Like what you see? Give it a share!Click To Tweet

Lake Erie Love for our 25th Anniversary

This year we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with some Lake Erie Love.  We were really wanting to make the occasion special, yet we are still in the middle of a pandemic.  So we set out on the safest adventure we could create in a COVID-19 world.

 

Preparations

 

 

We began the adventure with a trip to one of our local favorites – Grandpa’s Cheese Barn.  This is a favorite tourist attraction in Ashland, OH.  They carry all kinds of cheese, plus other goodies and trinkets that you don’t want to pass up if you’re in the area.

We got some Asiago Parmesan cheese spread for crackers and some chunks of mixed cheese with trail bologna for snacking on later.

 

 

 

Lunch

 

Next, it was off to our traditional anniversary meal – Red Lobster in Ontario!  The day we got married, this is where we ate.  And for each of the 25 years since then, we’ve shared a meal at Red Lobster to commemorate the occasion.

The restaurant was definitely doing its part to help slow the spread of COVID-19.  They have really pared down their menu options – but there’s still plenty to choose from! – and the menus are printed on disposable pages.  They have tables with signs that say “Do Not Use”, and everyone we saw was wearing a mask.  Even the napkins were disposable here, which is a change from their usual cloth ones.

They did seem to have some supply issues due to the pandemic.  They were out of several items.  But both the hostess and the server made sure we knew ahead of time of the shortage, so it made choosing what we wanted easier right upfront.

 

I never feared that the food would be unsafe because restaurants – especially ones with the reputation of Red Lobster – are used to complying with food safety regulations that make the local health department happy!

Port Clinton, Ohio provided Lake Erie Love

 

 

 

 

Our first destination was Port Clinton, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived at our hotel – The Fairfield by Marriott – about an hour later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything about the place was clean and well taken care of.  The service desk clerks were extremely friendly and helpful.  My husband took care of check-in, but as soon as I walked in the door, they were wishing me a happy anniversary!  They recommended several places to eat, including directions to the restaurants.  And they did it all with a smile!

Safe Practices

Further exploration of the hotel and grounds just confirmed how much they are doing to be clean and safe.

 

 

The front desk area had reminders to stand back while registering and checking out.  The workers did not wear masks, but since it was possible to maintain distance, it still felt safe.  And it allowed us to see their warm and welcoming smiles!

Keys get dropped into a bin on the counter when you are through with them.  So check-in and check-out are touchless and distanced.  No worries there.

 

 

 

 

 

All the chairs had been removed from their eating area and signs placed on the tables saying you can’t sit in this space right now.  But there were tables and chairs out on their patio that could be used to enjoy the view while you are eating.  The breakfast they will be offering now is just grab-and-go bagels, donuts, etc. wrapped in plastic wrap, plus some fruit and yogurt.  So that was a little disappointing for a breakfast enthusiast like me!  But I do understand why they can’t have the buffet they would probably offer right now.

 

 

When the sun goes down …

We spent the rest of the evening enjoying the sunset.  There were several people on the walkway behind the hotel, but all seemed to be doing a good job of distancing.  Many were fishing.  Boat traffic was pretty much non-existent, maybe due to COVID-19, but also because the lake was pretty choppy when we first arrived.  Small whitecaps would make sailing smaller boats quite rough.  The weather was perfect for watching the sunset though!

 

 

There’s just something SO relaxing about sitting by the edge of the water.  I hate being IN the water – I swim like a rock! – but I really enjoy being around it and watching the movement, smelling the unique lake scent, and feeling the soft breeze.  There’s a deep sense of peace that can only be found at the water’s edge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant to the right of the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And that’s the moon in a gorgeous sky.

 

 

Lake Erie Love, Day Two

Day 2 began with a beautiful sunrise, though the sun was quickly covered with clouds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Port Clinton Lighthouse

The clouds kept the temperature from getting too hot as we enjoyed the park that surrounds the Port Clinton Lighthouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jet Express returned from the islands while we were there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marblehead Lighthouse – more Lake Erie Love

Next, it was on to the Marblehead Lighthouse.

