49757 Postcard – #6 (7/27/16)

Dear Friends,

Our first full day with Jordan and Matthew is coming to an end.  I’ve put baked spaghetti in the oven, Ted is tossing a salad, and I’ve run upstairs to write this postcard.  After dinner the kids think we’re going to go play putt-putt.  Ted and I are personally thinking we’ll fall asleep in our plates of spaghetti during dinner and Jordan and Matthew may have to play that game of putt-putt by themselves.  That remains to be seen.

First thing on the agenda this morning was to get the bikes licensed; so it was off to City Hall right after breakfast.

Jordan and Matthew love to go caving, and G-Daddy had some new ones lined up they hadn’t explored yet.  Here they’re climbing up to Eagles’s Point Cave.

They made it!

After lunch, while G-Daddy napped, I took them both downtown shopping (not nearly as exciting as cave climbing, but Matthew got fudge samples at every fudge shop on Main Street, and Jordan got some ideas for when she goes back “seriously” shopping later this week.

On our before -dinner walk with Maddie, the kids stopped to skip stones . . .

. . . climb trees . . .

. . . and try a few handstands!  Ahhhh . . . be young again!

We’ll be up at 6:00 Thursday morning and hopping aboard a charter boat at 7:00 for a half-day fishing trip out into Lake Huron. Hoping for some salmon or lake trout! 

Making memories.

Wish you were here.

God bless.

And the Decision is . . . . . 12/1/2013

Header:  A not-quite-ready Thanksgiving family photo taken by bonus son Matt.  

I’ve been sitting here staring out the window for at least 20 minutes, wondering where and how to start this post.  There are so many things to tell you, so many trips taken, so many ideas born and buried, and so many decisions prayed over and made.  When I signed off in October I mentioned how tired Ted and I were – both mentally and physically.  Physically, we’re better now.  Mentally, this last month was at least, if not more, draining than October was.

Because there’s so much to tell I’m going to just stick with one subject tonight, and it’s probably the one you are most interested in.  As the weeks and months go by, I’ll fill in some of the blanks, but tonight I’ll hit the high spots on where our month of soul and house searching has brought us.

What you don’t know is for our last two weeks on Mackinac, Ted and I spent days discussing whether we should buy something else on the island.  We weren’t ready for our condo to sell – in fact, I think that last month we were truly shell-shocked to find ourselves without a place to live.  As we frantically searched for something to lease next summer, we also began to explore houses for sell on the island.  We found nothing fitting our criteria.  Next we looked at lots and seriously considered building a home in Trillium Heights.  We had the site picked out, and we found plans we loved.  But . . . just before letting our hearts take over and make the emotional decision for us, we stepped back and said, “We really, really need to get away from the island before we take this path.”  Our goal of being near our grandchildren and being near the beach would not be realized by building on Mackinac.  If we took that step, the house there would have to be our permanent home.  We would be further from the grandchildren for even longer periods of time.

After less than two weeks at the lake, we left for Florida.  On the way to Ormond Beach, we stopped in and toured a new boating community at Beverly Beach called Sunset Inlet.  Ted had seen it on-line and was intrigued by the homes having ocean views from one side and Intracoastal Waterway views from the other.  We both liked Sunset Inlet a lot, but it was our first stop.  We traveled on to Ormond Beach, where we spent time with Julie, Matt and the grandkids.  While they were at work and at school, we rode with a realtor for two days to look at houses we had called him to set up.  When we left there for Amelia Island, we had one home at the top of our list – an almost-on-the-ocean bungalow built in the 50’s that we both really loved – except there was no garage or even carport (NOT a good thing to be without in the salt air), and there was not room to build one.

We arrived on Amelia Island early enough to spend a few hours before dark with our realtor there.  We had lots of houses lined up, but the only one we were really interested in was directly on the beach.  We fell in love with it.  It was our dream to be ON the beach, and here it was.  But . . . it was only a little over 1,000 sq. ft. and it was a townhouse – which meant sharing a wall with someone else.  After five years in a condo, we had adamantly decided “no more shared walls”.  And once again, for the price, this would become our permanent home.  Could Ted and I spend months and months together without any space to occasionally get away from each other.  To be blunt, no.  We looked at houses all the next day, some with views, some without.  And then we went back and looked at the townhouse on the beach.  Could we make it work?  We left there undecided and started our trip back to Ormond Beach to watch Matthew play in his championship football game.

