It’s Time 1/7/18

When we arrived home from Mackinac Island this October I decided to take a break from writing until the first of the year. I confess to having an ulterior motive.

For at least two years now, I’ve been thinking the lifespan of Bree’s Mackinac Island Blog has really more than run its course.  When I began the blog in 2009 it was just at the beginning of the social media era.  Bree’s Blog was one of only a very few places on the web where folks could go for information about Mackinac, and I slid myself right into that special little niche – reserved for the dear folks who believe Mackinac Island is magical and the most beautiful place on earth.  The blog blossomed, and at its peak nearly 2,000 readers a day stopped by to see what was happening with the Hortons and their pooches on the island.

You followed us home to our precious lake house in Georgia for winters and packed up with us for the move back to the island for the season.  You gave us support and love through so many hard times – selling the condo on the island and our home in Georgia, moving into a rental while we built a new home in Florida, my hysterectomy, Bear’s knee surgery and two years later his death, hurricanes – the list goes on.  But for every hard time, there were hundreds of good times – endless summer days exploring the island, listening to the trees sing their song in the up north woods, riding hundreds of ferries back and forth across the Straits, horse and buggy adventures, nights at the Pink Pony, the discovery of Ted’s birth mother’s family . . . the list again goes on and on.  Even when we weren’t on Mackinac you traveled with us – a trip to Colorado to a ski resort, a trip to Alaska, a trip to Key West, a trip to an amazing little island in Canada, and numerous trips to Flagler Beach as we built our home.

The decision to post the “Throw Back Thursday” posts has given me so much joy – looking back at those first few years and remembering things I haven’t thought about since they happened.  But they also gave me the strength to say . . . .

It’s time.

I’ve told almost a thousand stories about Mackinac Island, and there are many other excellent blogs being written about the island.  All you have to do is Google “Mackinac” and hundreds of resources appear.  Through blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and all those other media channels out there that I don’t even know the names of, Mackinac is now an open book.

This past summer on Mackinac was a little bit of a wake-up call for Ted and I.  We seemed to spend a lot of time recovering from spills – and we blamed most of them on Bodie.  But, being totally honest about it – and although Bodie did play his part – a lot of those falls and spills were because our reaction times have gotten slower, our ability to heal quickly has slowed down.  Since returning home we’ve begun to think about the time we would no longer be able to return to Mackinac on an extended time line.  We’ve begun quietly searching for other places where my need for cooler summers would be closer than 1300 miles away.

Until that time comes, and we pray we’ve still got years ahead of us before we have to get serious about it, I selfishly want to enjoy every minute on Mackinac without those self-imposed blog deadlines.  I just want to go and enjoy every second of its beauty and peace and magic.

So, it’s time.

What’s next?  The ending of Bree’s Blog certainly doesn’t mean I won’t be taking photos and posting to Facebook – about Mackinac, and about anything else either serious, mundane or silly that happens in our lives.  So, if you haven’t already, please follow me on Facebook.  Just search for “Brenda Horton” and you’ll find me.

And – there is certainly a possibility I will one day (maybe soon, maybe later) find my way back to blogging about something completely different.  But, that’s just a thought now – not a decision.  I do know writing is in my blood, and if I do go in another direction, I will let you know by posting the info here on this blog – so please don’t “unfollow” me here.  I’ll also let you know on Facebook.

Bree’s Blog will live on forever on the web.  I hope in the years to come newcomers who are just discovering Mackinac will click a key and discover a little blog about the Hortons spending part of their time on magical Mackinac. And I pray they know each and every word and each and every photograph is filled with love and thankfulness and the awe of the discovery of my heart’s home.

I can’t even begin to thank you all for the happiness writing this blog and sharing Mackinac with all of you has brought me.  It’s hard to believe I’ve been writing about the island for almost as long as I’ve been retired.  I began it on a whim, and that whim has buoyed me up over all these years and brought the most amazing people into our lives.  As half-year residents of Mackinac, we were given a behind the scenes glimpse over the years to what makes Mackinac tick, and I tried my best to share it all with you – so you could love it as much as I do.

Thank you to everyone to provided photographs over the winters when we weren’t on the island.  Your generosity and willingness to share your talents kept Bree’s Blog up and running over the cold season.  Thank you to readers, friends, and business owners who allowed me access to stories that wouldn’t otherwise have been told.  Your love of Mackinac makes my heart smile.

And a very special thank you to my dear friend Jill.  Without you there wouldn’t have been a Bree’s Blog.  Thank you for all the insider information over the years, the story ideas, and the thousands of photographs.  Thank you for being my sidekick, my always-willing-to-get-up-early partner in crime, my confidant, my shoulder to cry on, my “no-you-can’t-write-that” editor.  But most of all – thank you for being my forever friend.  You are beautiful and amazing, and I love you to the moon and back.  Ok – make that to the sun and back.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve written and rewritten this post.  If I’d let myself I would have turned into a blubbering baby and sobbed my way through it.  But I want you all to know I don’t have one regret about the years spent here with all of you.  You all became friends – many of you close friends – and I love you all immensely.  You let me into your homes and lives by reading this blog, and that is the greatest gift writing this blog has given me.

So, for now, it’s time.

 

 

God bless.

Back in My Happy Place 7/27/17

Hi Everyone!

We’ve been on the island now for almost two weeks, and I think we’re about settled in.  I’m a little surprised that the first week was harder than usual for me – physically I mean.  I knew I hadn’t been exercising much in Florida since it had gotten so hot (short walks with Bodie just don’t equal “in shape” on Mackinac).  The first walk up the hill to our condo left me breathing hard and thinking, “Geez, what the heck is this?”  But, it’s amazing how fast that climb got easier each time I did it, and yesterday Bodie and I covered over two miles of trails – up and down hill – and came back to the condo feeling great.  It makes me feel better that Bodie is having to get in shape too, but for some reason, I think he’s having a lot more fun than I am during the process.

