TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL

Since I was a little girl I have wanted to go to Mackinac Island in Michigan.  My grandmother went there and talked all about it.  There are no motorized vehicles on the island, except police cars and ambulances.  Finally decided to go.  A beautiful step back in time.  It was amazing.  We left Ames and drove to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and spent the night.  Very lovely drive.  We then got up the next morning and drove to St. Ignace, Michigan.  We unloaded our bags, and they were taken and tagged by a couple of guys, and put on a cart.  We then boarded our ferry for the 6 mile ride to the island.

As we got closer to the island we could see the Grand Hotel.  Wow, what a gorgeous place.  We weren't staying there, but a very spectacular place.



When we arrived on the island, we met with the porter from our hotel, and then went and checked in.  We went off to explore, and the porter delivered our bags to our room.  Our hotel was two doors down from the dock where our ferry dropped us off, the Hotel Iroquios.

 
 Main Street was about 3-4 blocks long with lots and lots of stores and eateries.  Several places were along the way to rent bicycles.

Fudge is one of the really big items on the island, and there are several different fudge shops.  Watching this guy was so fascinating.  Poured it out onto the marble slab and then it was constant motion on his part, keeping it from the edges.  The muscles that this man had to have in his arms, wow.

Since there are no motorized vehicles, horses are used for all purposes.  This was a garbage wagon.  There was a hotel remodeling going on so all deliveries and pick-ups were done in this manner.

Another garbage wagon.  These horses are so very patient, and are also well taken care of.  There are 500 horses on the island during the season, so they don't work too many hours daily.  In the winter there are only 12.  It is just so wonderful to see these beautiful creatures, doing what they do best, and being so well taken care of.



Now, since there are all these horses, someone has to clean up after them, therefore you have to have street sweepers.  They are constantly riding up and down the streets, cleaning up the messes that the horses leave behind.  Also, they clean up well after all the tourists.  No litter and no cigarette butts anywhere.
For smaller deliveries, bicycles are used.  Couldn't believe the high heels this woman wore, to ride her bike.

We did take a tour, on this wagon, of the island.  This man was so good at his job, and had a great sense of humor.  The tour lasted about 1 1/2-2 hours, and was excellent.  Don enjoyed talking to him all about the horses.  Don had horses growing up and loves being around them.




This was one of the beautiful sites we got to see on our tour.  We got to get out and walk up and take pictures.  So beautiful.

Our hotel served a wonderful breakfast of juice, milk, and delicious pastries, every morning.  Such a beautiful old Victorian hotel, with such lovely rooms and a large wrap around porch.  Just such a nice relaxing place.


 This is a view from one of our windows, in our room.  We loved it.

There is a little light house out there, and I loved watching it in the late evening.




 
This bench was right outside out door.  Such a pretty setting.  We really had a wonderful time and talked about the next time, before we packed our bags to come home.  Highly recommend visiting this beautiful step back in time to anyone, wanting to get away for a couple of days.

Keep Junking

Joan and I just keep heading out on most Saturday mornings to find some treasures.  Teddy likes to go with us, unless he has a friend over.  I am actually running out of space to put things, but I also have redone a few things, so will be having a sale in a month or so to get rid of some of my cast offs, so I can go find more.  No I'm not a hoarder, I do get rid of stuff.

One of my favorite things I just found at the Junk Jubilee in Des Moines, last weekend.  I had seen a picture of a pick-up tail gate.  Someone had taken one and made it into a message board, and I thought it was so cool. http://www.myhomemystyle.com/enotes/2012/03/16/salvaged-magnetic-memory-board/?utm_source=MyHomeMyStyleEnotes&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5695   So, I've really been wanting to find one.  Low and behold, I spotted one at the J.J.  It was red and it was a chevy, and it was mine. Mine is going to be a head board, as soon as we open it up, get all the rust out, and I think hook up some lights.

Also found some cool letters and numbers, which of course will go on the wall above the head board.  I found the lock today, and thought it could be a Y.  The 8/11 is an auction paddle, I think.  Just happens that Don and I were married August 11, 1967.

 
I also found this beauty!  The color is what caught my eye.  It is actually fencing, made into a circle, and the cute little bottles attached to it.  I had so many people stop me and comment on it.  Another vendor even wanted to buy it.  I brought it home and wired it, and no have it hanging.  I will have to reveal it's spot some other time.



I have been wanting a bottle tree for a long time.  Not that I have many bottles, I don't, but I just think they are pretty cool.  Someone posted on Freecycle that they had 2 dozen cobalt blue beer bottles.  I notified them and within 15 minutes I had them.  I started checking online "bottle trees".  I found lots, but what caught my eye was a place that sells spikes to pound into your own stump or 4x4.  I had the perfect stump, and some gutter nails, and now I have a bottle tree.  It is right out side my scrapbook area, and when the sun hits it, it is gorgeous.

Not much new with the family and us.  Summer is close, and hope to get a vacation in with some of the grandkids.

APRIL, 2012

WOW, has it really been that long???????? September 17, 2011, my mom passed away. We hadn't spoken in 10 months. She chose to cut me and my family out of her life, and that is fine. I have spent my entire life trying to get her love, and it just never happened. I always felt like I was on the outside looking in. I had my brother Gerry, but he died in an auto accident in 1974, so have been on my own since then. I feel the biggest problem, I choose an honest life, and they choose to sweep everything under the rug. Since I was disowned, I have actually done okay. I just don't like to live a fake life. Anyway........

Don and I joined the gym Jan. 24, and love it. I am going in 3 times a week to do Aqua Fit. We have a personal trainer, Jessica, that we love, and boy is she teaching us a ton. It is a lot harder in our 60s, than it was in our 30s. Just want to be healthier, and be around to see these grandkids grown and being terrific adults.

Speaking of getting older, our oldest grandbaby turned 21, October 15, 2011. That just doesn't seem possible at all. Grace will be 13 in July, so time is marching on.

We have finally done some major work on our bathroom. The thing is 6'x8', so not a whole lot of room to do much. I didn't really want to tear out my tub or the surround. We replaced the shower doors, painted, put tin ceiling on the ceiling, and on the lower walls. New trim, and floor, and I love it.

Also replaced the vanity with a much smaller one, and we love it. Just makes the bathroom seem so much larger.
I found this Awesome scale at the Antique Mall in Story City. I thought it was perfect to hold my paper towels and the tin holder, which I keep my extra bar soap in.

This is the east wall. The bathroom is so small, I can't get it all in one picture, LOL.














Well, that is an update. I sure hope I don't wait another 7-8 months. Thanks for looking and will try and do better about keeping caught up. Any of you that know me well, and are on my Christmas card list know, I am usually a few steps behind. That is why they got Valentines cards, instead of Christmas............ Just me.