Here, There, and Everywhere! 8/31/2014

Happy Labor Day weekend – I’m hoping you’re all enjoying this last official summer holiday!

In days gone by, I would have been wearing all my summer “whites” for the last time this week, because back in the day it was a huge “no-no” to wear white after Labor Day.  I think that “rule” vanished a while ago, and one morning this week – on the Today Show – they were saying how now it’s ok to wear white YEAR-ROUND.  My girlfriend Dawn and I went shopping yesterday (it was her birthday), and she was looking for a pair of white jeans to wear this winter with boots and a gray or black tunic top.  When we got the whole outfit put together, I thought, “How cute is that, and why haven’t I ever thought of it before?”

Another thought I had as we shopped yesterday was how much I love fall clothes – followed quickly by the thought of how I may never get to buy another winter coat, or a pair of corduroy pants, or a heavy sweater.  Sunny Florida weather – even in the winter – doesn’t usually mandate anything heavier than cotton.  Hmmmm . . . . there’s always a winter trip to Mackinac!!

So . . . what’s happening with the Hortons?  Here’s a few slices out of our week:

LAKE BLACKSHEAR – GEORGIA

We passed the 2-week mark and began Bear’s rehab on Wednesday.  That meant adding two 5-minute walks a day to his exercise program.  Doesn’t seem like any big deal, does it?  But it was.  By day two of the new program Bear was limping and “clicking” with each step.  I placed a call to our vet, Steve Whatley, who asked me to film some video of Bear walking.  He said, “I don’t want to scare you (which, of course, was what those words instantly did), but it could mean his other knee is about to go.  It could also mean a tear in his meniscus, which is the cushion in his knee joint.”  I shot four videos (had to get all the angles) of him walking alongside Ted and sent them to Steve’s cellphone (I mean really, isn’t it amazing how we do this stuff these days)!  Steve called me back shortly and said, “I really don’t think it’s the other knee, and some clicking is common after this surgery and will usually resolve itself.”  After chatting a bit more, Steve recommended cutting out the walks for the weekend and starting him back on his anti-inflammatory meds.  (He came off all pain meds the day we started the walks, which Steve said could also be the reason for the limping.  Suddenly Bear had nothing in his system to “mask” the pain of walking, so he was “feeling” it for the first time.)  Steve said again that Bear has done so well so fast that we hadn’t really seen him do what the majority of dogs do at this stage of their recovery – which is limp!  He also said some dogs could still be limping at times even six months later.

So . . . only potty walks for the last two days and back on meds.  Haven’t noticed the clicking anymore, and limp is better.  This is going to be a long, long recovery, but we’ll take it one day at a time and do all we can to get the best result for our Bearster!

A little outdoor time with me in the swing, and Bear trying to figure out what’s happening at his old house two doors down. “Why are there other dogs in my yard, Mom?”

It’s amazing how much time in a boring day can be filled with a Kong toy filled with peanut butter! And, of course, what Bear gets . . .

. . . little Maddie girl gets also!

We are so enjoying our rental cottage, but the weather sure has been hot, hot, hot!

We did have a couple of cooler, less humid days this week, and I took advantage of that to get in some early morning walks. We’ve always loved our little country road . . .

 

. . . and this dirt pathway that reminds me so much of the Mackinac woods.

SUNSET INLET/BEVERLY BEACH – FLORIDA

We’ll be heading south on Thursday to check on the beach house.  As usual, we have appointments set up during this trip, which makes having the pups with us more complicated.  Maddie and Bear will be staying at Bush Animal Clinic in Albany, where Bear had his surgery. Steve will have a few days to access Bear’s knee recovery up close and personal, and Maddie’s going to keep her brother company.  We can’t wait to make the move to Florida, so we aren’t constantly on the go!

Sunrise this morning from Flagler Beach. (Photo: Ed Siarkowicz)

MACKINAC ISLAND – MICHIGAN

Ted and I pouted a lot this week.  With Lowell & Faye, Hilde & Bud, and Patti & Buz all on the island, we were sure wishing we were up there with them!  They all had a fabulous time and sent lots of pics back to share!

It didn’t take long for the DaVanons (Hilde and Bud) and the Greenes (Faye and Lowell) to meet up AND find Jill!

