Unexpected Gifts and Fun Moments 8/14/2012

Enjoy the little things in life because one day you will look back and realize they were the big things.  Anonymous

Blake and I received an unexpected gift last Friday evening.

We rode over to the mainland on the 8 p.m. boat.  I’d never been to Anne’s cabin before and wanted to find it before dark.  Carp Lake is only a 12-minute drive to the Pellston airport, and every little minute of sleep would count since Blake had to be at the airport at 5:30 Saturday morning.  Anne was so sweet to invite us to stay over with her, even though I’m sure she knew full-well we’d make enough noise getting up and getting out that she’d be up mighty early too.  But she invited us anyway.

We found the cabin with no problem, and as we turned into her drive, we looked straight through her yard –  past garage and house – to the most incredible sky and rainbow I have ever – ever – seen.

“Oh, Blake!  Look at the light!” I said, practically falling out of the truck in my haste to get my camera out of my bag.

Blake was as spellbound as I.  Anne was coming out the side door to meet us, and I think we had the decency to at least say “hello” before rushing by, pulling her with us into her own backyard.

Blake hurried out to the end of the dock, turning on his camera and adjusting it as he slid to a stop just before going off the end.

I stood with Anne near her fire pit.  The rainbow seemed to have been born in Mackinaw City . . .

. . . then traveled through Heaven, coming down out of the clouds to touch Earth again miles and miles away.  As beautiful as it looks here, the photograph does not even begin to touch how this scene truly looked.

Special light, special rainbow, special moment shared.

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Around 8:30 Monday evening, I’d just walked into the den when I heard voices outside yelling, “Hi, Brenda!  Hi Ted!  Hi Maddie!  Hi Bear!”  Ted heard them too, so I knew I wasn’t imaging things!  We rushed to the window and looked out to find a wagon full of people and dogs and hay stopped on the street beside our boardwalk.  It was a birthday hayride for little Jordan Fisher – who’d just turned three years old!

The wagon was filled with parents, grandparents, Jordan’s little sister Jenavieve, friends and family pooches!

Friend Joan Barch, with her daughter Julie Fisher and grandchildren – birthday boy Jordan and little Jenavieve.

There might be a few other places where moments like this happen . . . a horse-pulled hay wagon, filled with friends, who stop by and yell “Hello!” up to your open windows.  But I don’t know where they are, and I just feel so, so blessed to be living here, where little moments like this happen on almost a daily basis.  Geez, I love this place!

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Readers’  Mackinac Island Photographs

Deborah Crawford – Midland, Ontario, Canada
From a July, 2010 visit to the Island. Deborah told this shot while sitting in Margaret’s Garden at the Grand Hotel and said, “This photo just shows everything I love about the Island – flowers, horses, beautiful scenery wherever you look.”

Patti Foote – Buffalo, N.Y.
Patti and her sister visited the Island in June, 2011. They saw this same kitty twice during their visit.  Here he’s on a fence near the boardwalk.

Jean Lenard – Powell, Ohio
Photo taken on porch of Iroquois Hotel in July, 2012.

Paul and Elaine Williams – Yale, MI
From August, 2007. Photo was taken as they walked on the road behind the West Bluff houses. Paul and Elaine visit the Island several times every summer.

Mystery Spot Contest

The object of the Mystery Spot is to be the first to identify where the object is located. When you think you have the answer, email me at brendasumnerhorton@hotmail.com. I’ll check my email several times a day, and as soon as we have a winner, I’ll post the winner’s name at the top of this blog so you can stop guessing (you may have to refresh your page for this to show up). Is there a prize for the winner?  Yes there is; but the prize is secret, and the only ones who will know what it is are the winners. To be fair, I’m asking residents of Mackinac Island to please NOT guess. This is just for readers who don’t live here . . . but would like to! And the Mystery Spot is   . . . .

Where is it?

Again, please email your answers to me at brendasumnerhorton@hotmail.com.  PLEASE DO NOT ANSWER IN THE “COMMENTS” SECTION OF THE BLOG.  Remember, I’ll post the winner at the top of this blog as soon as someone gives the correct answer.

See you on Friday!