Weather – what can I say?  We came from over 100 degrees heat index in Florida to here where the temps haven’t gotten out of the 70’s for highs since we arrived.  Shorts and t-shirts during the day, a jacket at night for the last dog walk, and a lap blanket out on the porch in the mornings while we have coffee.  We’ve had a couple of days of rain, but that’s ok.  We’re on the island.  We just pull on the rain gear and keep on truckin’.

Bodie has amazed us by how well he’s taking the island busyness in stride. From the time he stepped off the ferry . . .

. . . and jumped right into the taxi, he’s handled it all with a maturity I really didn’t think he possessed yet. He’s been surrounded by horses, carriages and people and is amazingly calm about all of it.  Maybe Maddie’s “so what” attitude has rubbed off on him!  Still very excited though when he meets new folks one-on-one.  We continue to work on that!

The island is beautiful in July, and we were so excited when we got to the condos to find all the landscaping done, flowers blooming, and butterflies floating from bush to bush.

And, we’re excited that we’ll be right here in this same place until we leave mid-October!

OUR FIRST TWO WEEKS IN PHOTOS

We celebrated our first evening on Mackinac with dinner at the Chippewa (a tradition). The second night we went out with friends Buz and Patty from Oklahoma. They’re here until the middle of September, and we’re so excited we’ll be seeing lots more of them before they leave. I think it was the third night we finally ate at the condo, and then walked down to Sadie’s for ice cream.

One of those stormy days. It’s amazing how quickly I forgot how dirty a golden retriever can get on the wet streets of Mackinac Island! (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)

One thing all that rain produces are lush gardens all over the island, like this one of the west bluff.

As I was leaving the reunion, one of Ted’s newly-found cousins, Diane Caruso, gave us this wonderful pillow she had made because she knew of our love for little Maddie. It’s wonderful to have something “homemade” in the Mackinac condo, and when we leave we’ll take it to Florida, and it will find a home there.

You all know Ted and I have a morning coffee ritual – wherever we are. Maddie in Ted’s lap . . .

and Bodie guarding the front porch seems to be the theme for this summer.

One of cousin Dave and Diane’s sons, Scott, and his wife Tina and their boys spent the day on the island the week we arrived. They stopped by to say hello and added another “personal” item to the condo . . .

. . . . this great candid shot of their family on vacation!

Ran into artist Mary Lou Peters in Little Luxuries of Mackinac Island this week. Love this sweet lady!

Backtracking some now – I know most of you saw this on Facebook, but just in case you didn’t, Ted and I stopped in to see Lowell and Faye for a few moments as we passed through Olivet. It was storming and we had to leave the pups in the car, so we didn’t get to visit nearly long enough!

And one day while we were at Dave and Diane’s, I met Mary Saul and Frankie Thill in downtown Spring Lake for a girls chat session. So happy to see these two sweet friends.

I dropped by Mackinac Mud Pottery this afternoon and was just in time to watch owner Jay Barch creating at the wheel. Love this shop filled with original items. Ted and I use coffee mugs from Jay’s shop on Mackinac and in Florida.

Heading down Fort Hill this afternoon. There it is – that Michigan blue water and sky!

Pretty zinnias at the Grand!

Fort Mackinac on a gorgeous July day!

INDULGE ME – PLEASE

You’re just going to have to indulge me now for this section.  I’ve taken about 352 photos of Bodie since we arrived, and if left up to me I’d force you to look at each and every one. But I’m going to take pity and try and just put up a few of the best ones.  I promise, promise, promise I will NOT do this in every blog this summer, but for this one . . . well, please indulge me.

Mackinac, as seen through Bodie’s eyes his first week:

First of all, the cars here are pulled by animals called horses. Horses are much bigger than me, so I leave them alone. I don’t even bark at them. I have to admit riding around in a carriage is pretty cool stuff!  Would you believe there are people here who sweep up after the horses when they poop in the street.  I sure am glad, cause I don’t think they make poop bags big enough for horse poop!

Out my window I get to see horses in a corral. Seriously, I do.

Mackinac has woods, and being in the woods means I can be off-lead. That makes me very, very happy!

Mom makes me practice my Sit/Stay command all the time here (so she can take photos of me).

Mom said we didn’t have room in the truck for both my crate AND my bed. I’d rather she brought my bed. Maddie shares hers sometimes, but it’s not quite as big as mine.

Mom and I go on long, long walks – usually twice a day, and I’m really getting a full tour of Mackinac. Mom LOVES to take my photo at the different places we visit. Like the gazebo for Somewhere in Time . . .

. . .this place called Anne’s Tablet . . .

. . . . and in the Grand Hotel gardens!

Today we were in Turtle Park and this guy was kicking a soccer ball around. I figured he needed help.

I ran out to help him with the ball, and he stopped what he was doing and gave me great pets!  I thought that was pretty cool, but since he didn’t have treats in his pockets, I ran back to mom when she called.

This is absolutely the best place I’ve ever been so far in my life. It’s summertime, but it’s cool. There are miles and miles of trails to run on. Just about every person I meet wants to pet me. Everyone of you should seriously pack up all your pets and bring them to Mackinac!  They will thank you forever!

ONE MORE THING

Jill and I sat downtown at Marquette Park this afternoon people-watching and drinking our Arnold Palmer Lite Ice Tea (99 cents at Doud’s).  I have it on good authority that Friday, July 28, is Jill’s birthday, so everyone feel free to wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY right here!  Yes, she’s going to kill me for doing that, but that’s the way it is with good friends.  We can get away with stuff!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JILLSKI!!

See you back here in a few days!  God bless.

Slow Weekend 9/29/2013

You know how it is when you find a book you really, really like, and you don’t want to put it down . . . not for anything?  Well, that’s how I’ve been the last few days.  I’ve been reading Susan Wiggs’ Table for Five, and after two really “heavy-duty” books, Table for Five, although not exactly a “light” subject, is an easy-to-read and compelling story.

I’ve said all that because I’m using it as an excuse not to have much for you tonight in the way of news OR photos.  I know, I know.  I don’t need excuses with y’all, but it really IS the reason I’ve been sticking close to home for a few days.

Anyway, here’s what I have – taken on walks with Bear and on the way home from church this morning.

A tree on Fourth Street.  I’d just come off Whitefield Road, which is in the State Park,  into the Village.