On the way back we passed once again through Beverly Beach, and we stopped again at Sunset Inlet.  We toured the model home once more, talked to the builder, and called our realtor out to act as our agent.  All of us were impressed with the quality of the homes (our agent said they were built like bunkers).  The windows could stand the impact of 140 mph winds without storm shutters, and the entire home is built above hurricane building standards.  But when we left for the lake the next day (Matthew’s team won!), we still had not made a decision.

Way back in the beginning of this process – in May – I said we’d be praying for God to open the doors He wanted for us and close those He didn’t want.  What WE wanted, of course, was a house on the beach on Amelia Island.  We loved that place, and one of the main reasons was it reminded us so much of Mackinac Island – a small community that swells in the summer and retreats in the winter back to the locals, a wonderful downtown, a historic district – even horse and buggy tours!  But, after we returned home and talked with our Amelia Island realtor, doors began to shut rapidly.  No, we probably couldn’t enclose the underneath parking or fence in the yard – or if we could, it would be difficult.  No, there were no single family homes on the beach in our price range.

At the same time, each conversation with the developers at Sunset Inlet ended in “Yes, we can do that.”

With all that said, last Friday we sent our signed contract in to Sunset Inlet to build a two-story home, which should be ready about the time we’d normally be leaving for Mackinac Island.  Beverly Beach is two miles north of Flagler Beach, two miles south of Palm Coast, and 30 minutes for our grandchildren.  We’ll have a new house, views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean, and a boat dock.

Our house will look like this – minus the third floor.  This is the back side, which looks toward the Intracoastal.  The front looks across A1A to the ocean.

Nature walk at the back of Sunlet Inlet that leads . . .

. . . to the fishing pier on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Our house plan.

Aerial view of Sunset Inlet – between Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.

Our beach – cinnamon colored sand created by crushed coquina shells (something I admit I will have to get used to).

Site concept.

While all this was going on, I was having one heck of a time accepting that Mackinac Island was not going to be a big part of my life anymore.  I can’t tell you how many times Ted said, “You really don’t sound very happy about any of these places in Florida.”  I would reply, “I’m getting there, but it will take some time.”  As days went by, and with me not totally on board, I realized that Ted couldn’t let himself get nearly as happy as he should have been – it’s hard to be happy when your partner isn’t.  Since that realization, I’ve really begun to try and think more positively.  I know that Mackinac will always be with me, whether I have to enjoy it through memories or through periodic visits.  I’ve even come to terms with the fact that unless our lake house sells quickly, we might not get to Mackinac at all this summer, although Ted has promised he’ll get me there somehow – even if it’s only for a short visit.  I know that once the lake house sells, we’ll be on the island – as planned – for at least two months every year.

I came across two very good quotes today – one by Sarah Dessen in her book What Happened to Goodbye, and I’ll paraphrase it:  “Home isn’t a set house, or a single town on a map. Home is wherever the people who love you are, whenever you are together. Not a place, but a moment, and then another, building on each other like bricks to create a solid shelter that you take with you for your entire life, wherever you may go.”  The other is by Tad Williams: “Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You’ll find what you need to furnish it – memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you journey.”

I know that’s what I have to do now.  I have to take all the memories from all the places I’ve loved and called home and put them together inside my head so I’ll always have them all.  To those, I’ll add what will be our Florida home at the beach – a place I know I will come to love with a passion over the years to come.  

So – what about this blog?

From the thoughts stated above I’ve realized I can’t continue to write a blog exclusively about Mackinac Island. To do so is to set myself up to never let myself completely love our future home.  The same is true about the lake blog.  When our house here sells, I will have to put it together in my “head home” with Mackinac, where it will live forever.

So here’s the plan.  Sometime in the next week or so, I will post a link here to a brand new blog – title undecided as yet.  In it I’ll continue to write about our family, our dogs, our new home and our old ones.  When we visit Mackinac, it will all be recorded, as will any other trips we take – for however long.  I’ll also continue to update you with photos from the Island (both winter and summer), but on this new blog – NOT on the Mackinac blog.  Both the Mackinac AND the Lake Blackshear blogs will remain on-line forever, and can be read in their entirety by new readers (and old) whenever they/you wish.  I do this with the full knowledge I’ll lose some readers who come here because of their love of Mackinac, and I am deeply saddened by that.  But hopefully many of you will continue to tag along with the Hortons as we start this new life adventure at the beach.  Surely there have to be a few beach lovers among you :)!

So there it is.  The decision is made.  I thank each of you who lifted prayers for this decision, even if the answer wasn’t what you prayed for.  To be honest, it wasn’t what we prayed for either.  But we do think it’s God’s next plan for us, so how can it possibly not be right.  Love and hugs all around, and I’ll be back in a few days with a link to the new blog with Horton Thanksgiving pics and winter pics from Mackinac!  