 

The Greenes went over to the Island on one of Shepler Mackinac Bridge crossings and got to see that huge structure from underneath! Monday was a foggy day, and they had rain for a while later on. But the rest of the trip was perfect!

 

The two couples checked out the Governor’s Summer Residence on the very last day the tour was offered for the season.

 

Hilde at the Pink Pony. She asked Jacob, our favorite bartender, which stool was Ted’s, and he told her ALL of them!

 

A nighttime view of Main Street from Bud & Hilde’s balcony room at Main Street Inn & Suites.

Guess who else was on the Island for a few days this week? Yep, Frankie was there too, along with . . .

 

. . . the fabulous Hershey!  See, I told you we were pouting all week!

Bud and Hilde tried a new adventure during their trip – renting kayaks from Great Turtle Kayak Tours.  Here they’re approaching Mission Point Resort and Robinson’s Folly.

 

Oh my gosh – can you believe how clear that water is?!

I know some people would say the photographs below are all about atmospheric conditions over northern Michigan last Friday, but I happen to believe God took out his best paintbrush and most beautiful paints and created a masterpiece.

From Liz Ware at Silver Birches.

 

From Hilde & Bud’s balcony.

 

From Shepler’s Ferry.

 

The Greene left the island on Wednesday – with the able assistance of Josh Carley, dock porter extraordinaire.

 

The sun setting – from the boardwalk. (Photo: Hilde DaVanon)

 

A pretty bike basket. (Photo: Hilde DaVanon)

 

Doud’s corner on a rainy Monday. (Photo: Faye Greene)

 

Beautiful flowers outside Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor at the Grand Hotel. (Photo: J.L. Beanery)

 

Beautiful view of the Mackinac Island Marina from one of the front tables inside the Island House Restaurant, the 1852 Grill Room. (Photo: Nick Nerbonne)

 

Now here’s a once-in-a-lifetime photo. Island friend Ann Levy has had two Great Horned Owls hanging out near her swimming pool the last week or so. She caught this one challenging her dog, Cooper, for “ownership” of the pool . . . .

 

WHAT a photograph! Awesome, Ann!

One more Mackinac story that was covered by local and state news affiliates in Michigan.  Last week a seasonal worker on the island went into early labor and boarded a Shepler Ferry with her husband, trying to make it to the hospital.  Well, by the time they were half-way across the Straits, they knew they WEREN’T going to make it.  Unbelievably, there was an OB/GYN on board.  An ambulance was called to meet the ferry, but little baby Paige was delivered on the dock just as the ambulance arrived!

Needless to say, this was a BIG event for Shepler’s – their first ever baby birthing on the premises! The entire Shepler family and crew members pitched in to present baby, mom and dad with some mementoes of her special birth.  AND, Shepler’s presented Paige with the very first life-time Golden Pass, which means Paige will ride Shepler’s Ferry Line for her entire life for free!

 

Little Paige was about four weeks early, but she and her mom are doing great!  What a story she will have to tell!

Wishing everyone safe travels back home if you’ve traveled for the holiday.  I’ll be back here next Sunday (I won’t be writing on Thursday from the beach), with pics of progress on the beach house, and whatever else happens to catch my eye.

Personal Note:  Please keep Blake and his team in your prayers this week.  They depart from all over the U.S. for Ankara, Turkey on Wednesday, meet in Munich, Germany, and all fly on to Ankara together on Thursday.  Specific prayer requests:  safe travels, and easy transition into housing, work, and language school.  This mom thanks you.

God bless.

A Special Story for a Special Island Lady – Patti LaPine

While on Mackinac Island earlier this summer, I wrote several blog posts for Original Murdick’s Fudge and had a blast working for the wonderful Benser family and meeting both their regular and seasonal employees.  The Bensers chose to save this story and publish it on Patti LaPine’s 40th Anniversary of working for their company, and I wanted to share it with all of you tonight.

Congratulations, Patti LaPine, for your dedication and loyalty to the Benser family and to Original Murdick’s Fudge!

Patti and husband Bruce enjoy their winters on Mackinac Island.

http://www.originalmurdicksfudge.com/patti-celebrates-her-40th-anniversary-as-an-original-murdicks-fudge-employee/

 

It’s All About Mackinac! 8/24/2014

Today, it’s all about Mackinac Island.  I’m thinking we need a little trip to my happy place!