The remains of an old wooden fence on Whitefield Road.  Love old fences!

We always have a goose or two around the Island, but now they’re arriving in great flocks. These were behind the school this morning as I came back from church.

The Grand Hotel has been a beehive of activity for the last week.  They’ve been replacing the worn pavement in front of the hotel, and I’ve seen more motorized vehicles at the Grand (asphalt trucks, front-end loaders, etc) than I’ve seen on the entire island in the last six years.

The amazing thing is it’s entirely done – in one week! Old pavement removed, ground prepared, and new pavement poured. People have asked why they didn’t wait until after the hotel closed at the end of October. The answer is WEATHER. Asphalt cannot be poured below a certain outside temperature, and by the first of November, we could have snow. So – it’s done, it looks great, and next season, NO trucks or mess!

My favorite golf course tree again – from another angle.

The annual big barns pumpkin patch!

We got a good rain last night – the first we’ve seen in a few weeks. By morning, it was over except for some damp roads, which by noon were practically dry.

That’s it for tonight.  We’re about to leave for Mackinac Night at the Chippewa (which we’ve never attended before), and I’m running late as usual.

Hope everyone has a great week, and I promise to get out of the house more in the next few days.  God bless.

Mackinac Island Spring Update 4/7/2013

Five weeks to go . . . I think.

Ted has had a possible 3-day job come up May 6-8 here in Georgia (the week we would be doing our final packing to leave).  If that job commitment is made, there’s a chance we won’t get out of here Mother’s Day weekend.  We’ll just have to wait and see what happens . . .

I only have a few photos tonight, and most of the ones I do have deal with more snow . . . something the island will be happy now to see end.  The first of the Grand Hotel workers arrived this week, and most of them came from very warm climates.  I’m hearing there are a lot of very happy Jamaicans seeing their first snow ever and enjoying it immensely!  I just can’t quite comprehend that the Grand “soft” opens at the end of this month and officially opens one week later, on May 2.

I read in The St. Ignace News this week that P.J. Parrish, the author of “Heart of Ice” – set on Mackinac Island – will be participating in the Mackinac Island Library Summer Author Series.  As you know “P.J.” is actually the pen name for two sisters, Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols.  They’ll be at the island library on June 28 at 4 p.m. – can’t wait to hear them!

The Seabiscuit Cafe is already open!  Love, love, love their English Pot Roast Muffins!  Oh my gosh – now my tummy is growling!

April 4 and it is snowing on the island. That cart just arrived with the first of this year’s merchandise for Little Luxuries of Mackinac Island. I chatted with Nicole this afternoon, and she said more snow is forecast for the end of the coming week.  Good grief!  Oh . . .have I mentioned that Nicole’s shop will be twice as large this year?! Oh my goodness, do NOT tell Ted – he will chop up my charge card. (Photo: Nicole Doud)

The Father Marquette statue welcomed April to the Island through a veil of snow flakes. (Photo:  Clark Bloswick)

For the entire month of April the Mackinac Bridge is illuminated by blue lights as part of an autism awareness campaign.  So beautiful.  (Photo: Clark Bloswick)

Perfect place at the perfect time. Clark Bloswick was walking down Astor Street when he spotted the Huron coming straight in to the Arnold dock.  I swear when we get to the Island I’m tracking down Clark Bloswick and Robert McGreevy and following them around all summer.  Maybe that way I can get some fantastic shots too!

Greg Main posted this photo of the new street lights being added downtown.  The light with the speed limit sign is older, and you can see the new lights beyond that one are brighter and seem to direct more light down on the street.  Love them!

As the weeks tick by, I’ve begun to think seriously about Bree’s Blog, and where I want to go with it this summer .  Coming up in June will be what I hope is one of the best stories yet from that magical spot.  It involves a wonderful, loyal reader and his wife and the amazing way the Island is helping make a dream come true.  That’s all I’m giving away for now . . . . :)!

That’s all for tonight.  Have a great week, think SPRING, and God bless.

Mackinac Island Winter Update 3/10/2013

Hi everyone!

News from the Island has been a little slow this week, and snow pictures may be soon turning into slush pictures.  I’ve heard from a couple of Islanders that temps are hovering right around freezing, so sometimes it’s rain falling instead of that pretty white stuff.  If it rains much at all (and temps don’t fall and turn it all into ice), that wonderful snow is going to be gone soon.  But you know what?  It’s close to the middle of March!  Can Spring be far behind?

News item:  I reported a few weeks ago that there would be no deadline for Island residents to purchase their Resident Ferry Passes.  I think I need to re-address that and say it would probably be a good idea to contact your ferry line for Resident Pass deadline information.  I’m hearing now there may be an April 1 deadline.

A Few Photos

Friend Tim Leeper rode his bicycle out on the ice this past week (gulp) and posted this photo.

An awesome photo by Mary McGuire of the Mackinac Island Marina.

Not an Island photo, but very Island related. The Mackinac Island Horseman Association was in attendance this weekend in Lansing at the Michigan State University’s Horse Expo. Jill volunteered there and took this photo, showing Cowboy Bob (who appears each year at the Island’s Festival of the Horse, and friend Frankie Thill (in pink), working as a volunteer.

Still plenty of snow on the Arch Rock Bicycle Trail. (Photo: Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau)

From Robert McGreevy, who seems to catch the sun at its most beautiful practically every day.

Just for fun, here’s a couple of past photos to get your mind thinking toward the Island changing from a landscape of white and grey into a kaleidoscope of colors!

See you back here next Sunday!  Have a wonderful week, and God bless.

Mackinac Island Winter Update 2/24/2013

Hi All!

The weather continues to be the main topic of conversation on the Island this week.  More snow, more cold temps, but unfortunately . . . no ice bridge.  What I’m hearing now is that with the days getting longer, the hope of an ice bridge is fading.  If those of you on the island know different on this, please comment so everyone will know!

The weather was so bad this weekend that the Mackinac Island Boys and Girls Lakers Basketball teams couldn’t leave the island to participate in The Northern Lights League conference tournament being held in Hannahville.  In fact there were no flights off or on the island for two days straight.  So, in true Island spirit, the girls team played the “All Stars”, and the boys played the Island Fire Department in the Mackinac Island Public School gym.

