I’ve been to Pearl Harbor. It is one of the quietest experiences you will ever have. Waiting to enter the theater to watch the movie, people visit but not in loud voices or with any laughter. Once seated in front of the large movie screen, no one speaks. If you have never seen this movie or even if you have, it will have a profound effect on you and everyone sitting there. The main film footage was taken December 7, 1941, from the deck of the USS Solace, anchored nearby, by Army Doctor Eric Haakenson. You will see this footage. If you are an American, it will make you cry. It has that effect on everyone. When it is over, you can hear a pin drop and you can hear that pin for the next hour.

Leaving the theater, boarding the transport to the Memorial, that pin is sounding as, still, no one speaks. Climbing onto the Memorial and the entire time you are there, no one speaks. Reading the names of those lost on this ship and knowing she and her crew are resting just below you is an indescribable experience. Awesome, sad, reverent. There really were no words as tears slid down.

And you will know why we stand for the National Anthem and salute our flag and thank our military for being there for us, for protecting and defending our Constitution and Freedoms. Be sure and thank one this holiday season.

Marblehead, Ohio is considered a village with a population just under 1,000. Located at the point of Marblehead Peninsula which divides Sandusky Bay from Lake Erie, Marblehead was incorporated in 1891.

Marblehead was formed during the second glacial ice age and is made of solid limestone. During the 1800s, many stone quarries were dug but today there is just one remaining quarry. That is the LaFarge Quarry which sits smack in the middle of town. Just about every day the Lake Erie freighters dock to on load the limestone. Past industries included fishing, fruit groves and farming but today’s biggest industry outside of limestone is tourism.

The biggest and most famous attraction here is the historic Marblehead Lighthouse. Sited near the busiest Coast Guard station on the Great Lakes is the oldest, continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes. Marblehead was the first lighthouse on the Great Lakes to have a female Lighthouse Keeper. This spot is also one of the most scenic places in Northern Ohio. Everyone who visits here has their camera out snapping away.

The historic lighthouse keeper’s house has been preserved and serves as a maritime museum and gift shop.

The views of Lake Erie here are spectacular.

A sign provides information about Lake Erie.

Reluctantly leaving the lighthouse and heading west, you’ll discover the charm of the Village of Marblehead.

One of the more beautiful historic buildings is the still active Holy Assumption Orthodox Church on the main street going through town.

Across the street with views of the lake is the village cemetery.

There are many historic, restored and very charming homes in Marblehead but these are on the main street. Some of them are big Ohio State fans. Go Bucks!

Some of these historic homes serve as businesses.

This historic school building is now the Red Fern Inn and Rocky Point Winery

Restored historic homes sit side-by-side with similar structures that are actually businesses along this busy, seasonal thoroughfare.

Even some of the business buildings are historic and restored.

This is a favorite stop near the west end of the village. Not only do they serve a variety of great ice cream treats, but they have one of the best burgers anywhere. We highly recommend Dairy Dock!

On the west side of the village is the water tower. It probably has great views of the lake if one were to climb up top.

Marblehead is a summer haven for all of Ohio with a variety of summer housing from quaint, older cottages to more modern condominiums. Marblehead is also known for the summer resort area of Lakeside. Lakeside Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was originated in 1873 by clergy of the Methodist Church and remains a church-affiliated vacation resort. Lakeside has the longest running, continuous Chautauqua Community with its 140-year history. Chautauqua combines religious, educational, spiritual, cultural arts and recreation for a varied experience. All are welcome to visit any and all events. Lakeside has its own symphony orchestra, a beautiful, historic hotel, shops and restaurants. Many of the homes are historic and restored. And, of course, a great beach area for swimming, sunning and more. You can learn more about Lakeside on their website: http://www.lakesideohio.com

If you are looking for a “Great Lake Place” to vacation or retreat in the summer on the Shores of Lake Erie, Marblehead can’t be beat! And you’ll love the proximity to the lighthouse gem of the Great Lakes!

Newport, Oregon is one of our favorite places to visit and has been blogged about here before. There is much to see and do in Newport, including vast areas of beach to explore. At Christmas time, Newport’s Yaquina Bay becomes a spectacular light display during the first weekend in December. The bay, with the largest fishing fleet on the Oregon Coast, turns into a Holiday light event unlike any other.

