New lady on the corner! Walk down Main Street as far as Shepler’s Ferry, look directly across the street to the corner of Main and Astor, and you will more than likely see – during daylight hours anyway – the brilliant smile of Mert. As the Corner Concierge, Mert helps visitors with all things “Mackinac” and does it so easily and with such friendliness you just want to stay and chat a while longer! She’d love for you to stop by – to ask questions, to talk about the Island, or just to say hi!  You will love her!

This beautiful family – Allen, Theresa, Amelia and Michael – from Tecumseh MI, met me last week at Sadie’s for ice cream.  While we were there, Amelia chose my 4th flavor to try – Caramel Turtle Cheesecake!  A T-E-N!

Theresa is a frequent commenter on Bree’s Blog and follows the Lake Blackshear Blog in Georgia during the winter also.  Loved hanging out with this great family!

A couple of days later, I turned the corner down French Lane and spotted Theresa and Allen trying to find all the hidden treasurers in Jeff’s garden. They didn’t know I was anywhere around until after I snapped this. They left the island the day of the Lilac Parade and watched it on Theresa’s iPad in the car going home. LOVE IT!

Richard! This sweet gentleman used to live all summer on the Island, and Ted and I first met him several years ago. Now he returns for a few days here and there, and I happened to spot him downtown this week, resting on a bench in the sun. Always good to see Richard, and he always asks about Bear and Ted . . . in that order.

On the way home a couple of days ago, right by the big barns on Cadotte, someone called “Bree?” I turned and met Ted (I’ll remember that name for sure) and his wife Rebecca. They were married on Mackinac just last year, found Bree’s Blog when they returned home from their honeymoon, and were up for a visit. This sweet couple is from Aurora, Ohio, and their love of the island was so evident, they reminded me of ME!

Evi is a blog fan from New Jersey, and we met up – finally, after several attempts – at the Island Bookstore one evening last week! Hope to see you again soon, Evi!

Tommy and Gerald – our two teenage young men who stayed with us Saturday night. They are part of an a cappella choir from Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte, MI. We had a fun time with Tommy and Gerald, who challenged us to a game of Monopoly (who knew teenagers still played Monopoly) after returning from singing for their supper at the Seabiscuit restaurant. Three hours later, Ted was bankrupt, I was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Tommy was Donald Trump Jr.  During that Monopoly game, hey also put away two large bottles of juice, a huge bowl of popcorn, a whole bag of tortillas, a jar or salsa and a jar of cheese dip – with a little fudge as dessert .  LOL – they SO reminded me of Jason and Blake at that age!  We enjoyed having Tommy and Gerald with us – they were smart, well-mannered, and fun – a tribute to their families.

The choir group after church on Sunday.

Blog readers Traci and Bill stopped by the Stuart House this morning while Mike Forrester was visiting, so Mike became our photographer. Traci and Bill are from Pulaski, Tennessee, and it was so nice to hear a Southern accent! It was a spur-of-the-moment visit for them (the best kind). They drove 13 hours to get here and plan just to relax and “do Mackinac” with no real set agenda (the best way). Have fun, you two!

Out snapping Lilac photos the other day near the Gate House, I ran across this sweet puppy, tied out while mom and dad lunched on the patio just a few feet away. The Gate House provides water dishes for pets! A cutie-pie!

This precious pooch was enjoying the shade at Park Place Suites, which is pet-friendly!

Back to front Grand Hotel omnibuses, the first driven by Shelby and the second by new driver Caleb (I hope, I hope I’m right on that name).

New neighborhood puppy, Charlie . . .

. . . and our condo neighbor, Judy, is back for the summer with her sweet Buddy.

It’s not often you can wake up with two Budweiser Clydesdales in your front yard, but it happened this weekend! These two, Duke and Jack, were here with four of their team-mates for the Lilac Parade! That’s Kyle on Duke’s back.

I only had to walk down Cadotte to find this big clump of Lady Slippers – near where the old Grand stable once stood.

Dark Lilacs . . .

. . . and light Lilacs!

A friendly group of Pansies . . .

. . . and one loner.

A very, very small section of Jeff’s garden on French Lane.

The always-charming Cloghaun B & B – surrounded by Lilacs.

A curve on Cadotte . . .

. . . . and Mahoney Street.

The mighty Clydesdales!

Do not try this at home – at least not if you are MY age!

This couple had a choice spot to watch the parade – right in the shade – and sweet smell – of beautiful Lilacs!

We had serious bands . . .

. . . and not so serious bands.

We had beautiful performing horses . . .

. . . horses performing beautifully . . .

. . . and a couple of silly horses!

We had musical marching groups . . .

. . . and patriotic marching groups.

We had clowns who came in groups . . .

. . . and some who came alone.