As their website describes,  the lighthouse was built in 1821, and “is still standing strong as the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on all of the Great Lakes. Gracefully set on the rocky limestone shore of Lake Erie, this beacon and its adjacent Keeper’s House became an Ohio State Park in 1998.”

We did not have the opportunity to climb the steps inside the lighthouse or to visit their museum, due to both being closed during the pandemic.  They are scheduled to be opened up again by early July.

 

The views are breathtaking, and you can see South Bass Island (home of Put-in-Bay & Perry’s Monument), Kelley’s Island , and Cedar Point in all of its colorful glory.

 

 

 

 

The park is also breathtaking, with lots of trees and plenty of benches to relax on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many signs throughout the grounds that give the history of the Marblehead Lighthouse, as shown here by my lovely assistant!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did see a lot of wildlife while we were at the state park.

The positive in this pandemic

We drove along the lake toward Sandusky, not wanting to leave the peaceful atmosphere.  Any other time, this area is filled with tourists, often too frantic to really enjoy their surroundings.  So if we look for the positive in this pandemic, it would for me be the absence of crowds and unnatural noise.

Do you have a favorite water-side place to relax?  Drop me a comment and maybe my next trip will be to YOUR favorite spot.

And if you enjoyed the pictures, please feel free to share this post with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

 

 

Top 30 Summer Songs

After snuggling under actual blankets and distancing for most of 2020’s spring, I think we’re all ready for summer to warm us up.  Kellie Elmore has the right idea!

We can finally get out into the sunshine and let loose.

Now, I don’t know what “let loose” means to you.  Maybe you like to put the top down on the convertible and drive with the wind in your hair.  Or perhaps you pull your hair up and hike the trails of your favorite state or national park.  Do you like to take the boat out on the lake and have a party?

My favorite way to “let loose” is to go for a drive with the hubby which ends with me sitting in my camping chair near a body of water – sand optional!  What is required is a good summer playlist – usually on my phone – adding to the natural sounds of the water hitting the beach and the gulls overhead.

In no particular order, here are my Top 30 Summer Songs

Tell all your friends about the Top 30 Songs for Summer!Click To Tweet:

“Summertime Blues”  Eddie Cochran

“Surfin’ USA”  Beach Boys

“Summer in the City”  Lovin’ Spoonful

“Walkin’ on Sunshine”  Katrina and the Waves

“Wipe Out” The Surfaris

“Summertime”  Kenny Chesney

“No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems”  Kenny Chesney

“Some Beach”  Blake Shelton

“Cruel Summer” Banarama

“Summer Breeze”  Seals & Crofts

“In Summer”  Josh Gad (from Frozen soundtrack)

“Summer of ’69”  Bryan Adams

“Sunshine On My Shoulders”  John Denver

“Under the Boardwalk”  The Drifters

“In the Summertime”  Mungo Jerry

“When the Sun Goes Down”  Kenny Chesney

“Devil Went Down to Georgia”  Charlie Daniels Band

“Centerfield”  John Fogerty

“Margaritaville”  Jimmy Buffett

“It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”  Alan Jackson

“Redneck Yacht Club”  Craig Morgan

“Pontoon”  Little Big Town

“Peaceful Easy Feeling”  Eagles

“Good Vibrations”  Beach Boys

“Heat Wave”  The Who

“Summer Nights”  from Grease

“Hot Fun in the Summertime”  Sly & The Family Stone

“Saturday in the Park”  Chicago

“Don’t Bring Me Down”  Electric Light Orchestra

“Happy”  Pharrell Williams

I like them all for different reasons.  You can ask in the comments below if you’re wondering what my connection is with anything on the list.