Three of our favorite couples – Faye & Lowell Greene, Hilde & Bud DaVanon, and Patti & Buz Wierick – are (or will be) on the island this week.  They – and several more Bree’s Blog readers – planned visits this summer to coincide with our planned trip, and we’re so sad we won’t get to see them this year.  I’m more than certain they’ll all have a blast whether we’re there or not because – well, because they’re on Mackinac!  I’m counting on all of you to send photographs so I can share them next week.  In fact, Hilde has already started!

Hilde and Bud arrived at the Shepler Ferry Gateway to Mackinac Island this afternoon and hopped on the 3:30 ferry. Looks like a sunny day!

I’m trying to figure out where they’re staying from this photo from their balcony. Somewhere on Main Street!

 

Here’s another photo from downtown this afternoon – from Jill Sawatzki on her way to work at the Island Bookstore.  A little fog seems to be hanging over the Fort.  As you’ll see in the next two pics from Jill, it’s been foggy for the last two days, but it’s much better now!

 

Can’t believe some of the Cadotte Avenue trees are already turning red!

 

Awesome photo, Jill!

 

These two owls have been creating a lot of excitement on the East Bluff the last few days. They’re hanging around in pretty much the same spot and getting their photographs taken a LOT! (Photo: Ann Levy)

 

Thanks to Ann Levy again for this peaceful view through the trees from Anne’s Tablet.

 

Did you know there’s a new Mackinac Island childrens’ book out?  “Goodnight, Mackinac Island” . . .

 

. . . written by Mary Jane Barnwell and illustrated by Lily Porter – both great island friends!

 

According to Jill, who took these book pics, “Goodnight, Mackinac Island” is flying off the shelves of the bookstore!

 

I can’t believe it! The first horses are already leaving the island. Where did summer go?  (Photo: Dale Peterson)

 

My favorite French Lane garden. I’ve heard from several people the flowers on the island this summer are even more breathtaking than usual. Of course, I used to say that every year also!  (This photo and the next three – Jill Sawatzki)

 

Busy day.

 

Metivier Inn gardens.  Wow – just WOW!

Market Street flowers – and a little horse poop to keep it real!

 

The Cottage Inn flower garden remains one of the most beautiful on Market Street. (Photo: mackinacisland.net)

 

A little different view of Round Island Light – from photographer extraordinaire Clark Bloswick.

 

British Landing Road in July.  We can only hope that Clark Bloswick has a book in his future plans. His photographs over the last few years beg to be collected and saved for generations to come.

As I placed each of these photographs into my blog software, my mind and spirit were traveling up I-75 at warp speed.  Every flower basket, every horse, every boat, every bike, every drop of blue water, every sliver of light that looks different on Mackinac than anywhere else on earth – it all calls me north.  North to my magical island.  North to Mackinac.  I miss it so.

God bless.

 

 

For Beyla

Any time the phone rings at our place after 10 p.m. my heart skips a beat.  My immediate thought is “children” – even though they’re all grown and off living their own lives.

Last night the voice on the voice, barely recognizable, was Jason.

“Mom, Beyla’s gone,” he said in a voice that sounded so strange – more stunned than grieving.

After several moments of trying to continue, he went on.  “I went out to dinner, and she was fine when I left the house.  When I came back in, she wasn’t at the backdoor to greet me, and she’s always there waiting on me.  But she wasn’t.  I found her in the bathroom.  She was laying there just like she’d settled down for a nap.  Only she wasn’t napping.”

And then the tears came – from Jason, from me, from Ted.

We have no idea what happened.  Beyla was doing well after her cancer surgery, but Jason had noticed her slowing down a bit in the last month.  At almost 10, Beyla was already beyond the life expectancy for Bernese Mountain Dogs by a good two years.  We all think it was just her time, and she slipped peacefully across the Rainbow Bridge without any drama or any fear.

I remember the first time I babysat for Beyla.  She was a “teenager” at the time – all feet and legs.  I took her with us down to Booger Bottom and showed her off as if she was my own.  Not many people there knew of her breed, and I heard, “That is the most beautiful dog I’ve ever seen” too many times to count.

We will remember her beauty.  But most of all, we’ll remember her sweet heart, her incredibly gentle spirit, how much she loved Jason – and how very much he loved her.

Rest in peace, sweet girl.  We’ll all see you again one day.