We had celebrity local dogs, like Chloe and Bella, who represented Wheels of Mackinac . . .

. . . and dogs whose names we’ll never know – who will grow up to be service dogs all over the country.

We had small beauty queens, teenage beauty queens .  .

. . . and grown-up beauty queens.

And we had bicycles in all sizes and shapes.

Grand Marshall of the parade was our neighbor Donald “Duck” Andress. Duck rode in a carriage this year, but his son Jamie – seen behind him in the white headdress – continues the tradition of their family by riding on horseback.

Mike Forrester, who was streaming live from the balcony of the Lilac Tree Hotel for the entire parade!!

Ted and I were invited to watch the parade from the Yacht Club this year, and as soon as it ended, I couldn’t wait to scurry over to the Lilac Tree to see if everything had worked out. Jeanine and Miss Siena took Mike to the Grand Hotel for lunch today for Father’s Day, then hurried back to set everything up.  The Forrester family rocks!

Thank you, Mike! You are making a lot of folks very happy!

While she was visiting Mackinac for a few days, good friend Bonnie dropped by the condo with Jill.  Come back again soon, Bonnie!

Bear:   This is me playing dead.  As soon as Mom gets all worried . . . .

. . . . I roll around and laugh. “I fooled you again, didn’t I?!”   I LOVE doing that!

We rode up past the airport yesterday to have lunch with Steve & Orietta.  Just beyond that second fence is one end of the Mackinac Island Airport runway.

Later that afternoon we took Maddie and Bear on a long walk in the cool woods, where the green ground cover is about to be flowering ground cover. On the left side is Lily-of-the-Valley (if you look closely, you can already see little white specks). On the right will be tiny, perfect purple flowers.  Anyone know what those are?

I can’t seem to get away from the woods this week. I missed being out there the first four weeks we were here because of the weather, and I guess I’m trying to make up for it now.

The Lady Slippers are out . . .

. . . and perfectly beautiful.  Can’t you just see magical fairies slipping these on their feet at night?

Found beside the road.

Up close with a dandelion.  Have I mentioned have much I love my new camera?

Today (Thursday) we took the pups on an outing toward the West Bluff and followed the road behind the bluff houses.  Isn’t it amazing what a few days of warm temps and sunshine can do to the landscape?!

This fire hydrant is almost hidden in the lush vegetation.

Looking across the back yards and between the summer cottages to Lake Huron.

A shady place to read a book or just sit and watch your garden grow.

One of my favorite “viewing spots” – framed by trees and surrounded with a white picket fence.

View from Pontiac Trail today – the first time I’ve been up there this year.

A recently renovated West Bluff cottage -  almost hidden by Lilac trees which must be decades and decades old.

Love this shade of purple!

The top floor of a cottage against the blue sky . . .

. . . and Honeysuckle against blue water.

A curve in Pontiac Trail . . . bordered with wild flowers.

“Somebody threw a potato chip in here. I can smell it!”

One of Michelle’s Friesians.

A thick hedge of lacy white flowers.

Things you don’t see everyday on Mackinac . . . three semi-trucks on our street, turning into the Arrowhead stables.  What is it?  Who is it?

A little clue . . .can you see inside the open door of that semi sitting on the deck of Shepler’s Sacre Bleu – their freight boat?  Those semis were rolled off the boat at British Landing and, with special permission from the City Council, driven to Arrowhead, where . . . .

. . . out stepped the Budweiser Clydesdales!  (This photo and one above:  Jill Sawatzki).  At 9:00 p.m. I’m typing this blog post and glancing out the window every two minutes.  Last year they walked the Clydesdales over to our yard to exercise them.   So far no horses have appeared.

A big crowd turned out today for the annual Lilac Festival “A Taste of Mackinac”. Restaurants served up their best fare for those lucky enough to have one of the limited number of tickets for the event.

The Lilac Tree Hotel is all decked out in lilac lights for the festival!  Very pretty!

French Lane on Wednesday. (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)

Monday morning I walked downtown past Carriage Tour wagons bringing visitors up toward Surrey Hill.  As I said, the crowds are growing!

It wasn’t long after the Stuart House Museum opened that blog reader Yvonne, her husband Tony, and their nieces and nephews dropped by from Iowa. I met Tony and Yvonne last year (with their dog Bear), but this year they left Bear at home and brought these lucky young folks instead. They’re staying at Park Place Suites on Market Street and loving it!

Hershey watched Frankie leave . . .

. . . then took up her vigil by the door until she returned.  She sure got lots of loving by visitors to the Museum while she waited for Frankie!

Frankie, Bonnie, Judy, me, and Jill.  Frankie and Hershey left on the 12:30 boat, going home to Grand Rapids.  See you again soon, Frankie!

