Oh my goodness gracious. Just when I thought I couldn’t stand one more minute of fog or misty rain, the clouds parted, and blue sky appeared. WooHoo! Sunshine!!
I can’t wait for tomorrow. I’m declaring my self-imposed exile over and trying my foot out on a little walking adventure (yes, yes, yes . . . I promise not to overdo)! But please, please, let me out of this house! I need air, sunshine, the chirping of birds, the jangle of horse harnesses, the clip-clop of horse hooves, the smell of horse poop. I need MACKINAC!
The Memorial Day weekend is shaping up to be a fantastic one. The temps may be a little on the cool side, but the sun will be shining – so just throw on a sweater or two or three, and come on up! Layer up in the morning and evening, and peel ’em off during the mid-day hours. That’s the Mackinac way!
The first sign of blue appeared around lunch . . .
. . . and by mid-afternoon the skies were clear!
All over the village we could hear lawn mowers being cranked as Mackinac Islanders took advantage of the beautiful day to tidy up yards for the holiday weekend ahead.
One of my favorite drive-it-yourself buggies – love those blue wheels!
Carriage Tour wagons line up at Surrey Hill and wait to be sent to the barn.
Late afternoon – and a Grand Hotel omnibus heads to the stable. I think we’ve got some new horses this year at the Grand Stable. I’ll have to get over there soon and meet them.
Maddie and Bear are SO excited to see sunshine! Thank you Ted for taking over ALL the dog walking chores for the last few days!
Jill came over this afternoon (her day off) to visit and fill me in on everything happening downtown. She also shared this beautiful shot of the bridge in the sunshine.
As we look forward a few days to Monday and the upcoming holiday, it is easy, on this history-filled island, to reminisce on how Memorial Day was enacted in memory of the soldiers who fought in the American Civil War. It was later expanded to commemorate the soldiers who fought in all American wars.
There will be special ceremonies here Monday morning, and the laying-on of the wreath at the Post Cemetery – with all participants in period costume – has each year been one of my most cherished moments on this Island. Thucydides said, “The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” It is my wish, as we celebrate this holiday with friends and family, that we all take a moment to thank God for the brave souls we honor on Monday – they saw the vision, they knew the danger, and yet they went forward.
Safe travel prayers for those of you who will be on our roads this weekend. God bless.
Bree's Mackinac Island Blog 
Brenda, your writing faster then I can read girlfriend…lol. Take it easy on your foot…a little at a time. Blue skies sure look pretty and it sounds like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend. A blessed Memorial Day to you and Ted and have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you, Hilde, and the same to you and Bud! > Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 01:00:44 +0000 > To: brendasumnerhorton@hotmail.com >
Can’t wait to read all about your adventures and see the photos!! Have a blast!!!!!!!!!
Gorgeous photos!
Dear Bree, I’m so glad the weather changed for the better even as your foot bettered itself. Wish Cathie and I could be with all of you for the Post Cemetery wreath laying. But I guess we don’t always get what we want. It was in 1967 on Memorial Day that Cathie and I first met. It seems to have worked out very well, thank you. Tell Ted, the dogs, and soon to arrive Lowell hello and every body Have a safe holiday. Please do me a favor and give my best wishes to preacher Vincent. Sorry, but it doesn’t look like I will make lunch with him and Ted this year.
Charlie, I will relay your messages to all you mentioned and let them know you both are here in spirit. Love and big hugs to you and Cathie – so glad I was so blessed to have inherited the two of you when I married Ted.
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Charlie,
Hello to you and Cathie. Sure wish I could say that in person.
Dear Lowell, Hope you have a nice trip to the island and thanks for clearing up something for me. Stupid me I thought Ted was pushing the dogs around the island.
Happy to hear that your foot is better!!! : )
Brenda,
I’m glad you finished the day with sunshine (We had rain and/or clouds and cold, never got out of the 40s, all day). We are supposed to clear off and drop to 38 tonight. I’m glad I haven’t planted my little garden yet. I have the plants, but they’re inside the house by the back door.
It was sure nice of Maddie and Bear to pull Ted around the past few days. I’ll bet he enjoyed that.
