Summer of 2010 was short but packed with wonderful memeries and guests

DOUBLE NESTERS: Playing in Pine Island Cove

DOUBLE NESTERS: Playing in Pine Island Cove

2009Nelson/Priest/Shaw reunion

For Bears 8th birthday this year he was able to go over to Mackinac Island early in the morning August 7th to take part in the Flag raising ceremoney at Historic Fort Mackinac. He was then presented with the actual flag that was flown over the fort in his honor. This must be arranged early and the cost of the flag is charged but otherwise anyone can have this done with prior approval from the Scout Director at Mackinac State Historic Parks.

Cottage life on the Great Lakes--PAST

It's that time of year when your memories take over realiety and you long for those that have passed on. As I worked hard ,the old fashioned way, this AM I could not shake the vision of my Sweet Grandmother at her "cottage",17 room bed and breakfest on 131 in Charlovix, perparing the "left overs" for the HoBo's that would knock on our door when the train came through. This was part of life before our socialistic government took that joy away from the middle and upper middle class. I tried to always be home to help pass out the treats to our "friends" as Grandma lillian would call them. We were never wealthy but over our life and my parents lives we almost always had "help". I now understand that that is because of the Charlovix Cottage. You see, when the wealthy came to vacation on our gGeat Lakes they would bring their help from Chicago or where ever they traveled from. My Grandma thought that was a great ide.  There were always those that needed work in the "off season" so we had "hepl" too. But our help sat at the dinner table with us at meals and played many games with us kids. They were like family. I could go on and on and just may on another day but I am wondering if anyone else remembers haveing "help" or feeding the hungry men at their back doors in Northern Michigan?  In my life I have been hungry and God has provided the food have you ever been really hungry?  This Christmas season why not follow Christ's example and put that extra change into the Salvation Army Kettle or buy a meal for that homeless person or... Merry Christmas Past :)

Village of Mackinaw Christ Parade Past

Our first real winter, living in Mackinaw, we were very anxious to become a part of this magical place and purposed not to miss anything despite major health issues. The weeks leading up to the Village Christmas Parade were so exciting as we prepared floats, practiced Christmas carols, made dozens and dozens of Christmas cookies, and prepared platters to be taken to all "service" personnel in our tiny winter village. It was a cold and wintry fall. Our Christmas tree was the top of a ceder fallen in or drive by a 75 mile/hr. November gale. The lake froze all the way to St. Ignace and the wild life would walked right up to our windows,morning,noon,and night. It was amazing and wildly wonderful to actually be sharing this wilderness with Gods animals. Back to the topic at hand,The Mackinaw City Christmas Parade. The plan was to have the event down Central Avenue with city trucks pulling the various "church",business and individual floats and end at Indian Pathways Park to place our home made Christmas ornaments on the village tree, light the tree, have a community Christmas sing,enjoy hot chocolate and coffee with the few die hard winter nesters of the frozen north. It was a very cold crisp night and I could not join the others on our float so Burton bundled me up and we left the house an hour early to be sure and get a good parking spot where I could view the festivities from the back of our SUV. The place was a true winter snow land with virgin snow on our huge 6 lane Central Ave. We choose the center "boat/RV parking lane to set up camp to wait for the show to begin. My husband is a saint and we patiently waited and waited and waited for the others to show up. After about 45 minuets we panicked and thought we had the wrong time, the wrong place the wrong... NO, I heard the sirens of the fire truck,the band playing and soon the parade appeared from Huron and Central in front of Sheplers Ferry Dock. In all the glamor and magnificence of a true Mackinaw City event the Christmas Parade proceeded west on Central Ave. past us. The carolers sang the cars were decorated, the horses pranced,the Village vehicles all followed in gleaming form. This was a beautiful parade that the Village of Mackinaw had just for us. You see WE were the only ones in the entire Village that were not in the parade. "And now you know the rest of the story"

This and That