Personal Note: Loved reposting this blog today because of the many Mackinac friends – and blog readers – who happen to be in it! Also, it was written at the end of the Lilac Festival that year and involves a parade! Sweet memories.
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FIRST PUBLISHED JUNE, 18,2013
You will not BELIEVE all the photographs I have backlogged over the last few days! I’ve been focusing mainly on Lilacs for a good two weeks now, and the Lilacs are still going strong, even though their “festival” ended yesterday. Tonight I want to catch up on a few other topics, throw in a few more flowers, and highlight some of the parade from yesterday. So, here we go . . .
THE PEOPLE WE MEET!
New lady on the corner! Walk down Main Street as far as Shepler’s Ferry, look directly across the street to the corner of Main and Astor, and you will more than likely see – during daylight hours anyway – the brilliant smile of Mert. As the Corner Concierge, Mert helps visitors with all things “Mackinac” and does it so easily and with such friendliness you just want to stay and chat a while longer! She’d love for you to stop by – to ask questions, to talk about the Island, or just to say hi! You will love her!
This beautiful family – Allen, Theresa, Amelia and Michael – from Tecumseh MI, met me last week at Sadie’s for ice cream. While we were there, Amelia chose my 4th flavor to try – Caramel Turtle Cheesecake! A T-E-N!
Theresa is a frequent commenter on Bree’s Blog and follows the Lake Blackshear Blog in Georgia during the winter also. Loved hanging out with this great family!
A couple of days later, I turned the corner down French Lane and spotted Theresa and Allen trying to find all the hidden treasurers in Jeff’s garden. They didn’t know I was anywhere around until after I snapped this. They left the island the day of the Lilac Parade and watched it on Theresa’s iPad in the car going home. LOVE IT!
Richard! This sweet gentleman used to live all summer on the Island, and Ted and I first met him several years ago. Now he returns for a few days here and there, and I happened to spot him downtown this week, resting on a bench in the sun. Always good to see Richard, and he always asks about Bear and Ted . . . in that order.
On the way home a couple of days ago, right by the big barns on Cadotte, someone called “Bree?” I turned and met Ted (I’ll remember that name for sure) and his wife Rebecca. They were married on Mackinac just last year, found Bree’s Blog when they returned home from their honeymoon, and were up for a visit. This sweet couple is from Aurora, Ohio, and their love of the island was so evident. They reminded me of ME!
Evi is a blog fan from New Jersey, and we met up – finally, after several attempts – at the Island Bookstore one evening last week! Hope to see you again soon, Evi!
Tommy and Gerald – our two teenage young men who stayed with us Saturday night. They are part of an a cappella choir from Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte, MI. We had a fun time with Tommy and Gerald, who challenged us to a game of Monopoly (who knew teenagers still played Monopoly) after returning from singing for their supper at the Seabiscuit restaurant. Three hours later, Ted was bankrupt, I was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Tommy was Donald Trump Jr. During that Monopoly game, they also put away two large bottles of juice, a huge bowl of popcorn, a whole bag of tortillas, a jar or salsa and a jar of cheese dip – with a little fudge as dessert . LOL – they SO reminded me of Jason and Blake at that age! We enjoyed having Tommy and Gerald with us – they were smart, well-mannered, and fun – a tribute to their families.
The choir group after church on Sunday.
Blog readers Traci and Bill stopped by the Stuart House this morning while Mike Forrester was visiting, so Mike became our photographer. Traci and Bill are from Pulaski, Tennessee, and it was so nice to hear a Southern accent! It was a spur-of-the-moment visit for them (the best kind). They drove 13 hours to get here and plan just to relax and “do Mackinac” with no real set agenda (the best way). Have fun, you two!
FOUR-LEGGED CRITTERS
Out snapping Lilac photos the other day near the Gate House, I ran across this sweet puppy, tied out while mom and dad lunched on the patio just a few feet away. The Gate House provides water dishes for pets! A cutie-pie!
This precious pooch was enjoying the shade at Park Place Suites, which is pet-friendly!
Back to front Grand Hotel omnibuses, the first driven by Shelby and the second by new driver Caleb (I hope, I hope I’m right on that name).
New neighborhood puppy, Charlie . . .
. . . and our condo neighbor, Judy, is back for the summer with her sweet Buddy.
It’s not often you can wake up with two Budweiser Clydesdales in your front yard, but it happened this weekend! These two, Duke and Jack, were here with four of their team-mates for the Lilac Parade! That’s Kyle on Duke’s back.
A FEW MORE FLOWERS
I only had to walk down Cadotte to find this big clump of Lady Slippers – near where the old Grand stable once stood.
Dark Lilacs . . .
. . . and light Lilacs!
A friendly group of Pansies . . .
. . . and one loner.
A very, very small section of Jeff’s garden on French Lane.
The always-charming Cloghaun B & B – surrounded by Lilacs.
A curve on Cadotte . . .
. . . . and Mahoney Street.
THE PARADE! THE PARADE!
The mighty Clydesdales!
Do not try this at home – at least not if you are MY age!
This couple had a choice spot to watch the parade – right in the shade – and sweet smell – of beautiful Lilacs!
We had serious bands . . .
. . . and not so serious bands.
We had beautiful performing horses . . .
. . . horses performing beautifully . . .
. . . and a couple of silly horses!
We had musical marching groups . . .
. . . and patriotic marching groups.
We had clowns who came in groups . . .
. . . and some who came alone.
We had celebrity local dogs, like Chloe and Bella, who represented Wheels of Mackinac . . .
. . . and dogs whose names we’ll never know – who will grow up to be service dogs all over the country.
We had small beauty queens, teenage beauty queens . .
. . . and grown-up beauty queens.
And we had bicycles in all sizes and shapes.
Grand Marshall of the parade was our neighbor Donald “Duck” Andress. Duck rode in a carriage this year, but his son Jamie – seen behind him in the white headdress – continues the tradition of their family by riding on horseback.
Are you asleep yet?
I think that catches us up to today in photos. As you can see, it’s been a busy time on the Island, and today the Island was taking a great big breath and relaxing after a tremendously successful Lilac Festival.
God bless.
Bree's Mackinac Island Blog 