Once Upon a Pig 8/21/2014

Living at the ri’vah is not just about water views, boating, parties at Booger Bottom, and quiet, hot days when the only thing moving is your hand swatting the gnats plastered to your face.

Nope – we have our issues here at the ri’vah, and today animal rights was the issue.

“Baby, come see what followed me home!” Ted said as he stuck his head in the door around 9:00 this morning.  He’d walked down to our old house to check on something for the new owner.

“Don’t let Maddie out!  She’ll go crazy!”

As I let myself out the door – slipping past Maddie’s little body , which was primed to rush out ahead of me – I was thinking, “I bet it’s another stray cat.  Maybe I can talk Ted into adopting this one.”

I walked up the driveway to the gate, and you can imagine my surprise/shock/laughter when this is what I found staring back at me . . .

Yep – that’s a pig.

According to Ted, he was walking back to our rental, and the pig just fell into step behind him, wagging his tail and trotting along like they’d been friends forever.

Ted did what most people do these days when confronted with something unusual – he posted the pig pic on Facebook.  And so began a day of cute – and not so cute – comments like: “Aren’t you going to miss things like this living in Florida?”,  “Don’t Bear and Maddie need a new houseguest?”, “I’m thinking BBQ.”, and my personal favorite, “That Ted – always bringing home the bacon!”

Well, you know us.  We checked the neighborhood grapevine and found out the pig belonged to someone who was hoping to find it a new home.

One of the folks who commented on Facebook was our friend Trish, who loves animals of all kinds with a true passion and cannot stand to see an animal in need.  She volunteered to find this pig a home, if that’s what the owner wanted.

So . . . after dinner tonight, Ted walked down to the owner’s house and asked him if he was indeed wanting to give up his pig.  And he said he was.

Tomorrow this baby will be picked up by a pot-bellied pig lover and once again be in a happy place where he doesn’t have to follow strangers up and down the road.

And once again, all is well at the ri’vah.

 

One Week Later . . . 8/17/2014

When I wrote “Best Laid Plans” last Monday I knew the next few days were going to be hard ones.  Bear was scheduled for surgery on Tuesday (and so was the closing on our house), the moving company was coming on Wednesday, and we were to clean the old place and move into our rental by Thursday evening.  The new owners were moving in on Friday.

I’m happy to report that it all happened, just as outlined above, but there’s no way to express the total exhaustion Ted and I felt when we fell into the rental bed – practically in a comatose state – on Thursday evening.  With no exaggeration at all, I have never been that tired in my entire life, and on top of that, the whole week was an emotional roller-coaster.  I cried practically every day, never laughed, and rarely smiled.  We were both operating on auto-pilot and pure determination by Thursday afternoon.

But – we got it done, and we are using our tired brains to convince our tired bodies to take it easy for a while.

BEAR

Our Bear is doing great.  We left him at the vet’s an extra night (until Saturday) because we had several business things to attend to on Friday.  When we went to pick him up yesterday morning, he came directly home to the rental – without all the drama and craziness of the move.

On the way home yesterday morning. Happy smiles all around.

 

Bear – taking it easy in our rental cottage.  Bear’s vet and surgeon, Dr. Steve Whatley at Bush Animal Clinic in Albany, says Bear was already putting his toe down the day after surgery, and by the next day was putting weight on that leg.  His groomer is going to have a panic attack the next time she sees him, but there’s no getting around the fact that knee surgery means losing a lot of hair to the razor.  His front leg was shaved to place an IV catheter.  Look at those eyes . . . a little woozy!

There’s a down side to Bear doing so well so soon.  According to Steve, “Bear thinks he’s fine, you’re going to think he’s fine, and he’s NOT FINE.”  For the next week it’s only walks outside to potty.  After stitches come out on Friday, three daily walks of 5 minutes each (that’s week 3).  Each week after that the walk time will increase – until 12 weeks out he should be good to go.  During all that time, no running, no jumping, no chasing Maddie or squirrels or tennis balls . . . no playing.  Walks only ON LEASH to avoid him taking a mind to dash off after some critter he spots.  Right now he’s doing great on those potty walks, and he’s content to either be in a crate or have the loop end of his leash tethered under a coffee table leg – so he can’t go anywhere fast. That could be because he’s on three different pain meds.  It will be interesting to see what happens when his brain is fully alert again!

