Storms, The Island, and Rainbows to Frame! 9/25/14

The house is silent as I begin to write today.  Ted left early this morning to check on the beach house, and even though we’ve talked probably five times in the six hours he’s been gone, it’s just toooo quiet around here with him away.  Bear and Maddie are curled up sleeping and seem annoyed when I insist they go outside occasionally for a potty break.  They obviously think their dad is a lot more fun than I am because the only time they’ve perked up was at lunch, when they figured they’d get the leftovers of my turkey sandwich – which they did.

It wasn’t too silent a few days ago though.  We had quite a storm blow up out of nowhere here at the ri’vah.  One moment there was a dark cloud to the west, and the next moment 60 mph straight line winds were howling through the pine trees.  Lots of limbs and tree branches down here at the rental, but two doors down – at our old house – one of the huge old pines was uprooted . . .

. . . and fell across the new fence the new folks had just put up between them and the park.

 

Of course, it could have been worse. So thankful the tree fell on the fence instead of across the house!  It always amazes me how shallow the root systems are on these decades-old pine trees.

 MACKINAC ISLAND – MICHIGAN

The island weather has been alternating between rainy/dreary and sunny/beautiful this week, and folks have continued to share some amazing photos!

Just at sunrise on the last day of summer – near Mission Point Resort (Photo: Clark Bloswick)

 

One of the sunny days! Taken from the porch of the Yacht Club by David Rowe – and featuring his beautiful Golden Retriever Skyla – on the sidewalk to the right.

 

Island kids giving Blaze a bath on a recent Fun Day Sunday at the Mackinac Island Equestrian Center. (Photo: Leanne Brodeur)

 

Getting ready for Fall at the Seabiscuit Café. (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)

 

Renovation of the Silver Birches main lodge has begun!. (Photo: Liz Ware)

This morning – from the Mackinac Island Public Library back porch. (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)

 

One of the rainy days – perfect for geese! (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)

 

Little six-year-old Anna, a member of the island Giddy-Up-and-Go program, leads Fiona back to the barn. Loving her boots! (Photo: Leanne Brodeur)

 

Good friend Denise – outside the Lenox on Market Street. The flower baskets are still going strong!(Photo: Jill Sawatzki)

Love this Mackinac story: On his way to work this week, someone told Robert McGreevy they’d spotted a tinier-than-usual hummingbird on the fence going up Fort Hill and thought it looked sickly.  Robert found it and took it to work with him.

He held it in his hand, warming it up . . .

 

. . . . and then fed it some sugar water.

 

After a little time, the small bird seemed to perk up, and it was released.

 

When last seen, the hummingbird was sitting perched in a tree,about to fly away and do whatever hummingbirds do!  (All hummingbird photos: Robert McGreevy)

 

Sunrise this morning. (Photo: Patrick Conlon)

FRAMING RAINBOWS

Thank you, thank you for sending in your “Framing Rainbows” submissions!  I happily share these today, and I’m hoping this becomes your online spot to let our little Bree’s Blog family know the RAINBOWS in your life that brought a smile to your face this week!

From Traci Rackley (Tennessee): Son Trey competed in the National Spotted Saddle Horse Show and won World Grand Champion in his class for pleasure horses. “He fell in love with horses when he was three, and the rest is history,” says Traci.  Congratulations, Trey!

From David Burkhart (Ohio): “This hydrangea was given to me as a newly rooted cutting. A coworker gave it to me before I retired because we share a common interest in gardening. Now, it reminds me of Sharon and her kindness.”  Beautiful, David, and I love the ferns and big stones also!

 

Kem & Ed Green (Iowa): “Our son James and his wife Carly just announced they are making us first-time grandparents in May, 2015!”  Hmmmm, Kem and Ed – how does that fit into your annual May visit to Mackinac Island?!

 

From Pam (Livonia, MI): “My summer has been pretty boring without my Mackinac Island trip, so it doesn’t take much to make it exciting – like riding my bicycle on a totally reconstructed major freeway. I-96 has been under construction since April, but opened on Monday, a month ahead of schedule.  Our Governor, Rick Snyder, made a surprise announcement to open the highway up for pedestrian traffic for two hours on the Sunday before it was to open to motorists . . .

 

. . . so I, along with thousands of others, rode our bikes, walked, and skateboarded on a major interstate freeway!  When can a person ever do that?!  It did rain a little, but the RAINBOWS were seen in all the smiles of the people that were having fun!”  How fun was that! What a great idea!

Lisa Foose (near Cleveland, Ohio): “My husband sold his race car and is putting that money towards getting my (first) car back on the road.  It’s a 1974 Cadillac that has been sitting for over 10 yrs.  We honeymooned in that car, sped to the hospital at 100 mph when I was in labor in that car, and brought our daughter home from the hospital in that car!  I cried when he told me he was going to use his race car money to fix it up for me.”  Way to go, MR. Foose!!

LAKE BLACKSHEAR, GEORGIA

(Late Thursday afternoon)

Did I just hear Dad’s truck? (I hate to tell them, but it was just the mail truck.)

Have a great weekend, y’all, and send me some more RAINBOWS to frame!  God bless.