Different varieties are blossoming at different times, but this year I think every Lilac bush and tree will be in full blooming splendor by the weekend.  This was taken from the porch of the Lilac House, where Frankie was staying.

Over near the Marina, we found this horse tie-up nearly covered in Lilac blossoms.

These next few photos are of the same bush. Jill and I unofficially named it “the most beautiful Lilac bush on the Island” – at least for today.  I think these blooms are as dark a purple as I’ve ever seen on a Lilac.

Sorry, I just couldn’t get enough of it.

Lilacs in Marquette Park . . .

. . . and hanging baskets contrasted with the white of the Jane & Richard Manoogian Art Museum.

Lilac, lavender and purple just seem to look good anywhere, don’t they!  This flowery bathtub sits in the yard of the Lilac House.

The fog didn’t burn off until shortly after noon today, turning freighters into ghost ships – passing nearly unseen through the Straits.

Moored sailboats in the marina, as the fog began to slip away.

As the fog cleared, the Iroquois Hotel appeared, and people began to be seated at their beautiful waterside tables . . .

. . . and soon the entire east side of town was visible.  First the fort, then Anne’s Cottage, Brigadoon, the Yacht Club and the Island House.

My sweet Ted took me to dinner Friday evening at The Island House, which overlooks the Mackinac Island Marina.

We haven’t eaten there in several years. I don’t know why. except it’s a little further to walk. Our dinner was excellent, and the view of the Straits and the freighters passing between the lighthouses just can’t get much better than this!

Walking back home after services, I stopped to snap a few photos. Flowers are popping up everywhere now, and it constantly amazes me how flowerpots, empty just yesterday, can be filled with overflowing blossoms – overnight!  I think we must have some flower genies on Mackinac!

Everything is green, green, green . . .

. . . and the Grand Jewel Golf Course is manicured to perfection.

The Lilacs in the Village are joining those all over the Island in trying to outdo each other in color and variety.  One block from our condo, we turned left onto Fourth and walked the short block to the gravel road where Fourth ends and Whitefield Road begins.

At that point, we are in the Mackinac Island State Park.

Just a few yards on the gravel, and we turned down Fire Break Trail.

I’d walked Maddie and Bear down this trail a few days ago, and I wanted to show Ted something that had frightened Bear. This trail is really thick with vegetation this year.  All the snow this winter failed trees and branches, and although it’s hard to see in this photo, the dirt path is completely covered here by brush – but not so bad we couldn’t push our way through.

I love these woods walks. It’s out here that you find the real Mackinac – in the trees, in the wildflowers, in the wind and birds and small animals scurrying away at our footsteps.

When I was here a few days ago, Bear ran ahead of me and up over that hill. A few seconds later, he began barking – something he normally doesn’t do unless Maddie does it first. I hurried ahead and found him backed off several feet and frantically warning me that there was a dangerous creature ahead . . . .

, , , this cairn rock sculpture someone had recently formed! For Bear, who knows every rock and branch and tree out here, this was different . . .

. . . and therefore. it was worth it to sound an alarm.

Maddie, jumping over a couple of small trees that had fallen across the path.

Out of the State Park and back into the Village.  Lilacs . . .

. . . and Bleeding Hearts against a neighbor’s fence.

Cadotte Avenue runs all the way through the Village and into the State Park – where it dead ends into Annex Road.  I love the Village!

Two “drive it yourself” buggies – grown children in the first one, grandparents and grandchildren in the second – followed by a taxi.  Where else but on Mackinac!

My friend Frankie and sweet Hershey are on the Island for a few days. They stopped in to see Jill at the Island Bookstore.  Sorry, Hershey, no treats in my pocket.

After a party downtown Saturday night, Ted and I waited at the cab stand for a taxi home. God painted quite a beautiful tapestry across the sky that evening.

A wedding photographer was doing some special shots out on our lawn late this afternoon. I rushed inside to get the big lens, but only caught them as they rode away.

The Lilac bush at the corner of our back yard.

My sweet boy.

Our server came out with our lunch balanced on his head. He sat down, while Jill dug in her purse for her camera, and waited patiently for her to focus and shoot. If I’d done that, our lunch would have been upside down on the cement!

When lunch was over we walked up the West Bluff to check out the Lilacs, and yes – I believe they are going to be in full bloom for Lilac Festival, which begins June 7 and runs through the 16th.

After running a few errands in town, I turned toward home. Then I remembered Ted had gone to Cheboygan after groceries, and he might be returning to the Island soon. I called him, and sure enough, he was half-way across the Straits. I walked back to the Shepler dock and instead of walking home, jumped on the taxi he’d already ordered because of the groceries. I love when that happens! Smile for your grandmother, Alyssa!

