Snow and Ice – Palm Trees and Ocean Waves – We’ve Got It All 12/21/2014

LOL!  When I looked at the thermometer a little while ago, it was almost 72; so I’m going to begin by spiriting you away to our magical island, where the landscape looks like what – in my mind, at least – Christmas is supposed to look like!

After a few days with no snow at all, dawn this past Wednesday found Greg Main capturing the first significant snowfall in days within the spotlights at Marquette Park.

A little later that same morning, from up the hill by Fort Mackinac, Clark Bloswick photographed the continuation of a good snow day!

Same day – from the West Bluff.  The turnstile at the entrance to Pontiac Trail is in the foreground.

A snow-covered Anne’s Tablet. (Photo: Clark Bloswick)

Josh Carley captured this great downtown scene from up one of the side streets in the Mission District.

The Original Murdick’s Fudge Christmas elves push the last batch of Christmas fudge to the ferry docks. They worked hard for the first two weeks in December to ensure the deliveries arrived on time!  (Photo:  Original Murdick’s Fudge)

A beautiful winter sky by Robert McGreevy.

And another by Bruce LaPine.

One of Josh Carley’s fantastic panoramas!

Breaking Mackinac Island News (for those who haven’t already heard):  Mission Point Resort has been purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Dennert O Ware of San Antonio, Texas.  If the Ware name sounds familiar, it’s because their daughter – Liz Ware – has been working diligently for two years now to restore Silver Birches to its former glory.  I can’t wait to see what wonderful changes the Wares will bring to the already fabulous Mission Point!  In a press release, the Wares stated:  “Our family loves Mackinac and the Great lakes Region.  We look forward to helping this very special property realize its full potential while remaining a time-honored tradition for families to visit year after year.”  The Wares are already planning a multi-million dollar renovation to the 239 room resort, including a new spa and pool complex and upgrading the existing rooms.  Congratulations to the Wares on their purchase!

A special note from the Island:  Do you ever wonder what the ladies on the Island like to do over the winter?  One thing they’re most all passionate about is reading, and this year they’ve started a Winter Book Club.  Just for fun, I thought I’d publish their book list.  If you’ve read any of these and recommend them, let us know in the comment section!  Still Alice by Lisa Genova; The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown; The Fig Eater by Jody Shields; Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell; A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout; The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin.  I’ve read only one of these – A House in the Sky – and would recommend it highly.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE LAND OF PALM TREES

We finally got our yellow shutters and door!

I picked Blake up at the Daytona Beach Airport this week and had to get a snapshot of their amazing Poinsettia Christmas tree – all live!

Maddie and Bear are always happy to have another person in the house to spoil them rotten! Jason arrives Dec. 23, so they will be ridiculously rotten by the day after Christmas!

On Friday the lift guys arrived . . .

. . . and by the end of the day, our lift was in! Our boat is being delivered on Dec. 28!

We’re still getting one amazing sunset after another!

Special Note:  My new friend, Linda (I told you about the amazing way we connected in last Sunday’s blog) and I met at the Java Joint last week (along with her adorable Airedale, Spirit) and spent two hours getting to know each other over coffee.  She and her husband are from Pittsburg and spend their winters here.  More to come as that friendship unfolds . . . . .

Here we are.  Only a few days until Christmas and 10 days away from 2015!  Ted and I can hardly believe we’re about to escort 2014 into history and welcome a brand new year into existence.  Twelve months ago we had just signed the contract on the new house and had no idea what a wild ride of a year we were about to start experiencing.  Looking back now – and thinking about all the ups, downs, drama, and emotions we encountered along the way – it’s pretty easy to say “if we’d known what we were getting ourselves into”, we could have decided the end result might not have been worth the ordeal it took to achieve our goal.  But then again, at our age we’ve learned the things that come easily are not necessarily the things we most appreciate.  Each time we cross the Flagler Beach bridge and see the vast expanse of Atlantic Ocean and know this is now where we live, we can’t help but realize all the turmoil was well worth the outcome.  We live at the beach now.  We start and end each day with spectacular sunrises and sunsets, we walk on our cinnamon-colored sand, we hear waves crashing as we go to bed each night and as we wake up each morning.  We can eat fresh seafood any time we like, and – on most days – have the windows open in December.  As our days here grow more numbered, I know this place will grow roots within our hearts.  It will become more than the place where we live.  It will become home.

Personal note:  I’ll be back after the New Year, but for the next few days I’ll be enjoying celebrating the birth of Christ with Jason, Blake, Julie, Matt, Jordan and Matthew.  On New Year’s Eve Dawn and Stevie, two dear friends from the ri’vah, are coming for a few days of beach fun, and we can’t wait to see them and enjoy time together. 

Ted and I pray for each of you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year! 

See you back here Sunday, January 4!

God bless.