Friend Jeff Peterson was on the Island for the last few days and was able to get to the game. He caught #33 Laker Will Barnwell getting this three-point basket. After a VERY hard-fought game, the Fire Department defeated the Lakers 80-78.  Anyone know the girls game score?

A VERY big event this weekend was the monthly (during the winter) 20% off sale at Doud’s Market.  It was today (Sunday), and my Island reporter Jeff Peterson said Doud’s was packed!

Here it is the dead of winter, and all three cash registers are open and busy at Doud’s Market. That Andrew sure knows how to throw a sale!  (Photo: Jeff Peterson)

And how do all those groceries get to the store when there are no ferries? They’re flown in! A carrier is pulled behind a snowmobile to the airport, groceries are unloaded from the plane into the carrier, and back to Doud’s it goes, where it is unloaded into the store. (Photo: Doud’s Market)

Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor

It’s official!  The Grand Hotel announced this week its brand new addition for 2013 – Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor, which will serve Hudsonville Ice Cream.  Sadie’s is named after the Scottish Terrier belonging to Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Musser, proprietors of the Grand Hotel. Sadie is famously known for her “Best In Show” win at the 2010 Westminster Dog Show.

Sadie’s will be located just outside the east entrance to the Grand, where Margaret’s Garden was formerly located.  Grand Hotel’s interior designer, Carleton Varney, has created a traditional ice cream parlor in which guests can choose from 24 Hudsonville flavors, or order up shakes, malts, sundaes and a special Grand Sundae made to share with large groups.  Sadie’s will be open daily to the public with no admission charge.

Oh my goodness, I will have to pass it every time I walk downtown!  Oh Woe! What is a girl to do???!!!

To read more about Sadie’s and view some wonderful photos of its creation over the winter, please click here: http://blog.grandhotel.com/?p=2844.

Winter Photos!

The Mackinac Island Airport from a Great Lakes Air plane. (Photo: Robert McGreevy)

Other things besides groceries and passengers arrive by plane now. Here a Cawthorne Village Inn employee is picking up a few cases of beer.

An awesome pic of Sugar Loaf from the air. (Photo: Travis Sredzinski)

Can you guess where this is – I really had to look closely. It’s the Fort Cemetery. The gravestones are almost covered in snow. (Photo: Travis Sredzinski)

Don’t know who took this photo, but I think that’s Heather May on her birthday, doing some sledding down Fort Street!

Ice on the north shore on Feb. 21. It was 8 degrees that day. (Photo: Grand Hotel)

More ice mountains. (Photo: Travis Sredzinski)

It’s just my personal opinion, but I think Steve Humphrey is a tad too far away from the shore here.  Those are West Bluff cottages behind him. (Photo: Orietta Barquero)

I love this photo of Diane Karkau on her snowmobile downtown! (Photo: Travis Sredzinski)

Who can tell me where this is? It was a Mystery Spot this summer! (Photo: Travis Sredzinski)

I know you’ve noticed the photos I included of the awesome ice mounds that are forming along the north shore of the Island.  Not only does Travis Sredzinski take great photos, but he captured the ice on a video that I know you will love!  You can watch it here: http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v1/y2/r/5l8_EVv_jyW.swf?v=10101275329855662&ev=0

All in all, a pretty busy week!  Hope everyone at your house is doing well.  February is almost over, so can Spring be far behind?  Have a great week, and God Bless.

For Those of You Who Don’t Read the Blog from Lake Blackshear

 

FINALLY!  I’ve been waiting all winter for the publication of Heart of Ice, and it’s out on February 26.

Well then, Brenda, just how did you come to have a copy already . . . . I know you’re asking!

OK – I’ll tell you! P.J. Parrish is actually the two-sister team of Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols.  They write fabulous novels that make the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.  This latest novel is set on Mackinac Island, and one day a couple of summers ago Jill introduced me to Kristy.

Me with Kristy Montee

Kristy had actually been reading my blog and took some island details for Heart of Ice from what she read.  We have chatted back and forth since then, and this week the book arrived in the mail!

My autographed copy!

And when I turned to the Acknowledgement Page . . . .

Jill and I got a thank you, along with Jane, Kathy, Tam, Cass and Jeremy

at the Island Bookstores on Mackinac and in Mackinaw City!

How cool is that!

So now I can’t wait to settle in and start reading Heart of Ice and figuring out all the places they talk about in the book.  Here’s a little preview of what it’s about:

Florida PI Louis Kincaid wants to wear a badge again. But before he can, he must return home to Michigan – and some unfinished business.  He hopes to bond with ten-year-old Lily, the daughter he only recently learned existed, and reunite with girlfriend Joe Frye.  But new clues to an unsolved murder put his plans on ice.  A trip with Lily to enchanting Mackinac Island turns grim when the child falls on a pile of old bones; the dangerous discovery reopens the cold case of Julie Chapman, a teenager from one of the wealthy summer families, who vanished two decades ago.  And when Louis is forced to cooperate with a tough state investigator who once worked with Joe, tensions skyrocket.  Now, what was supposed to be a time of building lasting ties splinters into disturbing fragments, personally and professionally, as Louis pursues a mystery entangled in dark family secrets and twists even he can’t predict.

Sounds like I’m going to have to find an unoccupied cushion on the couch and curl up.  With over 10 inches of rain expected here over the weekend into Monday, and flood warnings posted, I’d say it’s the perfect time to read!

If you’ve read something you really, really liked and want to share, please tell us about it in the comments section!  Always looking for a good read!

________________________________________________________________________________

PRAYERS

1)  Please keep Lowell Greene and his wife Faye in your prayers.  Lowell goes into the hospital on Monday morning for a heart cath and possibly a stent. Jill and I visited Lowell and Faye last fall in Olivet, MI, and he and Faye will be visiting the Island in June. 