God bless.

 

 

From Mackinac Island to Richmond, KY . . . 10/31/2013

Hi Friends!

We have reached Richmond, Kentucky and checked into the Holiday Inn Express, our favorite pet friendly hotel.  It has been a long, long day – taking 11 hours to drive through Michigan, Ohio and 87 miles of Kentucky. 

And this is why. Whatever storm system has been crossing the USA today has arrived just ahead of us as we’ve traveled down I-75. It was very slow going, and when you add in doggy walks, potty breaks, and a couple of quick meals, it made for quite a day.

To say we were happy to see the “Welcome to Kentucky” sign as we crossed the Ohio River in Cincinnati would be a big understatement!

I was doing pretty good this morning in the crying department.  We were up at 5:30 and so busy I made myself not think about anything except what I might be leaving behind.  We caught the taxi (sweet Anna driving) and made it to the Shepler’s dock in plenty of time to catch the 8:00 boat.

But then as we walked down the pier to the boat, who should appear OFF the boat but Sue Conlon and her son Patrick (who works at the Grand Hotel).  Patrick was going to work, but Sue had driven from Harbor Springs this morning just to see us off.  Yep.  I pretty much lost it.

Almost over my crying spell here.  Bear was still checking on me.

Sue knew we were among the very last summer residents to leave the island, and she couldn’t stand there not being someone there on our last day. Sue, THAT was an amazingly thoughtful good deed.  I love you, girlfriend!

We’re going out to walk Bear and Maddie one more time, then fall into bed.  We’ll have about an 8-hour drive tomorrow – a real cake walk compared to today!

We’ve felt all of your safe travel prayers today as we’ve traveled through so many rainstorms.  Thank you for each and every one.

I’ll pop in tomorrow evening sometime to let you all know we’re home safely.  Safe travel prayers will be appreciated again.

Love and hugs to you all! 

Quiet 10/29/2013

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick note to say we aren’t leaving Wednesday as planned.  We closed on the condo today at noon, so we’re officially “homeless on Mackinac.”  We’ve been too busy today to get all our cleaning done, and now we plan to leave on the 8 a.m. ferry on Thursday morning. 

Ted and I hurried down the hill this morning to see Jill off on the 11:00 ferry. Ted had seven more shipping boxes precariously balanced on his hand cart, but he managed to get down to town with only one spill – and it was a minor one.  Grand Hotel employees were still leaving in large numbers, but Jill made it on board with no trouble.  She texted me a little after 4:00 to let me know she’d made it home to Lansing safely.

Mary Stancik was on the dock seeing someone off also. I think we’ll be leaving on the same boat Thursday morning.

After we closed on the condo, we ate lunch at the Seabiscuit.  Ted stayed downtown to run some errands, and I started back to the condo to begin the second day of cleaning. I think the Seabiscuit (which is closing soon), Cawthone’s Village Inn (which will be closed the month of November), and the Mustang are the only restaurants open now.  Hoban Street was very quiet . . .

. . . and so was Cadotte.  From Market Street all the way to the Grand, I was the only person on the street.

When I reached the top of Grand Hill and turned around to look back toward town, the only other person was a lady pushing a cart filled with white bags. 

This is an entirely different Mackinac Island than most are used to seeing.  There were a few tourists in the Seabiscuit, but many more locals.  Awnings are being removed, shop windows covered, and painting has begun on several businesses.  All the outside maintenance has to be done before the snow begins.

As I walked up the hill, the silence was like slipping alone into a great cathedral.  As much as I love Mackinac in the summer – with bikes whizzing by, people laughing and talking, and taxi and dray and carriage horses clip-clopping up and down the streets – I may love this great quietness, surrounded by so much beauty, even more. 

These last few days have been spent exploring all kinds of options, but nothing has been decided except we don’t think we’re ready to only have Mackinac in our lives for one or two months.  We need to go home to think and pray it all through again.  And wait for God’s answer.

And the Days Dwindled Down . . . 10/27/2013

I’m finding it extremely difficult to stay indoors and pack when all I want to do is walk up and down Main and Market Streets, wander into the woods and along the trails, hike out to Arch Rock and Sugar Loaf, climb up to Fort Holmes, and stare out across the Straits from Sunset Rock . . . just one more time.