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. 

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.

Out of Town Friends and Things That Make You Say “Ouch”!

Don’t you just hate it when you do something stupid – like I did today.

Ted and I were riding our bikes.  After we’d ridden about five miles, we made the turn to home, then stopped by to visit friends for a few minutes.  Leaving their house, we started up a hill, and it was then a black bug landed on my arm.  Now, if I’d just ignored the bug, everything would have been fine.  The problem is I can’t ignore bugs.  Especially black bugs.  To me, any black bug has to be related to a roach, and my idea of Hell is a room full of roaches!

So . . . on a hill, as I’m pedaling hard to make it up the incline, I reached over with one hand to flick the bug off my arm.  Bad move.  I lost my balance and went crashing into the pavement.  Luckily, no cars were coming.  Also luckily, since we were going UP the hill, we weren’t going fast, but I still managed to scrape my knee and ankle and get some pretty impressive road rash on my right arm – from wrist to shoulder.  One handlebar gouged into my stomach, and my head connected with the pavement with a good kerplunk!  The goose-egg is impressive.  The bike basket Ted had just attached to the handlebars was smashed, and my camera bounced off the pavement (it still works).  This was all about three miles from home, and a sweet lady came running out of her house and offered to take us home, which she did.  Then Ted took the truck back for the bikes. 

All because of a bug – a black bug.  Did I mention it was related to a roach?

MACKINAC ISLAND – MICHIGAN

Friends Sue and Terry Conlon were on the Island this week and shared some great pics!

Mackinac is still a frozen land . . .

 

. . . and Lake Huron is still full of ice.  This area shows some open water, but the ice bridge is still being traveled.  How long that will last is anyone’s guess, and Islanders are saying it’s a day-by-day watch.  They’ve sure enjoyed the length of time this icy highway has been available to them this winter.

 

Do you recognize what this is? Believe it or not, it’s the top of the water fountain inside Fort Mackinac! There’s still that much snow! Sue said they almost tripped over it!

 

One last photo from the Conlons – our “ex” condo.  Still plenty of snow “up the hill”!

 

Doud’s Market is still getting their fruits and vegetables delivered by snowmobile. (Photo: Doud’s Market)

 

Todd Anderson photographed heavy equipment trying to put a dent in the Cadotte Avenue snow banks. Some of the Grand Hotel’s Jamaican workers began arriving this week, and transportation into the Grand will slowly increase now.

 

There was a great little article in Preservation Magazine recently on Liz Ware and her progress on the renovation and restoration of Silver Birches. Liz and her construction team (Gamble Construction) have been working hard all winter and are now scheduled to appear at public and commission meetings to get approval on some of the final plans. Liz has promised to restore Silver Birches to its former glory, and she’s already come a long way toward making that happen!  Once we’re on the Island in August, I’ll be doing an update on the restoration project.  Good luck, Liz!

BEVERLY BEACH/SUNSET INLET – FLORIDA

Ted is heading down on Friday to watch Matthew run a beach race on Saturday and check on what is happening with the Florida house.  I’m going to sit this one out at home and HOPE he will send photos showing that at least the dirt pile has been moved from one end of the lot to the other.  Do I sound frustrated?

LAKE BLACKSHEAR – GEORGIA

So much fun this week!  We had a call from Michigan friends Don and Bonnie Foltz saying they were heading home from their winter in Florida.  They’ve always had an open invitation to stop off here, and this year they took us up on it.  They arrived after lunch on Tuesday and left the next morning at 4:30 a.m., with plans to make it home that night  which they did.  We called Jane Winston – a mutual Mackinac Island friend who lives about an hour north of us – and she drove down in time to go out on the boat and eat dinner before heading back home.

We took out the pontoon boat and rode down river to show everyone the Crisp County Dam.

 

Bonnie, Don, and “Buttercup” Jane.  Ted and I saw Jane in a play a couple of years ago, and her character’s name was Buttercup.  He calls her that all the time now, and she claims to hate it.  I hope she’s kidding, ’cause I doubt he’s going to stop :).

Bonnie and Don on the back deck.

 

Jane and her “flirty” truck. How ’bout those headlight lashes?!

 

The group . . . .

 

. . . you can sure see who’s been at the beach all winter – and who hasn’t!

Before the “black bug incident”, I stopped to take a few pics.  Was going to take more on the ride home, but it wasn’t meant to be today.  Will go back in a few days.  Actually, it’s still about a week before full bloom – just in time for Easter!

 

Beautiful dogwood blooming against a mossy hardwood tree.

 

A neighbor’s dogwood- and azalea-lined wooden fence.

I guess that’s about it for today. It will be a quiet weekend around here with just Maddie, Bear, and I to keep things running smoothly.  Ted says “stay off the bike”.  Hmmmm . . . . . we’ll see.