2)  I talked with Chris Ann for a few minutes on Wednesday and it was so wonderful to hear her voice.  She sounded very weak, but I understood everything she said and even got a small laugh from her when I said some stupid, silly thing.  When I talked to Burton, he said Hospice had come the day before and washed her hair, and they continue to juggle her pain meds for the best combinations.  Both of their Michigan children and their families have been there this weekend.   Chris Ann is very close to the end of her journey.

Party Weekend! 6/10/2012

Whew!  I think I’m getting too old for all this fun!

It was another beautiful weekend on the Island, and the Lilac Festival activities are in full swing!

Ted began working at the Visitors Center this week, and after he got off Saturday afternoon, we walked downtown with Patty and Buz to have dinner and check out all the fun.  We stopped in at the Chippewa patio for a drink, then walked down to the Seabiscuit Cafe for dinner.  I’m such a stick-in-the-mud about ordering the same thing over and over, and this year I promised myself to try something new each time we eat out.  On Saturday night I chose the English Pot Roast Muffins . . . slow-cooked pot roast, smothered in caramelized Spanish onions, served over a toasted English Muffin and drizzled with Bleu Cheese sauce.  It came with a side of Tavern Dark Ale onion rings.  Oh yeah – it was yummy!

When we walked out of the restaurant, we could hear music coming from Market Street and knew “Dancing in the Street with the West Michigan Bootscooters” had begun.

We got there about twenty minutes before the dancing was over, but Patty and I got to line dance (no, we’re not in this shot) . . .

. . . and joined in on a very spirited rendition of Y.M.C.A.

We got “Dancing in the Street” medals to prove we’d been out there!

Patty and Buz are MUCH younger and MUCH more flexible than Ted and I, so they joined in on the Twist & Shout number. Wow! How low can they go?

Friends Bonnie and Don and Mary and Skip were in the crowd.

The evening ended with a little slow dancing.  Ahhhhhh . . . . .

Sunday was Buz’s birthday, and as a surprise Patty placed flowers at the alter for him in Little Stone Church for the morning service.  After church a big group surprised him again with lunch at the Gate House.

Don’t you love surprise parties – especially when they are really surprises!

A great group of friends!

Buz – working the table.

Love these two!

I know there haven’t been many Mackinac Island photos tonight – this one has mostly been friends and fun together.  But, after all, having friends and family here makes the Island that much more magical.  Sharing the magic . . .  I love it!

Bike Rides, Birthdays, Beautiful Weather . . . and a little tale not for squeamish 6/8/2012

Hello, hello, hello!  What a fantastic week THIS turned out to be!  Ted and I got in a great bike ride, I turned another year older, the weather’s been astounding, I turned another year older, and today the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival began – so the coming week should be even MORE fantastic!  Whew . . . . breathe, Brenda, breathe!

Mostly photos tonight, with captions to tell the story EXCEPT for a little “Tale of a Vet Visit” at the very end of this post that you should only read if you’re not easily grossed out!

I’m going to be jumping all over the island for this one – we covered a lot of ground this week.  So awaaaay we go . . . . .

Our late-blooming lilacs at Surrey Ridge are just getting started. They should be in full bloom in another day or two and will be perfect the entire 10-day time-span of the Lilac Festival . . . all you need to do is “climb that hill” to see them!

We’ve been here almost four weeks now (how can that be!), and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Island so busy this early. I’m sure the great weather is contributing to that, as are those Pure Michigan ads – some featuring Mackinac Island.

I know I’ve mentioned Martha’s Sweet Shop before, but I’ve never posted a photo of the owner of Martha’s. Meet Loretta Spata, talking to Ted here about how they remove ALL the calories from those melt-in-your mouth brownies we are addicted to. Oh my gosh . . . pop them in the microwave for 20 seconds and throw a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream on top. Your taste buds will think they have died and gone to Heaven!  P.S.  That thing about the calories being removed . . . . just kidding.

Yep!  There they are – brownies with nuts, covered by chocolate icing that is simply the best you’ve even tasted.  Trust me.

My friend Frankie’s Hershey, making friends with a little boy downtown in front of the post office. This kid would laugh, and Hershey would lick. Laugh, lick, laugh, lick. They drew a crowd, and everyone got their giggles for the day (doesn’t take much to entertain us here on Mackinac).

Jill with my godhorse, Teddie. I try to stop by and see him at least every other day. What a sweetheart he is!

Here’s Mary on Teddie, meeting Michelle Stuck’s Fresian Geysbert for the first time. This was Mary’s first ride on Teddie since she brought him to the Island.

Had to show you the new roof on the Summer Residence of Michigan’s governor. The new shingles almost look like copper when the sun’s hitting them just right. Beautiful, beautiful home.

Pretty chairs in a shady area in the yard of Park Place Suites, downtown on Market Street.

An example of the kind of weather we’ve had this week.

We never know what we might see when we look out our front doors.

Dozens and dozens of strollers are stored while parents and children take the Carriage Tour rides through the Island.

One more pic of my boy Teddie – sorry, can’t help it.

My FAVORITE Teddie!

Grand Hotel greenhouse.

British Landing. The Mackinac Bridge . . . . and a flower – a purple flower.

British Landing.  The Mackinac Bridge, with rain.  An Iris – a purple Iris (please tell me that’s an Iris).

Pots near the Grand Hotel greenhouse . . . .

. . . . and more pots under the trees.

We don’t usually see a taxi when we ride around the Island. Our favorite driver, Ron, had just taken three girls who wanted to go swimming out to the 3-Mile marker and dropped them off. We rode by them a few minutes later – one was sunning on the beach, and the other two had waded out to a dry outcropping of rocks to sun.

Those rain clouds we saw in the distance at British Landing were moving east with us.

Small Point Inn – just east of Mission Point Resort.

My birthday was very special . . . lots of Happy Birthday wishes from my blog readers (thank you so much), the arrival of Buz and Patty and four-legged Bailey (condo neighbors from Oklahoma – here for a month this year), . . .

. . . on the same ferry, friends Bonnie and Don (he’s somewhere in that crowd) arrived for a two-week stay on the Island (can’t wait to spend time with them) . . .

. . . flowers from Jason, Blair and Blake . . .