Coming back next summer is a no-brainer, but we’re having a pretty hard time finding a spot to roost for two months.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you choose to look at it), the condo selling so late in the season left us struggling to find accommodations – most of which have already been filled.  A couple of places have been offered, but for one reason or another, we’ve turned them down – rent too high, not enough room for Maddie and Bear and the worry their barking would be disruptive, and the months we want not being available.  It’s been a lot more difficult than we thought it would be.  We’re still waiting to hear from one other place, but it will probably be later in the winter when we find out the terms on that one.

But – we’re being optimistic.  If push comes to shove, we can always book a hotel room at the Chip for a couple of weeks and kennel Maddie and Bear.  We would hate doing that, but  . . . . .

FRIDAY

I had cleared my calendar for Friday through Tuesday and told Ted I HAD to get serious about packing.  But then we made an appointment to go look at a house up in Trillium Heights with our realtor and Mike Gamble, an island builder – so off we went at noon to meet them.  Why are we looking at a house, you ask?  I wish I could answer that question with some clarity, but just let me say this . . . we’re still keeping all our options open and trying to figure out what doors are closed, what doors are open, and what doors God is still planning to cut in the wall of our lives. So we went and looked at a house . . . but no bells and whistles went off, and that door closed.

After our appointment we walked downtown and ate lunch again at Mighty Mack (Mighty Mac has had several days this last week or so when they’ve donated their proceeds to the Save Our Statue campaign).   Ted biked home, and Jill walked me almost home before having to return for the second part of her split shift.

We’ve had several days now of rainy, windy, cold weather, and the Straits on Friday were pretty turbulent.

The flags at the Gate House weren’t getting any rest at all as we walked by. The winds had them standing straight out or flapping back and forth with a noisy thur-rump, thur-rump sound.

There was a large group of art teachers staying at the Grand this weekend, and they were supposed to be painting at the Grand Hotel/Carriage Tours stable Friday afternoon. We walked there to see if they’d come out in the bad weather, but we were either too late, or they’d canceled the session because of the weather.

All of the high-stepping Hackneys have left the island, and the few remaining Percherons were out pulling the Grand omnibuses back and forth from the ferry docks.  It sure seemed quiet in there.

Jill went back to work, and I got home in time to join Ted in walking Maddie and Bear.  As you can see, I’m using any excuse I can find NOT to pack.

The trails are now covered in layer after layer of fallen leaves.

We walked through the leaves to Turtle Park, then up a trail and back into Trillium Heights.

We wanted to look at that house one more time, talk it out one more time and list the pros and cons. But once again we came to the same conclusion . . . it wasn’t for us.  We LOVE that neighborhood though, and we spent some time roaming around looking at other houses and vacant lots.

Home was by way of the Carriage Museum and I took one more photo of the Grand Stable – so beautiful surrounded by fall colors.

THE REST OF THE WEEKEND

It was a really busy weekend for the Island – there was the Great Turtle Race, bringing in 3,000 runners, and it was also the weekend of the “adult” Halloween party downtown.  I missed them both this year (finally got serious about packing), but thanks to Ted and Jill, I do have some photos for you!

Jill was SO HAPPY I wasn’t coming out for the race because she was dressing in a turtle outfit to work the water station at Arch Rock for the runners. She DID NOT want her photo taken. But Ted went out there and snapped this one of her directing traffic, and . . . here it is.  he tortoise and the hare.  Or maybe that’s the turtle and the rabbit.  Either way, Jillski, you sure look cute in that turtle suit!

Saturday night downtown was crazy, and all the photos below were taken by Jill – thank you very much, my trusty assistant!  Every year I think, “There’s no way the ideas can get any better,” and every year – I’m wrong.

A variety of costumes, but my favorite is the bath PUFF!  

There were a lot of themed costumes this year, with several people going together to create a group scene – like these ladies representing different brands of beer!

The Star Wars characters!  I bet “Chewy” was the warmest!

Headless on Mackinac – I’m glad he has someone to carry it around for him.

A very, VERY tall . . . . person?

Ouch!

“We’re off to see the Wizard . . . .”

Mr. B! A sweetheart . . . and one of my favorite Island people.

My favorite group costume. How clever is that!

A COUPLE MORE FROM JILL

The line at Shepler’s this morning. 3,000 runners came to the Island, and now they all have to go home!

Beautiful rainbow over Market Street!

After spending the majority of Saturday and Sunday packing, I’m about 98% done.  Tomorrow Ted will take more boxes downtown to ship, then make a trip across to start loading the car with luggage already packed.  We’ll spend most of Monday and Tuesday cleaning.  We close on the condo Tuesday, and the plan now is to leave on the 11 a.m. ferry Wednesday.

