Thank You for Waiting! 8/10/17

PUBLIC PITY PARTY

Ok.  I know I said I’d be here on Monday with a blog.  And here it is Thursday.

I’ve never had a year on Mackinac start off like this one has.  I’ve coughed continually for four weeks, and on top of that I slightly sprained my ankle in the woods this past weekend.  I’ve pumped myself full of over the counter drugs that basically have done nothing but make me want to sleep all day, and basically that’s what I’ve done.

So – Monday – after volunteering at the Stuart House for four hours and coughing almost continually, I dragged myself down to the Medical Center and said, “Help.”

I saw a young female doctor who was on her first day of a two week rotation on Mackinac.  I swear to you she wasn’t old enough to drink adult beverages, much less dispense medical advice and drugs.  But she listened to my sob story and examined both my swollen ankles (the one I sprained only slightly more swollen than the other one). Her diagnosis – one ankle is slightly swollen due to injury, BOTH ankles are swollen because I’ve obviously been getting a lot more exercise since I arrived on the island than I was getting in Florida, and my body is retaining water.  The cough is from a virus that is sweeping the country and lasting anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks.  She added a cough medicine to my over-the-counter regime and said, “This might help, but probably not.”

So, I’m four weeks into the 8-12 week cough cycle and in a compression bandage on one ankle.  I’m drinking lots of fluids, elevating my feet when I can, and trying to talk myself into a better frame of mind.  I know I’m being a whiny baby.  I. KNOW. IT.

I promise to try and do better.  I promise.

MACKINAC CONTINUES ON

Even when you feel bad you can appreciate beauty, and right now the island is at its full summer blooming peak. Here’s a little of what’s been happening since we talked last!

We were in on a surprise birthday party for friend Patty one evening at the Gate House. Her husband Buz did a great job of keeping it a secret, and several couples from Little Stone Church gathered for good food and fun.  (That’s Patty in the white jacket and Buz beside her in the turquoise shirt.)  Thanks, Jill, for this pic!

After dinner the birthday girl, Buz, Ted and I stopped for an ice cream at Sadie’s. What a great day!

Bodie got a chance to make friends up close and personal with one of the West Bluff horses. He continues to amaze me with his bravery around things that might scare a less secure dog.  He seems to have the attitude that the whole world is his playground, and if I’d just give him a chance he’d be “king of the island” in no time flat.

I walked him over to Governor’s Residence the other night and had him “up” onto the bench that sits at the top of Turkey Hill. Love how proudly he sat there overlooking his domain.

Passing by the Grand Stable at dusk the other night, I happened to find a farrier still at work.

Starting down Fort Hill. This view is one of the best on the island.

Blooms, blooms, blooms at The Cottage Inn on Market Street.

A West Bluff cottage that always has beautiful gardens. (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)

Another West Bluff cottage. This one is for sale!

Sunrise at the marina one morning this week. (Photo: Tony Boom)

A backyard gate behind a West Bluff cottage.  Doesn’t it made you wonder what’s on the other side?

Gardens on the Governor’s Summer Residence property. (Photo: Ted Horton)

Hedge-clipping at the Governor’s Summer Residence.  Maybe he’s coming this weekend!

Full moon and the beautiful Grand Hotel. (Photo: Annie Lockwood)

Hollyhocks on the West Bluff.

Poppies on a road going toward Brown’s Brook – in the interior of the island. (Photo: George Piliouras)

The gardens of the Metivier Inn never fail to be jaw-dropping in beauty.

The top of Fort Hill just as dawn breaks.  (Photo: Ted Horton)

Bodie, on a final walk of the evening.  He’s getting this posing stuff polished to a fine art!

Hoping you all are doing well and thanking you for your patience with me this summer.

Love, hugs, and God bless.

Mackinac Island Winter Update – Vol. 3 – 12/16/2012

Hi everyone!