. . . and dinner with Ted, Patty, and Buz at the Harbor View Restaurant at the Chippewa, followed by a little game of Trivia on the back deck.  The sun was just going down here at about 9:35.

What a week!  So much fun, and as I said, this next one is going to be really full of great activities during Lilac Festival.  In addition, two more condo owners will arrive this weekend, so we will almost have every resident on board – which very rarely happens.  We figured up yesterday that between the eight condos, there are now eight dogs!  When we first moved in, we were the ONLY owners with dogs.  My, how things have changed!

Ok . . . . as I warned earlier, you might want to stop reading right here, unless you are not easily grossed out.  But I had to tell this story because it is SUCH a Mackinac Island story – I just don’t see this happening anywhere else.

Tale of a Vet Visit

About two weeks ago, Ted saw what shall be called intestinal parasites (I.P.’s for short) in Maddie’ poop.   He called for me to come look at it/them, so I could verify.  I was totally sure Ted could tell I.P.’s from say, fuzz off the latest unstuffed animal toy she destroyed.  But I looked anyway.  What I saw was long and white and flat (hey, I warned you this was gross).

“Please call Doc Al, and tell him Maddie has I.P.’s,” Ted said.

Phone call to Doc Al:  “Hi Brenda!” (the I.D. came up on this I.P. call).

“Hi Doc! How are you, etc. etc. etc.  Maddie has I.P.’s, and we need some meds.”

“What kind of I.P.’s?” Doc Al asked curiously.

“Oh, they’re long and white and flat.”

“Hmmmm . . . that sounds like a round I.P.”

“No, they’re flat.”  I said.

“Well, sometimes they appear flat, but they’re really round.”

“Hmmm,” I said.

“Are you sure they don’t look like little grains of rice?” Doc asked.

“I’m positive,” I stated positively.

“Well, it’s kind of unusual for an older dog to have round I.P.’s, but I’ll get you some meds for them,” Doc said.

And he did.

This past Wednesday, Ted came in the condo and said, “Maddie has I.P.’s again.”

“What!” I said alarmingly.  “We just had her treated for those!”

“Well, this time I’ve got a sample.  It’s in the black doggie poop bag on the back porch.  Would you call Doc Al and see when he can take a look – you take a look too, and see what you think.”

I looked, and there it was again – long and white and flat.

Phone call to Doc Al:  “Hi, Brenda,” Doc Al answered the call.

“Hi, Doc Al, how are you, etc. etc. etc.  Maddie has I.P.’s again.  This time we have a sample, but it’s the same thing – long, white, flat.”

“That’s just really unusual.  I’m coming up to the big barns in about 15 minutes.  Could you meet me there with the sample?”

As I was calling Doc Al, Ted was making a big production out of leaving the house to go to “work out”.  Over my conversation with Doc, I heard him say, “See you in a little while – have fun!”

Which is Ted’s way of not dealing with I.P.’s.  He goes off to work on his A.B.’s and P.E.C’s.

And so it was that 15 minutes later, I met Doc Al on the corner of Cadotte and Huron at the big horse barns.  We got off our bikes, and I collected the black doggie poop bag out of my basket and started for the vet office door.

“Oh, we can just do this out here,” Doc Al says.

All righty then. 

Doc Al and I spent the next ten minutes crouched down on the ground at that corner – not more than two feet from walkers, runners, tourist carriages, and horse riders – going through the contents of the black doggie poop bag with a stick Doc picked up off the road.

“See, there it is,” I said, peering into the bag like it was the most fascinating thing I’d seen in many a year. “Long, white and flat.”

“Brenda, that is a blade of grass,” said Doc Al.  “Was that what you were describing to me the last time also?”

“Well, yes,” I said.

“From the looks of this, Maddie certainly has a very interesting diet,” Al said, stirring the stick a little more.  “But that is a blade of grass . . . THIS is an I.P. – a tape I.P., to be more specific.”  And he pointed to a tiny, white little thing that looked suspiciously like a grain of rice.

“Hmmm,” I said.

So Doc Al gave me a couple of pills for the tape I.P. and sent me on my way with this sweet advice:  “Brenda . . . please . . . next time, how about collecting the sample in a Zip-lock bag we can SEE through without opening it.”

“Why yes, I will certainly do that,” I said.  “I have no idea WHY Ted didn’t think of it himself!”

Good Lord have mercy.

Only One More Friday . . . . . 10/21/2011

C   R   A   Z   Y  !  !  !

Strong winds and rain greeted me when the alarm clock buzzed this morning at 5:45, and gale warnings were up until late Thursday afternoon.  I dressed with more layers than I’ve worn on the Island since I returned one February for Winter Festival.  TWO sets of Cuddl Duds (top and bottom), a turtle neck sweater, another pullover and over all that – rain gear (jacket with hood and rain pants).  The only things not protected from the rain were my feet and hands, which was a big mistake.  I wore heavy socks and leather boots, and by the time I’d been working an hour, my socks were squishy wet, and my toes were frozen.  Reminder to self:  Add plain black rubber boots to my Christmas list (I just couldn’t bring myself to don my black and white polka dot rain boots to go work – not a very professional look.  Silly me.  After an hour of being splashed by the river running through the entrance gate and then stepping down into that river to talk to hundreds of ladies going to the island, I would have given anything for dry, warm toes. But everyone survived, and Shepler’s did a fantastic job.  Those were some tired employees at the end of the day, and they didn’t get off at 1 p.m. like I did to go home and nap for three hours.

Jill lives downtown and is an EARLY riser, so she's met me at Martha's Sweet Shop the last two mornings. This is how dark it still was at 7:20 today as I was getting off the taxi.

Inside with owner Loretta Spata, it was bright and warm and filled with the yummy aromas of fresh-baked pastries and hot coffee. This made three mornings of delicious pumpkin and walnut muffins that I couldn't get enough of. By the way, that's just ONE cinnamon roll on Jill's plate - they are huge!

The ride over this morning to Mackinaw City. Visibility was zero through the spray on the windows. The wind was out of the NNE which, according to Captain Billy, was a very good thing. Those who were on duty this past weekend said it was twice as bad Saturday because the wind was from a different direction.