It’s very hard to say what I’m feeling right now.  I’m still praying for clarity and for peace, but for some reason the clarity is eluding me, and the peace hasn’t filled my heart.  The one thing I do know is I’m longing for friends I haven’t seen for six months and for our sweet little lake house.  Maybe there, clarity and peace will come.  I pray so.  

Slowing Down 10/24/2013

Hi friends!

Mackinac Island – the tourist destination – is shutting down.  When the Grand Hotel rings its closing bell on Monday morning and hundreds of Grand employees fill the ferries with their accumulated summer gear, the season will officially be over.

TUESDAY

Tuesday was “cover the gray day” at my St. Ignace hair salon – Leroy’s.  Returning to the island, I took a few minutes to wander the almost empty streets and pop in and out of a few shops.

October is sales month on the Island, and shops like Nephew’s on Mackinac – packed full of beautiful ladies’ and mens’ clothing in the summer months – are down to bare or almost bare shelves.

Market Street was pretty empty also . . .

. . . and The Town Crier box awaited a refill.

Our skies have pretty much looked like this for the last few days . . .

. . . but my camera loves this kind of light.

As I topped the hill at Four Corners, I got lucky. Some of the last horses were leaving the big barns.

These three and their leader appeared to be in a celebratory mood as they made their way to the ferry.

Many of the taxis are already off the streets, and next week we’ll be down to only one.

Is there any other place where horse-drawn taxis, moving down roads lined in colorful trees, can bring such a strong sense of bygone days . . .

. . . or where a solitary buggy, sitting beside an empty corral, can look so lonely?

Even the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory sign at the end of our yard has been removed.

WEDNESDAY

On Wednesday, Ted and I went down the hill to ship more boxes.  Somehow Ted strapped three HUGE boxes onto a small rolling cart and managed to get them all the way to the post office without tipping it over.  After that we ran a few errands and ended up at the Seabiscuit for lunch.

Nancy, our favorite “hostess with the mostest,” is the cutest and most energetic little lady I have ever met!  We love her!

We walked home via the boardwalk . . .

. . . and watched the clouds roll in.

Walking past our normal turns and past the end of the boardwalk, we turned into the woods and came out at the pool house of the Grand Hotel.

Needless to say, the Grand Hotel pool looks a little forlorn with no water.

The storm clouds had moved behind the Grand by the time we arrived there.

These look like two trees of the same species to me. But how can they be when one has turned a beautiful buttery yellow and the other remains green as a grasshopper?

Workers were just finishing the planting of tulip bulbs . . .

. . . and by the time we got a couple of hills from our condo, it started hailing.

These little pellets really sting when they hit your face!

THURSDAY

Jill and I left on the 11 a.m. boat,.  Bear had a grooming appointment in Alanson and then we were meeting Sue Conlon in Petoskey for lunch. Poor Bear. He never gets any attention on Shepler’s ferries!

The three of us spent two hours at The Side Door Saloon, laughing so hard we could barely find time to eat. Oh my gosh, we had fun!  Here we were trying to take a photo of ourselves with my iPhone.  Jill is holding it at arms length, and we can see ourselves in the screen, which for some reason we found hilariously funny.

After picking Bear up from the groomers, we hightailed it back to Mackinaw City to catch the 5:30 boat.

Jill was riding shotgun so she was able to take some photos out the windows. Although the rain and wind we’ve had all week have stripped away a lot of the leaves, it was still a beautiful ride.

I wish we’d had time to turn down this dirt road and explore.

In between rain showers, a huge rainbow appeared . . .

. . . stretching for what seemed like miles across the fields and over the trees.

A FEW EXTRAS

Molly, a tour driver for Gough’s, took this photo through the back window of her carriage this week. The plastic flap made the pic look more like a watercolor than a photograph.  Scary looking sky!

First Shepler ferry of the morning. (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)

In the week before the Grand closes, an air of anticipation begins to grow among the true Islanders, the men and women and children who live here year-round.  When the last seasonal employee has been ferried across the Straits of Mackinac, the 400 or so folks who have resided here for generations breathe a contended sigh and go back to a way of life few non-islanders will ever known.  The island is all theirs then, a beautiful paradise where they will enjoy whatever the winter brings.  If the weather is bad enough, they can live for days isolated from the mainland.  It is a hard life, but one they would never dream of leaving.

I envy them the peace they find on this island in the winter.  One day, good Lord willing, I’d still love to share that peace with them.

The October Season 10/20/2013

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”  L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables.

Me too, L.M.  Me too!