There wasn’t a lot of news coming off the island this week, but there sure were a lot of photographs!  I’m going to share those with you today, so settle back and transport yourself into the wintry wonderland that was Mackinac Island this week!

A beautiful Nativity Scene at Metivier Inn . . . “all is calm, all is quiet”. (Photo: Nicole Doud)

I love this! Frosty the Snowman is glowing happily at Chambers Corner! (Photo: Nicole Doud)

Every year the Chambers Corner decorations become more and more festive. Loving Santa in his recliner! (Photo: Nicole Doud)

After a few days without snow, a flurry arrived on December 9. Nicole Doud captured this scene of wildly dancing snowflakes from the corner of Market and Cadotte.

Our friend, Jeff Peterson, spent a few days on the Island last week and captured our condo wearing a blanket of snow.  Teeedddd!  I think we need to go north for New Year’s Eve!

Snowmobile ride!  (Photo:  Jeff Peterson)

Looks like the day was gray, but Jeff sure managed to have a lot of fun skimming over the snow-covered lanes.

On the way to British Landing on the coastline road – each evergreen perfectly decorated with snow.  (Photo: Jeff Peterson)

Now this looks COLD!  (Photo: Mission Point Resort)

Quite a few bikes parked across the street from Doud’s Market!  (Photo: Mission Point Resort)

This is what the Island is supposed to look like in winter – and the islanders are sure enjoying it!  (Photo:  Mission Point Resort)

The steps leading up to the Activity Center at Mission Point Resort. (Photo: Mission Point Resort)

With the awning off, the lodge building at Mission Point looks a little different. A few rooms at Mission Point will be open for the New Year’s Eve celebration.  (Photo: Mission Point Resort)

Red berries against pristine white snow. (Photo: Mission Point Resort)

The wedding gazebo at Mission Point looks very lonely and cold right now.  (Photo: Mission Point Resort)

Bicycles stand parked in the snow – awaiting the arrival of their owners on the ferry.  (Photo: Mission Point Resort)

With water levels so low in the Great Lakes, Shepler’s spent one day last week doing some dredging at their ferry dock at the Island and in Mackinaw City. (Photo: Shepler Ferry)

Robert McGreevy captured perfectly the brilliant blue of Lake Huron just on the verge of “making ice”.  Just look at that perfect reflection of the Main Street buildings!

A wrap-around view of Chambers Corner. (Photo: Greg Main)

Ray Card captured this beautiful sunrise on December 11, as he drove the first dray of the day toward town . . .

. . . and Jason St. Onge, standing on the Grand Hotel porch, captured Big Ray and his team on that same morning as they headed down the hill.

Chris Ann Update

On Friday, Chris Ann and Burton made the trip further north to their precious cottage on the banks of Lake Michigan at the foot of the Mackinac Bridge.  They are still there today, Chris Ann tucked under quilts and blankets, Burton “tinkering around” in the kitchen and keeping the fire burning brightly.

Chris Ann, before she left for Mackinaw City, with her son Bryce and granddaughter Suria.

Saturday morning’s view from the cottage window.

This afternoon friend Mary Lou Peters, one of my favorite artists, visited Chris Ann at the cottage.  Mary Lou and Chris Ann have been friends for years and years, and they had a wonderful time chatting and sharing memories.

Mary Lou Peters’ watercolor of the Mackinac Island Christmas Tree.

Someone posted this pic last week on Chris Ann’s Facebook page, and I just had to include it. It shows Chris Ann and all 10 of her grandchildren last August at Conkling Heritage Park in Mackinaw City. Chris Ann quipped: “I was born on Queen Elizabeth’s birthday, so I think I was ‘holding court’ with this group!”

Don’t know at this point how long Chris Ann and Burton plan to stay in Mac City, but now that she’s there, it might take a crowbar to pry her away!  Enjoy, my sweet friend . . . love you!

