My husband and I were traveling north on Hwy 90 on our way from St. Louis to New Hampshire. Hwy 90 is a great way for us to travel to the east coast with lots of places to stop near the Great Lakes and lots of lighthouses to visit. On this visit we stopped for the night in Erie Pennsylvania and were able to visit three lighthouses. I had stopped at the visitor center when entering Pennsylvania and picked up a brochure on Lake Erie Lights. In this brochure I found directions to the lighthouses and the facts about the lighthouses that I refer to in this post.
Erie Land Lighthouse
Erie Land lighthouse was built in 1818 and was the first lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The lighthouse sits high on the bluff at the end of Lighthouse street. The first lighthouse was built of wood but after forty years it was replaced by one made of brick. This one only lasted for nine years when it began to sink. The present lighthouse is made of sandstone with a brick lining and was built in 1867. It was decommissioned in 1898 because the beacon on Presque Isle was better able to warn mariners. In 2003 the lighthouse was restored for visitors who are welcome to walk the grounds. I saw beautiful views of Presque Bay from the grounds and was also able to see the North Pier light from the bluff.
When we arrived in Erie we first took a drive to Presque Isle state park. This beautiful state park is home to two of Erie's lighthouses. In the photo above you see Presque Isle lighthouse which is located on the north shore. From 1873-1944 this lighthouse was home to nine lighthouse keepers and their families. This lighthouse which is 57 feet high has 78 steps to the lantern. The lighthouse was just closing for the evening when I got there but I was able to walk the grounds and take photographs.
North Pier Light
North Pier light as seen from across the bay
The North Pier light is located at the east end of the channel that leads into Presque Bay. It was originally built in 1830 but was replaced in 1855 when it was destroyed by a sailing vessel impact. Over the years it was moved several times as the peninsula grew and extended into the channel. It has been in it's current location since 1840 and continues today to be used as an aid to navigation. I was able to walk out to the light and take several photos of the lighthouse. The second photo shows some interesting house boats that were in a lake on the road to see the lighthouse.
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Touring and photographing Ernest Hemingway's "home" and studio in Piggott, Arkansas was a fabulous way to spend a day, and a wonderful memory. The house actually belonged to the Pfeiffer family, but it was "home" to Hemingway when he was in Piggott.
I admit, while I have read several books by Ernest Hemingway, he is far down my list of favorite authors, but he is on the list. He is also one of my husband's favorite authors. When we discovered we could tour his home in Arkansas, we were definitely up for the adventure.
Prior to visiting The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum, I didn't know a lot about Hemingway's personal life. I was in for a lot of shocking details! We were basically given a private tour of the home and our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable. Because we were the only two people there, we asked lots of questions and I had plenty of opportunities to take pictures. Expecting to be in for a real treat, I had packed two cameras and all of my lenses. I am really glad I did. It turned out that I needed them all to get the shots I wanted!
Ernest Hemingway & Pauline Pfeiffer
Ernest Hemingway & Pauline Pfeiffer
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
Our guide give us a great deal of historical detail. It was clear that she greatly admired Pauline Pfeiffer. She bragged to us about how Pauline Pfeiffer was a journalist for Vogue magazine in Paris, France. It was there that Pauline met Ernest Hemingway and his wife. According to our guide, Hemingway was immediately enamored with Pfeiffer and they engaged in an affair. When Hemingway told his wife that he was in love and wanted to marry Pauline, she suggested that he take some time to think about it. If he wanted a divorce so he could marry Pfeiffer, she would grant him the divorce. And, so it was... Pauline and Ernest married in France that following spring. When Pauline discovered she was pregnant, they moved to Piggott, Arkansas to live with Pauline's family and to await the birth of their child. That home is now a part of The Hemingway-Pfeiffer museum. It is also the place where Hemingway wrote parts of "A Farewell to Arms" in the barn studio located on the property.
The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum House & Home
Stickley Chair in The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
By today's standards, you might not think the house is very big. However, I have no doubt it was considered quite large in Piggott during the late 20's & 30's when the wealthy Pheiffer family owned it. Much of the furniture in the home today, was furniture owned by the Pfeiffers and in use when Hemingway was there. That alone, makes the tour very interesting. I could easily imagine Ernest Hemingway sitting in this front room with a romantic fire.