But – we plan to follow the instructions to the letter.  Even doing that, we know it’s just a matter of time before the other knee blows also, AND we’re just praying this one is all healed up before that happens.

Sleepy boy.

THE MOVE

Even though we spent three weeks throwing away and giving away, we still had way too much “stuff” left when the moving truck arrived.  What do you want to bet when we start to unpack in Florida, we throw away and give away one more time!

Someone forgot to tell North American Van Lines they were coming to move a tiny little lake house’s stuff. This truck could have moved us and five neighbors! What a great crew though – thorough, polite, very concerned about our furniture being shipped and stored with no scratches or breakage.  Customer service to the max!

 

Even though our buyers bought three rooms of our furniture . . .

 

. . . we still had some empty spaces.   A sad day . . . but by this time, to be truthful, I was too tired to even cry.

 

And now – until the Florida house is done – we live here, just two houses down the block from our old house! This house belongs to long-time friends, Joe and Kay. Joe passed away a couple of years ago, and Kay now lives in Atlanta. We are also great friends with their children, who were gracious to allow us to move in here as long as we need a roof over our heads. Thank you, McInvale family!

 

For at least the next two months, the big water of Lake Blackshear will still be right out our back window. It’s not home, but it’s pretty darn close!  Another blessing.

MACKINAC ISLAND – MICHIGAN

It’s hard to write about Mackinac this afternoon.  If our “best laid plans” hadn’t changed, we’d be on our way north today, arriving on the island on Monday around noon.  It’s sad to have to give up seeing my happy place again this year, but we were so blessed to have gotten that unexpected visit in June!  We may never know why, but I truly feel God was looking after Ted and I in some way by preventing this trip.  It may be as simple as He just knew we would be in no condition to safely follow up the last three weeks with an 1100 mile trip.  For whatever the reason, I thank Him for loving and protecting us.

I sure am going to miss taking photographs on the island for the next six weeks, but I’ll continue to share the ones that other folks are sending!  Who knows?  Maybe Ted and I will head up to the island after the holidays this year . . . we’ll see.

Sun and surf at sundown. Gorgeous! (Photo: Clark Bloswick)

 

Beautiful clouds on Saturday. (Photo: Josh Carley)

 

A loaded Shepler’s boat passing Round Island Light – on its way back to the mainland. (Photo: John Rice)

 

Waiting on the last boat. (Photo: Josh Carley)

This could have been really bad. The freighter Roger Blough sounded its horn EIGHT times (five is the signal for danger) at this sailboat that was heading straight for it. 858′ freighters can’t just stop or turn on a dime. Luckily, the sailboat finally maneuvered out of the way. (Photo: Ed McGreevy)

 

Waiting in the fog.

 

Setting sun from the east side of the island. (Photo: Greg Main)

The east blockhouse of Fort Mackinac through sunflowers. (Photo: Tom Chambers)

BLAKE

After a couple of months of uncertainly, Blake and his team will be leaving for Ankara Turkey on September 4th.  They will have a few days to settle in before beginning an intensive language study program for the months of September and October.  It will be a full immersion experience for 8-9 weeks regarding language training.  They’ll be in classes every day, as well as helping out with another work going on there in the city which helps to serve the local population.  In November the team will return to the states to take care of work visa documentation, and then it’s back to Ankara to begin teaching or continue in language school. 

Please continue to keep this group in your prayers.

SUNSET INLET/BEVERLY BEACH – FLORIDA

We’re already getting to know our Sunset Inlet neighbors via Facebook, and one of them – Jane Ann – sent us this pic from her visit down last week.

The entire house now has siding!

I think that about catches us up.  Ted and I are spending a quiet Sunday afternoon, and as I finish this post, I can look up and out the window to the calm waters of the lake.  Yes, I’d like to be on the way to the island.  But right now, I believe this is where we’re supposed to be.  No complaints – we are blessed.

 

 

The Best Laid Plans . . . . 8/11/2014

Sometimes life hits you with wonderful surprises, and other times the surprises are not so great.  We got one of the second kind today.

Bear, after tearing around the yard at warp speed – as he’s done a thousand times before –  came up lame on Friday.  He was limping badly and not putting any weight on his left rear leg.  As I have been known to do on too many occasions, I went to Google and spent way too many hours diagnosing the problem.  The worst it could be was a torn CCL (the same torn ligament in humans is called an ACL) – known to be the hobgoblin of many a super athlete.  “Oh no, let’s hope he hasn’t blown out his ACL”, sports announcers say in hushed tones as a football player is carried off the field.