It was nice of Jill to come up to see you and bring you up to date. She sure took a beautiful picture of the Bridge with the sparkling water.
I see the trees are starting to leaf out. Ten more days to go. I hope the leaves are all out by then. Wow, just 10 more days. Wishing my life away.
You be VERY careful when you’re walking tomorrow. Don’t hesitate to turn around and go right back home.
Yes sir, Mr. Lowell 😊!
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Hi Brenda !
One of our most memorable trips to the Island was during Memorial Day weekend 2 years ago, after reading your blog describing what a moving weekend it is. We attended the Stone Church services on Sunday, followed the soldiers to the Fort Cemetery Monday morning, and then attended the services at the Memorial downtown. We enjoyed casually meeting many people throughout the weekend and conversing about everything Mackinac.
We’ve always enjoyed Mackinac, but your blog has introduced us to so much more of Mackinac, and we thank you for that.
Paul & Elaine Williams
Thanks, Paul and Elaine! When are you coming to the Island
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Maybe in time for the Lilac Parade…maybe….
Sounds good Paul – just let us know when you have a plan so we can meet up somewhere while y’all are here.
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Hi Bree,
Can’t wait to get up there! I’ve been packing, which consists of me throwing almost all of my closet in the suitcase and then taking most of it out. It’s kind of like when I write a chapter: I put in way too many commas, and then at the end of the day, take 99.9% of them out. What great writer said something like that? I can’t think of his name.
You should have seen the boxes of shoes I had spread out all around me. Gotta find some fancy footwear for the Grand Hotel’s nightly dinners!
(Who am I kidding? I threw in one pair of black low-heeled summer slip-ons.)
It looks like you’re delivering bright sunshine for all us fudgies. Thank you. You’re a good little islander.
My husband and I are looking forward to meeting you and your hubby, Bree.
And your little dogs, too. Like Dorothy said, sort of…there’s no place like Mackinac Island…
~ Cindy Irish
Same here, Cindy! We will be off-island most of Saturday (helping friends pick up a sailboat in Cedarville). But call anytime – I’ll have my cell. Safe travels!
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We’re coming in on Saturday, so it’ll be a busy time checking in and getting settled. I’ll probably ring you on Sunday.
And I’m glad you’re foot is feeling better. I did something very similar a few years ago: I thought on was stepping off the last step onto the floor, and I still had two more to go. I tried to take a ballerina’s graceful leap into the air, but all I heard was a pop on my right foot before I landed on my rump. (It’s still weak and sometimes painful to this day. My foot, not my rump.)
See you.
Cindy
Sounds good except 10:30-11:30. We’ll be at Little Stone Church, which has a wonderful Memorial Day service. If you’d like to attend, just walk on down from the Grand and try to get there about 10:15. It’s always packed that Sunday.
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We usually go to Mass at St. Anne’s, but maybe we’ll try the Little Stone Church this year.
The first time we visited the island, fog settled in on the second day. It was such an ethereal experience – we almost felt alone in the world, just the island and us. I’m so thrilled your back on Mackinac so you can share your experiences with us! I’m loving all the blog entries!
Horse poop & sunshine!! LOL!! Sounds like things are looking up…Up North!! Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!! 🙂
I can’t wait to come today with my husband and two kids. My 5 year old may be more excited than I am. If you see a 5 year old and a 2 year old riding two wheel bikes that is us. What a great weekend it will be.
Great to see the sun…..for us also and I’ll take the sun any day even if it’s cool. Will look forward to reading your post after holiday and see all the great pictures. Sounds like you have a lot of readers coming up to share the holiday!
I will be thinking of you all on Memorial Day – well, moreso than usual – that whole weekend is one of my favorite times to be in the area. The parade in Mackinaw City, the pageant at Colonial Fort Michilimackinac – cheering as my grandfather survives the day – then over to the island for the Memorial Day services in Memorial Square. Sigh………I shall miss it all this year, but will pause several times throughout the weekend to think of all of you. Take care of your foot. Try to stay upright, and I shall too. Hi to Ted and furry babies. Blessings to you and yours.
We’ll miss you, Deborah!
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3 weeks from this sunday i will be arriving on the Island for a well deserved with my 2 kids. The more i read your blogs the more excited i get.