Category : Holidays

The Central Oregon Waiting Game

As I look longingly out the window I imagine a warm sunny day, with marshmallow clouds slowly drifting across the azure sky.  Then the phone rings and I am snapped back to the reality of a  gray sky and a cloud-shrouded butte.

Welcome to springtime in Central Oregon; a time when Mother Nature has a bout of schizophrenia. Even though we expect it, it’s never easy.  The weather can be a frustrating proposition as our desires switch from wanting to ski at every opportunity to tuning up our golf game or our bikes.

This is the time of year where you must have three seasons of clothing and sports gear in your closet. On a perfect spring day you can achieve any combination of activities: get in 9 holes of incredible mountain golf at Big Meadow (when it opens) and then ski a half-day up at Hoodoo; or you could golf then ride your bike on the more than 18 miles of meandering bike paths at the Ranch; or golf, ski, bike and then head to the spa.

Lucky for us, there is an activity that isn’t weather dependent – Easter Brunch.

Ahhhh, brunch buffets.  William Pearson  ponders the wonderfulness of buffets in his 1965 novel The Muses of Ruin. He refers to the buffet as “the eighth wonder of the world.” He goes on to say, “How many times you go through the line is a private matter between you and your capacity, and then between your capacity and the chef’s evil eye.”

The Easter Brunch at the Lodge Restaurant is exquisite. Executive Sous Chef Adam Kapela puts his creative touch on each dish.  Try the truffle potato salad with roasted mushrooms, or the Ranch benedict with Parisian ham and Pepper Vodka and herb hollandaise.  You won’t want to miss his special Herb crusted Beef Prime Rib with black pepper horseradish cream and Brandy grain mustard Jus.

Easter is April 24, so don’t wait too long to make a reservation for the whole family (kids 4 years and under are free). Call 866.901.9261 for more information.

See ya around the Ranch!

Katie

 

 

 

Merry Christmas

Maybe it’s just me, but have you noticed how very few people wish each other “Merry Christmas?”  I can recall during my childhood when everyone seemed to jubilantly wish you a Merry Christmas.  As I pondered this thought I was curious as to how the phrase “Merry Christmas” came about.  It apparently is most common in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia.

The  ”Merry” is derived from the Old English word myriage, which originally meant “pleasant and agreeable” rather than joyous and jolly (its current meaning). Though Christmas has been observed since the 4th century AD, the first known usage of any Christmastime greeting dates back to 1565 , when it appeared in The Hereford Municipal Manuscript: “And thus I comytt you to God, who send you a merry Christmas.”   “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” (incorporating two greetings) was in an informal letter written by an English admiral in 1699. [1]

In 1843, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was published , during the mid Victorian revival of the holiday.  The word merry was then beginning to take on its current meaning of “jovial, cheerful, jolly and outgoing. “Merry Christmas” in this new context figured prominently in A Christmas Carol. After Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas his thoughts on the holiday are transformed as he exclaims, ” I am as merry as a school-boy. A merry Christmas to everybody!”

As much as thesalutation of “Merry Christmas” is a tradition, so is Christmas here at the Ranch; with Breakfasts with Santa, Carriage Rides, the festive Lodge Christmas Tree, and the amazing Christmas Buffet.  For decades families have been spending their holidays here  enjoying the peacefulness and simpleness that can’t be found many other places.

On behalf of everyone here at Black Butte Ranch and in the tradition of the admiral – we’d like to take this time to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Se ya around the Ranch,

Katie

References

1. Holiday Greetings (en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Christmas)

Thanksgiving – An Authentic American Holiday

There are many things we can truly call American, but one of my favorites is the Thanksgiving Holiday.  It isn’t centered around commercialism, but around food and family.    Did you know that there is actually a law that says when Thanksgiving is? In 1941 the US Congress passed a law officially establishing the celebration of Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November.

Another truly American tradition is the pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkey.  Since 1947 the National Turkey Federation has presented the President of the United States with one (and in recent years – two) live turkey(s) in a ceremony known as the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation. The live turkeys are pardoned and live out the rest of their days on a farm or, since 2005, sent to either Disneyland in California or Walt Disney World in Florida, where they serve as the honorary grand marshals of Disney’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. While it is commonly believed that this pardoning tradition began with President Harry Truman in 1947, the Truman Library has been unable to find any evidence for this. The earliest Thanksgiving Presidential Pardon on record is with President George H. W. Bush in 1989.

There is a tradition here at Black Butte Ranch and it’s one that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. That is the Thanksgiving Day Buffet.  It is resplendent with all the traditional trimmings, but with a few delicious additions such as herb crusted prime rib and maple cheesecake with roasted pumpkin seeds.  What could be better that enjoying our sumptuous buffet with all the fuss and muss and slaving over a hot stove.  You could actually enjoy time with your family, playing in the snow (I hope) or strolling down to the lodge for a cup of hot cocoa or spiced cider and enjoying the warmth of the Lodge fire-pit.

We here at Black Butte Ranch would like to wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

See ya around the Ranch!

Katie