Apparently, the Pheiffers loved Stickley furniture as much as we do! This is the front room on the right as you enter the Pfeiffer home. If you look carefully, you will see that the photo of Ernest & Pauline is sitting on the end table. Of course, I had to take a close-up photo of the couple.
Front Room of The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
On the left, as you enter the home, is a grand piano. The comfortable chair would certainly be inviting to sit and listen to an accomplished pianist.
The Grand Piano in The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
The stairs to the bedrooms is directly across from the front door. You could literally run through the front door and up the stairs if you desired. Again, I could easily imagine Ernest Hemingway doing that very thing. Then calling out to Pauline as he reached the landing at the top of the stairs, all excited about news of a new hunt.
Stairs in The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum Home
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
Top of the Stairs at The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Home
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
Prayer Room in The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum
I found it extremely interesting the Pauline Pfeiffer's mother, Mary Pfeiffer, had a prayer room in her home. Our guide explained that Mary required a prayer room since there was no Catholic church close by to attend and she was a devout Irish Catholic. The existing prayer room was set up to look like Mary Pfeiffer's prayer room. She had a real altar there, but it is currently being used by a church. You can see the real altar in a photo that is sitting on the makeshift altar.
Mary's Prayer Room in the Pfeiffer Home
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
Mary also had a quilt closet upstairs. This was probably my favorite room. Not because of the room itself, but because of the story of the room. According to our guide,
the Pfeiffer's were surrounded by people who had very little. Many of the women of the community would quilt and sell their quilts just to get by. Mary Pfeiffer never refused to buy the quilts. She stored them in this room and when they were needed, she gave them away.
Of all of the people I heard about the day of our tour, I think I would have liked Pauline Pfeiffer's mother, Mary, the most.
Mary Pfeiffer's Quilt Room
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
The Display Case Held Ernest Hemingway's Autograph
One of my favorite photos was taken upstairs in one of the bedrooms. There was a display case that contained a book from the Hotel Taube in Schruns, Austria. This book was not interesting because it was an alpine skiing manual, but because it held Ernest Hemingway's autograph in the upper right corner. The glass display case sits right under a window, which is why you see the curtain details reflected in the photo.
Alpine Skiing Manuel from Hotel Taube
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
Ernest Hemingway's Autograph
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
There were several other rooms in the home and I have lots of pictures, but I chose some of my favorites to share with you today. Perhaps, one day soon you can tour the home for yourself and see it all in person.
The Ernest Hemingway Barn-Studio in Piggott, Arkansas
Apparently, the upstairs studio of the barn was Ernest Hemingway's place of solace and the place where he went to write.
Due to the time of day, I was not able to get a great shot of the exterior of the barn-studio. As you can see, I was staring straight into the sun.
Hemingway's studio was located up the stairs on the right.
Hemingway's Barn-Studio
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
I'm not pro big-game hunting and I really hated what I saw inside the studio. It truly put a damper on my day and I admit, I stopped listening to the guide for a while. However, I will still share the photos with you.
Hemingway's Barn-Studio
Photo by Cynthia Sylvestermouse
No doubt, I would have been better prepared to hear the stories that day of Ernest Hemingway's life if I had read any of the books featured below.
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I find lighthouses to be a fascinating part of history, when they were often the only means that seafaring vessels had to keep from crashing into dangers near the coastline.
On a visit to Cape Cod on a beautiful summer morning we stopped in Chatham (near the elbow of Cape Cod) to do a bit of exploring and visit the Chatham lighthouse.
Chatham Lighthouse
Chatham lighthouse stands on the site that originally held two lighthouses built in 1808. These two brick towers were used to distinguish this area of the coast from the single tower further up the coast. Erosion on the coast is often a danger to lighthouse stability and it eventually claimed these two towers. They were replace in 1877 by two new cast iron towers. In 1923 one of these towers was moved to Eastham and the remaining tower is what you see in the photo above. The current Chatham lighthouse is still active and sits on Coast Guard grounds. I was able to walk around the perimeter of the fence to take photos.
Stage Harbor Lighthouse
When we left the Chatham lighthouse we went exploring along the coast. I had heard there was another lighthouse off the coast but wasn't sure how to get to it. After several wrong turns, I turned down a gravel road that led to the coast and asked a fisherman about the other lighthouse. He pointed out in the distance and I was able to see Stage Harbor Lighthouse.
