Christmas on Mackinac Island

Well, here it is December already. I haven't posted since June. What? I guess life just changes things sometimes.

This past weekend Steve and I went to Mackinac Island to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season. It is such a unique experience I thought I would share the day with you. We went to the Christmas Bazaar, saw the Christmas tree on Main Street, watched Santa roll in on the fire truck and just had a grand relaxing day. 

Steve took all of the following pictures except one which I'll point out. I haven't been much in the camera mood lately, so enjoying the day and letting you and I see the fun through Steve's eyes was refreshing.

It wasn't a sunny day, but it wasn't freezing cold either. I have a backpack on and my pockets are stuffed with extra mittens, etc. I look like the Pillsbury dough boy. :) Here we are arriving to the island.

The Christmas tree was put up the previous night. Some fresh snow would make the scene perfect. Most of the shops are closed for the season but there was a handful we checked out. Only two restaurants were open. A few horses clip-pity clopped down the roads so we had to watch where we stepped. And three fudge shops were open for the weekend.

One of the restaurants

The other restaurant

So what do the locals do during the off season?

Play street hockey!

The Mackinac Island Community Center was packed with locals and non locals. Steve bought some raffle tickets to try and win a snowmobile. All of the proceeds go to the Island's medical center and to the churches on the island.

They chose the winning ticket today at 2:30. We're still waiting for the call. LOL

Santa! This picture was taken by the Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Service. (The ferry we took to and back from the island.)

Bikes and snowmobiles and carts were spotted everywhere. For those of you who don't know, automobiles are not allowed on Mackinac Island (with the exception of a snowplow, a fire truck, and other emergency vehicles.)

Before we headed back to the mainland, Steve wanted to take a selfie. Ha!

Two Mourning Doves...

Indigo Bunting

Those of you who know me or follow this blog know I love my birds. As soon as we returned from Wyoming, I put my bird feeders out and the birds came. I had such a variety that I could watch and listen to all day long.

Then the Bear came into the yard...

not my dog Bear...

a real black bear...

on his/her way to the backyard feeders...

at dusk.

Steve was on his way out of the house to shut things down in the garage for the night, and they met - Steve on the back porch, the bear on its way to the feeder. They looked at each other for a moment. The bear slowly turned around and left the yard.

Steve put all of my feeders back into the garage.

Yellow Finch

House Finch

A Sand Hill Crane strolling down our gravel road.

So now I just put black sunflower seeds on the stump in our front yard and backyard. Some of the birds still come, but not many. This pair of Mourning Doves are here every morning. I watch them over my morning coffee.

Thanks for remaining my constant feeders my Mourning Doves! But they should be called Morning Doves. I know their song sounds a bit melancholy, but I find it soothing in the morning over morning coffee. Not like they are mourning the loss of my feeders, but like they are morning birds. But sometimes they come in the afternoon and evening, but always in the morning. Hence Morning Doves...

Thanks for listening.

So Happy the Elk are Back!

Last evening we came home from town to find the elk had returned and were in the backyard down the hill!

Lots of them. So glad to have them back.

But last night it snowed so everything is white again. And tonight we have a winter weather warning so in the morning we will have more snow.

But we're glad they are sticking around and enjoyed their day on Big Hill.

Have a great week everyone!

~Debi

Hanging Out with Bill

Steve took a picture of the dogs and me walking next door during a mini snowstorm.

I went to hang out with Bill.

This is Bill.

Bill loves to be petted, 

brushed, 

fed and watered, 

have someone empty his litter box, 

eat kitty treats, 

kill mice, 

have his toys tossed to him, 

and...

...look at rainbows through the window.

A Foggy Sunday...

We are hunkered down today due to freezing fog. It's pretty when you are looking out from the warm inside of the cabin. The fog left a shiny icy glaze on everything. This morning I had to walk real slow  (in my robe and slippers) to get to the empty dog bowls because the deck was shellacked with a thin layer of ice. Today I took pictures from windows that were screen-less. I wasn't going to take a walk-about around the yard. And when the dogs slid out on the deck I knew I was staying indoors.

The mountains are barely visible but you can somewhat make them out.

This tree in the yard sparkled even without the help of sunshine. (Hmm...me thinks there could be a a metaphoric story written about this tree and life. Me also thinks I've been cooped up a bit too long...)

But even with the situation outside, Steve grilled us up some steaks for lunch. He put the grill by the front door overlooking the valley where he didn't have to worry about slip-sliding away. All went well and lunch was warm and yummy!

Top of the World!

Note: Before this past Sunday's snowstorm, Steve and I had traveled up the mountain on the tracker. It was a beautiful day and I wanted to share these pictures with you. Snow was a bit iffy at that time so we left the snowmobiles back at the cabin. But Sunday's storm brought the mountains much snow!

Steve taking pictures of me taking pictures. Ha.

We were waiting for the sun to come out to brighten our pictures but the sky was beautiful, too.

The moon peeking around the rock in the middle of the afternoon.

The sun finally came out so I could show you the view!

Heading back down the canyon...

This is when we saw the moose!

A Not So Sunny Sunday

But a very cozy Sunday. The Weather Channel called for a winter weather advisory last night for today and tomorrow, but when I sat down with my coffee and checked the weather this morning, things had changed and we were in for a full blown winter storm warning and 45 mph wind gusts. Well, the wind hasn't happened today - yet. Not here anyways. So it is very beautiful.

Even though we can't see the mountains in some spots.

But in other directions you can.

Steve even braved the elements and grilled for us.

But we ate in!