Archives : 2010 : February

Olympics puts National and Regional Pride on Display

As Mark Morical wrote in The Bulletin today, “Central Oregon is well-represented at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.”  Central Oregon has three athletes competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in addition to four others who are coaching for the US Olympic team.  Wow! Central Oregon has a strong tradition of developing athletes in the sports of skiing and snowboarding.  Our local athletes are Torin Koos, 29,  competing in cross-country skiing; Tommy Ford, 20, competing in alpine skiing; Chris Klug, 37, competing in alpine snowboarding.

Americans are very proud of their athletes and it’s interesting to watch people rooting for athletes competing in a sport that we sometimes know nothing about.  Obviously we all know skiing and snowboarding, but there are a multitude of events such as curling or skijoring (huh?).

The Olympics is a time when the world can come together and put differences aside for hi-caliber competition.  I look forward to watching how it all plays out and cheering on our Central Oregon athletes.

23 Life Lessons

I came across this list sometime ago and felt now was a good time share it.  These aren’t revolutionary ideas or comments, just some that need repeating from time to time.

1.  Frame every so-called disaster with these words:  “In five years, will this matter?”

2.  Always choose life.

3.  Forgive everyone everything.

4.  What other people think of you is none of your business.

5.  Time heals almost everything.  Give time time.

6.  However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

7.  Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick.  Yours friends will.  Stay in touch.

8.  Believe in miracles.

9.  Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

10.  Growing old beats the alternative.

11.  Your children get only one childhood.  Make it memorable.

12.  Get outside every day.  Miracle are waiting everywhere.

13.  If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

14. Don’t audit life.  Show up and make the most of it now.

15.  Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

16.  All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

17.  Envy is a waste of time.  You already have all that you need.

18.  The best is yet to come.

19.  No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

20.  Take a deep breath.  it calms the mind.

21.  If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

22.  Yield.

23.  Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

Celebrate your life; come to Black Butte Ranch, take in the mountain views; go for a walk in the surrounding Deschutes National Forest; Celebrate what an amazing place Black Butte Ranch truly is with someone special.

See ya around the Ranch!

Katie

Romance and Chinese New Year

This year Valentine’s Day and the beginning of Chinese New Year converge on the same day.  Both holidays abound with traditions and special nuances. In America we celebrate Valentine’s Day with loved ones by having a special meal, giving each other romantic cards and having a special libation. Chinese New Year celebrations are much the same way – spent with loved ones a meal filled with  symbolic foods and wishes of good fortune and health in the new year.

This year at Black Butte Ranch you can celebrate both holidays in style.  On Valentine’s Day commemorate the weekend with your sweetheart in true fashion. On Saturday, February 13  you can go on a guided snowshoe walk in the forest with a naturalist guide from Wanderlust Tours, then on Sunday, February 14 show you really care and come to the Lodge Restaurant for a divine Valentine’s Day Dinner.  This is a prix fixe menu ($80 per couple) replete with scallop terrine and grilled jumbo prawns served  with saffron lobster aioli, and for your second course get your choice of grilled tenderloin of beef, seafood duet salmon roulade, or jumbo mushroom ravioli. Dessert will certainly put you over the top with “Chocolate Passion”, a bittersweet molten chocolate tart with chocolate ice cream!

As Ron Popeil always said, “but wait, there’s more!”  To celebrate Chinese New Year – Year of the Tiger which begins on February 14 and ends on February 21 -  Black Butte Ranch is hosting a  Chinese New Year celebration on Saturday, February 20.

This event is a fundraiser for the Sisters High School Mandarin Chinese class which is planning a trip to China this summer.  This prix fixe menu includes a three course meal with entrée choices of Peking duck, vegetable fried rice, miso salmon lo mein or beef with pickled pears.  There will be a traditional Chinese dragon dance performed by the students, and other demonstrations as well as information about their trip. The cost of the celebration meal is $25 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 6-12, and 5 and under are free.

We would love to have you and your family join us for  both of these enchanting events.

See ya around the Ranch!

Katie