When I was young and thought my days stretched before me for decades and decades, I seldom equated Nature’s seasons with the seasons of my own life.  As I’ve grown older though, I find myself doing just that, and doing it quite often.  My spring and summer seasons have passed – childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, becoming a mother, and raising children until they are out on their own – all of that is behind me now.  The Fall of my life – my October season – is upon me, and living out my Octobers on Mackinac Island these last few years is proving to be one of the most beautiful times of my life.

On Mackinac Island, October is truly so magnificently beautiful it defies description.  Even with the chores of moving and packing up, Ted and I are finding time almost every day to get out and walk in the woods.  To not take these moments to inhale the crisp clean air and walk through these ageless forests would almost be sacrilege.

The days of finding a rust-colored leaf here and a gold leaf there were gone two weeks ago. Now they are all so brightly hued it’s as though bits of sunlight have become gold coins that cling to every tree limb and twig. And then – at the perfect moment – they fall to carpet our path.

Billions of those bits of sunlight – far above us – await a breeze strong enough to send them gently floating to the ground . . .

. . . where the sun is absorbed from the leaves into the earth – to prepare it for next spring’s awakening.

The pavilion at Turtle Park stands lonely now, but during the winter island residents will gather here for Winter Festival, and children will use the hills to compete on their sleds.

Bear and Maddie love Fall too, but for them it’s all about the smells! Gone are the light aromas of sunshine – replaced by the rich, loamy smell of dying leaves and damp ground.

We came out on the other side of Turtle Park at the cemeteries . . .

. . . where only the snows of winter make this place more beautiful than it is in the Fall.

Sometime I wish I knew every name of every soldier and civilian who rests here in the Post Cemetery . . .

. . . so I could do the research and send each family a photograph of the beautiful resting place of their ancestor.

Bear loves that the weather is cool,  the leaves are fun to roll in, and there’s always some edible morsel to be sniffed out.  Much more fun than just finding it on the ground out in the open!

And for Miss Maddie – as always – it’s all about the hunt!

An old hose reel – nestled between two trees.

This totem pole sits on one side of the Spirit Garden burial mound in St. Anne;s cemetery . . .

. . . and on the other side is a wooden carved turtle.  The totem pole was donated by the Indian Drum tobacco shop and has been lovingly refurbished over the summer by Donald “Duck” Andress.  He removed rotted wood and repainted sections of the pole depicting animals like a woodpecker, beaver and bald eagle.  The wooden turtle monument was created by Cecil Pavlat and carved by Chief Duck.  The Spirit Garden burial mound includes the remains of Native peoples from both Mackinac Island and Bois Blanc Island.  The remains from Mackinac Island were unearthed during an excavation on Main Street in 2011.

Like I said – October is Bear’s favorite month to be in the woods.

Through a gate at St. Anne’s Cemetery.

A carpet of crunchy leaves led us back to Turtle Park . . . .

. . . which is surrounded by trees brushed by every October color on God’s palette.

The park turned into a playground when we ran into Annie and Diesel and their owners.

We finally called a halt to the playtime and went our separate ways –  leaving behind another October memory from Mackinac.

A HAPPY SHOUT-OUT TO AUNT BETTY and UNCLE BILL

Mary Stanick and I were having coffee Friday morning at Lucky Bean when Jill and her cousins, Steve & Nancy (from Frankenmuth) walked by and saw us through the window.  Steve’s mom and dad are Jill’s Aunt Betty and Uncle Bill, and Aunt Betty is one of my most loyal readers!  So this one’s for you, Aunt Betty!!

The summer clothes have been shipped home, and Ted and I don’t go out these days without our layers.  We have snow in the forecast Tuesday-Friday of this week, but it seems like we heard that quite a few times last year before we actually awoke to a snow-covered Mackinac . . .on the day we left for Georgia.

We’re prepared though. Let it snow!

Y’all have a wonderful week, and I’ll see you back here in a few days.  God bless.

More Real Each Day 10/17/2013

When you spend a few days cleaning out closets and dresser drawers, you can’t help but wonder, “How on this earth did we accumulate so much stuff in six summers?”  Getting ready to go home for the last six seasons meant leaving a lot of clothes, shoes, cleaning supplies, etc. here over the winter.  This time it all has to go, and all I’ve been able to think about is, “What in goodness is it going to be like to pack up the lake house in Georgia where we’ve lived since 1996!”  Of course that’s IF/WHEN the lake house sells!

Corners are beginning to fill with boxes to be shipped home. The first one went off island yesterday, addressed to Ed and Sally Feagin, who will store them at their house down the street from us until we get home.