Make Your Own Playlist

Amazon Music can help you create your playlist.  I use Google Play Music on my Android phone.  (I hear it’s all transferring to YouTube Music by summer’s end, but for now it’s still the best!)  It’s super easy to find songs and create playlists.  And it’s pretty cheap, too.  (You know I wouldn’t be using it if it wasn’t!)

Share some of your favorite summer songs in the comments below.

Do you know how it all began? Find out at debkylewrites.comClick To TweetThis Memorial Day will be unlike any that has occurred in my lifetime.  Traditions and customs will be modified, if not canceled.  But the history buff in me started wondering how all of those things got started in the first place.

Origin of Memorial Day

First – what is it?  Memorial Day is a day to remember those who died in service to our country.

Memorial Day began at the end of the Civil War.  That conflict claimed more American lives than any other in U.S. history.  The country needed to establish national cemeteries for the 750,000 deceased.  It was originally known as Decoration Day since it was the day that soldiers would decorate the graves of their fallen comrades with flowers, flags, and wreaths.  Memorial Day became its official title in the 1880s.  The holiday did not become legally recognized until 1967.

There are many unsubstantiated stories of previous observances.  Some records show that one of the earliest Memorial Day parades was organized by a group of freed slaves in Charleston, South Carolina.  The Martyrs of the Race Course were honored less than a month after the Confederacy surrendered in 1865.  More than 20 towns claim to be the holiday’s birthplace.

But in 1966, the federal government declared Waterloo, New York the official birthplace of Memorial Day.  Waterloo was chosen because on May 5, 1866, it hosted an annual, community-wide event.  Businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

National observance of Memorial Day

Memorial Day was first observed nationally on May 30, 1868, to honor the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers.  This proclamation was issued by Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic.  It is said that he chose that date because no major battle of the Civil War had been fought on May 30.  By 1890, all northern states had made Decoration Day an official state holiday.  Southern states continued to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I.

Former Union General and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield gave a speech at Arlington National Cemetery in the first ceremony after Gen. Logan’s proclamation.  After the speech, 5000 participants decorated the graves of over 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.

“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country, they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”  –James A Garfield on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery.

Want to know more about the Ohio connection?  Ohio History Connection shares a message from Manuscript Curator John Haas on the origins of Decoration Day and its Ohio connections.

Memorial Day is not …

This is not the day to honor those currently serving in our U.S. military.  That day is Armed Forces Day (the third Saturday in May).

Nor is it the day to honor those who have served and are still alive.  That day is Veterans Day (November 11 every year).

Memorial Day observed

In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, establishing that Memorial Day would be commemorated on the last Monday of May.  Most southern states officially have a second day designated for remembering the Confederate war dead.  The date varies by state.

Each year a ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery in which a small flag is placed on each grave.  Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on that day. Over the years since 1921, when an unidentified World War I soldier was buried in the plaza of the then-new Memorial Amphitheater, presidents have often visited on Memorial Day.  To set the record straight, though, this is a custom not a requirement.

How do we honor our soldiers?

The American flag should be hung at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day.

All Americans are encouraged to pause for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time.

In most cemeteries across the country where there is a monument to the fallen, a wreath is placed there as a sign of respect and tribute.

As you walk around a cemetery this Memorial Day, you may notice that some veterans’ graves have coins on them.  What does this mean?  A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldier’s family know that someone stopped by to pay their respects.  A penny means someone simply stopped by to visit.  A nickel means someone stopped by who went to boot camp with the veteran.  Leaving a dime means you served with the veteran in some capacity.  By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the soldier when he or she was killed.

Other Memorial Day traditions

In “normal” times, cities and towns across America hold Memorial Day parades.  Some of the largest are in Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC.

Some people wear a red poppy on Memorial Day.  This tradition began with a World War I poem called “In Flander’s Field.”

Never forget

Many of us see the long weekend that includes the national holiday of Memorial Day as the official start of summer.  There are picnics, parties, and other celebrations planned.  Enjoy yourself.  But pause to remember these words that Abraham Lincoln made a part of his Gettysburg Address:

“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.  It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”