A Mishmash of Messages 8/28/2012

We have a Mystery Spot winner!  She is Taylor Thurston.  Please see end of this post for the answer.

So far, there hasn’t been a lot going on this week , but from this point on, the days are filling up fast.  Hilde and Bud DaVanon, two blog readers who have followed Bree’s Blog practically since “day one”, are on the Island, and we have plans with them on Thursday that have been in the works since before we ever left Georgia.  Hilde, Chris Ann Nelson, and I were on Facebook together one day last winter, talking about the Shepler Lighthouse Cruises and why none of us had ever been on one.  Right then and there we made plans to go this summer, and we all went on-line and got our tickets. On Thursday from 2-5 p.m. that’s where we three couples will be –  taking the West-Bound tour!  We’re  looking forward to a fun afternoon on the water, seeing lighthouses none of us have visited before.  More on that later!

Blog Readers Visit Stuart House

Blog reader Joan from Shelby Township outside of Detroit. I believe it was in 2010 that Joan came by the Stuart House for the first time. She and her husband come to the Island at least every other year, for a week at the Grand with several other couples.  After she left the Stuart House, Joan was going to visit my god-horse Teddie!

Gail, a relatively new blog fan, and her husband Ray dropped by to say “hello”. They arrived from Chicago in Sunday night’s rainstorm, but awoke to a beautiful Monday morning. Before they came to the Stuart House, they’d already walked to Arch Rock and visited Anne’s Tablet.

Hidden in the Flower Bed

When passing any of the gorgeous flower beds along Market Street this summer, I’ve taken in the kaleidoscope  of bright colors and thought, “Wow! How eye-popping is that!”  Starting home from the Stuart House on Monday, I had just that thought as I rode past several B & B’s.  On a whim, I pulled over and investigated a little more closely.

Take the Cottage Inn garden . . . .

. . . sitting on a rock among the greenery, this little turtle was basking in the sun.

Almost hidden by flowers in the basket and saddlebags, this bike had become a giant blooming flowerpot on wheels.

This rustic green-eyed frog has just caught a fly . . .

. . . and this little birdhouse was waiting for new occupants!

Just next door at Weber’s Florists, I stopped to ask Patti (Weber’s floral designer) what this beautiful flowering plant was. Does anyone know the answer?

Let us write, let us write!

Hi. Bear here. Mom FINALLY let us get to the laptop for a minute to let you know we ARE still alive and kicking! We insisted we be able to say a few words about not writing in weeks and weeks on The Dog-Eared Page. With mom and dad so busy, it’s been very hard for us to get out and find doggie news, and we feel really, really bad about that (but it IS mom’s fault, not ours).  We sure have been catching up on our naps though. We’ve also  spent some time watching Disney movies upstairs in the TV room . . .

. . . . and we’ve enjoyed sleeping in the rays of the sun, coming through the French doors into the den.

We get in a lot of deck time during each day – just watching the people and horses go by.  Maddie barks a lot, and dad squirts her with water from a spray bottle.  She used to hate it and would stop barking.  Now I think she barks just so dad will squirt her.

Sometime – when mom and dad have to be off-island for a few hours – Ms. Jill stops by to play with us. We love Ms. Jill!

Anyway, we’ve had a great summer . . . but we feel bad about not keeping our promise to write.  We’re thinking after Labor Day – when things quiet down a bit on the Island – we’ll get back into the swing of things and get some more blogs posted.  Until then . . . hugs and pooch kisses from Maddie and I.  We love ya’ll!

Reader Photos

Fran from Florida. During the Olympics someone formed the Olympic rings out of stones in the shallow water below Arch Rock.

Hilde DaVanon.   Red barn “somewhere” on Island.

Pat Steele – Vernon, MI
Flags flying at Fort Mackinac – commemorating the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Paula Engle – Jackson, MI
Paula’s first view of the Island in 40 years.   She and her husband dashed up from Jackson on a recent spur-of-the-moment trip.

Note:  Desperately needing reader photographs to continue this feature.  Please send as email attachment to brendasumnerhorton@hotmail.com.  Please send your very best one or two photos of Mackinac Island scenery, and try to send photos that are a little different or are a different view of something familiar. 

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 the Sugar Shack?

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.

Personal Note:  Because of the Lighthouse Cruise on Thursday (and probably dinner afterward), I’ll be publishing sometime on Friday instead of Thursday evening.  Hope to have lots of lighthouse photos for you then.  See you soon!

Mystery Spot Answer

The Sugar Shack is located on French Lane behind the London Square Shop.