My closet is almost empty. The only things left are a few cold weather items I’ll wear for the next 13 days and a couple of warm weather items I’ll pack for the last leg of our trip into south Georgia, where it’s 85 as I type this at 6:35 p.m. Thursday evening.  It’s 49 right now on Mackinac.

Most of the closet shelves are empty, with the kitchen being the only room that still looks “normal”. After all, we still have to eat for almost two more weeks.

But nothing makes it more real than this sign in the window at Mackinac Island Realty. (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)

I took a break on Monday to walk downtown to have lunch with Frankie, who was leaving the island for the season that afternoon and heading home to Grand Rapids.  After lunch we hung around at the Star Line dock until the 3:30 ferry arrived.

Judy and Jill came down to see Frankie off also . . .

. . . and Hershey had this look on her face like, “Sure was a short season, mom!”

It’s always sad to see a friend off at the dock, but we’ll all be back next summer at one time or another, good Lord willing.

I knew what was waiting at the condo, so I didn’t spend any time downtown after the ferry left.

As I walked up the hill there were more and more signs of the season being over – like the painting going on outside SomeWear on Mackinac, one of my favorite clothing stores . . .

. . . and this sign on the Ryba’s shop on Cadotte.

As I got ready to take a photo of the Grand Hotel, I noticed something white out of the corner of my eye. Someone is missing a visor!

The Grand Hotel is always beautiful, but never more so than when surrounded by the colors of Fall.

Can you tell me what’s missing?

The flowers are gone! We’ve come full circle, and in a few days, the tulip bulbs which will emerge next spring, will go into these bare spaces.

Surrey Ridge Condos . . . just can’t look at them now without tears forming.

On Tuesday morning I was up bright and early . . . make that DARK and early.  I was going over to volunteer at Shepler’s in Mackinaw City because, once again, it was Winsome Women weekend at the Grand Hotel.  Since I’m NEVER up before daybreak, I took the opportunity on my walk downtown to catch the 8 a.m. ferry to get some sunrise shots.  I really, really need to do that more often.

Blazing sky beyond the Grand Hotel bike parking lot. . . .

. . . and behind Little Stone Church.

Almost to Chambers Corner

First Shepler’s ferry of the day arrives at the Mackinac Island dock.  

Today Ted went to Cheboygan to drop off some boxes at the Salvation Army store and pick up enough groceries to keep us fed until our leave date of October 30.  I stayed home and packed some more boxes, and we’ll get those shipped tomorrow.  Slowly, but surely, we’re getting it done.

Hugs to all of you, and I’ll be back here in a few days!  God bless.

Foggy Days, Rainy Nights and Other Good Things 10/13/2013

When I wrote the post on Wednesday,  I thought I’d have nothing to talk about tonight except packing boxes.  Amazingly though we’ve spent a lot of time outdoors this weekend – going first one place and then another, or just out with Maddie and Bear.  Of course that means putting packing into a higher gear for the next two weeks, but so be it!

Our closing date is Oct. 29, a Tuesday, and we’ll be leaving Mackinac on either the 30th or 31st (I typed that sentence really fast so I couldn’t start thinking about it).  Ted wants to be at the Bottom for the Georgia football game, and with that goal in mind, I have no doubt he’ll be there at the appointed time.  We still can’t talk much about leaving without getting a case of the “sentimentals”, but time is the only thing that will take care of that . . . time AFTER we leave the Island.

We’re still “homeless” for next summer, but we have 2-3 irons in the fire, and we’re hoping one of them works out.  Sure would like to get that buckled down before we leave the Island.

Friday started off as another October gift – sunny skies and mild temperatures.  This time last year we couldn’t venture out without several layers, and here we were walking the dogs without even a light jacket!  But when I happened to glance outside late in the morning, I thought, “Oh, no! Something’s on fire!”  But it wasn’t smoke, it was fog . . . rolling in from the lake in huge swirls.  And that’s how fast things change in Michigan!

Late in the afternoon I grabbed the camera and walked a few blocks further up the hill . . . just as workers were coming home from town.

The fall colors, shrouded in fog, were eerily beautiful . . . .

. . . and seemed to pop out even more brightly than on a clear day.

Yards . . .

. . . and streets are covered in crunchy leaves.

I turned around at 7th Street and started back home . . .

. . . stopping to admire the apple crop at the Bradley’s . . .

. . . and standing in the middle of the road by the condo to capture the ghostly carriage coming up the hill.

No ghost though . . . it was Molly!

On Saturday night I put together my old standby – corn salad – and Ted and I went downtown to a friend’s going away dinner.  The host has an apartment over the Island Slice Pizzeria, and I took that as an opportunity to shoot a few photographs of Main Street from a different vantage point.