Dozens of boats decorated with lights, fireworks, various themes and even live music will travel around the bay between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm on Saturday, December 3. This remarkable armada will navigate around the bay from the Coast Guard Station to the Embarcadero Resort and back throughout this time frame.

There are several ways to enjoy this fun and beautiful holiday light display. You can watch from a variety of outside piers and places and several restaurants around the bay. You can enter your own decorated boat and float along with the others. Or, you can buy a ticket and ride on one of the decorated boats. Riding includes hot cocoa and cookies. All proceeds are donated to the annual Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital Foundation’s Festival of Trees event.

A variety of boats will be participating in this 23^rd Annual Lighted Boat Parade including charter boats, fishing boats, Coast Guard search & rescue vessels, sailboats and sea kayaks. In addition, with their research vessels returning for the winter, the NOAA Pacific Fleet will participate with brilliance!

Unique designs and lighting techniques will contribute to the competition for a variety of prizes donated by the local community neighbors and businesses. The Oregon Coast Bank is providing the grand prize of a hunting rifle.

If you are on or near the Oregon Coast, don’t miss this one-night holiday event. Come visit us at Umpqua River Haven and travel the short 60 miles to Newport for this unique and dazzling light display.

Here on the coast, we do some traditional holiday things. Last year, this is what we did. Had we not been scattered, we would have done it again so I am reposting for those of you who may not have seen this. Or even if you did, enjoy our coast Thanksgiving Day again!

For us at Umpqua River Haven, Thanksgiving is a traditional family time. We often have some or several family members visiting and we do some traditional things. This year, 2015, there were just 2 of us as the family is coming for Christmas this year. But we followed the traditions for this day and headed from URH the short distance to the coast.

Our first destination was the small burg of Lakeside, Oregon just a few miles south of Reedsport. While considered a coast town, Lakeside is located on Ten Mile Lake—one of Oregon’s many small inland, but still coastal, lakes. Lakeside Lodge serves a very traditional, plus extra goodies, Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the trimmings. A reservation is required but we always plan ahead for it.

We arrived a bit early and they weren’t quite ready but almost. However, we ran into some Lakeside residents that are close friends and were able to visit while we waited. Soon enough we were able to get to the buffet tables and pile on the traditional cuisine and more. This was our view as we partook of our holiday fare.

It’s always enjoyable to walk out on the dock afterward and be close to the water as we watched a flock of small ducks that were creating sunshine sparkles in the water as they swam.

Soon we headed back north taking a detour to one of our favorite spots to watch the rolls on the ocean in front of us out over the Dunes.

Behind us from this view stands the family’s favorite lighthouse. The Umpqua River Lighthouse is the one that sends red butterflies out into the night at dark.

We then headed down the hill into Winchester Bay and caught this shot of the end of the crabbing dock which extends off into some old pilings.

As you can probably tell it was an absolutely beautiful day on the Oregon Coast. One of those days that is a gift, especially this time of year. But all of our family Thanksgivings have been so and we are grateful for them.

The sun was especially brilliant and it’s not a sight we are used to seeing so much of this time of year. Again we were grateful for the sunshine today. Before you see the photo of today’s sunshine we at Umpqua River Haven wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope yours was as pleasant as ours was.

Thanksgiving is a time to pause and reflect on, well, what we have to be thankful for. I am thankful for family, including my Native American family members, and friends. I am thankful to the readers of this blog site. Your comments are meaningful and helpful and I thank you for being here with us.

I am thankful for this wonderful, funky country we live in. It must be the best country in the world because immigrants can’t get here fast enough. We are privileged to live here and blessed to be.

The beginning of this country belongs to its Native Americans. They were here way before anyone else, of course. But, when the earliest immigrant-settlers arrived, it was the Native Americans who were instrumental in helping them begin to forge the new nation.

The Pilgrims, including some of my family, arrived in 1620 after surviving an arduous 66 days crossing the Atlantic in a leaky wooden boat. That first winter they lived on the Mayflower while building homes and storehouses at Plymouth. Half of the 102 souls that had arrived perished during that first, brutal winter. The remaining ones moved into the village they had built.

It was then, in March of 1621, that an Abenaki Native came into the village surprising everyone by speaking in English. Days later he returned with Squanto, a Pawtuxet Native American. Squanto had been taken years earlier by an English vessel and sold into slavery. He managed to escape to London and find his way home on an exploratory expedition. His English was very good. Seeing how the Pilgrims were suffering from lack of food and illness, Squanto taught them how to plant maze, harvest maple sap and catch fish. They also learned how to identify poisonous plants growing nearby so they wouldn’t accidentally eat them.