A Tuesday Full of Showers, Flowers and . . . a Ghost? 8/3/211

Rain threatened all day Tuesday and – according to the Weather Channel – the worst storms were due to move over Mac Island around 2 p.m., just when I would be getting off work at the Stuart House and going home.  I had already hitched a ride with a Carriage Tour driver this morning on the way downtown because the sky was so dark.  But the rain held off, and I felt silly asking for a ride – although I always enjoy talking with the nice young men and women who drive the tourist carriages.

It was extremely busy in the museum today, with lots of people asking questions – and one lady who “sensed” a male ghost upstairs.  She told me he was just a visiting ghost, not someone who used to live there, and that he was a friendly presence.  She was dead (no pun intended) serious, and said she often encountered ghosts in old buildings.  What was even stranger was that a couple of weeks ago, a teenage girl had come rushing downstairs and claimed something had “touched” her upstairs.  On both occasions, I went up to the second floor, and nothing – and no one – was there.  That made two strange happenings in two weeks, so I asked someone familiar with the Stuart House if there had been other encounters there.  She told me she had never heard of any ghosts being reported in the building, which was built by John Jacob Astor in 1817.  She also said that since most of the island is an Indian burial ground, there certainly could be spirits around.  Now, I have personally never encountered a ghost. And I personally never want to encounter a ghost.  So . . . I won’t be walking around upstairs alone anymore – which I do sometimes when we’ve gotten in a new exhibit, and no visitors are in the museum.  And if I’m sitting at my little desk and hear footsteps overhead – when I know there isn’t anyone in the building but me – you’ll be the first to know!

Some very alive visitors today were blog readers who were visiting the island.

Paul and Elaine Williams from Yale, MI are frequent Island visitors. They also happened to be last week's Mystery Spot winners! They're on Mackinac for a week this time, staying at the Pontiac Lodge.

Cathy Cislak from Indianapolis, IN was on the Island with husband Greg (who took photo). They're staying the first part of the week at the Hotel Iroquois, then moving to the Grand for a few days when their children and grandchildren arrive. Cathy was also a recent Mystery Spot winner!

Jill came by before I got off work, and after my replacement arrived, we walked to the post office, then to the bookstore so I could pick a paper up for Ted.  Rain was threatening again, but I wanted to grab some photos of the Metivier Inn, which I say every year cannot possibly have flowers more gorgeous than last year – and every year they ARE more gorgeous.

Lilacs, pinks, and whites make up the color scheme this year, with multiple flower beds on both sides of the white fence.

These gardens have been blooming for at least a month now, but every day they seem more beautiful than the day before.

Walking through this arch from the street, you can . . . .

. . . curve to the left toward the side of the Inn, or . . .

. . . curve right onto the lush lawn.

I mean seriously, don't you think the Garden of Eden must have looked something like this! By the way, can you tell what the figure is hanging from the tree?

It's a happy turtle - of course!

I just had to try out one of those lilac chairs!

Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate long enough for me to finish the paper.

Thanks, as always, to Jillski for putting up with my silliness and taking almost all the photos of me you ever see here.

I did make it home without getting drenched, and tomorrow promises to be sunny and warm again.  Let’s see.  Monday was the Pink Pony, today was pink flowers.  Wonder what I can find pink for tomorrow!

P.S.

When Paul and Elaine Williams stopped by the museum today, Paul showed me this awesome pic he took of the Pride of Baltimore II sailing into the harbor this morning. The ship took passengers aboard for two 2.5-hour voyages today, and will offer one more Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.. The 157' Pride of Baltimore II is a reproduction of an 1812-era Baltimore-built topsail schooner privateer. The orginal "Pride", Chasseur, defended America's freedom during the War of 1812 by serving as an offensive weapon of war and blockade-runner, capturing or sinking 35 British vessels. As the world's most traveled historic schooner, Pride of Blatimore II sails globally, promoting U.S. maritime history, and serves as a unique learning platform for math, science and social study programs.