The lights were just beginning to come on downtown when I began to take pics from the apartment’s balcony.

A little later – more lights.

When I went back inside I was told that the ladder in the corner of the room led up to the roof.  With Ted’s help, I managed to get up there without incident, and, oh my goodness, what a view!

Rain clouds were gathering as I looked over the roof tops toward the lighthouses.

The Arnold dock.

Turning around to face toward Market Street, I could see Fort Mackinac.

Main Street – always beautiful at night.

The lights of the Iroquois Hotel glow softly against the dark sky.

After I made it safely down off the roof and we’d eaten dinner, the threatening rain came.  I walked back out on the balcony to capture the street lights reflecting off the wet pavement.

Oh by the way. The hit of the party was a yellow lab puppy named Millie . . .

. . . who was doggone tired after a day exploring the Island and went soundly to sleep on her mom’s sweater.

After dinner – as we waited for a taxi.

A slow drizzle accompanied us home.

OTHER STUFF

Sweet Sally, a Baying Walker Coonhound belonging to Mary McGuire, checks out Crow’s Nest Trail, which leads from Anne’s Tablet to Marquette Park.

Nicole Doud’s baby shower was this afternoon at the Jockey Club. Nicole is one of the sweetest people I know, and next summer we are all going to be fighting to babysit Baby Doud!

The Jewel Golf Course – after the baby shower.

Just before I started home this afternoon things really got busy on Cadotte! With the summer flowers still blooming and the fall leaves shouting for attention, you hardly know where to look first!

Stephanie Fortino’s feature about Bree’s Mackinac Island Blog came out in this month’s Town Crier. Stephanie did a great job of writing the story and capturing my love for Mackinac, its people, and my readers. I’m trying to get permission to reprint the article on the blog, and I’ll let you know later this week how that turns out. Thank you, Stephanie!

The next two weeks will be dedicated to packing and saying a lot of goodbyes – just like we’ve done the last six years.  And we’ll be constantly reminding ourselves we’ll be back next summer – just like we’ve done the last six years – only next summer will be for a little shorter time. 

I find myself keeping three little phrases spinning through my head these days – God’s in charge.  God doesn’t make mistakes.  God’s time is perfect.

It’s all good.  God bless.

Better . . . . 10/10/2013

Ahhhhhhh . . . . A little calmer around here today.  

We headed out this morning to check on another rental for August and September, 2014, and it’s now at the top of our “possible” list.  Dogs are not a problem, which is always the #1 concern, and we really liked the house.  We should know something for sure within a week or so.

It feels good NOT to have a lot of news tonight.  Ted and I both are pretty ragged right now, but the emotions are leveling out, and we’re beginning to think like rational people again.  Time, time, time . . . what a wonderful panacea it is for all kinds of woes.

I do have a few pics to share – most from me, but a couple I borrowed because I loved them.  Here you go . . . .

The condo owners voted at the summer meeting to have storage sheds built, and they were begun last week . . .

. . . . and this was today. They are going up fast!  Now the owners can keep bicycles, grills, etc. in a protected space and won’t have to haul them inside when they leave for the winter.  Good plan!

“Throw the ball, dad, throw the ball!”

George was so busy watching Ted, Bear and Maddie he didn’t even see me on the balcony.

Lunch Wednesday on the outside deck of the Pony with Terry and Sue. What awesome weather we’re still having!  Last year at this time we were all in winter coats, knit hats and boots.

The lobby of the Chippewa Hotel is decorated for Halloween . . .

. . . including the front desk!

Anna – outside the Visitors Center waiting for a fare.  The Visitors Center closes on Sunday.

Just thought this was a cool pic – looking out a back window of the Visitors Center.

Wednesday was probably the first time I’d been downtown in a week. The streets weren’t crowded at all as we started home – after a stop at Doud’s.

The brick pathway between Main and Market Streets.  We were on the way to the post office.

It’s Fall, and you gotta have MUMS!

Cute bike outside a home at Chambers Corner.

Wednesday dog walk . . .

. . . and Surrey Hill trees were showing off!

A beautiful Mackinac day – taken by an Island House photographer.

Jodi Gough was in the right place at the right time to catch a semi-truck crossing the Mackinac Bridge, silhouetted against a blazing sunset. Spectacular!

That’s it for now, dear readers.  Once again thank you for your wonderful comments, private emails, and all the encouraging words you’ve written and prayers you’ve lifted up.  I wish I could reach through my laptop screen and wrap you all in a big hug right now, so . . . . please consider yourself hugged!  God bless.