said fear of heights fills me with thoughts highly irrational?) We're at Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne, Oregon. More photos to come from Smith Rock State Park.

Mother's Day Mini-Vacation, No. 23 - Deschutes River at Old Mill District, Jackson's Corner for a really late lunch, and Dakine Grindz for shaved ice delights

-->
 

Old Mill District on the Deschutes River, Bend, Oregon.
 

Water-lovers on the Deschutes River at Old Mill District.
 

The view from our table at Jackson's Corner where we ate a very late lunch--hungry trio.
 

So hungry that I completely forgot to take a photo before we had all cleaned our plates! Trust me, Leland's plate is as empty as mine and Lamont's.
 

Jackson's Corner--took this photo on the way back to the Zipcar. I wanted you to see the building because I'm wondering if you get the same vibe from the exterior that I did when I walked towards the building. I immediately thought, "I believe I'm going to like this place a whole lot." And I did. Of course, it helped that both Leland and Lamont had eaten there in the past and knew the food to be good.
 

As we passed this school playground the first time, I exclaimed, "Did you see that? A bouldering wall!" Then I asked Leland to drive around the block so that I could take a few photos.
 

How cool! Plenty for kids to climb! And the entire playground is paved so that if it rained before recess, the ground won't become a muddy mess. Smart.
   

Next Leland and I knew right where we wanted to go--for a shaved ice at Dakine Grindz, just a block or so from Brother Jon's Public House, our favorite weekend breakfast place in Bend. Lamont's not interested in shaved ice, so he sat down on the grass to watch people, including these "cyclists" peddling away on The Cycle Pub. Serendipity that I got this photo just as they wheeled it by the No Parking, Bike Lane sign!
 

The young man carefully prepared my huge-sized treat--I think it was called the Big Beach.
 

She's finishing my three-flavored delight: strawberry, kiwi, and honeydew. Leland had told me on Friday when we rode by this place that we needed to come back at some point on the weekend because he knew how good these cool treats taste--was he ever right! And it stayed good from first bite to last.
 

We drove over the Deschutes one more time, passing through this pretty park and neighborhood on our way back to the Writer's Retreat for a well-deserved rest. Hours later we ate a mediocre supper, watched a bit of TV and went to bed. We had lots planned for Sunday before driving all the way back to Portland.

Mother's Day Mini-Vacation, No.12 - OK, I know you're wondering about what we ate while in Bend. Today I'll share photos of the best.

Click here for a trip to City Daily Photo, transporting you around the world every day.

Brother Jon's Public House, Bend, Oregon--Saturday's breakfast. So good we decided to come back here on Sunday morning, too. 

My breakfast. Here's what it says on their menu:

• Southern Fried Biscuits and Gravy $8.50 House-made white sausage gravy over Baked Bakery buttermilk biscuits. Served with two fried eggs and choice of side.

Here's what I have to say about my breakfast. Every single bite was perfect. My side, a bowl of fresh berries. About the biscuit, it's a Baked Bakery Buttermilk Biscuit--the bakery, our waiter pointed out, is just up the street. I don't know exactly how they made that biscuit, but I am particularly happy that they did. And that gravy! Oh, my gosh! That's the best sausage gravy I've ever had. Ev-er! I'm pretty sure that there were pieces of link sausage in there, tasty sausage. I like my eggs scrambled dry--these were just right! The breakfast at this establishment is the best breakfast I've had in the Pacific Northwest, other than those I've enjoyed since 2004 at the Bijou Cafe in downtown Portland.  

Leland's breakfast. He got the special and reported that it was indeed special. His side, O'Brien potatoes. 

 

The menu board which lists the special--the one Leland ordered. You can see from this photo that he took with my camera while I was in the restroom that he got a Baked Bakery Buttermilk Biscuit, too.

 

Lamont's breakfast, from their online menu:

• Redwood Scramble $8.50 Three eggs scrambled w/ bacon, spinach, cherry tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Served with choice of side and bread. 

His side, O'Brien potatoes, his bread, the Baked Bakery Buttermilk Biscuit.

Before we left, the three of us made a unanimous decision to return for Sunday morning breakfast. I'll share those photos tomorrow.