The final group of 1,000 Winsome Women crossed to the Island this morning. As soon as they could be parked, ladies moved into that big blue and white building which houses the ticket office. This building is also dry and heated and has a coffee bar. Talk about a booming business!

Crossing back to the island at 12:30, the wind had shifted to straight out of the north - a bumpier ride.

Much bumpier!

By 2:00 I was home, sitting with my feet up in my recliner (toes all dry and cozy in wool socks) and covered in a blanket.  Three minutes later I was sound asleep and didn’t wake up until almost five.  No matter how wet and wild these three days have been, it’s always fun to volunteer at Shepler’s.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Having worked three days, and with the weather like it’s been, there have been few chances to get out for pics.  So tonight, I’m going to post some photos from Ted and from friends who have given me permission to use their work.  On Monday, while I was working and before the weather got so bad, Ted took Maddie and Bear on a two-hour walk.  I’m so sorry I missed going with them, but Ted got some really nice shots!  Enjoy!

TED’S PHOTOS

Looking up the hill in front of the fort to the area where Anne's Tablet is located.

Downtown on a lazy October day.

All the annuals have been pulled up from the Grand Hotel flower beds, and these gardeners were busy planting the tulip bulbs for next Spring. I always try to guess the pattern and the colors - but it's always a secret.

Hmmmm . . . now there's a mountain of dirt behind the Carriage Museum. Wonder what that's for???

Fall colors at Turtle Park.

The road beside the cemetery leading up to Lookout Point. As you can see, the winds of the last week have really taken a toll on our leaves.

Bear - checking out a pile of leaves for anything worth wolfing down.

Sugar Loaf from Lookout Point.

Lookout Point. Looks lonely up there now.

Approaching the embankment that surrounds the site of Ft. Holmes.

Inside the earthen walls of Ft. Holmes.

The bridge from the top of the Island.

Taken from the top of the Ft. Holmes embankment.

Looking straight down Rifle Range Trail from Fort Holmes, with Fort Mackinac in the distance.

Walking back home on one of numerous gravel trails . . . .

. . . and this one came out on Garrison Road, where they turned and walked toward the Post Cemetery. The flag there could be seen from the bottom of the hill - permanently flown at half-staff.

After a week of wind and rain, we always look for God’s promised rainbow.

Paul Retherford is a wonderful photographer and is on the island often for weddings. On this particular trip, he captured a rainbow over the harbor.

Friend Chris Ann Nelson's photograph from her beach in Mackinaw City - a rainbow over the bridge.

Patrick Conlon, the dock master at Shepler's, took this amazing shot of the first boat out on Monday morning, before the bad weather moved in that afternoon.

Next week will begin the countdown – less than a week to go.  The days are piling up on top of each other now, and the reality has set in.  I’m going to try and get a lot of packing done this weekend so I can at least get a few posts written next week before we go.

See you Monday, have a great weekend, and God bless.

Mackinac Island Off-Season Weekly Update – Vol. IV . . . 11/22/2010

Update  11/24/2010:

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this year so awesome.  Over the last two years, you’ve come into my life from all over the United States and several foreign countries.  You’ve commented and sent emails and lifted me and my family up in prayer.  You’ve made me laugh a whole lot and occasionally, you’ve caused a few tears to flow.  And over time, we’ve all become friends.  What a blessing you have become to me and my family. 

From the Horton clan – Ted, Bear, Maddie and me . . .

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

God bless.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Hi everyone, and Happy (almost) Thanksgiving!  I know you’ve seen that header picture before, but when I look at it, I always think of the fall on the island and the Thanksgiving season.

It definitely doesn’t seem like the holiday season here in south Georgia – the high for Thursday is forecast to be 79!  I just checked the weather on the island for Thanksgiving, and the high there is supposed to be 29 with snow . . . now THAT sounds like Thanksgiving!

I spoke with Ben, our condo caretaker, for a few minutes this week (I left my recipe notebook – the one I cannot boil water without – in Michigan).  I needed Ben to go into our condo, retrieve the notebook from the top of the refrigerator, and ship it to me ASAP (my mom’s recipe for sweet potato souffle is in that notebook, and Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without that souffle).  Ben had just returned from a week of deer hunting, but reported that he didn’t have any luck.  He was heading back out after Thanksgiving to give it another try.

Last summer I placed a link on this web site featuring a wonderful video showing “the beauty of the Friesian Horse in combination with the splendor of Mackinac Island”.  I’ve had several people ask if the video was available for purchase anywhere on the island, and I learned this week that it is not available for sale.  BUT . . . if anyone out there would like to make a $25 donation to the Mackinac Island Horseman’s Association (MIHA), a copy of the video will be sent as a “thank you” gift for your donation.  You can click here on the MIHA web site to learn about this great organization (it is also the one spearheading the building of the Mackinac Island Community Stable) and to make a donation and receive your copy of this awesome video:  http://www.mackinachorses.org/.  If your memory needs a little refreshing, you can view the video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gicaJIfgHHs.

I’m just full of Friesian news this week, so here one’s more item.  It’s never, never, never too early to begin planning to attend the 3rd Annual Festival of the Horse on the island July 21-24, 2011.  This event continues to grow each year, and MIHA has already booked the unbelievable talents of Clay Maier and his special Friesians.  They will performing this year at the Festival, and here’s a little video that will get you even more excited to attend:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_fok1XAS34.to.

Received a great newsletter from Greg Main this week.  Greg has a way of writing that makes me feel like I am right back on the island, walking beside him as he explores all those places that have become some of my favorite spots.  Here’s Greg’s letter:

 “Today finally feels like mid-November should.   After above average temperatures last week, accompanied by abundant sunshine (a taste of late-season  Indian Summer, perhaps?) we’ve finally sashayed into wet, windy, and much cooler weather.   Even as recently as midnight, Saturday, my outdoor thermometer displayed  52 degrees.   It’s difficult at times to convey to people who have only been to Mackinac Island during the tourist season,  just how drastic the transformation is from summer to now, regarding daily activity and noise.  Generally speaking, right now, there is very little of either.  The only noise echoing around the business district lately is generated by the heavy equipment being used to dig a trench along the back wall of the Lake View Hotel and the near-constant assault on one’s auditory senses outside the Chippewa Hotel from the hand-held power tools being used to grind away old lead-based paint from the original tin siding, which has been removed from the front of the building. 