This lighthouse was operational from 1880 to 1933 when it was replaced by a 60 meter high skeleton tower. The original lighthouse and keepers house now serves as a private residence. It is not accessible by road but I was able to photograph it from the beach area.
More than Just Lighthouses
While I was photographing the lighthouse, my husband was watching the activity along the beach and pointed out several photo opportunities to me, like the bird and it's reflection in the water and the boats in the bay.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Review of Photography Tips for Photographing Sunflowers
In Midwestern USA, July is the time that we have beautiful sunflowers blooming. Their beauty lasts just a short time, so if you have sunflowers near you be sure to take the opportunity to photograph them while they are in full bloom.
I saw some photos that friends had taken and posted online so I got directions to the sunflower field and was so glad that I did! The flowers were beautiful. I went just before sunset and was able to capture the beauty of the flowers as the sun went down. This seemed like a perfect time and the setting sun seemed to light up the backs of the blooms. Here are a couple of tips I have for you.
Look for fresh blooms. Raggedy blooms don't show good on photos.
Turn your flash off.
Watch you background. A bright blue sky works well but I have also seen flowers against brick or wood that look great.
Choose your focus point. Do you want everything in focus or just one flower?
Take some photos of the entire field and then zoom in to take that close up bloom. You will be glad you got both.
Here are a few of my photos.
Sunflowers Come in a Variety of Colors
I always thought sunflowers were yellow, but did you know they come in a variety of colors. My neighbor is growing some pretty maroon ones this year. I took this photo in the early evening.
A sunflower field is a great place for family photos. I took my granddaughter with me and here are a couple of the photos I took of her. I love the look of the first photo. The sun over the hill behind the field lit up the backs of the flowers and her hair.
Zazzle Products are Great Showcases for Sunflowers
Here are a few of the Zazzle products I have made from my sunflower photos.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
On our latest roadtrip we were traveling up highway 90 on our way from St. Louis, Missouri to Manchester, New Hampshire. We have traveled that way several times as our son lives in NH. I have noticed signs for the town of Conneaut, Ohio but never have stopped in the past. This time I was needing a respite from the drive so we decided to stop for the afternoon. I knew it was a small town so I was pleasantly surprised with all there was to see. Here is a review of the sights we saw in Conneaut.
Lighthouse in Bay
In the photo at the top of this post you will see the unique lighthouse I photographed in Conneaut. The walk out to the lighthouse was quite a hike, so instead I got out my tripod and long lens to photograph the lighthouse.
History
Conneaut is located on Lake Erie in the Northeast corner of Ohio. As the town grew in the 19th century it became a point for shipping grain, whiskey and forest products. In 1835 a lighthouse was built to facilitate ships coming into and out of the harbor. Various improvements and changes were made to the lighthouse over the years. In 1920 the old lighthouse was removed and the modern cement light we see today was built. This light called the Conneaut West Breakwater Lighthouse, can be seen for 17 miles into Lake Erie.
Fun Watching Eagles
While I was photographing the lighthouse my husband got into a conversation with a local resident who was out on the harbor enjoying the beautiful day. She saw my camera with my long lens (600mm) and told him about a place on the other end of the harbor where there was an eagles nest in an old tree. We went over to that area and had a wonderful afternoon watching the eagles. There were several juvenile eagles along with the adults. In the third photo below, I captured an adult eagle pulling a fish from the water.
Covered Bridge
The map of Conneaut that I picked up showed a trail of covered bridges. There were four in the area and we took a drive and found one that I stopped to photograph. The covered bridge that I photographed is called State Road bridge and it spans the Conneaut creek. This bridge is 157 feet long and is a single span Town Truss bridge according to the sign on the bridge. It was built in 1983.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
The Salinas River was not part of my life until 1995, when my mother moved to a part of Paso Robles California only three blocks from river access. It was the first time I had lived near a real river. I grew up in Los Angeles County, and the only rivers I saw were mostly empty cement waterways that only filled after heavy rains. When we lived near Seattle for four months I was delighted to see some real rivers. I had always wanted to live near one, and now I live in Mom's house where the Salinas River is a short walk away. I love to watch it.