Squanto was instrumental in introducing the Pilgrims to the nearby local Natives, the Wampanoag. This friendship endured for over 50 years in peace and harmony. In the fall, when the crops planted by the Pilgrims under Squanto’s expert instruction were successfully harvested, the colony’s Governor, William Bradford, declared a time of feasting and invited their Native American allies. The Wampanoag Chief, Massasoit, was among the invited guests.

It was a 3-day celebration of gratitude by the colony for now having food and good nourishment for the coming winter. There were grateful to their Native neighbors and wished to include them to show their gratitude. They were more than included as the meals were probably prepared with Native spices and cooking methods. While the colonists went “fowling” for meat, the Wampanoag brought 5 deer with them as their contribution. The food was a little different than it is now, but this was the earliest Thanksgiving in our country.

As you eat your turkey and pumpkin’ pie and enjoy the warmth of family and friends, include the Native Americans in your thoughts, prayers, and meditations. They deserve it and right now as they defend everyone’s water, they need your support in whatever way you can give it. We wouldn’t be here without them!

While there will be more Cleveland Rocks posts as it goes, this will be the last one from our Lolly the Trolley summer tour. We may do this one again sometime. As we come toward full circle, our fav Cleveland building comes again into view.

We travel under this bridge to get to the East side of the Cuyahoga River into the Flats. The graffiti was actually quite nice.

As we come out from under the bridge and turn south to travel along the river, one of the bridges comes into view.

Remember that the Flats were once an industrial area filled with warehouses. The beautiful old warehouse buildings have been turned into condominiums and apartments with outdoor patios, furniture, grills, flowers and all. A lot of downtown working people live in them.

We have seen this bridge before but not as up close and personal as it is on our return drive to the Flats.

In 1797, Lorenzo Carter left Vermont and headed to Cleveland shortly after Moses Cleaveland’s Survey party had laid out the town. Amid rumors of diseased mosquitoes and Native American spirits haunting the area, Carter decided to stay and became Cleveland’s first pioneer settler. He built a small log cabin on the East bank of the Cuyahoga and brought his wife and 9 children there to live. Despite the hardships of the day, including malaria, Carter made a living trading furs with the local Native Americans, farming and running the Carter Tavern. The tavern served as an inn and tavern as well as an informal town hall and community meeting place. Carter also ran a ferry service across the river and was Cleveland’s first constable. In 1976, The Cleveland Women’s City Club commissioned this replica of the Carter’s original cabin. It is open to the public and contains furniture and items typical of the times. Can you imagine living in the small, log cabin with 9 children???!!!

We have arrived full circle back to Lolly’s home where we first started. Once again we can see the Terminal Tower! We were a bit sad to be done but also quite wind-blown and ready to be out of the heat and wind of the day.

This is our Lolly the Trolley where we spent 2 enchanting hours getting to know Cleveland all over again! When you are next in Cleveland, be sure and book yourself on Lolly the Trolley (weather permitting, of course). You’ll be glad you did!

Lewis and Clark encountered many different Native America Tribes when they arrived in the Pacific Northwest. They also discovered that these Native Americans had different customs, languages and habits from the Plains Natives they had encountered earlier on. Whereas the Plains Natives depended on the buffalo for food, clothing, shelter and more, the Pacific Northwest Natives depended on salmon for sustenance and more. Shelter was provided by the dense forest timber that abounds in this part of the country.

In later times, many of these tribes were brought together to form the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and there are about 18 different tribes, often speaking different languages, that this entity was comprised of. In modern times, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians hold their annual Restoration Pow Wow in Lincoln City, Oregon on the Coast. This weekend is the time for this event to be held at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort.

A Native American Pow Wow is a wonderful event to attend. They dance, sing, chant and dress in colorful costumes based in their Native culture. They cook traditional foods and sell hand-made jewelry,bead work and other artistic crafts the making of which has been handed down through the generations.

This is also the time when the Siletz celebrate the restoration of their sovereignty as a nation that was established in 1954 but waned over the years. After years of lobbying, the Siletz were reinstated as a Federal Indian Tribe. They were the first in Oregon to receive this restoration and the second in the nation.

The Tribe owns the Chinook Winds Casino and is one of the largest employers in Lincoln City. The Siletz are able to give back to the community through their various enterprises.