Unfortunately, my Google diagnosis was correct.  The vet confirmed this afternoon that not only had Bear ruptured the ligaments in his left knee, but the right knee was about to blow also.  Surgery is Tuesday on the left knee, and our vet just prays the right one will hold until the left one heals – about a 12-week process.

So . . . . late this afternoon we called and cancelled our trip to Mackinac.  Even though our vet at first said we might could go up with Bear AFTER he removed his staples in 10 days – and let him recoup on the island – that thought ended when he discovered the condition of the right knee.  Being on the island with no small animal vet (Dr. Al did not return this year) would not have been a good thing if Bear had blown out the second knee while there.

To say Ted and I are disappointed doesn’t even begin to describe our feelings.  But Bear is a family member, and right now we need to concentrate on getting him healthy again.  It’s going to be a long rehab period, with severe exercise limitations for Bear for many weeks.  We want to follow the instructions to the letter so he will have a good outcome, can get the other one fixed, and by next summer be ready to run the woods of Mackinac as he so loves to do.

In the meantime, we will be closing on our house on Tuesday, the movers come on Wednesday, we clean our old house on Thursday, and Thursday night we move two doors down into our rental.  Since we only thought we’d be there a couple of days before we left for the island, we haven’t had internet services installed, so I don’t know how long it will take to get that done.  I’ll try to let you know before we move how Bear is doing . . .  we will bring him home (to the rental) on Friday.

Wow – things can change quickly, can’t they?

Even with all the bad news, God gave us some sunshine.  The lady whose condo we were renting on Mackinac was so understanding (she is a huge animal lover and has goldens).  Even at this late date, she was happy to return our deposit and apply our payment to our trip next summer – so we are already booked. More sunshine – the rental where we’ll be staying here at the lake belonged to a couple who needed a handicapped ramp.  So now Bear won’t have to navigate stairs to get in and out for potty breaks.  Another plus – their floors are all carpeted, so no slipping around for Bear on hardwood or tile floors.  Both BIG pluses for dogs recovering from knee surgery.

These last 10 days have been pretty overwhelming, and Bear’s mishap and the cancellation of our trip came at a time when Ted and I both were both already exhausted both physically and mentally.  Maybe this was God’s way of saying, “Hey, you two.  You need to slow down for a few weeks, and the last thing you need is to be traipsing 1100 miles up the road.”

Whatever the reason, we will be here at the lake until our home in Florida is ready – taking care of the Bearster, fanning gnats, and wishing things hadn’t turned out like this.    The most sadness comes from knowing we’ll miss seeing friends on the island this year – including many blog readers who will be there during the next six weeks.  But, good Lord willing. we’ll be back next summer.

Please whisper a prayer for our sweet Bear as you say goodnight to God.

Love and hugs and God bless.

Running Mackinac’s woods  last summer.

We’ll be back, Mackinac!

 

Just Checking In . . . . . 8/7/2014

Oh My Goodness!  How can there STILL be stuff left to pack!

SUNSET INLET/BEVERLY BEACH – FLORIDA

We made a quick run to Florida Tuesday for a meeting with Amber of A. Clore Interiors.  I found her on Houzz (I know you ladies know about that web site), and she came highly recommended.  I love her!  She is young, fun, energetic and full of ideas.  This is what I said to her “I don’t want our house to look like either my mother or my grandmother lived there.  I want comfort (as in put-your-feet-up-and-curl-up-next-to-the-dog comfort), easily maintained fabrics, and a happy, lived-in, and well-loved look.  In other words, I want a brand new beach house to look like an old beach house where family has been gathering for generations.”   It was wonderful to turn a few things over to her and get them crossed off our worry list.  Things like:  window treatments (so we won’t be walking around in our pj’s in front of uncovered windows) and getting a plan started on how we want our family room to look (as of right now we have NO sofas nor chairs – all sold with the lake house).  We needed a plan, and we’re trusting Amber to pull it all together while we’re in Michigan.  Can’t wait to see her design ideas!  And yes . . . . she’s putting Ted a new Lazy-Boy at the top of her list, so my main man is a happy camper!

