Not a lot to talk about today, so I will just chat a while and see where that leads us.
Everyone on the island is talking about what a weird summer this has been – weatherwise. It certainly has been different from last summer, when it seemed every day was sunny and 75 degrees. Last year we started off every morning in shorts and jackets, shed the jackets by noon, put them back on around 4:00 in the afternoon, then went to bed and started the whole process over again the next morning. This summer, we have started nearly every day in sweatshirts, maybe shed those for a lighter sweater during the day, then put the sweats back on in the late afternoon, sometimes even adding a coat. And it has RAINED! A very wet summer, according to the islanders.
Today (Friday) has been perfect – sunny, a warm breeze, 72 degrees. It just doesn’t get any better than that! Later this afternoon though, when Ted and I were walking the dogs, Ted said, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but doesn’t it feel a little bit like fall to you?” It did – the breeze had changed and had a distinct coolness – the way it did at the end of August last year. I laughed and said, “Maybe we’ll get lucky and have snow in October!” Ted wasn’t amused.
Am I complaining? Not one iota. Mackinac Island is Mackinac Island – warm, cool, cold, wet, dry, sunny, cloudy, and windy. Love it in all its glorious sunny summer days, love it in all its messy rainy days. Just love it. We have learned to leave the house prepared for anything during a day. Yesterday when I took Bear over to Cheboygan for a much needed bath, I wore capri’s and a 3/4 length sleeve top. Tied a white zip-up hoodie around my waist. I forgot one thing – I should have taken the rain gear. I didn’t need it in Cheboygan, but it was raining on the island when we got back. Gave me an excuse though to call a cab. Bear and I love those cabs. If there is room, he spreads out and takes up two seats, with his head hanging over the edge looking out at everything we pass.
When we got off the ferry, Jill was there to meet us. I think she has a sixth sense about when people are arriving on the island. Not only was she there, but Bonnie was waiting on the dock also, greeting friends/family (don’t know which one) who were on the ferry with me (although I didn’t know it). Putting Bonnie’s picture on the blog a couple of days ago with Charlie the chipmunk raised my readership about 200 people that day. Bonnie and Don must have a really big family! I got the nicest comments from some of them.
I rode over on the ferry with a couple from Tulsa, Oklahoma who were visiting the island for the first time (in case you haven’t noticed, I also forgot my camera yesterday – so no pictures of any of this). It was a surprise trip for the wife. Her husband had arranged the whole thing for her birthday, including a dinner at the Woods Restaurant. Talk about romantic! It turned out that their daughter (I think) and her family lived in Arkansas in the same town a few years ago as our Julie, but have since moved. Small, small world. Anyway, Happy Birthday Patty! I hope your visit to Mackinac Island is everything your husband envisioned for the two of you!
Ted went to Cheboygan today – grocery shopping. He’s so good about not asking me to grocery shop when I take Bear over. Handling 85 lbs. of dog and several banana boxes filled with groceries isn’t easy – so he went back today.
When Ted got home this afternoon, I walked downtown to get the mail, send some cards, and pick up some boxes to send some packages off next week. Went by the bookstore to see if Jill was working, and but she wasn’t coming in until 4:00 today. I stopped by The Grand to take some pictures of their daylily garden. Many varieties, many colors – all beautiful!
Oh, I have to show you this. The first picture is one I took June 29 of the flowers out in front of The Grand. The second picture was July 26 – less than a month later. Amazing!
I know I have shown you a lot of flowers in the last couple of days, but honestly I can’t help it. Everything is at its peak right now. These are planted in front of the Jockey Club Restaurant, across the street from The Grand.
To put the icing on this fine Friday, I got to see two of my favorite Friesians trot by, pulling a beautiful carriage. Don’t know if they were on the way to town to pick up someone at the ferry, or if they were just out getting some exercise.
Stevie and Dawn from the lake in Georgia just called, and they are on the way. They left after getting off work this afternoon, and will spend the night in Tennessee. They are stopping in Ohio for a couple of nights to see a new grandbaby, then coming on up to us on Monday. We will be so excited to see folks from home!
I’m going to take a day off from blogging tomorrow – gotta house clean for company, and I don’t think you want to hear about mopping floors and polishing furniture. Will see you back here on Monday morning, good Lord willing. Have a wonderful weekend. God bless.
Bree's Mackinac Island Blog 
THANKS Brenda for stopping by the Bookstore when you were downtown. Sorry I missed you.
See you tomorrow morning, if not today. Oh, you’ll be cleaning all day….YUCK…
Glad it was a nice day for you! We had the same temperatures…woke up and the kids went outside about 7:30 and said it is cold!! It was 58 and only was mid 70’s all day. Beautiful! I do love the cool summer temperatures in Arkansas but I can do without the winters.
Beautiful flowers. I do love daylilys. Come to think of it, I love all flowers and Magic Mac seems to be the best growing environment for all things–plant, horse, dog, chipmunk and human.
Happy house cleaning. I bet you are going to make your breakfast fruit for your guests. It is so outstanding and everyone loves it. I think you need to put it in the blog and share it with all. It is that outstanding and Charlie still talks about how good it was. OK, I am lazy and haven’t made it for him yet but I will.
Hugs to all and have fun with Stevie and Dawn.
Cathie
You are right on the fruit! In fact, I had to make an “in-between” batch for Ted and I, which we are just finishing up. Can’t claim it as mine though – got that great recipe from sweet Blair, Jason’s wife.
Rumor is on the river………that Stevie is planning to get Ted in trouble…Watch out
I am in total agreement with you, Bree, on the weather. It has been a bit on the cool side, which is just fine with me, we didn’t have quite so much rain until last week.
I love our weather, no matter what it is.
You pictures are always wonderful!
We said exactly the same thing, Bree. That it felt like fall. Like one of those warm days in autumn where you’re just feeling lucky that it still feels warm. Whoa, this is way to early. And the hummingbirds started their dashing and diving routine today. Doesn’t that usually happen later in August? I am still convinced we’re going to get 80 degrees more than once. We have to.
Hey wait, what are your “breakfast fruits”?
Post a recipe, pictures, I wanna know 😉
It’s a great recipe that my sweet, beautiful daughter-in-law gave me. She served it once when we were visiting her and our son Jason in Atlanta, and it was soooo good. I make it everytime we have overtime company, and it gets rave reviews. So easy!
1 large can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 pkg. frozen strawberries, thawed and drained OR 1 carton fresh strawberries, sliced
Small can sliced peaches, drained (I usually cut the peach slices in half)
3 bananas, sliced
1 can Peach Pie filling – not drained.
Mix fruit in bowl; add pie filling and coat. Refrigerate.
Yummy!!
Thank you for that recipe. I am going to make that on Sunday, yay!
My daughter and I read your blog all the time. We love it! It makes us miss the island even more though. My daughter will be working on the island again this next Summer and she is looking for a place to stay like a condo instead of staying at the Lennox again. It will be with 3 others ages 19 to 30. They all will be driving for the Carriage Tours so most of their time will be on a wagon May thru October. They want a place close to Surrey Hill or the Big Barn as they can get. Would you have any ideas? This way I will also have a place to stay when I visit. 🙂 Thank you in advance.
Hi Chris, and thanks for your kind words. Boy, that is a tall request about housing! I don’t know of any condos up our way that would be available all season. All of the ones at Surrey Ridge are used at least part of the summer. Let me ask around, and I will let you know if something pops up that I don’t know about.