The Pow Wow is an exciting event. If you are on or near the Oregon Coast this weekend, don’t miss the color, fun and enjoyment of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians at their annual Pow Wow. And stop in on your way and say hello to us at Umpqua River Haven. We might even have an open RV space for you!

Celtic music—-Irish, Scots, English, Welsh—is some of the most exciting and interesting music in the world. While it is “in the folk tradition,” it is classified as “Traditional” music rather than “Folk” music. Celtic Traditional music is ancient. Most of it is so old that the origins are only known by the styles of the music itself.

During the 1600s and 1700s, Turlough O’Carolan was one composer who is known. His works are well documented. An early Irish, blind harper, O’Carolan composed and sang his own songs. He was admired for a gift of melodic composition. O’Carolan is considered by many to be Ireland’s national composer. He wanted to be a classical composer and his works are more intricate than the usual Traditional music. Much of it is also very beautiful.

Ancient unknown or known Traditional Music will be the order of the day on November 11, 12, 13 in Yachats, Oregon (remember we went there for the mushroom festival!). This year is the 16^th year for Yachats Celtic Music Festival. It grows every year and there will be more activities, groups and individuals than ever. The variety of musicians, groups, callers, storytellers, dancers and a piper (bagpipes) are too numerous to name here. If you have never seen Morris Dancing, you are in for a real treat. The music is intricate and unusual and the dancing is very energetic.

All of the Celtic Traditional music will be represented, along with the strains of O’Carolan in the air. Our good friend, Jennifer Sordyl, will be there with her band, “Celtic Swing,” that also includes Beth Brown and Don Berg.

For an entire weekend of fun, toe-tapping music, don’t miss Yachats this weekend! You’ll be glad you did. And don’t forget to stop in at Umpqua River Haven as you go by to say “Howdy!”

Meanwhile…..back in Ohio. Speaking of Celtic music—-please meet the Moorhens. Berlin Heights, Ohio, is a very small Ohio community in the midst of apple orchards and corn fields. The Moorhens leader and her hubby have an apple orchard right in town. Driving down Main Street past Gilhuly’s

on most any Sunday afternoon, you can hear the notes of mostly Scots Traditional Music floating out the Berlin Heights Community Center doors and floating across the street to Pitstop Pizza where gents park their classic cars and sit on the patio to kabitz.

The Moorhens rehearse together weekly at the BHCC, and are hired to play many “gigs” throughout the year. They will be especially busy this year during the holiday season. While much of their music is from Scotland, they also play Irish and English Traditional and American Old Time. The musicians play a variety of instruments including fiddles, mandolin, recorder, penny whistle, guitar, mountain dulcimer and bodhran. Every once in awhile one of the musicians shows up with an additional instrument not seen in the group before.

Visit the Moorhens Facebook page and learn more about them. The new gig schedule is up, so, if you are in Northern Ohio, you can find where they are playing. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009904996373

Everyone has fun when the Moorhens play!

Left to right: Keith Shively, Ginny Mamere, Bonnie Gordon, Linda Phillips, Ann Baker Not pictured: Owen P and Ellen Templar

Newport, Oregon, on the coast, is one of our favorite places to visit. We’ve posted about Newport before. There are so many things to see and do there but one of our favs is the Oregon Coast Aquarium. All things marine belonging to the Pacific Northwest Oceans are here. We also spotted a rare, white tiger on our visit several years ago.

The Aquarium runs several “feed” events during the year, but we thought we’d zoom in on the weekend of November 4, 5, and 6. Starting on the 4^th there will be a Sea Otter Feed with the largest raft of these very cute and entertaining critters as they cozy up to the aquarium’s staff during the educational presentations. If you don’t make it to the public feedings (there are 3 during the day), you can catch them on the Aquaricam throughout the facility. It is fascinating to watch them floating on their backs, cracking open clams and digging the meat out of the shells. These are everyone’s favorite marine mammal!

Also on November 4^th at 11:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M., the sea lions get their meal of fresh fish. These are California Sea Lions and while they are wild marine life, the Aquarium’s lions have also learned how to lie still for check ups and flip around in the pool for exercise. Visitors can get in on some educational presentations by the staff and also some sea lion enrichment activities that include these highly intelligent protected marine life working a paint brush. If you have never seen a sea lion “feed” you are in for a treat. They know how to have fun.

