My Happy Place - Black Butte Ranch

As I step out of the car for the first time, each trip to Black Butte Ranch, I feel the same way...why has it been so long and how do I figure out a way to make it over here more often.  The smell, the sun, the trees, the animals and most of all the family is all what drives my desire to just BE at Black Butte.
My love affair with Black Butte Ranch began when I was just a babe.  My parents built our first house here in 1976 (yes the same year I was born) with Bill and Barb Crothers our dear family friends.  This was a nice three bedroom, two bathroom house with a giant rock fireplace (at least 8-10ft tall) in the center of the family room.  One of the best memories I have of the little house was when our parents were out for the NYE party at the lodge and they had left us in the care of my dear Grandma Margaret.  Of course she had gone to bed, so we built a huge pit of pillows below the large fireplace and then jumped over the stairs on top of the fireplace and jumped into the pit of pillows.  It was fantastic as a child -  now as an adult if my children were partaking in this activity, I would be a little less enthusiastic.  I learned to ride my bike at Black Butte, ski the massive slopes of Bachelor and be happy reading a book out on the deck.

Then in 1980 (the year my sister was born), my parents, Bill and Barb Crothers, my grandparents and another partner built "the big house."  The "big house" was a huge 3 master bedrooms (with their own bathrooms), bunk room with a bathroom next door, a huge kitchen, dining room and massive family room.  This was a great house.  It fit so many people and did so very comfortably.  So the original house that our parents built was relegated to "the little house."  Of course we all loved to stay in the "big house" but we also continued to stay in the "little house." 

We spent a ton of the summer in Black Butte which also featured the 4th of July parade.  I am very excited that my children now participate in this same parade. 

Decorating pre-parade!  They are very helpful with suggestions.

Family post-parade! Tommy zoomed and Morgan and Mom walked.

We also spent most of the winter weekends at Black Butte making the early morning trek to Mt. Bachelor to spend the day skiing.  I know I had a very rough childhood right? 

Then as all good things do, our Black Butte home ownership came to an end.  First with the "big house" and then in time with the "little house."  However, we have remained loyal Black Butte goers because our family, Doris and Bill Lovato, have generously allowed us to stay at their Black Butte house. 

However in 2008 the Lovatos upstairs water heater broke and flooded their house and the house had to be taken down to the studs.  So throughout the rebuilding of their house, the Lovatos have included us in their 4th of July celebrations in Sunriver and at a Black Butte rental house last year.  But this year we are back in their beautifully remodeled home.  We have had an outstanding time so far and the fun is still occurring.

So I just wanted you to all know that Black Butte is my happy place and if I had a choice, I would never leave.  Thank you to the Lovato family who have made it possible for me to have one of the best weeks I have had in a long time. 

Cheers to being in your happy place for 10 days!