We passed a wagon loaded with flowers going somewhere up Cadotte.  It’s spring planting time on the Island – a little bit later than usual.

Man in elevator:  “Geez!  It’s that guy again!  Every time I’ve seen him this week he’s been getting his picture taken.  Is he a celebrity?  Should I know him?  Maybe I should ask to have MY picture taken with him! 

Lowell to Lora:  “The time I walked across Arch Rock, I came THIS CLOSE to falling off!” 

Ted to Stephanie, the reporter: “You know, I have some good stories too. Maybe you’d like to interview me when you’re done with Lowell.” 

“Lowell, I’m thinking we could move our house in Olivet and put it right there on that empty lot!”

“Stephanie, when we rowed across to Round Island in that little boat, a freighter came SO CLOSE I could have reached out and touched it.”

“Hold on, Faye! This Mosley fella says he can drive horses, but he’s taking these curves pretty fast if you ask me!”

When they checked out, dock porters Josh Carley and Archie Horn wanted their photos taken with Lowell. Both were born and raised on the Island and love anyone who can tell stories about the “good old days”.

Something totally unplanned happened as we walked down to the ferry. As Lowell sat down to rest a moment, Brad Chambers walked by, and we introduced him to Lowell. Brad now lives in the family home on Cadotte where Lowell boarded when he worked on the Island. Lowell told Brad about sitting on the porch with a pair of binoculars, watching as the Mackinac Bridge was built. So another connection was made – past to present.

One more photo on the dock with Josh before Jill and I boarded the ferry to cross with them to Mackinaw City.

I snapped this shot of Lowell and Lora in front of the Chippewa’s elevator door.

Soon our reporter from The St. Ignace News/Town Crier arrived – Stephanie Fortino. She went along with our little “fib” about ordering a taxi to take us to Arch Rock for her interview with Lowell.

We all climbed on, including Ted, who got to ride up top with Ben.  I honestly think Faye and Lowell were speechless for a few moments.

Off we went through downtown. Now, when a vintage Grand Hotel vis-à-vis carriage, pulled by two majestic Hackney horses (named Jester and Joker) start high-stepping through the streets, it stops traffic, bikers, and pedestrians!

We drove up Cadotte and turned in front of the Grand Hotel. Faye and Lowell finally just shook their heads in wonder and started laughing.  It was great!

We traveled up the West Bluff in front of the summer cottages, with Lowell talking to Stephanie and Ben occasionally giving some history on what we were seeing.  Stephanie, bless her heart, had a hard time writing while riding in the carriage, so she finally pulled out her recorder.

As we road through the Annex, which Lowell had never seen, he entertained us with stories from his teenage years on Mackinac Island in the 1950′s.

We stopped in a shady spot for a photo . . .

. . . then Ted climbed back up in the driver’s seat he was sharing with Ben. They sure did chatter a lot up there, and I tried to listen to Lowell with one ear and their conversation with another. (To be honest, I think they occasionally veered off the subject of island history.)

We turned up the hill next to the cemetery and headed for Ft. Holmes . . .

. . . where we made our first official stop.  There were several people at Ft. Holmes already, and with the arrival of the Grand carriage, they all immediately stopped looking at the view and wanted photos of Ben and the horses.

They are very photogenic.

Lowell said Ft. Holmes had changed quite a bit since he visited there. Where grass creates the walls surrounding these gates now, there once were timbers.

Lowell and Faye at Ft. Holmes.

The interview really never stopped. With each new spot, Stephanie would ask more questions, and Lowell would tell more stories.

Lowell and Faye at Lookout Point.

While Lowell was being interviewed, Ted was entertaining Faye.

Our last stop before the end of the tour was Arch Rock, where Lowell worked so many years ago.  Lora and Sarah rode their bikes out there to meet us.

Lowell showed Stephanie where the Curio Shop was at Arch Rock . . .

. . . and the reporter got a photograph of Lowell and Faye.

Jill also met us at Arch Rock and snapped this one of Ted and I with Ben.

From Arch Rock, we headed back to the Grand . . .

. . . but we weren’t faster than Jill on her bike. She had time to park the bike, get up on the porch, and shoot this photo of us pulling into the Grand driveway. I’m telling you – she is the energizer bunny!

We all thanked Ben for a fabulous tour . . .

. . . then went inside for a wonderful lunch at the Grand.

Since Lowell, Faye, and Stephanie had never been to the Grand cupola, we took the elevator to within one floor of the top, then took the stairs the rest of the way. Lowell said the view was worth every step. 

I love this photo.

Our last stop was Sadie’s for ice cream.  By the way, flavor #3 was Triple Peanut Butter Cup, and on a scale from 1 to 10, I give it a 10.  Tasted like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – with chocolate chips.