Starting at 11:30 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. there is a Pelican presentation. The Brown Pelicans have been rehabilitated and demonstrate behaviors that assist the staff to care for them and to enrich the Pelican’s lives. You can view the educational presentation in the outdoor amphitheater and learn how you can help Pelicans in the wild. I think these birds look prehistoric, especially when they fly in formation, low over the surface of the water.

The Sea Bird Aviary houses six different varieties of sea birds: Tufted Puffins, Horned Puffins, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, Common Murres and Black Oystercatchers. Never heard of most of them? We haven’t either except for Puffins. At 2:30 you can meet one of the aquarium’s aviculturists and learn how they care for almost 100 sea birds. During this informative presentation you will learn about the wild marine birds and be able to ask questions. If you visit seasonally, you will notice how the plumage of the birds varies from season to season. You might see babies on the beach at different times of the year also. This photo is from the holiday lights display at Shore Acres State Park near Charleston. You can’t miss what kind of bird this is (Puffins).

You can also get in on a “behind the scenes” tour of the facility. Learn the inter-workings of caring for swarms of stinging jellies, sharks and more than 15,000 marine life animals. There are some requirements (over 6 years only), so be sure to check those out before you go so you won’t be disappointed.

One of these tours starts November 5 at 12:30 P.M. It’s a fun way to learn about the creatures of the Pacific Northwest Ocean.

These events repeat themselves over the weekend and during the rest of the year. Don’t forget to stop in and say “Hi” to us at Umpqua River Haven (www.umpquahaven.com) coming or going to the Oregon Coast Aquarium at Newport.

Fall is this girl’s favorite time of year. Temperatures cool, rain happens (I love the rain!) and the riot of colors on the trees are dazzling. Yes, definitely dazzling. We are going to visit 4 states in the fall to experience what fall is all about.

We will start near Umpqua River Haven with some October photos. This first one is in the McKenzie River Valley not far from home.

This next one is taken in the Siuslaw River Valley between Florence and Eugene.

Here at http://www.umpquahaven.com we have our own kind of fall colors. This is our resident park maple tree. It’s the one the hummingbirds like to nest in summers.

Our resident blueberry bushes at Umpqua River Haven turn into the most beautiful colors anywhere.

Even Oregon’s Black Bears enjoy the fall colors in the forest.

Next, we will visit the road out of Soda Springs, Idaho and into the Caribou National Forest. These first few are between Soda Springs and the Caribou. The Aspen groves are endless!

Wouldn’t you love to live here??!!

And into the Caribou National Forest which is in both Idaho and Wyoming.

The Caribou is one of the world’s all-time most beautiful places. You can drive through here past the 15-foot snow posts and not pass a vehicle!

This one is from a remote town in Wyoming—in the middle of nowhere.

This post serves a duo purpose this week. Both Oregon and Cleveland (and points between) are included. Cleveland has a large, natural area surrounding it. At one time it was referred to as “The Valley.” Today it is part of the Cleveland Metroparks System. Locally known as the “Emerald Necklace,” you can enter on the west side from the Lakewood entrance into the Rocky River Valley, follow the meandering Rocky River, and drive for miles. The Metroparks comprise 21,000 acres with most of that acreage being in the Emerald Necklace surrounding Cleveland. There are hundreds of miles of hiking, cycling and horse trails to discover. The parks have much more to offer but we are here for the fall colors. The necklace extends south to Brecksville and then north to Chagrin Falls, on the Chagrin River, and eventually to the east side of Cleveland at Euclid. The leaves were just starting when I took these photos. The Valley becomes a fairyland when the multi-colored leaves drift down like gentle rain, but quiet as snow, as they ‘ripen.’

There were a few places where many leaves had fallen leaving a carpet of color blanketing the ground.

Some of the trees were breath-taking!

There is a lot of history here, some of which you may recognize from previous Cleveland Rocks posts. Washington Tyler was born in Ohio City in 1835. He founded the Cleveland Wire Works and became one of the richest men in the city. Instead of building on “Millionaire’s Row,” he built on 200 acres and put his summer home up over-looking the Valley. Woodside Farms was a working farm but considered a ‘gentleman’s hobby.’ As you travel through the Valley, you will come across this restored barn known as “Green Barn.” The barn is marked with a historical marker.

Our last photo shows one of the many crossings of the Rocky River as it winds around through the Valley. If you get to Cleveland in October, do not miss fall in the Emerald Necklace!