Are you ready to draw a tree? Explore the outside and pick one or two. What is the bark like? What color are the leaves? Smell it. Touch it. “Examine a leaf, front and back.” Will you dance around the tree? This is a beautiful book about exploring and truly noticing all aspects of different […]
How To Draw a Tree
Posted inFamily Time
Simple Blackberry Bread Pudding
Growing up, I was enchanted by the stories and illustrations in Beatrix Potter’s classic children’s books, like “The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck,” “The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin” and, of course, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” The stories are sweet and funny, with cheeky characters usually learning a life lesson after a mishap. The illustrations are […]
Posted inEducation
Handwriting in a Digital World
As parents, many of us fondly remember learning cursive handwriting in school as children–the curly letters that looked like calligraphy, the quick dash of a pen across the page, the excitement of handwriting letters to pen pals and family. Learning cursive was both practical and enjoyable for many of us. Linking letters together and keeping […]
Posted inParenting
Search for the Future
Spring break is an ideal time to experience college life in action, allowing your child to get a sense of how each college operates on a daily basis. Signing up for the official tour is the obvious first step, but what else can parents and students do to prepare for and make the most of […]
Posted inNest News
Central Library on Target to Open This May
Located at the junction of 27th Street and Wilderness Way in east Bend, the new central library is in its final phase of construction and scheduled to open this May. To prepare for the move, the downtown branch will close in April and remain closed for one year while renovations are completed. Featuring three floors, […]
Posted inExpert Q&A
Expert Q&A with Dr. Jocelyn Cooper
Q: My eight-year-old seems to be sick all the time. She’s had several ear infections and colds this school year. How can we help her stay healthy? A: Frequent childhood illnesses are actually the immune system’s “workout”—it is the normal process of building long-term immunity. However, constant cycles of illness are exhausting for both the […]
Posted inBend Nest
Editor’s Note, Spring 2026
There comes a moment in every parenting journey when we pause and realize the end of a very important chapter is in sight. Graduation looms, and then comes college, a gap year or a child living on their own for the first time. For me, I remember it well as a humbling, bittersweet time.In this […]
Posted inBusiness News
Hepatitis B infant vaccinations, birth parent screenings decline
The number of newborns vaccinated at birth against hepatitis B has fallen slightly over the past four years, according to the new Infant Hepatitis B Immunization Data dashboard launched by Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Likewise, the number of birth parents who are screened for hepatitis B during pregnancy has also decreased, the dashboard shows. “It’s very concerning […]
Posted inFun
Pizza Week is Here!
Get ready to explore Central Oregon, one slice or pie at a time! Throughout the week, you can sample unique and classic pies from your favorite local spots for a steal. The Deals – $3 per slice or $24 for a whole pie Plan Your Week – Take a peek at the participating pizzas and plan out your saucy, cheesy adventure. […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Bend Beer (and Cider) Scene Gets a Collective Shakeup
To paraphrase the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “The only thing constant in life is change.” Some 2,500 years later, his musings describe the state of beer here in Bend. It’s a city rich in craft brewing culture where Deschutes Brewery is one of the nation’s oldest and largest breweries, but beyond that monolith, everything is in […]