I’m told by one of those doing the work that as much as possible of the original metal is being saved to be put back in place along the upper most part of the front, while new, similar-looking siding will be attached on the rest of the front side.  While not as interesting to me  (as an amateur history buff) as the total take-apart-and-put-back-together-again project like the Mustang Lounge re-do three winter ago, it is still interesting to see the original wood on the face of the hotel, hidden for over 110 years and how little rotted wood there appears to be – at least from the vantage point of the sidewalk below.  Several sections of said wood is being removed in order to install new plumbing and electrical wiring, and new sheathing is replacing the old.      

Friday night was another of those all-too-rare times (for me) when walking through town and along both bluffs seemed to be the thing to do.  Not cold – mid 40’s – and practically windless, there is much to be said during times like these when the only noise heard throughout the walk is the sound of one’s own feet on the pavement.  From either bluff, looking down on the business district, the somewhat straight lines and gentle bends of the illuminated street lights, meandering the lengths of  Main and Market Streets and Cadotte Avenue and easily seen through the naked trees, seemed to serve a dual purpose – standing watch over the village during the dark of night, stalwart sentries regardless of weather,  while also illuminating these thoroughfares, providing safe passage for the occasional passer-by.  From afar, high on the bluffs, one could almost get lost in the moment, taking in the east-to-west view while looking down on the town and the soft glow of the lights that almost seemed to beckon, invite, entice . . . “Come, see what’s down here.  We’ll show you the way.”  It was so quiet and peaceful that night, on either bluff, leaning on the fence rails taking in the views not only of the island and the consistent, every nine-second burst of light from the Round Island Lighthouse,  but also the tiniest dots of lights following the mainland shoreline at Mackinaw City, the colorful lights on the Mackinac Bridge, and the glaring, towering interchange lights at the union of US 2 and I-75 in St. Ignace.  It all added to the moment, the ambiance.  All that was missing was a well-lighted freighter sliding through the shipping channel.  Maybe next time. . . . 

With tomorrow being the start of deer hunting season, the island will be even more quiet than normal for this time of year.  Having spent many, many hours engaged in all the usual activities associated with this 2-week-long ‘holiday’,  I know it’s nice to have an inch or so of snow in order to be able to track an animal if it doesn’t drop on the spot once shot.  As of tonight’s forecast, it looks as though we’ll get none of the snow that some of you to the west of us received over the weekend.  I would rather not have any snow until it will be cold enough for it to stick and stay.  At that time, bring it on!  Snowmobiles are appearing on the docks, ready to be put into use and my skis have been gathering dust for too long.  

With all of my cottage projects  finished or put on hold until next Spring,  I should find time now and then to bike or hike and see what’s what in order to fill these emails with missives, opinions, facts and fancies.  Until then, I hope all is well with everyone.” 

Greg took the following photos this week of the “face” that can be seen in Sugar Loaf.  I admit that I had photographed this landmark rock formation dozens of times without ever noticing a face.  But last summer, on a wonderful nature walk with island native Trish Martin, our group was introduced to this feature.  Show of hands now – and tell the truth -how many of you reading this have visited Sugar Loaf innumerable times and never knew it had a face!

The "face" of Sugar Loaf.

 

The face's other profile. A wide variety of stories were told by Native Americans and frontier dwellers about Sugar Loaf. It was said by some to be the home of Gitchie Manitou (a Native American name for "Great Spirit") and that the face is his.

Here’s a great idea from a reader, Barbara M.   “I check the Horn’s webcam a couple times a day and just grabbed this interesting shot. I think it’s the police department’s SUV. I’m guessing that they’re picking up or dropping off an elderly or disabled person for the ferry. I was wondering what you would think of asking your readers to submit interesting screen grabs from the island’s webcams for your Mackinac Blog during the winter. Have a great weekend!”

I love this fun idea!  So for anyone who likes to watch what’s happening downtown on the island using the webcams (and admittedly, there’s not a lot of action right now), and if you happen to see something that looks interesting, go ahead and “grab it” and email the shot to me at brendasumnerhorton@hotmail.com. I’ll be glad to feature it on the weekly updates.  The only web cams that allow you to grab a shot are the one from Horn’s Bar http://www.hornsbar.com/webcamlarge.htm (right click on the pic and use the “save as” feature) and the camera on top of the Chippewa Hotel, which you can even control yourself:  http://www.chippewahotel.com  (scroll down to the menu at the bottom of page, click on “live web cam”, then use the “snap” feature to grab the photo).

 

I "snapped" this one from the camera on top of the Chippewa around 8:30 Sunday morning. The temp was 36 on the island at that time, there was light snow on the roof of the Arnold warehouse, and waves were crashing against the seawall (winds at 10 mph). CHILLY!

My son, Blake, arrived at the river on Friday to spend Thanksgiving week at home in south Georgia.  His brother and sister-in-law, Jason and Blair, will be arriving on Wednesday, and we’ll all have our annual Spicy Potato Soup and Mema cornbread on Thanksgiving Eve.  It’s taken me a while, but I’ve about perfected my mom’s version of “lacey” cornbread.  There are only three ingredients – corn meal, water, and salt.  Mix it together until it’s soupy, and fry it up in about a quarter of an inch of oil in a frying pan.  When you pour that batter into the pan, the edges will cook quickly and have little holes like lace – thus, the name.  As we say in the South – it is some kind of good eatin’!

Hope you’re visiting the Lake Blackshear blog this week.  I’ve posted some pics of the “before” and “after” renovations http://bree1976.wordpress.com.

Here’s wishing everyone a joyful Thanksgiving – filled with family, friends, food, and fun.  As we sit down to eat that holiday feast, let’s not forget to thank the good Lord for everything He has done for us this year.  And let’s all remember – with Him, all things are possible.  God bless.