An Ideal Place to Sit and Watch the Salinas River in Paso Robles, taken with Nikon Coolpix S9300
Getting to Know and Photograph the River
Once I had such easy access to the Salinas River, I began to study it and observe and photograph it on a regular basis. The Salinas is a subterranean river. That means I don't see it most of the year because it's flowing underground. If we get heavy rains, it becomes visible again for a few weeks and then disappears from sight. I try to make the most of the weeks when I'm able to photograph the flowing river. I have put many of my Salinas River photographs on puzzles, greeting cards, posters, postcards, and other print-on-demand products at Zazzle. You can see most of those products here. Among them are a poster and greeting card of the bench photo above.
I just made a new poster of my favorite river shot. The river always makes me feel peaceful as it flows by me. So I added a bit of text that reminds me of one of my favorite hymns: "Like a River Glorious"
Here is my new poster. For ordering information, please click the photo. If you'd prefer to have the poster without the words or if you want to change the words, it's easy to do once you click through to Zazzle and click to customize.
One January day I had been walking in the dry riverbed after some recent rains, hoping the river was visible again. I didn't see much more than a few puddles. I was walking away with my camera to return to the riverbank when suddenly the river first trickled and then rushed toward me. I was able to capture it on video. I also got some still shots. You can see the video and the photographs I was able to capture that day and also learn more about the river in this article: The Salinas River: Now You See It. Some of my products also feature photos you will see on that page.
What I Like about Photographing the Salinas River
Access to the river from Larry Moore Park is easy. It's also easy to find a parking place beside or very near this neighborhood park. I get some interesting sunset shots over the river if I walk the river trail at dusk. Here are a couple of them.
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
I can also find a wide variety of native plants, weeds, and trees to photograph beside or even in the river. I also see a lot of driftwood. I especially like this shot of a log in the river.
Taken with Nikon Coolpix S8200
The sand on the bank also provides some interesting shots. In the photo below, you see footprints leading down to the river.
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
Sometimes one may see some unexpected wildlife. Birds are common, but hard for me to shoot. Rabbits, though, appear quite often at dusk. I almost didn't see this one. Do you see it?
Rabbit Blending with River Sand, taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
After the winter rains, the riverbank can come alive with color, as in the shot below. I was looking down from the trail when I took this photo.
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
No matter when I visit the river, whether it's flowing or dry, there is always something new to discover and photograph. My shots aren't as professional as my friend Mary Beth Granger's who gives us some tips in Challenge Yourself to Take Better Photographs, but I have fun.
My Photography Equipment
Photography is my hobby, and I get along fine with a point and shoot camera. My favorite was a Nikon Coolpix that fit in my purse or pocket, but somehow I lost it when I went out one day with friends and we made a number of stops.
Some of these photos were taken with my Canon PowerShot, another point and shoot. It has a longer zoom than the Nikon did. The zoom helped me capture that almost hidden rabbit above. The Canon won't fit in my pocket, but I got a nifty case for it that will also hold my cell phone and extra battery packs and San Disks. Nothing is worse than finding out that your battery is dead just as you find the perfect shot you'd been searching for.
The case below is the one I chose to go with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS. It's light and the strap is so comfortable that I don't mind having to carry the larger camera. When I still had my Nikon, I could even fit it in the slot next to my Canon, though I think it was really meant for a lens. Now the PowerShot and the case go with me everywhere because every time I leave them home I find a shot I wanted to take and couldn't.
Did You Enjoy this Brief Look at the Salinas River?
If you would like to photograph the Salinas River from Larry Moore Park, here's a map to help you find it. My directions are from the Paso Robles Walmart parking lot. You can drive to the park from the southeast exit and park along Riverbank Lane. Or you can park just west of J. C. Penny, that white building on the map closest to the river. That diagonal path you see next to Penny's leads to a park entrance. When you reach that entrance, go straight toward the river. You can't miss it.
I'll leave you with one last photo with a bit of wildlife. I couldn't get close enough, even with my zoom, to bring the ducks closer, but occasionally they do get to the river. This shot was taken with my Coolpix S8200 and it didn't have as long a zoom as my Canon, which I did not yet own back in 2013 when this was taken. I didn't want to crop the photo to make the ducks show up better because it would diminish the view of the river.
Ducks Swimming in Salinas River
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