Dry wall is up, so it’s beginning to look like a real house!  This is the kitchen, which will be at the top of the stairs on second floor.

Looking out door and windows in dining room onto second floor deck.

 

Bedroom views.

Down the steps to the front door.

 

Pavers are in.

 

A little different angle.  There are 15 lots/houses sold now of the 31 planned residences.  Half-way sold out neighborhood!

We spent the night at Julie’s and got up early enough to run down to the beach with Matthew to watch him surf.  Unfortunately, the waves weren’t cooperating that morning.  Gosh, he does love to surf!

Coming out of the ocean Wednesday morning.

 

About to head back to the house for some breakfast. It’s only an 8-minute walk from their house to the beach.

 

So pretty in the early morning light!

Was it hot?  Oh my gosh, it was hot!  We’re hearing from everyone (even those who have lived down there all their lives) that if you can head somewhere north the months of July and August, do it!  I think we already have that plan in place!

MACKINAC ISLAND – MICHIGAN

Ted and I are both so bummed we missed this last week on Mackinac.  There was a huge reenactment of the battle in 1814 in which the Americans tried to take Fort Mackinac back from the British.  It took place in an area of the island near Wawashkamo Golf Course, and hundreds of visitors and islanders were on hand to listen and watch as the Mackinac State Historic Parks historian Craig Wilson narrated the battle.

Permanent fort interpreters from Fort Mackinac and Colonial Michilimackinac were joined by several reenactment groups to make the battle come alive.

 

Crowds of island residents and visitors congregated at Wawashkamo Golf Course to watch the battle take place on the same battlefield on the same date and at the same time as the original battle 200 years ago.

About 175 performers participated during the reenactment.

 

The events in the fort focused on the War of 1812 in general and the impacts on family life. On Mackinac Island, the most significant events of the war were the British capture of Fort Mackinac in the early stages and the American failed attempt to get the fort back in 1814.

A huge thank you to Jill Sawatzki and Valerie Porter for the photos above and to Stephanie Fortino, reporter for The St. Ignace News, for the background research!

A SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPH

I was so excited when Jill shared this photo this week. Those of you who have read the Mackinac blog for years know about my sweet friend Chris Ann, who went to Heaven March 4, 2013. Her daughter, Carol – shown here with her precious little boy – is such a carbon copy of her mom. Their whole family was visiting Mackinac this past weekend and went by the bookstore. So good to see your smiling face, Carol!

Writing today has been therapeutic.  I needed to break away from boxes, packing paper, and shipping tape for a while.  We’re at the point now where there is hardly enough floor left to walk on, and we find ourselves already wondering out loud if “such and such” is already packed or if we simply haven’t found it yet so we CAN pack it. 

We rushed in from Florida late yesterday afternoon, and I left again shortly thereafter to go to Girls Night Out at Booger Bottom – possibly my last one for a long while.  Sitting there snugged up at the corner of the bar, with friends I’ve known and loved for too many years to count, it slowly began to come home to me that our days in this beautiful state on our beautiful ri’vah are coming to an end.  Just writing that sentence started the tears to overflow and slip down my cheeks, so I’ll stop there while I can still see to type. 

Leaving won’t be easy.  No, it won’t.

Gettin’ er done! 8/3/2014

 

Please wake me when this is over!

Today was “kitchen day” and we managed to clean out everything we needed to in order to have things ready for the truck from Salvation Army, which is coming on Monday morning.  Once all that stuff is out, we will have a little more room to breathe, but basically every room looks like the one above.  All those boxes are going to Florida – NOT to the Salvation Army.  The Florida moving truck doesn’t come until Wednesday, the 13th.  So our organized chaos will continue for quite a while yet.

It’s unbelievable how much we’re either giving or throwing away.  I say unbelievable because it’s all stuff we mostly haven’t touched in at least 10 years.  WHY HAVEN’T WE ALREADY GOTTEN RID OF IT!!?

We leave Tuesday for Florida and our last meeting at the design center.  We also plan to meet with an interior decorator on Wednesday at our house site to talk about window treatments – which, for the sake of privacy, need to be up when we move in.  We’ll be home Wednesday evening.  Maddie and Bear are going back to kennel for this trip.  They will probably welcome the “normalcy” of being with Ms. Marsha and away from our crazy house!

But – we’re gettin’ er done!

Love you guys!

Brenda