Walking on Sunshine! 5/26/2013

Good Day Sunshine!  Sunshine On My Shoulders!  Walking on Sunshine!

Are you catching my theme here?

If the first few days of last week were about as dark and stormy as they could get, the last few days have more than made up for them!  We’ve had sunshine, blue skies, and not a cloud in the sky.  It’s still a little chilly, but nothing an extra layer won’t fix.

Maddie was SO excited to be outside on dry grass. She is the fussiest little thing about her feet getting wet!

Bear, who couldn’t care less whether it’s wet or dry, was just happy to be able to run around off the leash, instead of being dragged into the condo as soon as he’d taken care of business!

With the sun came the crowds to the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory . . .

. . . and the Surrey Hill Carriage Museum, where folks were eating outside for the first time this spring!

Not finding Denise unloading riders at the front of the Carriage Museum, Bear made a bee-line for the back lot – where he waited for her to get off the phone before begging for treats.

Before going in we checked on the progress of our Lilac bushes. Leaves are coming on really fast! I still haven’t checked downtown . . . have GOT to do that!

Blue sky, sunshine, flowers bloomin’, children say-in’ hello. Row boats, bird notes, People smilin’ everywhere that they go!

My 15-minutes walking excursion on Friday didn’t seem to set my foot back, so I was rarin’ to go when we had the opportunity to go over to Cedarville Saturday with friends Orietta and Steve – and their teenage neighbor Max. Ted had sailed with Steve last fall from the Mackinac Island Marina to the Viking Boat Harbor to take their sailboat out of the water for winter.  Now it was time to sail it back to Mackinac.

We all piled into Orietta’s car in St. Ignace and made the 45-minute drive to Cedarville. A quick stop at a grocery store, and we had the makings for lunch in the sun, which we enjoyed on a picnic table at the Viking Boat Harbor dock.

The boat was in the water, and while the guys puttered around getting ready to sail, I noticed some activity out at the end of the dock.

Now I don’t know too much about fish, but this little boy was VERY excited when he pulled this one in. The funny thing was, after he landed it, he didn’t want anything to do with it – wouldn’t even hold the line.  So his big brother helped him out – and told me it was a Northern Pike – about six lbs. worth.  After the photos, they removed the hook and released it to grow some more.  Good job guys!

When we were here in the fall, the shoreline was ablaze with red and yellow foliage.  Now, the first hint of green is beginning to appear.

Steve brought the dinghy around to tie up to the Windmill . . .

. . . then came aboard.

Orietta hands off the most important cargo – snacks!

Ready to leave the harbor . . .

. . . Steve maneuvers away from the dock . . .

. . . and they’re away.

Ted snapped this shot of Steve and Max putting up the sails, but the wind held out for only about 30 minutes. A motor provided power for the rest of the trip.

They passed Dollar Island (one of the 36 Les Cheneaux Islands), which is almost totally covered by this one house.

Max – showing what a true Michigander he is. Notice the bare feet.

Steve and Max. I hope to write a story on this young man this summer. At 13, he is a budding entrepreneur and has a thriving delivery service on the Island. He’s on call seven days a week – at most any hour – to run errands for Islanders.  Steve is teaching him to sail.

Ted at the helm.  Orietta and I drove back to the St. Ignace ferry dock and were back on the Island at 4 p.m.  The guys puttered into the Mackinac Island Marina at 6:30 p.m.  What an awesome day!

Just a note on Steve and Orietta.  They will be leaving the Island for a year, beginning in July.  They are off to Tanzania as doctors with the Peace Corps.  What an awesome opportunity to serve others!

Sunday Sunshine!

The Sunday-before-Memorial-Day service at Little Stone Church is always touching, and today was no different.  Island veterans Donald “Duck” Andress and Ben Horn have presented the colors at the service for the last six years, representing the Island’s American Legion Post 299. 

Andress is a veteran of the Korean War, and Horn served in Germany and during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After the presentation of the colors, a wreath was brought to the altar – in memory of all soldiers who have laid down their lives for their country.  Our minister, Dr. Vince Carroll, who served in the Vietnam War, spoke on his experiences in that country as a Naval Chaplain.  Every pew was filled this morning as worshippers gave thanks to our veterans.

After the service, a large group walked over to The Gate House for lunch (only two of the people in this pic are not Little Stone Church folks). We love being a part of this church’s  fellowship.

Walking home after church. The tulips in the front bed at the Grand are in full bloom now!

Our downstairs neighbors are here for the weekend with their two labs. We finally got them to pose together! Bear, Tom Boy, and Hunter.

SO MUCH TO COME!

There is so much coming up this week that I’m having to make lists on the calendar so I don’t forget something!  Here’s a few things about to happen . . .

• Monday – Memorial Day service at the Post Cemetery and downtown
• Monday evening – Ted and I are going out to dinner with Cindy Irish and her husband.  Cindy is a writer who reads Bree’s Blog – both on the Island and in south Georgia.  She wants to talk to us about a fictional town she is using in her next book that will be based on someplace very near and dear to Ted and I (more to come on that)!
• Tuesday – Bear FINALLY gets bathed and groomed, so I’ll be off-island all day.
• Wednesday – Volunteering for Shepler’s as they welcome 1,300+ Detroit Chamber of Commerce representatives to the Island. 
• Thursday – Resting (I hope)
• Friday – Back to Shepler’s as the Detroit Chamber leaves the Island
• Saturday – Resting (I hope)
• Sunday – BIG, BIG, BIG DAY!  Lowell and Faye Greene arrive on Mackinac for the first time in 26 years.  And boy do they have some surprises waiting for them.  I cannot WAIT to write this story (MUCH more to come on that)!

It will be at least Tuesday night before I publish again.  We’ll see how the week is going at that point and go from there.  Have a great Memorial Day on Monday and, if you’re traveling, stay safe!  God bless.